Chapter Three: Onward

SEE A/N BOTTOM OF PAGE

"Following the student council's public announcement earlier this week, Kivotos is still in an uproar. People are demanding accountability for the chaos in the region and the lack of response. As a result, Student resignations across multiple school boards have reached an all-time high, and the student council has yet to address this issue, leaving many school districts scrambling to maintain stability."

"Earlier this morning, the council has bordered off and denied any access to the student council building, even going as far as to triple their amount of autonomous guards. With them turning a blind eye to the public and even dismissing the highest of school representatives, has the general student council given up on its people? If not, what are they desperately trying to hide?"

-Mai, Kronos Press Bureau. Article from "The Kivotos Weekly City in Blind."

*PARTIAL LOCAL MAPPING COMPLETE*

/EARLY AFTERNOON/KIVOTOS/

*PENDING LOCAL REROUTING*

"Okay, okay, what if- I had some kind of tracker while we were both out? Like I don't know, maybe somewhere on my ankle or-"

"So basically, you want to be on parole?"

"What No-!?"

"Buddy, that's what it's sounding like."

"Hey man, a guy gotta at least try."

"I think you're missing Diego's point, Feng."

Krshhh-

Heads whipped towards the now acquainted hiss of the doors. To their surprise and relief, in came Palus, arriving with him, was an unsettling air the three felt, striding forth with firm resolve and a hardened expression to match. In truth, it was a faulty attempt to mask the raging skirmish of emotions he was experiencing - one that the three were quick to catch on to.

He took a deep breath, shaking his head hard as he recollected himself, quelling any lingering doubts before facing his companions. It was too late to back down now.

"Woah- Palus, you're back and how the hell did y-?"

"Not enough time Feng."Dismissing the question, Palus gestured at the three before turning back towards the door - a motion he'd hoped the others would follow.

"C'mon ese, at least tell us what the hell's going on?" Diego bickered away, trailing behind. "There's no way in hell they'd let us off that easy-"

"We're not in the clear yet. There's been a few arrangements made."

Diego reached for the boy's shirt, tugging hard and spinning the boy around.

"I'm serious here- what kinda arrangements are you even talking about?"

The retaliation struck him Like a jagged stake. It came as no surprise that Diego would show hesitancy. Continuing to be evasive would ultimately be pointless; The truth wouldn't remain hidden forever. Instead, Palus chose to bite the bullet, organizing his words for a satisfactory response that suited both sides.

Lying was never his strong suit, not to mention the others were quick to read when something was off amongst the group.

"Okay, here's the deal; they caught our expertise and made a few agreements."Palus's eyes wandered to the side, avoiding the mixed expressions thrown his way."The people running the place have a few issues on their hands. They need contractors, so they struck us up with a deal - figured their captives could be of use."

Diego and Feng gave each other scrunched looks.

"Struck us a deal, my ass- this seems more forced than anything else."

"You serious? Come on- it seems way too good to be true."

"Cut me some slack here- They have us by the balls; what else are we gonna do!?"Palus argued back. Feeling dejected, he crossed his arms."We could've been dead meat a long time ago. Yet they haven't laid a finger on any of us."

"They're trying to use us, boss. I didn't sign up for this shit only to be collared and playing tricks for some big shot again."Diego rolled his eyes, transitioning to a tight-lipped scowl as he jabbed his finger back at the boy."You should know this better than anyone else."

"For fucks sake, Deigo, do you think I don't know? This isn't something I would've agreed to if I didn't think it was the right call."Palus stood his ground, raising his voice with irritation sprinkling his words.

Shiloh stepped forward, walling himself between the two boys."You walked back here on your own, despite being escorted out by security - They wouldn't have allowed this unless you both came to a mutual agreement granting you a position with some level of freedom."

Diego scoffed, tightening his peeved frown.

On the other hand, Feng perked his brows up, looking quizzically at Shiloh's analogy.

