A/N: Hey guys, thanks for continuing to support me. It's been a trying year for me so far and it's only been one month! Can you believe it? It's already been more than half a year since Angel Beats! ended and about half a year since I started this long journey with you guys. Time sure flies, doesn't it?
Anyway, as I stated before, I had switched to third person narrative because I like it, but there is another reason behind this third person narrative, and those with sharp minds and have been paying attention thus far, you will realize what I mean. I won't spoil it for those you who don't get it. For those who do get it, I would like to ask you to be quiet about it. Thanks for your cooperation.
BTW, I have added a few things, and this chapter will answer the question on everyone's mind: How much time has passed since the last fic. This chapter will answer that very question. As for the other, why Kou reacts violently to the word 'Angel', that will be answered in the next chapter. Don't worry, I have already written out more than half of the next chapter by the time you read this so you won't have to wait long for an answer.
Angel Beats!
What We Live For
Operation 2
Welcome to Hell:
Enjoy Your Stay
"Alright! Wake up!"
A loud voice made him stir slightly. His eyes slowly opened, the view of the ceiling came slowly into focus. The lights within the room turned on, resulting in a whole bunch of moaning and groaning from others in the room. The young man groggily sat up, his brain not working too well to adjusting to anything in particular at the moment. Slowly looking around, he found himself in a small classroom of sorts. Tables were pushed together to form make-shift beds, and they weren't in the least comfortable to rest a weary back. Besides himself, there were about twenty others who were instructed to sleep in the same room. Every single one of them were new comers to this strange new World, but not all of them came on the same day.
"How long are they going to keep locking us in here? I'm already starting to feel uncomfortable."
One of the women in the room complained.
"Ah, there she goes again."
The guy who rested on the tables next to his muttered.
"If only she would just keep her mouth shut, she would look rather pretty, don't you think?"
The young man shrugged, not really sure on how to reply to that statement, or if he even wanted to in the first place. It was true that it had been two days since he came to this place. The morning after he was rescued by the Guardians, he was handed over to a person called 'Imagawa Jin'. A rather rough fellow who wasn't afraid to scold and bark orders at anyone. He was pushed into this room where he joined the group of students wearing uniform similar to his. This was probably one of the biggest difference between them and the ones who held them in this room, the uniform. They were all obviously newcomers and lost in some sort of strange World where students were waging war against strange monsters. But instead of offering them protection, they were instead forced to stay locked up in this room like prisoners. Guards stood outside with guns and gave them food three times a day, but said nothing to them at all. This time was somewhat different. That same jerk, Imagawa Jin, came in and started to shout and bark at them to wake up. He even kicked one guy still sleeping to wake him. Accompanying Imagawa were four armed students, who obviously were trained to use those weapons. They stood by his side, emotionless and stoic at the scene before them that resembled an internment camp for prisoners of war.
"Hey! Don't ignore me! You locked us in here for a week and now you expect us to simply follow you? Just who do you think you are-"
The woman who complained before was immediately silenced when Imagawa drew a pistol and shot her squarely in the head. Her body flew backwards and landed on the floor like a rag doll. Some of the other girls screamed in horror at what happened.
"Shut up! Don't think that just because you're a girl i would not dare to use this against you!"
Imagawa shouted, silencing the screaming girls. He glared at every single one of the them in the room, before holstering his pistol.
"No one would want to piss me off, got it? Now, all of you, follow me."
Imagawa said, turning around and nodding to two of the guards. The two students, one male and one female, walked over to the corpse of the girl who was shot and simply picked the body up and carried it out without even showing a hint of disgust. They were all used to it. A little too used to it.
"Come on! Move it!"
Imagawa's voice forced the rest of the group to get into a line and follow him out of the room. The young man looked around as he followed in line down the hallway. The corridors were filled with students wearing similar uniforms to their captors, each armed with a gun and were each doing their own things. Some were keeping watch outside the windows, some were moving documents and supplies. There were also some who were simply chatting amongst themselves in a cheery and relaxed manner. This entire scene would fit with either a military base, or just a normal school with very dangerous weapons lying around. Some of the other members saw the line of new comers and began to whisper and talk amongst themselves. Most likely they were talking about something he did not want to know about.
"They must be talking about me."
The guy from before smirked, winking at a couple of girls, who only giggled at his actions.
"They love me."
He said with such disgusting confidence that the young man was rather disturbed himself. The other man wasn't exactly good looking, though he would not be considered ugly either. His roughed up hair had not been able to fully cover up an obvious scar on his forehead. The young man noticed it, but did not question.
"Alright, all of you, we're here."
