A/N: Welcome one and all to a very lengthy chapter of The End of Hope's Peak Academy...
Today we get to learn more about Ryuji and the truth behind his death. This chapter is also a set up for the following Dodgeball chapter, which will be the next one I think. There will be a lot of stuff in this chapter, so I hope you like it.
There is also a bit of foreshadowing to future events. So if you get that slight foreshadowing, then congratulations to you!
This Chapter will also explore a bit more of Daisuke's bond with people. Those bonds will be tested when Shit starts hitting the fan, there's also a bit of a cameo from our lovable Mistress of Despair, I just had to sneak her into this chapter...I dunno why but she made me do it. Lol.
Let me know what you think of this chapter and all of the stuff, I was actually going to post it a bit earlier, but I added the extra ending part...you get to see how two people from the future story met up in the past...how exciting! Hope you like this chapter, it took me all day to write it, so love it, looooooove iiiiiiit!
The End of Hope's Peak Academy
Zetsubou-Hen
Chapter 27
Truth
"So, will you come with me to Asakusa? I really don't want to go alone."
Daisuke looked at his girlfriend, who was currently brushing her lengthy hair. She had just gotten out of the shower, and had dressed in her silky sleeveless nightgown. She had been busy working on her homework moments before her boyfriend walked into their dorm. He had been rather pissed off, but she didn't know why. So she had decided to hear him out. She looked up, glancing at him through the mirror as she tied her hair into a high ponytail.
"Sure sweetheart, I'll go with you." she said. He smiled, wrapping his arms around her.
"Thank you honeybun, I really appreciate it!" he said, kissing her cheek.
"I would appreciate it if you took a shower before hugging me. You're drenched in sweat!" she cried.
"Sorry, it was a bit hot outside. I did run here when I realized the first episode of Pokemon Sun and Moon was on." he said. Thankfully he had already watched it, so he was about to hop in the shower. He set his bag down and grabbed a spare change of underwear and some basketball shorts.
"Why doesn't Hiyoko want to go again?" Sonia asked, spinning around in her chair. He sighed, placing his phone, his wallet and his Student ID on the dresser.
"One, she hates Cameron with a passion. The girl almost beat her up in a hospital, and two...she's on her period and wants to be left alone." he said, grabbing his towel.
"Oh...I feel so bad for her. She was uncomfortable in class today, but I didn't think that was it." She admitted.
"I already got her some new tampons, ice cream and some pills. She'll be sleeping it off. Hopefully she's in a better mood tomorrow. We need to practice for that dodge-ball game." he said. He took his boots off, placing them by the side of his bed.
"I can't believe you challenged the Student Council to a dodge-ball game."
"Hey Asukasei pissed me off. He said Nekumaru wasn't shit compared to Tomohiko, and I want to prove his ass wrong. So we better bring it, and none of that prissy princess shit. Alright sweetheart?" he asked.
"I know, I'm pretty strong you know. I've never played dodge-ball before...oh since we're going to Asakusa, do you think we could stop by a Ramen shop? I haven't had a pork bowl in awhile."
"Sure thing, but you and I get to shower together after we get back here." he said, a smirk on his face. She blushed brightly, giving him a shy nod.
He closed the bathroom door, getting ready for his shower. Ever since he and Sonia had gotten together officially, they had been sharing his bed. It was better for the both of them since his television was mounted on the wall in front of his bed. The bed was also large enough for both of them so he didn't mind. Waking up to the princess on his chest, sleeping soundly was the best thing in the world. It was even better when Hiyoko snuck into their room in the middle of the night and took his other arm. He was sure hundreds of men would be jealous about him waking up to two smoking beauties.
He finished his shower after a few minutes, walking out of the bathroom. He shook his head a bit as he put on his tee shirt. His hair had gotten a bit unruly. He almost looked like Ash Ketchum from how spiky his hair had gotten. He ran his fingers through it, looking at his reflection on the mirror. Sonia was busy reading one of her freemasonry books, not really paying attention to what he was doing.
"Do you think I should cut my hair?" he asked, glancing at the blonde. She looked up from her book, shaking her head.
"I like it, you look better with spiky hair."
"Yeah, but I'm starting to look a bit like Kazuichi now. All I need is the braid and the shark teeth and I'll be his freaking double." he said, picking at a strand of hair.
"Maybe you should dye your hair pink. You would look adorable."
"Haha, very funny." he said, glaring at the blonde.
He shook his head, grabbing his hair brush. He brushed his hair down a bit, sitting down at the computer seat. Sonia had been sitting in his bead, leaned back against the wall. He grabbed the remote, turning the television on. He sifted through a few channels, suddenly stopping on one that caught his interest.
"Whoa look, it's the fashion show that's going on in Milan right now." he said. Sonia looked up, vague interest in the program.
"I don't like these shows. They treat the models horribly, some are even diagnosed with severe eating disorders. I think natural beauty should be appreciated in ways that don't degrade women." she admitted.
"I totally agree. I remember reading this article a few years ago about this model who used to binge eat. She would eat everything she could and then barf it back up. I felt super bad for her." he admitted, leaning back in his seat.
"And now, Modeling our first line of Summer Outfits, give it up for our youngest model. Junko Enoshima, the Super Highschool Level Fashion Diva!" the announcer cried. The crowd literally exploded when the strawberry blonde made her way onto the runway.
"There she is, one of the most famous girls in the world. And she has the crowd in her hands." Daisuke said, an impressed smirk on his face.
The girl reached the end of the runway, and she started blowing kisses to the crowd. She was wearing a swimsuit, made out of the finest materials on the planet. The top was a light pink in color, with various flower prints on it. She had a see through wrap around her waist, showing a bit of the bottom, which was also light pink in color .she was wearing a pair of high heeled wedges, making her taller than she normally was. Her strawberry blonde hair was left down, reaching past her waist. She flashed a peace sign to the camera, giving it a wink.
"Oh she is selling it." Sonia said, a jealous tone in her voice. Daisuke chuckled, glancing at the blonde.
"Are you jealous of Junko? She has nothing against you. While she may act like a princess, you are a princess. No one can beat you in that." he said.
"You're sweet, but even I admit she has a nice body...that probably explains why she's so popular." she admit. He changed the channel, sifting through some other stuff. He finally settled on a movie, not really caring what it was.
"Maybe it's because of her bubbly persona. I spent a month getting to know her, and yet I still don't truly know her. There's something about her that just...tickles me the wrong way." he said, leaning forward in his seat.
"In what way would that be exactly?" she asked, glancing at him. He had a pensive look on his face, as if he were calculating something.
"I haven't figured her out yet. When I do, I'll be sure to let you know." he replied. She looked at him oddly, giving him a silent nod. She didn't exactly know what to make of it.