"Trust me here, please." Palus's face softened, lowering his voice to a plea. "I want nothing more than to have some control over our lives - this is by far the most choice we've had over anything. Even if it isn't to our liking, it's better than throwing ourselves to the side, not knowing jack shit of what we should do next."

"That's what we wanted when we signed up for this op, right?"

Palus offered his hand, managing a weak smile.

"They both got good points, Deigo."Feng walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder."Not to mention, it's that or sitting in this cell for who knows how long."

"You always love spilling out bullshit, yet I always end up going along with it.." Diego let out a long sigh, prolonging his displeasure with a groan as he dragged his hand across his face."Fuck it.. You have me, for now."

The three others' faces lit up, eyes widening in response for a brief period before forming a warm smile of gratitude.

"Cut that shit out, vato, I'm still against this entirely, but I've got no real reason to not trust you guys."Deigo, albeit still holding a livid scowl, obliged."You're the only three I got left anyway."

"Don't worry. I'm sure we all are." Palus assured trading looks with the others for confirmation."I'm gonna assume you two are on board?"

"It beats sitting here all day, so yeah."Feng smirked, rubbing his hands."Plus, It opens up more opportunities."

"I'm still skeptic, but we don't have any real choice."Shiloh gave a slight nod.

"What the hell even is this job anyway? And what kind of position did you even agree-?"

Once again, the familiar sizzle of the automated doors pierced the air, catching the boys' attention.

Rin came hastily marching inside with an entourage of armed robots, both of which invoked a sharp glare from Diego.

"The hell is it with you and waltzing in on random moments?"

Rin sighed, shaking her head, attempting to ignore the tactless comment as she walked toward Palus. "I apologize for the interruption, but everything is ready. Your team has been given the green light through a 'state of emergency."

"We're all set here for the most part."Palus addressed.

Rin examined the others, eyeing them with a wary look. As if second-guessing the rationality of her plan."I take it that the rest of your group is in agreement?"

"Only, for now. We never agreed to anything." Diego shot back. His displeasure made all the more apparent with the bitter tone.

"Yes, I'm aware this wasn't the most negotiable contract. However, I'll do my best to ensure that you four are properly compensated for your work."Rin gave each of them a solemn look.

Despite how reluctant the rest of the council was, with few options left, she took the risk - Even having a little sympathy for the four, it only felt right to at least treat them with adequate treatment for their willingness to help, even if it's involuntary.

"In that case, please follow me."Rin spun for the door, nodding towards her entourage of security. The two robots responded quickly, positioning themselves behind the four boys.

Thus, with little left to say, and far fewer choices on the matter, Palus's squad followed suit.

"I hope you know what you're doing." Diego whispered, lagging slightly behind the group.

XXXXXX

Palus found himself walking down a familiar path, corridors of white, as he trailed behind Rin and her robotic escort. This time, with the rest of his group accompanying him. Having realized that freedom was improbable, they had no choice but to follow along.

It was the least desirable outcome, but one that they needed to endure - for the time being.

"Hey Palus, I gotta ask."Feng squeezed through, leaning in and tapping their squad leader's shoulder. "I know we're sort of forced into this new operation now...But what about the old one?"

"The way back closed on our way in, remember?"Deigo inched close, lowering his voice."Even if they had a way to help, if they valued us that much, they wouldn't have put us into this suicide run."

"Still, I just thi-"

"It's true; they were already planning on ending our contract." Shiloh commented, moving an earshot away."What use are four grunts anyway?"

Feng lowered his head, the realization flaring back to life. The thought drained him and Shiloh of color, leaving their expressions a shallow apathetic husk. Diego and Palus could only cringe in discomfort. Anger coursing through their tightlipped scowls.

"We all knew it would end up like this, some way or another."Diego turned to Palus, his sharp tone cutting down the boy's neck."Gone is the old leash, and in comes, another, am I right?"

Palus scoffed, rolling his eyes."Sure beats being chained to a doghouse for the rest of your life..."

"Is there a problem?"