Imagawa said, stopping the entire line. The young man looked up and saw that they had stopped right outside the principal's office. A strange feeling crept on him, and apparently it was on everyone else's mind. There was something, or someone, in this room that held some immense power and presence. Standing outside the room were four student guards standing at silent attention.
"All of you will now meet our leaders. Do not be disrespectful, do not talk back unless told to. Do not try anything funny. Any breach of these rules and we will open fire on you. Remember that."
Imagawa warned, before nodding to one of the guards standing by the door. The guard knocked on the door before opening it. Imagawa led them inside, where a whole group of people were waiting for them inside. Armed students stood by the side of the room, all having their weapons aimed at the newcomers stepping into the room. But there were also unarmed personnel in the room as well. In particular six individuals, of which one of them the young man recognized almost right away. Kurogane Kou leaned against the wall at the far end of the room, her eyes still holding onto that same emotionless and empty self. Standing next to her was Amatsu Len, the one that Yukari warned him never to cross paths with. It seems that Len was standing next to Kou like her own personal guard,like how each of the other five unarmed individuals each had a personalized guard next to them.
"Are these the new recruits? They don't look like much."
One of the unarmed individuals laughed, crossing his legs on the sofa he sat on. The speaker was a largely built man dressed in a military variant of the uniform who had distinctive European features, but he spoke Japanese with such fluency that if you closed your eyes you wouldn't be able to tell.
"Ein, it isn't good to laugh just yet. Some of these kids will be under you soon."
The girl with long purple hair next to him said.
"Kyou is right, Ein-chii. The last time you underestimated a recruit, she later became your right hand man."
A girl dressed in work overalls laughed, sitting on the sofa across from the large man while winking to the purple haired girl.
"Alright, enough chatter. It is time we get down to business."
Spoke out one rather commanding voice. Sitting behind the main desk at the end of the room, guarded by two personal guards, was a young girl with long dark hair. Her distinct blue eyes seemed to stare coldly straight through everyone. With a black beret on her head and a men's blazer hanging only on shoulders, this girl seemed to be boss of this entire place. Everything about her just screamed as such. Some of the newcomers, particularly the girls, seemed to cower by instinct. The girl seemed to notice this, but did not say anything about it.
"Jin, there were meant to be twenty-one. There's only twenty here."
She said.
"Yes, I had to shoot one that was being too noisy and uncooperative-"
BANG
Imagawa dropped dead to the ground with a bullet hole to the head. The smoking gun was held none other than the girl behind the desk.
"Aicha~, that idiot had to piss off Yuki-chii. Well, never liked him anyway."
The girl in overalls smirked, reaching out for some snacks on the table in front of her. A rather sleepy looking girl seemed to take interest in the scene, tugging at the guy's sleeve next to her.
"Take note, Jinnai, we should use that for that the next-"
"Rejected."
"Eh~? Why? I didn't even say anything-"
"You may get good ideas from time to time, Awase, but they are by no means safe to use it."
"Jinnai, you bully."
Obviously not a very productive conversation. The girl behind the desk cleared her throat once more as guards dragged the limp body of Imagawa out of the door.
"I apologize for the shock. Jin is an idiot."
She sighed, shaking her head in dismay.
"You should not have picked him for the job, Yuki."
The large man said, crossing his arms.
"He volunteered for it... Nevermind."
The one called Yuki turned back to the newcomers, her gaze now inducing a greater sense of fear in the newcomer's group.
"All of you are dead."
.
.
.
.
.
Yuki said with such suddenness and confidence that didn't really mix well, creating a great amount of silence. For a full five minutes to be exact.
"... Not exactly a great start for a speech."
Len muttered from the corner.
"This is the afterlife. Each and everyone of you had died, and most of you should have remembered that, some of you may not. But it matters not. This is the afterlife, and you have been sent here to fulfill some unfulfilled part of your lives. The choice presented to you now is this. You can a) Fulfill your regrets and pass on; b) Just wander around and join the normal lessons that take place here in order to pass on; or c) Join us."
Yuki's introduction was shocking, but it also made some of the newcomers start to question things amongst themselves.
"You never even introduced yourselves, you shot one of us, tell us that we're all dead, and now this?"
One of the guys demanded. Yuki sighed, shaking her head.
"This is the afterlife, so no one will die even if we did shoot you. You may die, but you will revive shortly after. The reason why we do not introduce ourselves is due to security measures. We must first know whether you are determined or not. Now choose. Do you wish to pass on without incident? Risk becoming our enemy? Or join us? Those who wish to join us, step forward."