He didn't pay much attention to the movie. He was rather lost in thought. He was wondering just what made Junko so popular. He glanced at the clock after what seemed like hours and stood up, stretching his tired limbs. Sonia had already fallen asleep, so he may as well go to bed himself. He shut the lights off along with the television, climbing into the bed next to his girlfriend. He gave her a kiss on the cheek, making her smile a bit in her sleep.
He woke up rather early the next day. He normally woke up at around seven in the morning when Sonia woke up, but this time he had gotten up a half hour earlier. He shook off the feeling of sleep and quickly got ready for the day. Since it was warming up, he had decided to start wearing short sleeved shirts rather than long sleeved ones. He still carried around his jacket if he needed it.
He dressed in a light blue flannel shirt, with golden buttons on it. He grabbed his hooded vest and placed it on over the shirt, zipping it up half way. He grabbed a pair of black skinny jeans and put them on, along with some gray high top sneakers he had bought the month before. He grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder. He pulled his phone from his pocket, flicking it open to check his messages.
"You're up early."
He glanced up from the screen, noticing Sonia had woken up. It was still ten minutes to seven, the time both of them usually woke up. She grabbed the alarm clock turning the alarm off. He smiled bashfully.
"I couldn't sleep."
"I could tell, you kept tossing and turning all night...something on your mind?" she asked, pulling her hair from its ponytail.
"Just thinking about this meeting with Cameron. I just...don't know what she wants to talk about. We never got along, so her calling me is odd. Anyway I don't want top worry about that now. I'm going to check on Chiaki." he said, heading toward the door.
"Isn't it a bit early?"
"No, Peko is up at five every morning. We used to practice at that time before we moved it to the afternoon, remember?" he asked.
"Ah right, I forgot. I'm going to grab a shower then, I'll meet you in the classroom." she said, pecking his cheek before entering the bathroom.
He slipped into the hallway, greeting a few people from Class 76 that was making their way downstairs. He turned up the hallway, passing the dorms of his friends until he reached the shared room of Chiaki and Peko. He knocked softly on the door, in case the girls were asleep. Almost immediately the door opened, the crimson eyes of the Ultimate Swordswoman bore into his own.
"Good morning Daisuke, is there something you need?" she asked softly. She was busy braiding her hair into its usual style.
"Just checking on Chiaki, is she doing better?" he asked. A loud coughing fit filled his ears a second later, virtually answering his question.
"It seems she has gotten worse. I will be taking her to the hospital on campus so she could rest. She spent most of the night playing video games."
"Oh Chiaki, do you ever learn?" he called out, earning another cough as an answer. He shook his head.
"Alright, I'll see you in class then. There's going to be a class meeting discussing yesterday's Council meeting." he said.
"I shall meet you there, don't worry about Chiaki, she'll be fine." she reassured. He nodded, bidding her farewell for the moment before heading down to the cafeteria.
He didn't stick around long, just grabbing a simple breakfast and eating it as quick as he could. He had decided to take a walk around the school, seeing as classes wouldn't start until eight, at least for everyone else. He already knew his class and the Student Council wouldn't be attending classes. He figured he would pop into the gym real quick. There were still a few streamers hanging around from the ball many weeks ago. The Janitor was still pissed off at everyone for what had happened in the music room. He felt really bad too. First the stain in the headmaster's office and then the pukey shit pile in the music room. Poor man.
The gymnasium was just as big as he remembered it. The wooden floors had just been waxed, the seal of Hope's Peak Academy glistening in the light. The large windows were open letting the morning sun into the room. The sound of bouncing basketballs could be heard all over the place, as a few players from the Basketball Team were practicing their shots. It was rather lively, as most of the athletes were there warming up for the day. He was sure most of the others were outside making use of the Track field. He heard someone laugh next to him and glanced to his right, seeing three of the council members.
"Come to check out the competition Del Rio?" Asukasei asked, earning a chuckle from Shoji and Daiki. Daisuke rose a brow, crossing his arms.
"Competition? Please point out the competition so I can check them out. Because right now I don't see any." he said with a sneer. Daiki chuckled, shaking his head.
"He's in denial. Dude give it up, your class won't be able to beat us." he replied.
"Sure, that may be your opinion...but we got ourselves a secret weapon. Sadly one of us is sick, so we're going to replace her with someone from class 78B, hope you don't mind." he said.
"Oh go ahead, choose anyone you want. No matter what you won't be able to beat us in a good game of dodge-ball. You're loss will be front page news." Shoji reassured, high fiving his friends.
"Okay, sure. If you say so...just remember where your place is when you are wiping your own blood off the floor. Stay frosty." he said, walking out of the gym. He stopped before the Trophy hall doors, glancing over his shoulder.
"By the way, Asukasei, Soshun and I agreed that my class would get the Gymnasium in the morning. So I would appreciate it if you and your friends left before the Eight o'clock bell. Unless you want to start this game earlier than Thursday." he said, leaving the gym.
"Don't worry guys, he's all talk. It doesn't matter who he gets from the 78th Class, they won't be able to put up against Tomohiko." Daiki said.
"Yeah I know, he's just trying to psyche us out. He's a story teller not an athlete like we are. Come on let's see how the others are doing...I'm scared Kiriko will be a hindrance to us." Asukasei said.
"Why do you say that?" Asked Shoji, glancing at the pink haired Physician. Tsubasa softly tossed a rubber ball at her and she screamed jumping back into the stage.
"She's too damn skittish. Honestly, if she can stab Soshun, she can throw a dodge ball. Let's just keep on practicing until our time is up." the boy said, leading his friends back to where his classmates were.
Daisuke couldn't help but laugh. Asukasei really thought he could taunt him, truth of the matter was he was scared. He knew Nekumaru and Akane would take down most of his team. Kiriko was his friend but she would be an easy target. As for everyone else, depending on how they acted in the game, they would either get beat easily or just lay down before the might of his class. They had Peko a master of the sword, whos footwork was second to none, they had Kazuichi, who would most likely build something to aid them. And they had Hiyoko, who when pissed, could pull off miracles. Class 76B was fucked and they knew it.
He made it near the entrance hall, stopping in front of Class 78B's homeroom. The door was open, and a few of his friends were already inside. He knocked on the door, stepping into the room.
"Morning guys! How's it hanging?" he asked, fist bumping Mondo, who was the nearest to the door.
"We're pretty chill. Heard from the Council that you challenged them to a dodge-ball game." he said.
"Are you insane man? They'll totally cream you!" Leon said, a look of worry on his face. Daisuke rolled his eyes.
"No they wont. We've got the advantage, and when we win, we'll be able to select the next event...it's going to be colorful." he said with a smirk. Everyone stiffened a bit, rubbing their arms.
