A/N: Sorry about forgetting to put in the organization chart i promised (extra thanks to Jhon 117 for reminding me).
As for Katsuragi, at this moment he is like level 1 in a game while Kou is at level 80. He won't be saving her any time soon. In the first part, it was intentional to have Guild be the same chapter as the anime. As for this, the flow isn't the same nor would it be anything you guys expect. At least some of you, i hope.
I am still taking up ideas, but as i said in the last chapter of the first story, if you submitted your character ideas now, the chances of your character appearing would be low. Still, if there is a chance, I might put them in. But please, no stereotypical 'cool & awesome' male character. Be more original... like TK, or Matsushida 5-dan. Now those two are awesome characters to write about.
Organization chart (as promised)
Shinda Sekai Sensen 2 (SSS2)
Division 1
Fort
-Commander: Taeno Yuki (rank: General)
-Vice Commander: Unknown
Squads:
-Yuki's Elite
(call sign: Wolves)
leader: Unknown
-Base
(call sign: Camelot)
leader: Imagawa Jin (rank: Sergeant)
-Strategy
(call sign: Throne)
leader: Unknown (ex-leader Minami Shino transferred to division 6)
-Relief
(call sign: Little Busters)
leader: Natsume Kyousuke (rank: Captain) & Riki (rank: Warrant Officer)
-Medics
(call sign: Wingless)
leader: Tsukimiya Ayu (rank: Second Lieutenant)
-Recruits
(call sign: Lost Souls)
leader: Tanaka Goutarou (rank: First Lieutenant)
Division 2
Assault
-Commander: Ein Shrewerz (rank: Colonel)
-Vice Commander: Fujibayashi Kyou (rank: Major)
Squads:
-Frontlines
(call sign: War Boars)
leader: Fujibayashi Kyou (rank: Major)
-Commandos
(call sign: Black Hounds)
leader: Unknown
-Snipers
(call sign: Eagle Watch)
leader: Ryusei Suou (rank: Captain)
-Heavy
(call sign: Iron Storm)
leader: Yamamoto Takanari (rank: First Lieutenant)
-Artillery
(call sign: Thunder)
leader: unknown
-Shock troops
(call sign: Edge)
leader: unknown
Division 3
Guild
-Commander: Himura Yuuko (rank: Colonel)
-Vice Commander: Goudatera Takako (rank: Captain)
Squads:
-Fitters
(call sign: Cloak)
leader: Shotoku Gen (rank: Captain)
-Runners
(call sign: Overcharge)
leader: Senjougahara Shinobu (rank: First lieutenant)
-Experimenters
(call sign: Metal Heads)
leader: Masamune Shoka (rank: Warrant Officer)
-Builders
(call sign: Anvil)
leader: Goudatera Takako (rank: Captain)
-Provisions
(call sign: Raiders)
leader: Unknown
-Guards
(call sign: Shield)
leader: Unknown
Division 4
Diversion
-Commander: Kinoji Awase (rank: Colonel) & Jinnai (rank: Colonel)
-Vice commander: None
Squads:
-Class
(call sign: Blindfold)
leader: Unknown
-Clubs
(call sign: Horseshoe)
leader: Sasaki Tomoe (rank: warrant officer)
-Feint
(call sign: Rabbit)
leader: Unknown
-Attraction
(call sign: Chaos)
leader: Unknown
-Band (recently put together when Awase suggested doing something similar to Girl's Dead Monster)
(call sign: THE END)
leader: Unknown
Division 5
Intelligence
-Commander: Tatsume Kenji (rank: Colonel)
-Vice Commander: Testarossa Iris (rank: Major)
Squads:
-Searchers
(call sign: Seekers)
leader: Unknown
-Analyzers
(call sign: Cross-fire)
leader: Tenryu Shuusuke (rank: First lieutenant)
-Communications
(call sign: Flares)
leader: Kamio Misuzu (rank: Warrant officer)
-Archives
(call sign: Recorders of Truths)
leader: Unknown
-Soldiers
(call sign: Sentinels) Loyalists of Yuki calls them "Over-glorified guards")
leader: Testarossa Iris (rank: Major)
Division 6
Guardians
-Commander: Kurogane Kou (rank: Captain)
-Vice commander: Amatsu Len (rank: First Lieutenant)
Squads (unlike other divisions, the squads in Division 6 all have the same duty. Division into squads was to allocate members across all areas effectively):
-Reapers
leader: Kurogane Kou (rank: Captain)
-Nameless
leader: Sakamoto Shiki (rank: Warrant Officer)
-Judge
leader: Asakura Shion (rank: Sergeant)
-Knights
leader: Takamachi Yukari (rank: Warrant Officer)
Notes: Division 6, also known as the reapers, are an elite squadron compromised of the most fearless and emotionless fighters in the SSS2. Due to their detachment from others and cold attitudes, other SSS2 members all either fear or despise them. Even the leaders of the other divisions fear their power and emotionless states, resulting in the division not having anyone higher than the rank of Captain. This is to ensure that none of the members of Division 6 have more power than most of the other leaders.