Blood rushed to their legs, coming to a sudden stop. Rin placed a hand on her hip, turning around with cocked eyebrows. Her two security bots instinctively reacted, facing them down in a readied stance with weapons raised.

"Nothing, I was just giving a basic gist of our new op."Palus forced out a reply; Rin frowned but was satisfied nonetheless.

Heaving a sigh, she called her bots off, continuing their walk forward."I'm sorry for the rush- Truly I am. But, everything's been very hectic lately, even more so since we're making a very sudden decision on a sensitive topic."

She rubbed her forehead, The sheer thought invoking a sour frown from the normally well-composed woman."Damn, politics."

"Take your ti-"

"Fuck that, Perro." Diego shoved past Palus, still riled and wanting answers."I wanna know what's exactly going on."

"What the hell is your problem-!" Palus growled, yanking hard on Deigo's shoulder.

"It's fine." Rin chimed in, breaking between their squabble. "Besides, at this point on, we'll be working alongside each other for a good while."

"We'll see about that."Deigo scoffed. Rin ignored the comment, briefly glancing back at the four; and casting a quick glare at Deigo before continuing their walk.

"Gentlemen, from now on, you four will be operating inside of Kivotos: a massive city housing hundreds of academies, all with distinct rules and regulations on how each district is governed. You'll be running SCHALE or also known as, The Independent Federal Investigation Club."

Rin gave the four a moment to process their conditions for as, far as she knows, an indefinite amount of time - A sound approach, given the confused looks she was receiving. Palus remained unfazed; having already heard this part of their contract, he merely listened for anything new.

Shiloh poked his head up from the back."What exactly is Schale's role?"

Rin paused, realizing that the president never gave any details regarding the club's true purpose.

"Truth be told, I'm not sure of the club's real purpose."Rin feebly replied.

It wasn't just Palus' group taking on a daunting task. Much of what was authorized was out of a state of emergency. Given the Club's level of authority, many within the council are still hesitant, some at odds with the idea. Not even mentioning how the public and the other school districts would react once word gets out.

"What I do know, however, is that Schale isn't an ordinary organization; It's been given higher authority by the student president herself. With that in mind, you'll be working In similar status with the general student council, which is us."

Rin paused, her face diminishing down to a dispirited frown. It would've been the truth if not for the president's disappearance.

"Unfortunately, her sudden vanishing complicates things. Because of this, Much of the terms are still being debated, but I'll personally vouch for you four and ensure you're all given proper accommodation."

Her words struck hard; A promise of refuge, and dare they say, a gesture of empathy from the women. Aside from the goodwill, the newly allotted role had the four boys trading skeptic glances - it just felt way too good to be true. Even Palus with buried brows took the time to filter in the new information.

Diego let out a weak chuckle."C'mon, chica, that's gotta be the fattest load of bull I've heard from you yet."

His question was met with stillness, furthering their uncertainty as they kept trading glances. Palus could only stare at the woman ahead, silently questioning her motives, piecing together any ulterior she may have. But to no avail; there was too little he knew about her and the new world he found himself in.

Broiling inside was a question he desperately wanted to ask but kept to himself in hopes of avoiding any possibility of antagonizing their captor. A thought he stowed away altogether as they turned the corner, stopping near a familiar elevator - a similar design but slightly bigger in size.

Following a similar procedure, the double doors opened, and Rin ushered them to follow. The display of near magic from Rin's holograms evoked the same look Palus had onto the three other boys.

Cramming themselves inside, they managed some breathing room before the doors shut, leaving behind the two bots as they began to rise. Moments later, sunlight peered through, and the shimmering glow of the city below came into view. Stunned in awe, the three basked in the sights, letting out a few low whistles as they took in the gleaming gem below.

"Welcome to Kivotos, gentlemen," Rin announced, marveling at the city for which she was now responsible for.

"Truly incredible..." Shiloh admired the scene cityscape below, eyes wide and mouth agape. It was beyond anything the three have ever collectively laid eyes on.