"So wait, how exactly does this work?" Makoto asked curiously.
"It's like this, Class 77B and Class 76B are going head to head in a tournament style dodge ball game. The winning class gets to pick the next event. There is a three day period between events, winning class gets to pick the next event. Anything you want that isn't dangerous, sexual or involves bodily fluids." Daisuke said.
"So, we can choose skydiving if we wanted to?" Leon asked.
"Bike Racing!" Mondo added, earning a nod from the baseball star.
"Heavens, I think a good game of poker will suffice." Celeste added. Hiro shook his head, taking a sip of his canned coffee.
"Sorry, but I don't want to be cleaned out of my money." he said. Celeste grit her teeth, glaring at the Clairvoyant.
"We would be going up against them you idiot! Why would I gamble against my own class?!" she shouted, causing him to duck under his desk.
"Well anyway, Chiaki is sick and won't be able to make it to our game. I was wondering if one of you would like to fill her spot. What about you Sakura?" he asked, glancing at the Martial Artist. She shook her head.
"While I would love to join you, I cannot. I would be too big of a target, I believe Asahina will be a much better player." she said, placing a hand on the brunette currently eating a jelly filled donut. She swallowed hard, glancing up at her friend.
"Are you sure Sakura? Look at you, your arms are massive. You could take them out easily."
"Indeed, I do not wish to hurt anyone. You on the other hand are very fast and quite accurate. You are good at everything you try, you will be perfect for their team." she said, giving her a smile. The Ultimate Swimmer nodded, adopting a firm look.
"Alright, I'll join your class. When do we meet up?" she asked.
"Eight Thirty at the gym, I need to hold a class meeting to inform my class. If you'd like to accompany us you are more than welcome to." he said. She nodded, grabbing her varsity jacket.
"I guess I'll be going with them you guys. Tell the teacher so I don't in trouble." she said, grabbing the box of donuts from her desk.
"Honestly dear, you need to stop eating so many of those confections. You'll get diabetes." Celeste said, earning a giggle from the brunette.
"No I won't! These are made with natural sweeteners, not sugar. As a swimmer I can't eat stuff with fat and sugar in it. I would swell like a balloon." she said.
"We wouldn't want that now would we?" Hiro said, a perverted look on his face. Sakura stood behind him, flaring her nostrils. The boy returned to his hiding spot under his desk, muttering things about the Ogre that would end his life.
"Well, we're gonna take off, tell everyone I said hey. And tell Yamada that I'm watching him." he said, becoming firm during the last part.
"So what exactly drove you to challenge the council to a dodge-ball game?" Hina asked, munching on a donut. Daisuke had volunteered to carry the rest of them while they walked.
"I felt like they were underestimating our class. So I wanna prove them wrong. I'm glad you agreed to join us Fishgirl, you are one of the best athletes in this academy." he said.
"Stop, you're making me blush! I'm just a good swimmer, nothing more."
"Pfft, yeah right. You are one of the only two students in the history of this academy to be scouted by the Olympics. You may be the fastest swimmer in the world. You'll be on Subway commercials soon enough!" he said, making her laugh.
"I'm not Jared Fogel you know." she said, earning a wink from the boy.
"Hey, I got a question...you ever get cold wearing that?" he asked, glancing at her outfit. She felt a bit self conscious now that the boy was looking at her. She pulled her jacket tighter around her.
"I'm always on the move you know. I've been swimming practically since I was born, so I'm used to the cold. In any weather, snow, sleet, hail...well maybe not hail. I'll always be wearing this...and before you ask, no my shorts aren't too short." she replied, earning a chuckle from him.
"I wasn't gonna ask you that. I know the gym uniforms are sort of short, honestly speaking they should make them longer. I feel girls don't get to cover up as much as guys during gym class." he said.
"But you guys wear speedos during swim class so its okay." she added.
"Not really, I don't wear the school regulated swim suits. I don't feel comfortable with my amazing ass hanging out for all to see." he said, earning another laugh from the girl.
"I suppose that's true. I don't agree with the swimsuits either...their kinda tight on the girls." she said, looking at her chest. He blushed, glancing away.
"I'm sure they are...anyway, once we get this meeting over and done with, we can start getting practical." he said, opening the door to his classroom, only to be greeted by Akane and Nekumaru fighting each other.
They were going at it hard, having destroyed most of the desks in the room. Pieces of wood and metal were flying in all directions. The windows had been broken and there was a gaping hole in the wall. Even the board hadn't been spared, as it had been knocked clean off the wall. Kizakura wasn't in the room yet, and even if he was, there was no way he could stop them. He glanced inside the room, seeing most of his friends chilling near the back. Hiyoko was laughing, standing over a young woman who was most likely Kizakura's replacement for the day. He grit his teeth, slamming his fist against the wall.
"ENOUGH!" he shouted, causing the two fighters to stop.
Everyone just stopped what they were doing, glancing to the door way. Hina was surprised he had been able to stop them from fighting. He walked into the room, standing in front of the teachers desk, shaking his head.
"I cannot believe you guys would do this. How long has it been since we destroyed the room? Come on guys, just because Chiaki isn't here doesn't mean you can just jump at the chance to fight." he said firmly.
"Sorry Dais, I couldn't help myself." Akane said, a sheepish look on her face.
"Me too, we'll get started on the cleaning." Nekumaru said, grabbing the broken desks. Daisuke knelt down before the teacher, who was shivering in fear.
"How...how were you able to do that?" she asked.
"Wasn't hard, I'm sort of used to it. Run along, I'm sure you won't be able to see another high school after this." he said. She didn't waste any time, dashing out of the room not bothering to look back. Hiyoko groaned, catching his attention.
"You are such an ass, I was having so much fun with her." she said.
"Hiyoko it isn't nice to break a teachers mind. You're better than that. Right, once this room is clean I want everyone to pay attention to what I will say." he said, sitting back against the railing with Hina.
"Aren't you going to help us with the cleaning?" Kazuichi asked.
"I didn't make this mess, he who breaks it, replaces it my friend. You started this fight, you clean it up." he said, snagging a star shaped donut from Hina's box, much to her dismay.
"Daisuke is right, the faster we clean up, the faster it'll be over." Sonia said, clapping her hands.
"You just side with what he says because your dating him." Hiyoko snapped, earning a stare from the princess.
"You're dating him too, this has nothing to do with that." she replied.
"Enough talking, let's just get this shit done! I'll go get more desks." Fuyuhiko said, gesturing for Peko to follow. Takane left with them, choosing to remain silent.
After a few minutes, the room was clean again. Well, as clean as they could get it, since they would need a new board and a new wall. They were just glad it wasn't cold out today, and the breeze actually felt nice. Daisuke cleared his throat, standing in front of his class.
