Act 2-6: Meet the Activist

What would Agent Crawford-no, what would Charlie do? I thought to myself as I walked through the hallways.

Well, for starters, she'd tell me to stop caring what others would do and follow my own path, or something like that. She would just never accept that the path I wanted was hers.

I sighed. No point getting caught up in the past.

It occurred to me that I shouldn't be getting this worked up. Then again, there was no one else I could trust. Between Birza and Kenta and DuCarde and even Andrews, I doubted there was a single person on this goddamn plane who so much as tolerated me.

...well, maybe Jung. Jung perplexed me. And Xiang, of course.

I quickly caught a glimpse of myself in a window. Disheveled shirt, practically undone tie, rumpled coat, unbrushed hair tied back into what had to be the world's shortest and messiest ponytail, and trademark dark bags under my eyes. Goddamn, Sasha. You look like you just got dragged through Hell. Pull yourself the hell together and try to make some progress, okay? You can't be seen like this.

And why not? You're a dedicated person, Sasha. That takes its toll, and is nothing to be ashamed at.

I sighed. I'm so tired I'm arguing with myself, aren't I? That's something to be ashamed of right there.

Yeah, you're kinda right, my other self conceded.

Finally, I reached it. The last place where I could possibly find - unless - no, Sasha. Don't think that way. There's no way that you're too late. You have unfinished business. You can't be too late.

Too late..like four years ago… I pushed the thought to the side of my head and knocked on the door. "Hello?"

There was no response.

I doubled my efforts. "Hello? Open up! I know you're in there! Open up, goddamn it!"

There was no response.

There's a reason that he's not answering.

There's no way. If he did-

Maybe you're so scary people don't want to tell you to your face that they hate you.. Consider that, Oryolov?

But why-

Because you're obnoxious and a bitc-

JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!

Tired of my mind's shit, I returned my attention to the door. "If you don't open up, I'll get a chainsaw and cut through the goddamn wall."

Still no response.

I cursed angrily in what must've been Russian and slammed my leg into the door. A side kick straight into the handle - perfect for knocking down doors. Just like my Krav Maga instructor had taught me.

Unsurprisingly, the door refused to budge. I swore again - Yiddish this time. Honestly, at this rate I was gonna run out of languages. I kicked the door again. Now my leg was really beginning to hurt. I pulled yet another kick into chamber, preparing to-

The door opened.

"Sasha, what the hell are you trying to pull?"

Xiang glared at me, entirely disheveled. He looked like he'd been exercising all night - probably by running from me - oh, stop it, Oryolov, he's standing right there and you argue with yourself? - and angrier than I'd ever seen him. "Are you seriously trying to kick down my door?"

I scratched the back of my head. "Well, in my defense, I was really worried about you."

He didn't become any less angry. "You tried to kick down my door! That is inexcusable!"

"Well maybe I wouldn't have gotten to the point of kicking your door down if you weren't avoiding me for no reason!"

He looked almost taken aback. "I wasn't trying to avoid you!"

I shook my head. "You're a terrible liar! Jung explicitly told me you had gone to the male changing rooms. Now that's just a low blow!"

He glared. "I did no such thing. That was Hideki."

"Well, sorry if I trust Ashley over an awful liar like you."

His eyes bugged out of his head. "...I'm sorry, but did you just call her Ashley?"

"Stop avoiding the point! You've been avoiding me for no reason."

He sighed. "It's not for no reason, Sasha! I just…Look, can we talk about this tomorrow?"

"Oh no you don't." I grabbed him by the collar, "You had better tell me right now before I beat your skull in!"

He sighed. "Well, now I can see why Hideki has his doubts about you."

The realization dawned on me. "This is about your secret, isn't it?"

He didn't respond.

"Yes it is! I can just go and get the files on you from JJ's room, you know!"

He stared straight at me. "You won't find anything."

"Well, I can sure as hell try!"

"Sasha, he has nothing on me. I've never had to tell nor declare this secret to anyone except my sister," he was resolute, "So you'll gain nothing unless I tell you."

"Then how do the pilots know, huh?" I gritted my teeth. "They need to have found out somehow! And if they didn't get it from you, then I'm pretty sure your sister's also involved with this!"

I could see the visible fear in his eyes - probably fear for his sister.

I released him. "I see you're not going to tell me. Fine. Be that way."

I turned to leave, concluding that he wasn't going to cooperate.

I felt a hand on my wrist. Damn, that kid had an iron grip.

"If I tell you my secret, are you going to think any less of me?"

This was the first time I heard Xiang ever take that tone - it was a mixture of fear and...was that pain? "Are you?"