Diego let out a low whistle as he scanned the architectural aspect present in each part of the city. Although lacking in proficient knowledge, it didn't take a professional to spot the amount of diversity in designs. "Godamn, now that is one helluva sight. This place looks like it's got everything going on"

"Yeah...One helluva sight~"

"It better be the city you're lookin at, Feng."

Aside from the enormous size, each location had its own unique theme. Shiloh was the first to catch on, leaning closer for a better view.

"You see something, Shiloh?"Palus asked, inching to the side to give the boy room.

"Aside from the highrises, theirs a lot going on in there."Gliding a hand along the glass, Shiloh pointed to several spots of interest."In the far-off, you can see Japanese-styled buildings - elevated foundations, wooden constructs with tiled or thatched roofs, and sliding doors. On another corner, you can even spot Chinese-inspired buildings - horizontal symmetry and a strong focus on closed wall courtyards."

"Right over there, you can see European Gothic-style buildings - given all the arches, wall carvings, and stained glass, I believe they are chapels. And over there, those buildings remind me of old german facilities during World War Two."

Rin cocked her head. Although unaware of the terms and names being thrown, the astute and detailed analogy caught her attention. Squeezing through, she guided a hand in order of each location mentioned.

"Hyakkiyako Alliance Academy, Shanhaijing Senior Secondary School, Trinity General School, and the one you pointed over there would be Gehenna Academy. While there are many more, those would be the names for the school areas you pointed to."

"Just what exactly are these schools? Are we talkin typical teachers, classrooms, and learning algebra?" Diego glanced around, spotting all the visible school grounds. For Rin to mention that Kivotos was made up entirely of learning institutions, it made sense to question their actual role and why they held authority over their own city areas.

"So is the general school council like the head honcho?"

"Well, to an extent..." Rin began, darting her gaze to the side as she rubbed her chin."Our work here isn't to govern the academies, but to oversee their solidity to ensure that each school is functioning and abiding by shared rules."

Inching towards the glass, Rin admired the city below with a tender smile, the very pride of the student president; and one she now shares. "The vision for Kivotos was diversity, allowing students to express their individuality. Lectures here aren't in the form of traditional professors teaching students. As a matter of fact, teachers here are rather rare. Most schools are made up of several clubs, all based on collective interests. Ultimately giving people the choice and freedom to pursue whatever they desire - A joint collection of schools all governed to their choosing."

Her smile turned sour, however, as she chewed on her bottom lip in discomfort - That vision, now distorted. In just a few short days the city became an anarchist society In their President's absence.

"I know I'm throwing a lot onto you four - and for that, I'm sorry. All of this is a far stretch of the imagination from wherever you came- and I can't even imagine how hard it'll be for you all to adjust." Heaving a tight sigh, she faced the four boys - a dim sparkle of hope welling in her eyes. "Regardless, I believe the president, to some degree, chose you specifically. And with that in mind, I believe you'll fit in well over time."

"Chica, c'mon english please-."Diego gave her a sheepish look, glancing for help from the others, but they were just as lost.

"Listen, Ms. Rin, as thankful as I am to whatever god allowed me to be in your presence-" Feng began, stepping forward as he cleared his throat.

"Goddamnit Feng, I swear-"

"Just a couple of days ago, we were probably living in completely different planes of existence. So how does any of this fit with us-?"

Palus cut in, pinching his forehead for relief from the sudden surge of pain."For now, It Doesn't matter - We have a job, so let's stick to it."

"We might as well. Regardless, trying to come up with a rational explanation is ludicrous at best." Shiloh shrugged, faced with the inexplicability of recent events. They were better off focusing on current problems at hand - even if they weren't their own.

"Apologies for derailing the conversation. Perhaps getting too sentimental." Rin nodded, shaking loose her smile and returning to her hardened visage."But I digress. We should focus on the current situation - we'll have plenty of time to further establish ourselves."