"Alright then, on Thursday our class will be going up against the Student Council in the very first event of the semester. It will be a good old fashion game of dodge ball. If we win, our class gets the right to choose not only who we go up against, but the event as well. All of the donations will be put forth toward Class 75's school trip." he said firmly.
"I haven't played dodge-ball in years. This is gonna be so fun!" Ibuki cried joyfully.
"I haven't played dodge-ball at all." Kazuichi added. Fuyuhiko chuckled.
"You're out of your league then pinkie. You'll be out first!" he said.
"Who agreed to a dodge-ball game of all things?" Takane asked curiously. Daisuke smirked, leaning against the railing.
"I did of course. Asukasei was talking shit about our class being unable to beat theirs. He said only Nekumaru and Akane would be playing for our class. So I decided to up the ante and challenge them. If we win, we're challenging Class 77A to a paintball fight." he said firmly.
"Our natural playing field. We've become masters of Paintball from the games we've had. This shall be fun!" Sonia said happily.
"Ugh...but I don't wanna get hit with dodge-balls, they hurt!" Hiyoko said.
"If our team wins I'll take you out to that candy shop you like. The one that makes roses out of chocolate and strawberry jam."
"I'm in, no questions asked. We'll cream those fuckers!"
"To that effect, I have borrowed Asahina from Class 78 to fill in for Chiaki. She's a sporty girl, and very agile, so she'll be among our secret weapons. There's another one with us that I'm not going to specify, but I know is listening to me." Daisuke said, earning a small smile from the person in question. Hina smiled brightly.
"I'm happy to be a part of your class for however long you need me. But once Chiaki is better and I return to my own class, I'll show you all no mercy." she said happily.
"I like her, she knows how to stay on top of the game." Fuyuhiko said. Peko narrowed her eyes but said nothing.
"Well, not that this class meeting is over, let's all head to the gym. We all need to get a handle of how the game works for us to win. Girls vs Boys." he said.
xxx
"Remind me never to put Asahina and Akane on the same team ever again." Daisuke said, rubbing his chest. Sonia giggled, looking at her boyfriends pained look.
They had been practicing quite awhile for the game. They had held many mock games, but in the end, the girls ended up winning by a single point. Asahina had teamed up with Akane and taken down Nekumaru, Kazuichi and Fuyuhiko at the same time. That had just left him and Teruteru, both of them falling shortly after. He had caught Akane's ball, taking her out of the game, but wasn't prepared for Asahina's follow up shot. He could still feel the pain.
"Well, tomorrow's practice will be better. The team captains will be picking, so you can keep them away from each other." Sonia replied.
The two of them were on the way to the train station. Shortly after the game ended, everyone had gone back to their dorms to shower and rest for the rest of the day. Hiyoko didn't want to go with them, even with Sonia insisting she come along. Daisuke had planned on driving there, but the Ultimate Princess had convinced him to travel by rail. Thankfully there was a train station near Hope's Peak Academy, so the way wasn't so long.
"I hope the practice goes better...I don't feel like getting pelted again." he replied. She giggled, taking a hold of his hand. She was really peppy today, mostly because of the walk. It had been awhile since either of them had gone outside for some fresh air. Daisuke actually felt glad he had decided to walk.
Reaching the station, the Ultimate Story Teller lead the blonde down into the station. After buying their tickets to Asakusa, they moved down to the platform to wait for the next train to show up. Sonia was entranced by her surroundings. She had admitted to never being in a Subway station before. Daisuke had been on a train many times in the past, especially when he needed to buy things in Akihabara or to head to Ueno's Art Museum for some peace and quiet. He found it cute that she gushed over the simplest of things. The train finally arrived, and they made their way in through the throng of passengers.
"It's a lot tighter than I imagined." she said softly.
"Yeah, you'll get used to it. Thankfully we live on campus, hundreds of students have to go to school pressed against other people. If you get lucky you can find an open seat...sadly it doesn't look like Lady Luck is on our side today." he said, grasping one of the handles above him. Sonia couldn't find an empty one, so she instead wrapped her arm around Daisuke, holding onto him.
"I hope you don't mind." she said.
"No worries, it will only be a thirty five minute ride." he said, giving her a smile. He glanced up, seeing a few guys glaring at him. Some were even muttering about how lucky he was to have a girl like that by his side. He just smirked, content with watching them get pissed off.
The train made many stops, going through some busy districts in Tokyo. It took all his strength not to let Sonia wonder out of the train and into the wild streets of Tokyo. She would probably squeal and dart from place to place until she passed out, and he didn't want that. They just chatted quietly, mostly about the stuff they did in the past. Eventually the announcement for Asakusa was made and the two of them prepared to leave.
Once outside, they were greeted by Senso-ji Temple, which was near the train station. They started walking through the shopping district, seeing all of the things they had on display. It was a rather eye opening experience for the both of them. It had been quite awhile since Daisuke had been there. As for Sonia, he had to pry her away from some stands before she ended up buying everything they had.
"Weren't we going to the Skytree?" Sonia asked, earning a nod from Daisuke.
"We are, but Cameron insisted we meet her here in Asakusa. The Skytree is actually in Sumida. All we have to do is cross the river and we'll be there, you can actually see the top of the Skytree from here." he said, pointing to the tower, which was a bit far from where they were.
After a few more minutes of walking, and sampling some local food, Daisuke and Sonia made it to the entrance of the Temple. It was a beautiful structure, painted with bright red paint and other colors. It was one of the oldest temples in Japan and one of the biggest tourist attractions. He looked around, spotting a familiar head of curly hair not far from where they were.
Cameron was standing next to a tree, glancing at her phone. She was dressed in a brown leather jacket, with a turtleneck sweater underneath, which was violet in color. She was wearing a black skirt, with a pair of black tights underneath, and a pair of brown boots. She was holding a matching purse at her shoulder. She looked up from her phone, locking eyes with the two. She pushed away from the tree, giving them a nod.
"You're a bit early." she said.
"That a bad thing?" Daisuke asked, brow raised. She shook her head.
"Not at all. It's...good to see you." she said.
"Good to see you too Cameron, so what exactly is this about?" he asked curiously. She sighed, glancing at the Skytree.
"We're not doing so well...my mom, sister an I. That bastard father of yours divorced her three weeks after Ryuji's funeral so he could marry that little cunt's mother." she said.
"I know, I didn't know it had been that much time between the funeral and the divorce. He was rather happy about it too." he said.
"You spoke with him?" she asked curiously.
"At the dance, there was a heated argument. I wasn't present for this but there was an exchange." Sonia said.
"Was there? I'm sorry I haven't caught your name."
"My mistake, I am Sonia Nevermind, Princess of Novoselic...it is a pleasure to meet you Miss Cameron." she said. Her eyes widened in shock.