Angel Beats!
What We Live For
Operation 4
The price we pay
Looking at the way things were, Katsuragi supposed that this could be considered a victory for the SSS2. That was more like the SSS2's official status on the battle. The report read that the attack occurred at ten in the morning. Two NPCs led an attack of fifty Shadows. The SSS2 countered the attack with a total force of a hundred members of Guild. Sixth Division head, Kurogane Kou was present at the scene immediately, as well as Tanaka of Fort who led five new recruits into battle.
Reinforcements from the assault division arrived ten minutes later though most of the battle was already concluded by then. The enemy was completely wiped out and the SSS2 suffered minimal losses. Minimal losses. That wasn't what Katsuragi would really call 'minimal'. They lost a total of fifteen members, five of which were completely erased by the Angels. This could not really be considered a victory, could it? Katsuragi wasn't along in his thoughts about it, though. Kou thought the same as well as could be seen by her being rather angry after the entire thing was done.
"... Fifteen. Fifteen gone."
She muttered, throwing herself down onto a chair by the side of the workshop. Dark stains of blood dyed her hands and most of her clothes red. Blood dripped from her bangs and it looked as though she just swam through a river of blood. Seeing how she fought, she might as well have done so. Even though the other members of the SSS2 were clearly thankful for her efforts, as seen by their cheers of her name, they did not go near her. In fact, they did not even face her when she cheered out the nickname of the 'reaper'. While others called it a victory, Kou simply counted the losses. Katsuragi had to admit, however, that he had never seen such elegance and such grace being paired with the level of ferocity and power that Kou wielded. It was like watching a beautiful massacre, being both horrifying and strangely alluring at the same time. Katsuragi could not help but find himself more and more interested in her.
"Hey! Did you see my great first battle?"
Daisuke proudly proclaimed, showing off his new pistol, which was really a small sig sauer. While Katsuragi and most of the other members thought it as being dumb, some girls had apparently seen some sort of good-looking idol before them as they had gathered around him with some love-struck eyes and stuff.
"I kicked those shadows butt like no other!"
His maniac laughter was starting to grate some nerves. Kou, however, did not seem to care about it any more than she did care about anything else in particular.
"Here."
Gen handed her a cloth as he sat down at his bench to take a look at her pistol. Kou took the towel and wiped some of the blood off her, though the cloth was quickly made damp when it soaked up nearly a bucket load of blood.
"I'll probably be done by evening. Come back by then."
Gen said, taking the damp cloth back from Kou and dumping it into a bucket next to his workbench. Kou did not say a word in reply, getting up from her seat and walking off without warning. Just as she was walking out, three members of the Guardians walked in. Guardians differed quite a bit from the other members of the organization, not only in their skills, but their appearance and mannerism. The first difference was the way they carried themselves. They were all quite detached from reality, having a dark and heavy air hanging around them almost all of the time. The second difference was the way they treated others. They treated each other and their leader, Kou, with respect while at the same time trying to stay away from the others in the organization.
It seems like they distrust the others, but not in a way like how some people would look down on others. No, it seems that the Guardians actually held certain fear for their fellow SSS2 members. Katsuragi guessed that if they were constantly fighting against NPCs who were very much human, the Guardians would be psychologically scarred. The last difference, and probably the most obvious difference, was that each member of the Guardians wore a black band of some sorts on their body. The black band could be a black strap, black ribbon, or in Kou's case, a black wrist band. As for the three members of the Guardians, Katsuragi recognized two of them almost immediately.