Rin briefly locked eyes with Palus, the two of them already aware of the details - retrieve the Shittem Chest. Nevertheless, the responsibility that followed weighed on the squad leader's mind. An Entire city, hingeing on their success, leaving no margin for repeated failure. Their first test to show Schale's effectiveness. And whether or not they were ready to shoulder a new responsibility.

Ding

A subtle beep signaled the elevator's stop, grabbing the group's attention. Whether it be passing a mantle or the chance to correct past mistakes, they each steeled themselves for what awaited them. Each member held their breaths, Rin included - Behind closed gates were their soon-to-be new lives, with challenges of boundless proportions.

"This is our floor, gentlemen."

XXXXXX

"Alright, miss, I have just queued you on the registration form. We'll notify you in the following days as to when we're available. However, given the current situation, we can't guarantee you'll be given an audience." The receptionist flashed a halved smile as she downcasted her eyes, attempting to keep the interaction brief; the navy blue-haired girl across didn't take the curt service kindly.

Straightening her black blazer's collar, she leaned in on the desk, peering over the receptionist's monitor with irritated eyes.

"I've already placed one earlier this week- What gives-!? You said the same thing before, and I still have yet to receive a reply for it!"She snapped back, her voice stern but edged to a higher pitch - an almost childish undertone to her demanding and strict nature.

The receptionist let out a sigh before retaining her attention."May I get your name, please?"

"Hayase Yuuka."She voiced back, flashing an ID card pinned to her chest.

Nodding, the desk worker began typing away, glancing across her computer screen - before she stopped. and let out an affirmed hum."Ah, miss Yuuka, second-year student and the treasurer of Millennium's seminar."

"I truly apologize, but I genuinely can't guarantee you'll receive your request." Pausing momentarily, she groaned in annoyance before mustering a solemn look - Gesturing to another corner of the room, close to the gaping windows."If it helps, you may sit on one of those couches and wait patiently to see if any council officers are available."

Yuuka crossed her arms in a huff, contemplating - before submitting, albeit still displeased with the lack of urgency.

"Fine."

Flashing a thankful smile, the receptionist nodded before returning to her duties; Yuuka marched towards the seating area, plopping down on a couch near the window - A welcoming sensation for the girl's sore muscles.

Relishing the warm sun beaming down, Yuuka deflated into the soft cushion, shrugging off her blue and white hoodie before promptly straightening her back - soft cracks from her stiff bones doing wonders to alleviate her soreness.

The past few days for the school representative have been more akin to Kivotos than she would've liked; Hectic, chaotic, and stressful. In addition to the treasurer's already heavy workload, calculating numbers from different events and people's mishaps from inside and outside the school added to it. It didn't help that the department solely responsible for it all began turning a blind eye to the academy's requests. After hours of carving her way through security with words, she managed herself here, waiting in angst for a chance to hopefully talk with a council member - seeking help with logistical issues and clarity regarding a rumor speculating around media; the student president's disappearance.

In the science student's eye, blindly following groundless claims thrown in media forums would be a disservice to her doctrine. Instead, she was intent on finding the truth for herself - despite its severity, if proven true.

"If and only If." She pondered to herself, fully intent on breaking past the veil of mystery regarding Kivotos's recent issues.

Her moment of thought didn't last long, however. The soft beep of the elevator caught the daydreaming girl off-guard as she hurriedly straightened her flustered self - even more so when she recognized the person that came striding in. More notably, the armband wrapped on their left arm.

Marching forward, a large brown bag in hand, with a formality that could only be described as perfect, was Hinomia Chinatsu. A student from Gehenna Academy and a seemingly forbidding member of the 'Perfect Team' - the mention of their club alone was enough to forewarn any to mind their actions.

Although Yuuka only had preliminary knowledge concerning other schools, she knew a few notable figures. Aside from knowing the Perfect Team's unruly reputation, many news feeds that featured the beige pigtailed girl standing beside their 'head perfect' made her distinguishable from the common folk. Her white collared pleated shirt, black skirt, and boots all accentuated her uniform demeanor - with red strings and laces alongside her red stockings to match their school's color schemes.