"You're dating a princess?" she asked, earning a nod from Daisuke.
"Indeed I am, she's only one of my girls though. Hiyoko didn't want to come with us, after all you almost beat her up." he replied. She narrowed her eyes in thought, remembering the small blonde that had yelled at her in the hospital.
"Ah yes, I wanted to apologize to her personally. I was acting unlike myself...Ryusuke poisoned my mind. He put me up against you, but once I realized what a piece of shit he truly was, that he didn't care about Ryuji...I just hated him. He caused my brother to kill himself, he made me hate you and your sister...for that
I'm sorry." she said, a sincere look on her face. Daisuke shrugged, glancing away from her.
"It's fine, my father was always one to treat stuff like a business deal. Ruining my life was just business to him, so all is forgiven. Besides I can't stay mad at you, the bro wouldn't allow it." he said.
"I know we aren't family anymore, but if you'd like you can still call me sister. You'll always be my brother, especially for what you did for us." she said. He shook his head.
"Fuyuhiko did that for you, I was just there to give my last goodbye. I'll always blame myself for his death, because I know I could have prevented it. If I had just answered my goddamn phone...he wouldn't have done it." he said firmly. Sonia squeezed his hand, a frown on her face.
"Sweetheart don't blame yourself. We don't know that for sure...Ryuji was distraught...in the end we'll never know what he was thinking." she said firmly.
"Sonia is right...we just have to move on, and believe he's in a better place. Anyway, I have reservations at the Sky Restaurant 634...my mother and little sister are there as well." she said.
"Seriously, isn't that place like super expensive?" he asked.
"Indeed, but your father left us quite a bit of money. My mother wanted to speak with you, so she isn't sparing any expense. We shouldn't keep them waiting." she said.
Daisuke and Sonia trailed behind the older girl, remaining quiet. It was a bit awkward for Daisuke. The last time he had spoken to the girl, she had slapped him across the face. Not only that she had threatened to beat up Hiyoko, and blamed him for her brother's death. Now however, she seemed more melancholy, like she was aware of everything around her. He didn't really know how to feel about that.
"So, how's school? I hear Hope's Peak Academy is pretty fun." Cameron asked, making small talk. Daisuke straightened up a bit, placing his free hand over his bag.
"It is, we always have something to do. Mostly messing around with friends, dealing with the antic of the day." he replied.
"Just today we were practicing for a big dodge-ball game we have on Thursday, we're going up against the Student Council. It's all part of the end of the Semester events, that will end with our Spirit Week." Sonia replied, earning a nod from the girl.
"Sounds like fun. You guys are so lucky, while I have to work my ass off trying to get to a good college, you guys are going to the best school in the world. Anyone who graduates from there can get in any college the want." she said.
"You know, Hope's Peak Academy isn't all that. It's just a building, the students are what make the school come to life! All of us are equal, even the Reserve Course students." Daisuke said.
"That's a nice way to see it. Honestly, I was thinking of going there for my last year of school. Hope's Peak Academy is the only school that has four years instead of three. So I thought an extra year of learning could help me with my Law degree. As long as I become a good lawyer, it doesn't matter where I graduate from." she said.
"Why do you want to be a lawyer, that seems like an odd profession." Sonia said. She shrugged.
"I just wanted to bring justice to the world. So that people like Ryusuke can't get away with what they do. Between you and me, he isn't a clean man. He's made bad business deals, and he uses his name and power to get away with crimes. One of our family friends lost his company because he pulled some strings. He exposed some secrets that weren't true and got him arrested." she said firmly. Daisuke's eyes widened.
"He's...doing shady business deals? And getting people arrested?" Sonia cried. The boy grit his teeth in anger.
"Eliminating the competition by any means necessary. Close the deal by any means, everything is just a business deal." he cried angrily.
"Worse yet, I hear he payed the Steering Committee so that Sylvia could get into Hope's Peak Academy. There are rumors out there saying he was involved with the killing of one of the Committee members." she said.
"I wouldn't doubt it. With his power and money, he could do whatever he wanted, he's a frightening person. I'm just glad he hasn't done anything against me, then again he sees me and Erika as failures." Daisuke said, a frown on his face.
"What a horrible evil man. He needs to be brought to justice!" Sonia cried, earning a chuckle from Cameron.
"Sweetheart, if anyone could they would have done it already. That's why I am going in for my Law degree. If I could get information out of him, I could file a suit against him." she said firmly. Daisuke rubbed his chin, a smirk on his face.
"What if I told you I know a couple people who could get you that information?" he asked. Her eyes widened.
"You do?" she asked.
"I do...but you aren't a lawyer, we wouldn't be able to do anything even with the information." He said firmly.
"Not necessarily...if I recall, Class 74 had an Ultimate Lawyer among them. If we can get in contact with Miss Yukizome, she might be able to help us." Sonia said.
"Except she won't answer any of my calls. I've been trying to get in contact with her for awhile now." he said, frowning a bit.
"Well then, she's being a rotten orange. We might as well get her to our class room, even if it means taking her by the pants!" Sonia said.
"You guys are fucking weird man." Cameron said, earning a laugh from the two.
"Anyway, do you think you could take Ryusuke down if I get you the help of my friends?" Daisuke asked.
"Easily, I got people who want him to be taken down. We can all work toward that goal." she said.
"Perfect, I'll be in contact. Let's just focus on today though." he said, a smirk on his face.
The three of them looked up at the Skytree, the largest Tower in the county of Japan. It was a beautiful tower which had recently been completed. There was an observation platform on the top floor, allowing you to see all of Tokyo. There was a restaurant and even a hotel up there as well. Cameron lead Daisuke toward the door, the boy stopping only to pull Sonia with him since she just kept looking up.
They took the elevator to the fourth floor, quickly being taken to their table. Tami-Lynn had been patiently waiting at the table, along with Megan. As soon as she saw Daisuke she stood up, hugging the young man.
"It's been so long Daisuke, look at you." she said happily.
"Hey Tami, I'm glad you are doing fine." he said, hugging the woman back.
"Hey, what about me big brother? I want a hug too!" Megan cried. He chuckled, hugging the younger girl tightly.
"I don't think we have met, I'm Tami-Lynn, this is my daughter Megan." the woman said, holding her hand out. Sonia shook it, a smile on her face.
"I'm Sonia, one of Daisuke's girlfriends." she said.
"One? Ohoho, I didn't know my step son was so promiscuous." she said.
"Tami please, I'm not promiscuous...I just couldn't pick her over Hiyoko and vice versa. We're all happy together." he said. The woman frowned a bit, but shook it off, taking her seat. Daisuke sat down next to Cameron, with Sonia sitting next to him.