With her large cleaver and a small black strap tied around her right arm where her only rolled up sleeve was, Takamachi Yukari. Why she rolled only one sleeve was beyond Katsuragi. The second he recognized was Amatsu Len, who had a black cloth tied around her forehead. The last member had a black face cloth covering her mouth and nose, although she was already wearing a large cloak that covered her body. Her hood was pulled back, but her right eye was covered by her long bangs.
"Oh? Kou, you're here?"
Yukari asked her leader, who simply nodded.
"Ah, commander, where are you going? I shall accompany you-"
"Now now, let's just leave our dear leader alone. I'm sure she doesn't really like it when you keep staring at her while she's in the showers."
Yukari pulled back Len by the collar, choking the second in command a little.
"Go on, Kou, we'll deal with the report. Just get yourself cleaned up."
Kou nodded to Yukari's idea and walked out, much to the dismay of Len, who immediately flared up in Yukari's face.
"What was that for? !"
Len demanded.
"Calm down."
Yukari muttered, snatching a bottle of water on one of the fitter's work bench and poured its contents on Len.
"Wha- WHAT WAS THAT FOR!"
Len shouted again in a louder voice this time.
"Hmm... Looks like one bottle wasn't enough."
"That's not it!"
At this point, they loud conversation had attracted the attention of practically the entire Guild.
"Oho~, you two are sure loud as usual."
A girl said, stepping forward. Katsuragi remembered her from the introduction day. She was-
"Yuuko, good thing you're here. We need you to maintain our weapons again."
Yukari said, lifting her giant cleaver with one hand and putting it on the nearest work bench. The sound of the sword being dropped on the table was more than enough proof that the cleaver was extremely heavy, nevermind the sound of the table legs on the verge of breaking. The mysterious third girl pulled out a giant gun that looked very much like an anti-tank rifle. Yuuko, the self-proclaimed boss of Guild, sighed, shaking her head.
"I'm the boss of Guild, why do i have to do menial work?"
Yuuko muttered, grabbing a chair and leaning in to take a look at the weapons.
"You've been slacking off again? Anyway, it was you who volunteered to fix every Guardian weapon yourself."
Yukari reminded Yuuko.
"I know i did say that, since the guardians needed extremely special weapons of each member, and the maintenance and creation of each weapon is an extremely delicate job that only i can handle...But Kuro-chii still goes to Gen."
"Kou chooses that because Gen knows her weapons the best. More like she doesn't want you to mess up 'his' memories."
Yuuko looked up at Yukari, her eyes narrowing at the other girl.
"... I would never do anything to spoil the memories of him. Akira was my best guy. I treated him like my own right hand."
"We know that, Yuuko. We all do. Still, seeing how you treat your own health, i wouldn't trust you when you say you treat him like your own right hand."
Yukari smirked, making Yuuko smile.
"You got me there, Taka-chii. Well, let Kuro-chii do what she wants. Anyway, Amatsu-chii, where's your weapon?"
Yuuko turned to Len, who was busy grabbing more rifle magazines.
"M-me? My weapon's fine!"
Len stuttered, trying to hide the fact that she also traded one bag of dirt for a box of sweets.
"Reeaaally... The last time i asked, you also said the same thing. If you don't let me maintain your special weapon, it will break you know."
"It will break when you touch it!"
Len shouted back.
"Aha, so that's your reasoning. I'm hurt, Amatsu-chii."
Yuuko replied in a mocking voice.
"Wha- what are you talking about! I'm going to find the commander!"
Len declared, turning to go but was once again pulled back by Yukari.
"Now now, didn't i just say to leave our dear leader alone? You've been sticking to her everyday, completely ignoring us. Don't you know we need to be consoled too?"
"You guys don't need me!"
"Don't say such sad things. Just join us for this while."
Yukari smirked, pulling Len off to one side with the third Guardian following close behind.
"Hey, newcomer, you're up."
Katsuragi turned when a hand was placed on his shoulder. Tanaka was standing before him, the same chart as before still in his hand.
"Huh?"
"It's your turn to get sized up for a weapon. Come on, you're the last one."
Tanaka pointed over to the side room. Katsuragi then remembered what he came down here to do. Getting up, he walked over to where the remaining newcomers were and waited. He guessed that he wouldn't be meeting any more Guardians for today.