Eyeing the girl's movement, Yuuka had to praise her appearance - a young girl with a near-perfect look sprinkling in some personality through her cutesy ribbon hairband and red hair ties.

"Cute..."She silently praised as a dash of pink coated her cheeks.

The two board trustees made eye contact - Yuuka's Cobalt stare matching Chinatsu's golden gaze. A moment of recognition for where they both stood in their schools before the Gehenna student's gaze snapped forward - readjusting her glasses in the process.

Returning to her thoughts, Yuuka could barely make out the distant murmurs between Chinatsu and the receptionist.

After a lengthy interaction, with a nod and a bow, the woman walked over to the waiting area, seating herself just a few spaces away from Yuuka.

Not a word was said between the two as both members sat patiently, sitting with proper postures to conserve their schools and personal images. A task that grew in difficulty as time began to draw out - One hour of waiting, and still nothing, not a person to come out of the elevators and not a word from the receptionist; and their patience was nearing its limit, given the urgency of their issues.

Yuuka was awkwardly swaying in her seat, fidgeting impatiently with a tinge of worry and panic as she glanced around the room. Even the previously well-polished Gehenna student was slowly deteriorating, shuffling in her seat as she played with the laces of her clothes.

Just as Yuuka was nearing her patience, shooting up, with full intent on marching down to an officer herself, the elevator rang. An abrupt break from the silence instantly had both students turning heads, rising from their seats in anticipation for an officer to walk in.

Only to be disappointed at the pair that came through; Students enrolled in Trinity General School - evoking a tight scowl from Chinatsu as she immediately recognized the two. Third-year Hanekawa Hasumi and trailing behind her was second-year Morizuki Suzumi - both with reputable reputations to boot, Hasumi the vice president of the deadly efficient Justice Task Force, and Suzumi from the diligent Vigilnatte Crew. Trinity General School was a profoundly religious school advocating harmony and balance - teaching their students the essence of 'Pen' and 'Sword' both in a literal and metaphorical sense.

Striding forth with composure and a passion for righteousness, Hasumi was an ample example of a model trinity student. The black sailor uniform with the word 'justice' embroidered on, paired with the long black skirt she wore, emphasizes a sense of elegance that all Trinity Students exhibited. Her jet black waist-long hair, as well as her crimson orbs gazing past her bangs, all added beauty and grace to the already prestigious look she had. As a display of personality, her skirt had a slited design on the side, revealing her black garter stockings, and her uniform featured a crop top cut showcasing her flawless skin - all of which, in addition to her ample assets, gave her graceful image a layer of allure and mystery.

Suzumi, another equally justice-absorbed Trinity student, followed closely behind - a young, long silver-haired, idealistic law enforcer who closely followed Trinity's harmonious ideals; she cultivated more so the 'sword' within their school's motto. As expected from a Trinity student, Suzumi maintained a high grade but was nowhere near Hasumi's. Reflecting their school's high standard, she wore a modest but decorous white navy collar dress with grey accents alongside a regular pair of black stockings and uwabaki. All of this was topped with a red ribbon alongside their school insignia stitched to her left sleeve and the short white shoulder cape she wore. Just as a model example as Hasumi, but adhering to the typical school girl look.

Upon noticing the Gehenna student, Hasumi's firm expression soured, contesting the condescending look with her own - a rare sight of the Trinity student ditching her renowned elegance and grace in place of a malicious look. A bitter rivalry between schools notorious within Kivotos - two schools with conflicting ideals dating back to a long history; Hasumi, among others, was an extremist when expressing their disdain.

Suzumi's crimson watch noticed this. Inching closer to her senpai, she leaned in, whispering a quick reminder as to why they were here. Hasumi abided with scrunched eyes and a teeth-bearing scowl, quickly trudging through her grudges as she refocused on the receptionist - masking her ire behind the previous stone expression she held.