"Well, I'm happy you were able to meet with us on such short notice. I know you must have classes right now." she said.
"Actually, our class doesn't have classes for the next few days. There are some events going on for a fundraiser we're doing. We plan to send Class 75 on a big trip to Hawaii and are hosting a series of events for people to donate." Daisuke replied.
"It just so happens that the first event is a dodge-ball game. We're bringing our A-game and winning for our class." Sonia replied.
"That sounds interesting...I might show up to see all of this go down." Tami-Lynn replied, taking a sip from her glass.
"Oh me too, I've always wanted to go to Hope's Peak Academy...I wanna see what its like." Megan said happily.
"We'll, you'll definitely love it there. It's a big place with a lot of cool stuff to do. Work hard and you might make it there one day." he said.
"Anyway, I called you here because I want you to know some stuff. It's about your brother Ryuji...stuff that Ryusuke wanted to keep from you." Tami said, becoming a bit serious. Sonia and Daisuke shared a curious look.
"Information, why would he want to keep this away from me?" the boy asked.
"So you wouldn't know the truth, and so you could continue blaming yourself for a death you didn't cause. At least...that's what he wanted to do. That man is...quite the prick when it comes to dealing with people." Tami said.
"He wants you to have a horrible life, because you have a useless talent. He said that anyone who associates with you will be brought down as well, however Hope's Peak Academy is too big of an institution to attack. Remember what I told you earlier, that he supposedly took down one of the Committee members?" Cameron asked.
"Mhmm, you told me about that...what does that have to do with me?" he asked. Tami cleared her throat, gaining his attention.
"We believe he was the one who reviewed your profile. As you know the academy chooses candidates who excel in their particular fields. The man who was killed was name Takao Morita. He was one of the oldest members, being a graduate of the school as well. He read one of your stories online and wanted to find you." the woman replied.
"He sent Koichi Kizakura after me...he's the man responsible for my being at the academy. The man who gave me the chance to be the Ultimate Story Teller." Daisuke said, realization hitting him like a ton of bricks.
"No one knows exactly how it was done or who did it, but Ryusuke is believed to have funded it. But since there are no leads, just rumors, we can't be too sure about it." Cameron said.
"He's an evil evil man, that needs to rot in hell!" Megan cried out. Tami pat her head, shaking her head.
"He brought us all here from Canada, forced us to become like him, and then tossed us aside. We lost all ties with our homeland, going back isn't an option now. So I want my girls to get the best education available here." the woman said.
"A very admirable thing. At least he was able to give you enough money to live comfortably. That is commendable, no matter how disgusting the man is." Sonia said.
"I hope somebody cuts his head...I wanna watch his blood burst from his neck hole like a fountain." Daisuke muttered, glaring at the menu in front of him.
He didn't notice the wide eyed looks he got from everyone else. They remained silent, as the waiter came for their orders. Sonia ordered a Salad, while he himself chose a plate of lasagna. Cameron went with Sushi while Tami-Lynn and Megan both had a steak. Once the man was gone, Tami-Lynn pulled something from her purse, a folded piece of paper.
"I wanted you to have this, we didn't know what to do with it...it's Ryuji's last words." She said. Daisuke took it with shaky hands, opening the paper. He scanned the words on the paper, trying not to look at the faded pink blood stains on the note. He swallowed hard, folding the paper up.
"Why do you want me to have this?" he asked.
"It just felt right you know? He wanted to speak with you last, so you should have his last words." Cameron said, taking a sip from her water. He nodded, placing the note in his red story book.
"My, has that tome gotten bigger?"
"I've expanded. You don't know how hard leather binding is, adding more pages is a pain in the ass." he said.
"I mostly do all of the binding, he just adds the papers within. Did you know he submit his first novel? He's waiting for the publisher's call." Sonia said.
"Really? What's it about?" Megan asked curiously.
"Sorry, I can't tell you. I want everyone to find out what it's about when it hits the shelves. Don't worry, you are all on my list of first editions...I'll even autograph it if you want." he replied.
"Keeping the mystery of it in the air huh? Perhaps it's a mystery novel?" she asked.
"Could be, or it could be something else." he said, giving her a wink.
"Returning to the previous topic, I wanted you to know more about Ryuji. He never talked about his life in detail, not to me or anyone. He was closer to you out of anyone of us...so it feels right." Tami said. Cameron nodded, glancing at Daisuke.
"The first thing you have to know is this, Ryuji was adopted." she said, stunning the boy. He was honestly surprised, then again now that he thought about it, it didn't make sense for a Canadian family to name one of their children with a Japanese name.
"I wasn't aware of this...you really aren't his mother?" Sonia asked, earning a no from Tami.
"I'm not. His mother was a close family friend, she offered her home to us when we moved here, while we were awaiting for Ryusuke to finalize the marriage papers. His mother was very ill, so he had to work odd jobs, going as far as quitting school. He had to pay her medical bills and her medicines. Eventually, his mother ended up passing away, and his custody fell into my hands. It was the least I could do after she had been so nice to us." Tami said.
"Ryuji wasn't fine after that. His real father had died as well, and he never got along with Ryusuke. He just sort of put up with him. He tried going back to school but he just didn't fit in, so he started looking for jobs again. He didn't find a single one. He was still getting overdue bills from his mother...after we moved into Ryusuke's home, Ryuji insisted he live there, by himself." Cameron said.
"I didn't know he lived alone. I assumed he lived at Ryusuke's house with you." Daisuke said.
"He always hung around, he wanted to be with Cameron and Megan, be a good older brother. He was excited when he met you and Erika for the first time, even though Ryusuke spoke ill of the two of you. He truly did care for you two, as an older sibling." Tami said.
"So...what happened then? What drove him toward suicide?" Sonia asked.
"Ryuji's house was being foreclosed by the bank. He had finally gotten a job, working nine to five at a law firm. He wasn't a lawyer or anything, but he was an assistant. He was still being assaulted with medical bills, medicine bills, mortgage payments and a bunch of debts. He didn't want anyones help, he wanted to clear up his mother's debt himself. Eventually he started drinking in excess." Megan said.
"I remember now...you said he was driving drunk one day, and he slammed into another car doing 85. He killed someone." Daisuke said. Sonia frowned, remembering the story Daisuke had told her and the rest of the class.
"Yes, this was a few weeks before Christmas. He wasn't thinking straight, and decided to drink. He got in his car, and drove off. He didn't remember anything, until the crash. When he got out of his car, he went to see if the other man was alive, but all he saw was blood on the windshield. The man had died on impact." Tami said.
"When he found out he had a three year old daughter, it destroyed him. But what truly killed him was what Ryusuke said to him." Cameron said.