I was almost tempted to laugh. "Is that why you've been avoiding me? Of course not. I promise I won't think differently of you, just like how you don't think any differently of me after knowing my secret." I paused, before realizing that i didn't actually know how he felt about me. "Well, I mean, I hope you don't, anyway."

"Of course not! If anything, I think more highly of you."

"Wait, what? My old man killed people because he got off on it."

"Yes, but you were brave enough to admit that. You were braver than a person whose entire life path is based on bravery. That takes guts."

"It's nothing, really. I had to do it. But let's not get off topic."

Xiang sighed. "I suppose I must tell you, then?"

He told me, and by the time he was done talking his hands were shaking and all the color had drained from his face.

"Why would I think less of you for that?" I asked after he finished.

He looked at me as though my existence was a foreign concept to me. "Because I'm abandoning my family's values? Because I'm a coward?"

"Pacifism isn't cowardice. I'm a pacifist when it comes to actual warfare, so we're somewhat in the same boat there. Not to mention abandoning my family's values - not only was my father a serial killer, I'm pretty sure he was also a registered Republican."

Xiang laughed. "Then, I suppose we'll talk in the morning. Stay safe. There are going to be people out there who are contemplating murder."

"Funny, that's what I've been telling everyone," I muttered as I leaned against the nearest door.

With a loud creeeeeeeak, Xiang seemed to grow smaller and smaller. I only vaguely recognized what was going on before crashing into the ground.

Xiang gasped in shock. "Sasha, are you alright?"

"Yeah," I said with a groan. "Just help me up, will ya?"

He did so. I looked at the namecard on the door. "Hey, this is Jung's room. Why's it unlocked?"

Xiang shrugged. "You probably don't wish to wake her to ask her."

"I guess so." I looked at Ashl - I mean Jung's slumbering form. "She looks so peaceful."

Wait a minute - aren't people's chests supposed to rise and fall as they sleep?

"Hey, Xiang," I asked, worry apparent in my voice, "Do you know anything about first aid?"

He glanced at me. "Yes, why?"

"Can you check her pulse?"

Xiang stiffened. "W-Why?"

"Just do it."

He sighed and walked over to the body, grabbing Ashley's wrist. The confused look on his face dropped instantly.

And I knew.

Ashley looked almost as though she was sleeping. She had even been positioned with her arms underneath her head and the blankets drawn up to her shoulders. She was peaceful in death.

However, her pulse was gone.

Ashley Jubilee Jung- the Super High School Level K-Pop Idol - is dead.

I sat down on the bed next to the body, looking down on it.

Who did this to you, Ashley? Why? I swear whoever it is, I will bring them to-

"Upupupupupupu! Attention all students; a body has been discovered! I repeat: a body has been discovered! After a brief period of investigation, a Class Trial will commence, so do make the best use of your time! Cheerio!"

I clenched my fist, and turned around. "Who's there?"

Cheerio indeed.

The last person I ever expected to see again was standing at the door.

...It can't be?!

"Ooh, are you having a slumber party? Can Todd join?"

A/N: Heh. We have an update for you to celebrate Sasha's takeover. Hope you guys enjoy it!

Buuuuuuuuut. As you may have noticed, they aren't even going to be the protagonist. Yep, Sasha is yet again ANOTHER decoy protagonist. The true hero of this story has just arrived back on the scene!

Haha, Todd, where the f*ck have you been? Seriously, you dropped off even our radars - and how are we going to justify your disappearance and reappearance?

...Actually. Looks like it's time to put on those suits. SD? - Lime

You betcha. - SD

PowerPlayer: Haha, yeah. We killed off our main character. Because SD and I just don't give a heck.

*dons sunglasses; flips off world; launches into space*

Yeah. If Nico was already messed up on the inside, she'll be more so now. I can't wait to show you guys how that works out. But at least Todd's back.

You might want to hold on to those words - Hideki has had a very, very good reason for what he has to do. You will find out about his secret in due time, and by the end of it, you'll probably not want to hate him for what he did or didn't do.

Unicorn819: Yes, you're excused.

And that paper is certainly gonna come in handy in this trial, lemme tell you.

You figured out how the forums work? Speak to me. I wish to interact with my readers.

RingdoveAndRobinet: New reader? New reader.

*victorious music sounds in the background*

Thank you for all your kind words. You've started AFoFD at a great time, lemme tell you.

Unimportant Fan: Damn straight this is gonna be interesting.

HeroNoMore: I am so happy that you went back and reviewed. Thank you for that.

(that message also applies to Unicorn918, btw)