"Name?"
Tanaka asked.
"Katsuragi."
"... Katsuragi... I see."
Tanaka raised an eyebrow, looking at him from head to toe with such sceptism in his eyes.
"... I-is there something wrong?"
Katsuragi asked, feeling somewhat unsure and nervous by Tanaka's stares.
"... No, it's nothing."
Tanaka muttered, looking down at his chart and writing down the name.
"Right, go in. The fitters are waiting for you guys."
Katsuragi wondered what was that all about, but walked into the room either way. The room, however, was far from his expectations. To be honest, he didn't have any expectations, but he certainly wasn't thinking of this. There were stalls like that of a changing room in a clothing shop by the side of the room, each having a Guild fitter standing inside. Lined all over this small room were weapons of all kinds. Ranging from small blades, slingshots, iron balls, and even blow darts, to the large swords, hammers, and he even spotted a sword that looked very much like a sword from the Japanese mythology. Then there were the guns. From tiny pistols to the rifles and even rocket launchers and minigun. This room had everything, with enough weapons to arm a small country. This wasn't something to joke about anymore, these people meant business.
"Hey you, get over here."
A female fitter shouted, gesturing for Katsuragi to go over to her, which he did though at a rather sluggish pace as his eyes were still bewildered by the sight of the room he was in.
"Quite a sight to behold, huh?"
The girl said, pulling him into the stall and starting to size him up with a measuring tape. Though why she was doing this he had no idea.
"Hmm... surprisingly strong arm build. Which handed are you?"
"Erm... right, i think."
"Right... Let's see..."
The fitter looked around and took a M16 rifle.
"Hold this."
She said, pushing the rifle into his hand. For some reason, it felt somewhat normal as his hand immediately felt for the grip. The fitter, however, seemed to have different thoughts.
"Hmm... No, you're not holding it right. This isn't it."
She took the rifle from him and placed it back on the rack. She looked around the place, and grabbed another rifle, a FAL rifle and placed it in his hand. This was slightly better in his hands, but something was still not working for the fitter.
"... Not this either."
She took the rifle from him and looked once more around the place.
"Hmm... It can't be, can it?"
She walked out of the stall and headed to one side, grabbing a certain odd looking rifle and returning to the stall.
"Try holding this."
She said, pushing the rifle into his hand. This time, Katsuragi felt something within him. This rifle was... perfect? But could he know when he never held a rifle before? But how would he know whether he held a rifle before or not?
"... It fits, what a surprise. Maybe this is fate."
The fitter muttered, biting onto her finger nail. A bad habit, by the way.
"Fate?"
He repeated her words.
"What you are holding is the SAR-21. Only two other people in this entire organization can use it, though they are both a special case. One is Amatsu Len, the second in command of the sixth division, the Guardians."
Katsuragi immediately thought of that same scowling face of that vice commander. She certainly was scary.
"And the other?"
"The other is Kurogane Kou, the leader of the sixth division herself. Maybe you are fated to enter the sixth division too, then i can boast that i outfitted a reaper myself! Ha ha! Anyway, this is really weird."
The fitter said, rubbing her chin in thought.
"What is?"
"This rifle is quite an odd one. When i said only those two can use it, it is because they hold special abilities. The two of them are able to use almost every weapon in our arsenal. No one else is able to use this weapon, which makes it rather rare."
"... Is this gun special?"
He wondered, looking at the weapon closely.
"Special? Not really. Just that the design of the rifle is not what most people are used to, that's all... If you're thinking that you are somehow linked to special people, you're thinking too much. This rifle is more trouble than anything, since no one can use it."
"I... see."
"Well, for now, we'll give you a pistol to compliment that rifle. New comers don't use rifles until they are assigned to a unit, so you'll have to put up with this."
The fitter took the rifle from his hand and passed him a pistol. A beretta 92 to be exact. Katsuragi looked at the pistol with some odd feeling growing in his chest.
"Well, come back after you get assigned and i'll pass you your brand new rifle. Until then, make sure to stay alive, new guy."
Tanaka Goutarou was still slightly worried over something. Looking at his chart, in particular that one guy, Tanaka felt slightly uneasy.
"Yo, Tanaka-kun, what's up with the messed-up face?"