Daisuke swallowed hard, closing his eyes. The waiter came back, bringing in two of their meals, politely excusing himself to bring the rest. Sonia squeezed Daisuke's hand as he took a deep breath, opening his eyes.
"What did he say to him?" he asked, emotionless. Tami-Lynn frowned, tears brimming her eyes.
"He said...he said Ryuji needed to pay for what he had done. That he took away a hard working man from his family. That he should feel every ounce of guilt in his heart. He was already on trial for accidental homicide, and had been brought out through a bond. He was going to jail and he knew it. Ryusuke egged him on, saying that he needed to die for his sins, that God would judge him for robbing the life of a young person who would never see their father again. He destroyed someones life, and he needed to pay with his own. I heard the entire thing, but before I could say anything, Ryuji took off."
Daisuke remained silent, squeezing the arm rest on his chair. He swore he heard the wood snap. Sonia turned his face toward her, brushing some hair out of his eyes.
"It's okay sweetheart, it's okay." she whispered, calming him down.
He gave her a soft kiss, glad that she was there to comfort him. Tami-Lynn smiled, happy to see the two comforting each other. Megan scrounged up her nose, focusing on her steak instead. Cameron licked her lips, taking a deep breath.
"Ryuji was messed up after that, he didn't eat, he didn't sleep...all he did was drink. He would drink from morning to night, pass out, wake up and drink some more. He even drank all of Ryusuke's stashed booze...everything was gone. The day he did it, he went into Ryusuke's office, so he could speak with him. But the man just turned him away, calling him a murderer and a failure. That was the last straw...Ryuji went home, and drank himself to sleep. He woke up only twenty minutes later, seeing the house was empty...that's when he took his chance." She said.
"He called everyone he knew, but no one would reply. The last person he called was you...he wanted to apologize to you. For allowing Ryusuke to bring Sylvia to that party, for having to deal with such a prick for a father. For borrowing so much money from you without being able to pay you back. All of that money he took never went to spare car parts, it always went to pay his bills." Tami replied.
"Whenever he got mad at a bar, and he would get into a fight, it would be because he was always thinking about foreclosure. He had even gotten anxiety attacks because of it, the impending doom of losing his childhood home drove him over the top. He grabbed Ryusuke's handgun, and ended it all, but not before writing that note." Cameron said.
"Ryusuke tried guilt tripping his death, he tried to blame you for it because he wanted to cause you guilt. He used Ryuji's last call against you, and he turned you into a monster. Thankfully, you didn't fall for his bullshit, you didn't fall into despair because of it. You saw hope, through it all you believed that you didn't cause his death. You even went as far as to give him a funeral, even if it was a friend that paid it." Tami replied.
"Of course...I couldn't just...let him down. I let him down enough by not answering the call, I have Fuyuhiko to thank. Ryusuke didn't want me there, but thanks to him I was able to give him one last goodbye. Getting over it was hard, but my friends were there for me...I was able to come back." he said, kissing Sonia's hand.
She blushed brightly. The waiter finally came back with the last meals, setting them on the table. He politely excused himself. Daisuke wasn't hungry anymore, but he wasn't going to let his food go to waste. Tami-Lynn sighed, pinching her eyes. She dabbed them with a cloth, trying not to smear her make up.
"I've wanted to tell you this for so long...but I never had the chance. I only found out recently that the final exams had happened. I wanted Cameron to meet you and bring you here." she said.
"Well, I'm glad she did. I'm glad you told me all of this, and don't worry, Ryusuke has to pay for this. His reign of torture will end soon enough. I have an idea though...perhaps you should visit my mom." he said.
"Maria? I have been wanting to see her again. If anyone knows how I feel its definitely her." the woman said.
"Mhmm, you guys are around the same age, so you have something in common. And she needs help around the cafe, so you can help her out. You can become friends through the bonds Ryusuke broke and burned. All while I find out some juicy information to use against his ass." he said firmly, shoveling a forkful of lasagna into his mouth. He absolutely loved the taste, but he was sure Teruteru's was way better.
"I think I like that idea, I want to make friends with my other sister. We're the same age so she has to like the same stuff I do!" Megan said.
"And she has Snowflake, you two could play with her." Sonia said.
"Snowflake?" Cameron asked.
"My sister's dog, a Siberian Husky. It must be huge by now." Daisuke said, drinking a bit of his juice.
"I totally adore Huskies! They're like my favorite dog breed!" Megan cried out, earning a chuckle from the boy.
"And, if you want to be me true sister, then you'll have to be treated like on. Hope's Peak Academy is hosting a charity event on April 1st, a concert hosted by yours truly. Guess who's the headlining act?" he asked. The girl gasped, her eyes widening.
"Is it Sayaka Maizono? Because if it is, I'll scream." she said. He gave her a nod and she took a deep breath, about to scream only for her mother to cover her mouth, muffling it completely.
"Wow, you got her with the quickeness." Sonia said, earning a chuckle from the woman.
"I'm a mother, I've been training for things like this. This concert sounds fun though, if you are hosting it that means you'll be singing. I've heard you have a beautiful singing voice." she said.
"We're doing a few duets, it should be fun...I'll get you all tickets so you don't have to wait in line. I have to get some for my mom too." he said.
"Wait, what about Erika? Doesn't she get one too?" Cameron asked.
"Oh, she's already granted entree. She's a future student of Hope's Peak Academy, the Ultimate Fashion Designer." Sonia replied.
"No shit? That's impressive...the girl has talent that's for sure. I saw some of her drawings when I was at that Thanksgiving party. She has a knack for it." She said.
"She does. She gave one of the security guards a really nice scarf, even he was taken aback by the quality of it. He was blushing too." Sonia said.
"Ah, Sakakura, I'll be holding that over him for years." Daisuke said, chuckling a bit.
"So, are there any cute single boys at Hope's Peak that you can recommend? I'm single and ready to mingle." Cameron said, causing Sonia to smirk. Daisuke nodded, pulling out a small notebook.
"I've got plenty. Do you like bad boys? Because I have a man that loves riding motorcycles through the city? Or do you like hardasses, because I have a Hall monitor that is punctual and quite boisterous. Or maybe you like guys that can see into the future..."
"Down honey, down. No need to peddle anyone like that onto your sister...I'll keep my eye out for you Cam, I'm sure we can find someone for you."
"What was all that about?" Megan asked.
"Oh, I hooked some of my friends up awhile back. People have been calling me the Love Doctor now. I have a good track record, every person I hook up is entirely happy. Out of the forty people that have come to me, only two people didn't pair up, so that's a 99% success rate." he boasted.
"Wow, I didn't think you would become a wingman." Tami said, taking a sip of her juice. He chuckled.
"What can I say, I'm Spanish...I know what women want." he said, wiggling his brows.
