ALT-FLAG 3A: Lies Greed Misery I

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As the two district chiefs left the school grounds, Suzaku and Sylvia were forced to split up; the former had another class that day and needed to get back to work. That left his demon buddy to proceed with the mission by briefly tailing the girl with odango hair.

Knowing that she'd probably lose sight of her as she spoke to the other demons, she brought out a blow gun and loaded it with a small tracking beacon rolled inside a sticky pellet. Taking careful aim, she fired at the target. The beacon landed at her left ribbon, somewhat hidden from view.

"That'll keep me noted of her location. Time to have a word with those two..."

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Back at the academy, it was another session with Suzaku and Class 2B. He proceeded with the roll call when he noticed a few vacant seats.

"I understand that Miss Nakagawa could not attend classes due to her idol singer status, but I need to know why Takahara and the Katsuragi siblings are absent today."

The class remained silent for a few seconds. Then one of the students raised her hand.

"Um, sensei…"

He called the attention of the girl seated right in front of one of the vacant seats at the back.

"What is it, Terada-san?"

"Ayumi just called me a few minutes ago before class; she said that she had to go home to take care of something important."

"Well, emergency or not, if she doesn't give me a valid explanation the next time we meet, I'm afraid I would have to give her an absent mark for today. Please relay that to her, okay?"

She replied with a nod.

"Well, that settles one. Now about the other two; anyone have ideas as to where they are?"

Unfortunately this time, no response.

"Anyway, let's get to our main agenda for today. Has everyone finished their assignments?" The class replied affirmatively in unison.

"Okay, pass them all to the front."

Within minutes, the class handed their assignments to Suzaku, while he brought out his class list. Upon receiving the papers, he immediately checked to see if everyone submitted theirs. Then he noticed something.

"Hmmn... Something's amiss here…" he thought.

He quickly counted the papers and checked the same with his class list. So far, he knew that those absent – Kanon, Ayumi, and the Katsuragi Siblings – would not be able to pass the assignment. But he noticed that another student did not submit hers.

"If I call her attention now, I might cause a commotion. I'll just proceed with the usual routine then confront her personally…"

With that, Suzaku called out a few names – about five students – for the oral presentation. Each of them proceeded to read their essays in English with slightly more satisfactory results compared to Class 3-D's pop quiz results from before.

About two hours later, he dismissed 2-B for the day. But he then called on the attention of one student while the rest were about to leave.

"Miss Kosaka?"

The girl he called approached the teacher's table.

"Is there anything wrong, sensei?"

"Yes," he calmly replied. "I went through the papers that were submitted to me recently, and I did not find your name among them."

"Um… I don't know how to explain this, sensei," she uttered, while nervously twiddling her fingers.

"Well first up, that 'dog-ate-my-paper' shtick won't work on me, since I've tried that long ago during my student days…"

"Honestly sensei, I really am having a hard time wording my experiences during the Mai-High festival," she said, bowing her head in regret. "So much had happened that I can't even decide on where to start."

Suzaku got thinking for a few seconds. Then he fixed his paperwork into his briefcase.

"Tell you what, Kosaka. I'll give you another chance to submit the same assignment, but under one condition: you will have to recite that in front of class next week. Whatever it may contain."

"Uh… I understand, sir."

"If you're still having problems regarding the flow of your essay, feel free to visit me at the faculty lounge…"

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Meanwhile at the other side of town, Sylvia managed to catch up with the district chiefs as they entered one of the houses in the area. She waited at a rooftop about a block away in order not to arouse suspicion.

A few hours have passed. So far, none of the two have exited the house, and she's getting bored.

"*YAWN* This stake-out bit is getting me nowhere…"

Then she noticed one of them leave the premises. Immediately, she tagged the house where the two have been, then proceeded to follow the white-haired one who had just blitzed away.

The pursuit lasted for a few minutes until the District Chief decided to land in an empty lot.

"Vindictus, I presume?"

"Your senses are as sharp as ever, Leoria. I'm still surprised that you could keep your rage and ego in check so efficiently. Unlike the last time we met."

Nora immediately charged towards Sylvia with one of her steel spiked clubs, which the latter blocked and parried with her scythe. The two then immediately made some good distance from each other.

"Ah, the ol' full frontal assault. Never get tired of that one, eh?"

"As long as it works…"

"I see that you've been honing your reflexes well. That was somewhat faster than before."

"Are you just here to compliment me?"

Sylvia then lowered down her Scythe. "Honestly, no. I'm just here on orders of the late chief to help out on the situation."

"Really now…" Nora dropped her club to the ground, looking to seize the hostilities.

"That's right; you just play it cool for now," Sylvia uttered.

Suddenly, Nora drew out three darts and quickly threw them towards Sylvia. In response, the latter shielded herself with the face of her scythe.

"Like I'd drop my guard that easily…" With that, Nora threw a smoke bomb and escaped. Sylvia ended up scratching her head in confusion.

"Well, that cookie sure is hard to break. Better see that other District Chief; I'm sure she's a lot more reasonable…"

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