He looked up, seeing Takamachi Yukari walking over with Amatsu Len and Asakura Shion in tow.
"Messed up? That's not it. I'm just a little... confused."
He admitted, looking back down to his chart.
"Tanaka is confused? That's new."
"It's just this new guy. The one you guys brought in."
Yukari frowned her eyebrows and she rubbed her chin in thought. Tanaka sighed as he remembered that Yukari wasn't exactly famous for remembering a lot of things. She was famous for her monstrous strength though. Then she suddenly remembered, stamping her fist onto her palm.
"Oh, that guy. I completely forgot about him. So how is he?"
"He's fine... a little too fine."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"I mean... i don't know. He is human, i can see that, but something doesn't seem right with him."
"Something not right...?"
Len seemed slightly confused with what Tanaka was saying, but then again, so were the other two. Even Tanaka himself was not too sure of what he was talking about. In short, this conversation was not making any sense.
"I sense some thing similar to the presence of an NPC within him."
"You mean he is an Angel disguising himself?"
Len demanded, quick to flare up with anger, but Yukari raised her hand to stop the vice commander. It was hard to tell who held the higher rank by this scene.
"Calm down, Len. Tanaka isn't done explaining. Tanaka? Would you mind elaborating?"
"Sure, but aren't you suppose to be helping Masamune?"
Tanaka asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Shoka is a grown girl, she doesn't need to help her with testing new weapons all the time. So what can you tell us about this new guy?"
"... What i felt was not like an Angel. Far from it. What i felt was... some static. He does have a human soul, that much i am certain, but the other parts about him are slightly off. As though his soul, mind and body are all not aligned correctly. It isn't exactly impossible, but it is extremely rare... and his body seems to be... somewhat aligned to the 'Angel Player' program."
Tanaka explained as best as he could.
"So you're saying that he has some connection to that experimental program that we're still testing out? Could it be that he came to this World during 'that' incident with the program?"
Yukari asked. Tanaka wasn't sure how to answer. In fact, he didn't even know if he was correct in the first place.
"It could mean anything, truth be told. Anyway, i'll look into it further. The new comers are my responsibility, after all."
"I see. Well, be careful about it. The Angels have been more daring recently, so we will never know where and when they will appear next."
"I know. You guys betters be careful as well."
Tanaka warned, to which Yukari merely laughed.
"Ha ha! That's rich. Tanaka, you should know better than to say that to us. We're the Guardians, the reapers of the SSS2. By the words of our leader, Kou, we will kill them all."
Looking at his pistol, Katsuragi felt slightly odd. The weapon was heavy in hand but other than that, it felt quite comfortable to hold. The grip seemed to slide around his hand just right.
"Alright, alright! All of you, gather around!"
Katsuragi looked up from his weapon and saw that a small girl with rather short hair had tried waving her hands around in the air to attract everyone's attention. She succeeded, to some extent. Tanaka was standing by her side, simply observing this time.
"Can all of you hear me?"
The girl asked, her voice being raised just enough for everyone to hear.
"My name is..."
The girl trailed off, looking as though she did not want to continue. Everyone was silent, patient and eagerly waiting for her to continue. In fact, the entire Guild room seemed to be silent at this point. Was this some sort of grand ceremony? Or maybe there was something about her name that everyone wanted to hear? Apparently, it became clear that the girl herself noticed that she was attracting too much attention.
"ALL OF YOU GET LOST! DON'T TRY TO LISTEN IN WHEN I'M TALKING!"
She barked at the other Guild members who immediately jumped back to work.
"Her name is Goudatera Takako."
Tanaka spoke up, seeing as how the girl could not say her own name.
"My name isn't Goudatera!"
She shouted at Tanaka, who simply plugged his ear with his finger.
"Fine fine, just get on with it, alright? I still don't understand why you were made the leader of the Builders."
"Hey, it isn't like i wanted this position, alright? No one can replace Akira, not even me."
"Just do your job."
Tanaka sighed, not really wanting to continue this argument.
"... Fine. Anyway, all of you new comers, listen up. I'm here to teach you the basics of weapons maintainence. The reason why i'm the one teaching you is because i've been placed in charged of the builders, the people making the weapons. That and because Ein doesn't bother to teach these things. Anyway, the rules are really simple. You can choose to clean the weapon yourself, or bring it back for regular maintenance. Of course, if you bring it in we need to charge you as per the rules of Guild- Don't give me that look. I don't make the rules."