This was a tough choice to make. The young man looked at the others in the group. Some were having doubts, and most were unsure of what was going on. If Yukari had not explained what was going on to him that night, he would be equally lost and confused. He looked over to where Kou was at. She seemed to be slightly bored, though her expressions did not hint as such. For the young man, however, his mind was made up.
"I-"
"I will join!"
The noisy guy from before shouted, stepping forward with great confidence.
"Ho~? We've got a brave one here."
The girl in the overalls smirked.
"Are you sure you know what you are doing? This is something that isn't supposed to be taken lightly. We are in a fight for our lives, for our very existence. Stepping into our World means that you would not only risk your life, but also gambling on your very soul. Are you really sure of this?"
Yuki asked. The noisy guy snorted at that question, still having his chest quite filled with confidence from who-knows-where.
"Hmph, what a foolish question. My soul isn't worth the gamble. But my life was quite a boring one. Regrets or not, I would not forgive myself if i don't take this chance to change. This isn't to help you, or to simply prolong my life. This is simply my selfish wish."
He said that with such confidence and bravado that the young man could not help but simply stare.
"Pft.. ha ha ha! This is rich!"
The girl in the overalls started laughing, and soon some of the others began to laugh a little. Except for Kou.
"It is good to have such spirit and resolve. A little reckless, but nonetheless it is a bold statement to make."
Yuki smiled, nodding to one of her guards, who walked over with folded clothes in hand and handed it over to the noisy guy.
"We welcome you then, to our cause. Anyone else?"
Yuki turned to the rest of the group. At first nobody moved. Some of them were still unsure. The young man sighed, wondering why he wasn't moving as well. He stepped forward as well.
"I will join as well."
He said, and was handed a uniform as well. Out of pure curiosity, the young man unfolded his uniform and discovered that it fitted him quite well. Was the reason they were keeping the new comers in lock-up mainly to gain their sizes? No, it could not be just that. It was like Yuki said, it was for security. But security against what?
"Ah! It's you!"
Len shouted, but was immediately silenced when everyone else in the room glared at her.
"... Len, just stay quiet."
Kou muttered, which led to Len to lower her head in embarrassment.
"Yes, commander."
"... Right, anyone else?"
Yuki turned the mood back to the newcomers. Some were hesitant, but slowly one by one they stepped forward. Only two wanted no part of it.
"Alright, since you have made your choice, we will allow you to leave. You can either pass on, or try to stay alive as long as you can in this World without our aid. If you choose the latter, remember that we offered you aid once, it will not come to you once more."
Yuki warned the two who chose to leave. Both were girls, so the young man guessed they were too afraid of this World of violence. Yuki nodded to the guards by the door, and they escorted those two girls out of the room and closed the door behind them. Yuki then stood up from her chair, walking around to the front of the desk and leaned back against the wood.
"So we have eighteen here. Now, we can begin. We are the SSS2, young teenagers who strive to survive in this mad World of the afterlife."
At that moment, the lights in the room turned off as a projector hanging from the ceiling turned on, showing the emblem of the SSS2.
"We fight against those who wish to destroy us. They are the Shadows."
The projector showed a picture of a giant creature made up of some sort of smoke. Just the mere image sent shivers down the spines of all in the room.
"They have no feelings, cannot be reasoned with, and are the main cause of chaos in this World. They have the ability to catch and 'convert' us into one of them, or as an NPC."
The next picture depicted a horrific scene of a student being engulfed by the smoke. Some of the girls in the group screamed a little.
"They can be taken down, but only if you are brave enough to face them. Next are the NPCs. This World works like a computer program, things go according to rules though some things are changing these days. And since this World is built as a school, there are the students and the teachers."
The next picture showed a typical scene of a school. This school. Everything looked normal, but something seemed off about the scene.
"... Excuse me for saying this, but that picture looks rather... artificial."
One of the newcomers, a girl, spoke up. Yuki looked surprised at first by this statement, but smirked.
"You are smart. What is your name?"
"... Yue. Narusaki Yue."
The girl said, showing a little fear of Yuki.
"I see... Yue. You are right. This picture is artificial, but not the picture itself. This is a picture from the school we are in. The students and the teachers are not human. They are like computer programs set to go about their daily lives in the same way as any other human would. But they are different. Remember that."
Yuki said that with some bitterness in her voice. Something must have happened in the past.
"You said that the Shadows will convert us into NPCs."
The noisy guy spoke up.