"Hey, how about after we finish here we go to the nearby amusement park? I'm sure you two want to go on a date. Why not make it memorable?"
"Oh, I couldn't possibly. We need to go back to school." Sonia said.
"Come on, I'll pay for the tickets...you came all the way here, have some fun before you go back." Tami-Lynn said.
"Well, I guess we can't refuse if your insisting...alright then, thanks Mom, I appreciate it." he said. The woman smiled brightly.
"Alright, then let's finish this food up before it gets cold...you better eat all of that lasagna son, I'll never forgive you if you don't enjoy it!" the woman said, earning a laugh from him.
He was glad his step mother was doing fine. But the fact of the matter was that Ryusuke needed to be stopped. The Downfall of the Evil Businessman would be his best story yet.
xxx
In a nearby park, a young man was hanging around, sitting at one of the park benches. His school was currently on its Spring Break, so he had nothing better to do than to hang around. He was actually working on his Baking Book, adding all of the recipes he had been trying out. He was actually a student from a school in America, one of the charter schools for the Hope's Peak Academy program. He was a student from Hope Hills Academy in Canada.
He was a young man of sixteen, with short brown hair. He had a sun kissed complexion, with bright colored eyes. He was wearing a light blue shirt, with a white baker's outfit over it. Though he was only wearing the jacket. He was wearing a pair of dark black jeans, along with a pair of black sneakers. This young man was named Nicholas McFay, and he was the Ultimate Baker.
He had been selected as a representative for Hope Hills Academy, and was going to be staying in Japan. He was going to attend the equally prestigious Hope's Peak Academy. Currently he was enjoying his break, and then he would be going back to Canada, but at the end of the summer he would be flying back to start his first year there. Even though he was already a Sophomore in Canada, he would be going into Class 79 as a Freshmen. He didn't really mind, as long as he got a good education and a large kitchen to experiment.
He was jotting down the ingredients for a muffin recipe he wanted to try out when he felt someone sit next to him. He glanced out of the corner of his eye, but quickly lost interest. At least until he heard the sound of crying. He glanced up, fully looking at the person next to him.
It was a young woman, quite beautiful at that. She was wearing a rather interesting outfit. She had on a round hat, which was pink and color and looked almost like a macaroon. She had soft colored pink hair, reaching down just past the nape of her neck. She was wearing a pink coat, with big round buttons on it, and a thick furry collar. She was wearing a pair of yellow shorts, which were really short. Long pink stockings with chocolate brown stripes covered her legs. She finished her outfit with a pair of pink boots, with belts and buckles running up the side of it. She had a small purse on her lap, which was in the shape of a muffin. She hadn't noticed him yet.
Nick didn't really know what to do. Sure he had interacted with women before, but that was because he had classmates. He didn't really want to piss the girl off anymore than she probably was. So he slowly grabbed his book and shoved it in his backpack. As he did, one of the pages sticking out of it flew out of it, landing on the floor in front of her. He grit his teeth, biting his lip.
She didn't do anything, not at first anyway. She just stared at the paper, most likely wondering what it was saying. She finally bent down, picking it up from the floor. Her cornflower blue eyes were scanning its contents thoroughly. She looked up at the boy, ignoring the fact that her face was soaked in tears.
"You're a baker?" she asked. She hoped he would at least understand, but the paper was in English so he might not. Much to her surprise, he gave her a nod.
"I am, I'm here on spring break, getting to know the area. I'll be transferring here next year to continue my studies." he said.
"Oh, are you a college student then?" she asked.
"Nope, I'm in high school. I'm from Canada, from Hope Hills Academy in Vancouver. Nicholas McFay, Ultimate Baker at your survive." he said, giving her a smile. She scowled, looking away from him.
"Ultimate Baker huh? So you'll be attending Hope's Peak Academy, lucky you." she said sarcastically.
"I suppose, I'm just an exchange student though. This year has been hell, especially with the forced language classes. If you didn't pronounce the words right they would hit your knuckles with a wooden spoon. My poor fingers looked like Eclairs." he said.
"That sounds horrible." she said, crossing her arms.
"It was...so miss, why are you crying?" he asked curiously. She hastily wiped her tears away, standing up from her seat.
"It doesn't concern you." she said, shoving the recipe into his hands. He frowned, handing it back to her.
"Take it, it's a recipe for Strawberry Macaroons...you sort of remind me of one." he said. She grit her teeth, a sigh escaping her lips.
"Strawberry macaroons are my favorite, I used to make them all the time back when I was..." she paused, not wanting to continue.
"Back when you were?"
"When I was in Hope's Peak Academy...I was...expelled." she said.
"What? For what?" he cried out, unable to understand what she had said. She sat back down, crossing her legs.
"I asked my then best friend to make me a formula that would increase the taste of my sweets. I'm the Ultimate Confectioner, so I had to make amazing sweets. But she instead stabbed me in the back and gave me a Laxative. On top of that, someone rigged a fucking bomb in the gym and made it explode. Three of us got expelled, one got suspended until the next term. Goddamn Luck!" she spat in anger.
"Ah, so you faced an Ultimate Lucky Student...yeah the one in my class is a bit of an asshole too. Always getting good grades, and all the girls...but this is my year to shine. I get to try out my new recipes as well as the ones my grandma gave me. She's the reason I'm doing this, so I can make her proud."
"That's a sweet reason...I guess I was in your boat once...my best friend Sunosuke disappeared, and Seiko the other girl that ruined us left as well. We're just tumbleweeds blowing in the wind. It's been hard adjusting to regular school, so I just got a job at a sweet shop. The owners let me stay for free due to my talents but...I want to branch out."
"Being expelled from Hope's Peak is making it impossible huh?" he asked, earning a nod from her.
"It is...my resume is shit, and its because of that blemish...I just wish I could speak to Headmaster Kirigiri...but getting back into the academy is impossible." she said.
"Not really, I hear there's a concert soon...April 1st...me and my classmates will be staying here until April 3rd so if you want I could talk to him for you." he said.
"What...really? You would do that? I don't even know you!" she cried, taking a hold of his hands. He blushed brightly, looking at the floor.
"It doesn't matter...we all deserve a chance to shine...so I'll work my magic, and butter him up with my buttery croissants!" he said, making her giggle.
"You're sweet, maybe this was a chance encounter, like we were meant to meet!" she said.
"Y-yeah...a chance encounter! This calls for a celebration...maybe we can put our heads together and come up with something awesome. The Ultimate Confectioner and the Ultimate Baker working together, that will make us some awesome stuff!" he said.
"Sure, I'm on break right now so maybe I can talk to the owners of the restaurant. My name is Ruruka Andou by that way...all me Rue." she said, giving him a smile.
"Nice to meet you Rue, hope we become great friends!" Nick said, a grin on his face.