Takako snapped when some of the new comers showed a face of disbelief. Paying? For weapons to survive? Weren't these people part of the organization as well? Shouldn't this be free?
"The currency of the SSS2 is the meal ticket. The more expensive the meal ticket, the more value it has, except for that legendary super spicy Mabo Tofu. No one will touch it, let alone the meal ticket so that is worthless. Five tickets will get you a pistol, ten for a rifle. Melee weapons vary in price depending on the strength of the weapon and the durability. You can also pay in 'essence' or 'dirt'. Let me show you."
Takako pulled from a bag nearby two jars. One jar was filled with plain dirt. The other, however, was filled with some strange floating blue light.
"I don't need to explain which is which. Essences are created when Shadows and Angels are defeated. The colour of essence refers to the type of essence it is that can be used to enhance different types of weapons. Blue essences increase the durability of weapons, for instance. Red are used for attack power, green for range and length of weapon. White and Black essence are completely different, and they are extremely rare and powerful. Beware of the black essence, however, as they are similar to the Shadows and could swallow you if you are not naturally resistant to it. Next is dirt.
Dirt is what we use to make weapons. Normal dirt can be found anywhere in Guild, so what we want is rare dirt. Essence infused dirt. These are usually the pieces of dirt from which a Shadow or Angel was defeated upon, and the essence that is dropped isn't collected properly, thus being absorbed into the ground. These special cases of dirt are extremely rare as essences have a tendency to disappear when absorbed by the system again, but using these special dirt, we are able to create special weapons. A good example is my chain."
Takako reached behind her and pulled out a long metal link chain. It looked pretty much normal, besides being heavy-duty, but at the snap of her fingers, the chain started to move, surprising some of the new comers.
"By combining three factors, we are able to create specialized weapons that respond only to the individual. The three factors are 'Dirt', 'Soul', and 'Program'. The dirt is like i explained before, the special dirt filled with essence. The second is soul, which means that not everyone can have a specialized weapon. It is truly based on your own nature. Most people do not have such weapons, and only the leaders and a select few have them. Currently only a mere five percent of the organization is capable of using such weapons. Tanaka here isn't one of them."
Takako smirked, but Tanaka merely ignored it.
"The last part is still new. The 'program'. It does not concern you guys at the moment, as it is still being tested out. But what i can tell you is that it is extremely dangerous for it is the very thing that empowers out enemies, the Shadows and the Angels. In other words, we're fighting fire with fire."
Takako snapped her fingers and the moving chain coiled itself up she tucked it away.
"Now that we're done with that part of the introduction, it's time we get you moving to the Assault division... Tanaka, where is that Fujibayashi girl?"
Takako asked, looking around but seeing no sight of the person she was looking for. Tanaka scratched his head, looking at his watch.
"Strange, she's not one to be late. Maybe Ein got them to do some stupid training again."
Tanaka answered, heaving a sigh.
"Well, newcomers, you guys will get a break for now. Follow me to the cafeteria."
The cafeteria was certainly a sight to behold. The entire building was built primarily for eating, and there were both SSS2 members and NPCs walking about. However it was easy to tell that the SSS2 members were clearly trying to stay away from the NPCs as the organization members sat amongst themselves, not paying the NPCs any attention. It was surely a given since they could not trust the NPCs, who could very well turn into Shadows the next moment, or be Angels in hiding waiting to attack. The SSS2 members were certainly not one of the most hospitable people to exist in this World. Tanaka gave a slight cough, gathering the attention of the group.
"Alright, listen up. If you check with the reception desk either here, in the main school building, or in the dorms, they will give you a certain amount of pocket money to spend in the cafeteria and at the snack shops and vending machines. Each student is given a daily allowance by the school, but we do not like to use it often. We try to be self-sustaining as much as possible, besides, they only give enough for three meals and two snacks. Anyway, you can collect this daily allowance from the reception desks and use it to pay for meal tickets. I have seen some people try to hoard up meal tickets in order to get some large weapon, but that would take up more than a month of not eating in order to get that amount of tickets, so if you're planning on following the same way, try not to die of starvation. Revivals at the aid stations and infirmary will also cost you meal tickets, depending on how you died."