"Yes. Shadows are created from the NPCs, but unlike the normal NPCs, the Shadows are hostile to us. The Shadows are twisted forms of the NPCs and even if we kill the Shadow, they will just revert back to an NPC. We do not kill NPCs, mainly because we do not need this World to be more messed up than it already is. Shadows are an irregularity, as are we. We do not need to harm the system itself. And if you're wondering... yes, there are members of the SSS2 who have been converted into NPCs. This is another reason why we do not kill the NPCs indiscriminately. I'm sure you do not want to shoot your friends and comrades."
Yuki smiled sadly at them as she said that. Silence filled the room as the tension became a little too tight for the young man to endure.
"... Moving on. We, the SSS2, are a club on the surface, but we work to combat the Shadows on a near daily basis. As all of you are newcomers, you will go through the basic training regime set by me to get you adjusted to this World and to fighting. Before we go into any further detail, let me introduce the important people of our organization. Our organization is broken into six divisions, each important to our survival."
The lights turned back on as the projector turned off.
"This is Ein Shrewerz."
Yuki gestured to the large man, who raised two fingers like a salute to the newcomers.
"He is in charge of the assault division. Ein, if you would."
"Alright."
Ein got up from his seat, surprising the newcomers with his height. The young man could swear he heard Kou mutter 'mc bear' under her breath.
"I am Ein, as Yuki said, I am in-charge of the assault division. The assault division is the SSS2's main battle group. We have different squads, each with their own traits and specialities. Fujibayashi Kyou, here, is my right hand assistant as well as being the leader of the main battle squad."
The purple haired woman next to Ein gave a curt nod to the newcomers.
"Joining the assault division means you are at the front of every battle. The training is tough, the risks are high but in return you get to fight the Shadows head-on. Most of the assault members are people who want revenge against the Shadows."
Yuki explained, gesturing Ein to sit down.
"Next we have the diversion division. Led by Kinoji Awase and Tokiyori Jinnai, they are the ones who keep our SSS2 activities hidden from view."
Yuki pointed to the two sitting on the sofa. The girl smiled sleepily whereas the guy simply shifted his glasses.
"The diversion division are the ones closest to danger as they have to operate within the school activities, but the result from their actions can save the lives of everyone else in the organization. Next, is Guild."
"I'll take over from here, Yuki-chii."
The girl in overalls said, getting up to her feet.
"I'm Himura Yuuko. Call me 'Boss'. Guild is in charge of making weapons and supplies for the entire organization. We are the life-line of every operation and the reason why this organization isn't dead yet. Gya ha ha ha ha!"
Yuuko, the self-proclaimed 'boss', laughed.
"While what Yuuko said can be quite ridiculous, it isn't far from the truth. Guild is the most important part of the organization. Without them, we wouldn't have any weapons to fight. Moving on, we have the intelligence division..."
Yuki seemed to have an air of distrust when she turned to the slim man who stood behind in a corner.
"... He's not important."
Yuki said, making some in the room sigh in disbelief. The man standing behind did not say anything, as though expecting it from Yuki. The girl by his side, however, seemed to be rather annoyed by that fact and wanted to speak up but was stopped by the man himself.
"The intelligence division is the one that collects all information. They give us all possible information to predicting the movements of our enemies."
"... At least she introduced our jobs."
That disgruntled girl muttered. It was obvious that the rivalry between Yuki and the intelligence division ran as high as their egos. Somehow the young man was beginning to think that joining this group was the wrong choice.
"Moving along... My name is Taeno Yuki. I am in charge of Fort, this building which you are currently in. It may not seem like much, but this building is our main head quarters. No Shadow can spawn in here and it cannot be taken down. This is where our predecessors, the SSS first made their stand and it is where we make ours."
The way she introduced herself made the young man think that she was the actually one pulling the strings of the entire organization. That, and the fact that she sat behind the desk where only important people sit at also pushed the idea that she was someone very vital to this group.
"This building is where we started our lives and it is where you will start yours. Welcome to the SSS2. Hope you have no regrets now."
The newcomers were ushered out of the room and led down to the lower levels of the building. There, they were introduced to rooms, proper rooms this time. Each room had ten beds and a cabinet to accompany each bed. It was a simple place to stay and in fact, it looked somewhat like a military camp. Here, the men and women were split into two rooms and were told that their training would start the next day. The young threw his new clothes onto a bed before sitting down on the stiff mattress himself. The day seemed to be so long with so many things going on in his head. He looked at the others in the room, noting the rather stiff silence that made the entire room tense. A little too tense for his liking.
"So, what do you think of this entire thing?"
The noisy guy asked, throwing his stuff onto the bed next to his. Why can't this guy just leave him alone?
"... I don't know. It's all... just too much too fast."
He replied honestly, figuring it would not help anyone to lie at this point. The noisy guy smirked, holding up his blazer to inspect it closer.