Tanaka warned. Sounds like an overly complicated RPG to Katsuragi though, one of those old traditional RPGs where if you were to die your body would become a coffin and your team mates would have to drag your dead ass over to a church to revive and suddenly you realize you need money to revive and you're broke, so your comrades either just leave you dead or go out to kill some random encounter monster to earn money. What an elaborate description of an old RPG, and Katsuragi really had no idea why he had to mentally describe the process, albeit in a more slightly more gruesome manner.
"Alright, we'll have a break for lunch. All of you, eat up but don't overdo it. I'll call for you guys once i have settled something. Dismissed."
Katsuragi felt slightly lost once that was said. The newcomers were also a little lost, not to mention nervous. This would be the first time they were allowed to do as they want, and it's only the second day since they joined! These newcomers did not know left from right and now they were let free like how you would release a half-trained circus animal back into the wild. To make matters worse, Tanaka had already disappeared from sight, thus preventing the newcomers from asking him further questions.
"... Sigh, well, let's just do this."
Katsuragi muttered, walking off from the group and heading towards the reception desk. Of course, Katsuragi felt slightly odd as well, walking over to talk with an NPC who would probably reply the same things if he asked enough of times.
"Yes? How can i help you?"
The lady behind the desk asked with a smile. Creepy.
"Erm... Can i collect my allowance?"
He asked, not quite sure of how he should go about with it.
"Sure. Do you have your student card?"
"Card?"
He didn't hear anything about a card! He looked around, searching his pocket before he felt something there. He fished it out and realized that it was a student card. His student card. It had his picture on it and the name 'Katsuragi' in hiragana.
"... Is this it?"
He wondered, not too sure if things can be so convenient as this.
"Ah, yes. Let me scan this."
The receptionist took the card and scanned it once. Shortly after, a beeping sound came from the computer behind the desk.
"Alright, would you like to withdraw the money? Or store it in the card?"
She asked, causing further confusion for Katsuragi.
"Card?"
"Oh, didn't you read the recent bulletins? Now you are able to use your student card to pay for different things around the school. Of course, they still accept cash. So? What would it be?"
"... I'll leave it in my card."
He replied, deciding that he could give it a try. Besides, this money isn't something that the SSS2 would use. They were interested in meal tickets, dirt, and floating lights, all of which do not exactly make up for anything, even if this were in a game setting. In the first place, why would they use meal tickets? Sure, the dirt and essence were explanable, but the meal tickets? Well, he guessed that by using meal tickets, the SSS2 would skip the process of going to the receptionist and queuing up for the tickets, thus avoiding coming into contact with most of the NPCs in the cafeteria. But that seemed to be avoiding the problem more than solving it. Well, Katsuragi guessed it still worked out in the end. Somehow or rather.
"So? How did it go?"
Daisuke asked when Katsuragi joined back with the group. Apparently everyone else was interested in knowing as well.
"... It went fine... i guess."
He replied, not too sure on whether it was really alright or not.
"You know, you have to fix that 'i guess' part in your speech."
Daisuke said, shaking his head.
"Well, since you're still alive, i guess there's nothing to be afraid of."
Daisuke smirked, turning to walk over to the receptionist. Katsuragi was too confused and slightly tired to even demand to know why he was made to become the newcomer group's guinea pig. Well, time to eat. Katsuragi walked over to the computerized menu, and was shocked to see the entire list of food was not as simple as a simple pork cutlet, or bowl of beef curry. No, there variations and twists to every order. A pork cutlet had three variations, supreme, deluxe and exquisite. Wasn't there a 'normal' setting? Unbeknownst to Katsuragi, his confused and complete puzzlement over the choices of food had caused a line to form behind him.
"Oi! Hurry up and choose!"
"Our break is only ten minutes long!"
The shouts of complaints by the SSS2 members in particular made Katsuragi even more nervous. He looked for something that was normal and seemingly acceptable. His eyes scrolled through the entire list of food, unsure of what to pick. The answer was not clear, it wasn't right in-front of him. He was lost, completely.
"I wouldn't order that if i were you."
A voice suddenly said. Katsuragi turned around, and saw a single girl standing there. With long dark raven hair and deep blue eyes, this girl seemed to exude a certain presence that he had not felt before. This was... hatred? Spite? Not towards just anyone, but to a particular person. It wasn't Katsuragi who was the target of this spite, but someone else.
"Order what?"
"That."
The girl pointed to where his finger was going to press. Looking at the option himself, he realized that his finger almost pressed the option of 'super spicy mabo tofu'.
"That thing is hot enough to be considered an effective weapon against the Angels. Best not to try it."
Katsuragi nodded to her warning, deciding that if those 'Angels' were weak against that, he would not stand a chance.
"This is a relatively new menu, but don't be fooled by the names. Just pick one, they are more or less the same."
Taking her advice to heart, Katsuragi picked the deluxe pork cutlet. Taking the small ticket from the machine, he stepped aside, allowing the line to continue. That girl was next up, she quickly selected a menu choice, before walking off. Katsuragi quickly followed behind, seeing as he did not know where else he could go. Soon, Katsuragi found himself standing in another queue, though this one was one the next floor, and the end of the line was the kitchen.
"You produce your ticket to the counter and wait for your food. It's simple, didn't you used to have this when you were alive?"
The same girl from before asked, to which Katsuragi shook his head.
"I can't remember."
"... Amnesia.. Huh."
She did not seem to bother with that little detail. Perhaps it really wasn't that rare of a case, but Katsuragi should have noticed that way before this event happened. Maybe his brain was starting to rot even though he was dead. At least that was the impression he was getting from the girl who was glaring down his back. He quickly got to the counter and passed the ticket. He didn't have to wait long before his order came. A steaming bowl of tonkatsu.
"Here, your deluxe pork cutlet. Thanks for waiting."
Katsuragi, however, could not reach out and grab it. Rather, he was frozen in shock and awe at the sight of this single bowl of pork cutlet. Why, you may ask? The answer is rather simple. This bowl of seemingly harmless pork cutlet was glowing. Literally. It was radiating in its own brilliance so much that it was actually shining (in Katsuragi's eyes, that is). So blinded by it that Katsuragi could not grab it, till someone slapped him hard on the back.
"What are you waiting for? Go get it!"
The girl from before grumbled, making him wake from his stupor and grab the bowl of glowing fried pork cutlet. So very bright, and the weight of this bowl wasn't something to laugh at. This was certainly-
"The more you fantasize about your meal, the more it is going to hurt when i punch you to wake up."
A certain angry voice spoke from behind. Right, time to get going then. Katsuragi looked around, looking for a place to sit. The division between the NPCs and the SSS2 members were quite clear. As he was part of the SSS2, Katsuragi guessed he should sit with the SSS2 members. But where exactly? He tried looking around for a familiar face, or an empty table. Unfortunately neither were available to him at that moment.
"Hey! Over here!"
Someone shouted over the noise of the crowd. Katsuragi turned and saw a familiar face waving his hand. Ooguchi Daisuke was seated at one end with the rest of the recruits, though how they managed to get their food before him was somewhat of a mystery that he did not understand nor able to comprehend. But nonetheless he was glad to be no longer standing around like an idiot. Katsuragi reached the table and took a seat next to his noisy friend. While Daisuke wasn't exactly a friend, more along the lines of a 'self-proclaimed' buddy, it was still somewhat nice to be in his company. Sort of.
"Let's all introduce ourselves."
Daisuke offered and most of the recruits agreed, re-introducing themselves to the rest of the group. Katsuragi would not know if he would ever see them again after this recruitment, however, as they were all going their separate ways. Though he did not want to think about it, Katsuragi knew that some of them would fall victim to the Shadows and the Angels. Shadows being the ones that convert them into NPCs and Angels being the ones who completely erase them. Either way it was not a pretty thought or feeling. As such, he did not bother to remember their names that much. It would not do much for him to feel too attached. But why did he feel that? It was unusual for him to be like this, but how did he know what he was like in the first place? Although he would not remember their names, Katsuragi still took time to look at each and every one of them. Each had their own secrets, their own past. They were all now in this war. A war that they did not start but a war that they were put in to survive.
A/N: I'm going to try something new for the next chapter, so bear with me, alright? It may not be that good, but I'll give it a try. Just sit tight and wait for it.