"And yet you joined right after me. Whatever it may be, you believed that sticking with this group has the best advantage."
The noisy guy said. The young man thought about that for the moment, before shrugging.
"Maybe. They have the guns, after all."
"And that, they do... Hey, notice how this '2' is rather roughly drawn on like a marker?"
The noisy guy noted the emblem.
"Yeah... I noticed that."
The young man replied, remembering seeing it from before when he first arrived. There was just something about that marking that really made him think about the sanity of this group. That and a few characters.
"By the way, i'm Ooguchi Daisuke. Good to meet you."
The young man looked with an eyebrow raised at the guy's name. Ooguchi Daisuke? Literally 'big mouthed big help'? What sort of name is that? But then again, it did suit him quite well.
"... Like-wise... I'm..."
The young man paused. Thinking back, he could not quite remember his own name. What was his name? Thinking back, he could pull nothing from that deep abyss of darkness that seemed to fill his mind. Daisuke looked rather puzzled at his reaction. It was not like he did it on purpose. He really had no idea what his name was. Wait. There was something. A single name came up. He did not know if it belonged to him or if he simply heard it from somewhere.
"... My name is... Katsuragi, i guess."
"You guess?"
Daisuke wondered.
"... Yeah, i guess. I can't remember my own name too well, so i guess the first thing that came to mind would be it."
"Hmm~, i see. So you're one of those who came with amnesia."
Daisuke nodded in an understanding manner. There were three other guys in the room who were also in the same sort of situation. Katsuragi guessed that he would get to know them in time.
"Hmm... there is something else that bothered me."
Daisuke began, folding his uniform and putting it into the cabinet by his bed.
"That leader, Yuki. She said there were six divisions yet she only introduced five. What is the last division? Is it that cool chick at the corner back in that room?"
"... Kou."
"What?"
Katsuragi did not really want to say this, but he guessed sharing this information was useful.
"Her name is Kou. Kurogane Kou. She's the leader of this special operations division called 'Guardians'. I don't know anymore than that."
Daisuke seemed rather amused by that fact, having a stupid smile on his face while nodding in an 'all-knowing' manner. Now Katsuragi was really beginning to doubt getting involved with this guy.
"So, she must be really secretive if she wasn't introduced. Maybe since they are 'special operations', they deal with a very different kind of enemy?"
"I don't know."
Katsuragi replied, flipping over on his bed. To be honest, he did not care for what Kou does. What he does care for, is why is it that he feels such pain and sorrow when he looks at her? There was just no way he could ignore that.
"So... what do you guys think?"
Yuki asked, crossing her legs on the wooden desk.
"They show some promise."
Ein replied, taking a sip from his 'key' coffee.
"Especially that guy with spunk. I think he will do well in my division."
"Woah, not so fast big guy. If anyone needs a spunky recruit, it's me."
Yuuko slapped her chest proudly as she said that.
"You'll most likely blow him up, that's what."
Fujibayashi Kyou muttered under her breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Everyone in the room was talking about the new comers, not even noticing that the reaper of the organization and her second were leaving. No one but Yuki.
"Going so soon, Kou?"
Yuki asked, causing the room to be silent once more. Kou stopped at the door, turned her head to Yuki with that same dead expression as she held as always. Those dead eyes were cold and blank, not showing a hint of any emotion or life in them. Those eyes were the same ones that made everyone distance themselves from her.
"... There is nothing for me to discuss."
With that, Kou opened the door and walked out of the room. Len followed closely behind and closed the door after her. Once Kou left, the tension in the room lifted and everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
"Man, that was tough. Having to be in the same room as the reaper for so long can be detrimental to my health."
Ein sighed, leaning back in the sofa.
"Kuro-chii still hasn't changed at all."
Yuuko muttered, rather sad that her old friend had become such a cold individual.
"It has already been five years since that day... Five years and her scars had yet to heal."
Kyou added.
"Maybe she doesn't want them to heal. To heal is to forget, and eventually it would lead her to disappear."
Testarossa Iris offered an explanation.
"... In any case, it is better this way. For the type of enemy she fights, she would need to be colder and sharper than any blade we can make."
Yuki said, bringing her legs down from the table.
"For all of our sakes, she needs to be the best killer there is. I just hope it does not destroy her in the process."
A/N: Kou is strong, and her strength is further fueled by her hatred and revenge. She can be considered 'last boss' level, but her detachment from others and short temper make her a wild card for the SSS2 to use. I've added quite a bit of things to the SSS2, so I will be drawing up a new organization chart (with added new characters) by the next chapter. Sit tight!