Upon making their way towards the desk, just like before, the chatter between the receptionist was inaudible. Either out of boredom or attempting to piece together their conversation, Yuuka and Chinatsu watched, eyes unyielding and ears tuned to try even the lowest decibel - even if it weren't possible.

"Um, well.. about that, miss.."

"Honestly, I'm sure even that won't work.."

"Yes, they haven't been accepting calls at all. I was notified that they'd have an important meeting today.."

"I'm sure it won't be of much use, but ill try again."

Following a few clicks and taps seeming louder than actuality due to the silence, a phone dial permeated the room - cutting through the stillness and drawing heads from the four students eagerly waiting.

"Hello?"The line connected, catching them off guard. The students snapped to attention, feeling an inch closer to receiving what they needed. "Yes... I'm aware you're occupied, but they refuse to leave.."

"Yes, I understand." Closing the line, the receptionist frowned, flashing Hasumi a worried look as she bit the underside of her lip.

"Is there a problem?"Hasumi asked, causing sweat to bead down the receptionist's forehead - awkwardly dodging eye contact as she cleared her throat.

"Well..She is on the way, but-"

"Perfect in that case, we have several issues directly coming from Tea Party that they would like to discuss-" Hasumi blurted out, a louder than expected outburst that immediately caught the attention of Yuuka, especially Chinatsu.

Upon hearing the news, Chinatsu rose, briskly making her way towards the desk."Pardon me, but I've been waiting here far earlier than you have, and I believe you'll need to wait while I have important inquiries coming directly from our Head Perfect."

Hasumi reeled her head back, grimacing in disgust at the insult toward their school council's priorities - coming from a Gehenna student no less, only furthering the nuisance she was hearing.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing-! We'd filed for this meeting several days ago already. If any problems should be heard first, it should be that of Trinity!"Hasumi argued back, antagonizing a tight frown from Chiantsu as she burrowed her brows."With that in mind, I believe Gehenna can wait longer as we discuss important issues regarding recent illegal weapons distribution."

"Aswell as the sharp decrease in public safety within school streets."Suzumi added, stepping forward in defense of their school.

"And I refuse to let a condescending group of extremists deem themselves higher in priority than those with critical issues." Chinatsu retaliated, approaching the two trinity students head-on." Hmph- What? Is your dogmatic belief not as controlling as you'd want it to be?"

The retort struck a high note, invoking a surge of anger, slowly bottling up in Hasumi as she did her best to contain it - with fist clenched and teeth grinding, as well as the added buffer of wanting to pertain a calm demeanor. "And as if your one to talk! A purely lawless academy with a deceptive idea of freedom, actually ruled over by an oppressive group of irrationalists!"

Yuuka jolted from her seat, stomping her way to the bantering students with narrowed eyes and gritted teeth - their moot banter, paired with the audacity to completely ignore her presence, was enough to rile her temper.

"Excuse me-! Among us four, I was the first one to check in!"Yuuka exclaimed, grabbing the attention of the two, bickering away - a flurry of verbal retorts slinging back and forth as the receptionist desperately struggled to break past.

"Uhhhh- Ms. Rin is not going to like this.." She meekly muttered to herself, fully aware the three groups were too far gone to hold back.

"But I placed my request at the start of thi-!?"

And through the torrent of noise, the elevator chime echoed throughout, silencing the group instantly - waiting in anxious suspense for the person they've needed yet haven't heard or seen from since Kivoto's decline. Turning towards it and slowly readying themselves as if prepping for a race, the four girls watched as the sliding doors parted - inching closer with heightened steps, gradually gaining more distance from one another, till eventually, they were halfway towards the elevator.

Ding

And through the small crevices, the familiar officer uniform that the General Student Council wore came into view - a sight that sent Yuuka rushing forward instinctively. And before the rest could even react, Yuuka raced herself to be the first one at the doors.

It was Rin.

"There you are, acting president! You've kept me waiting long enough! Get the real president in here!"Yuuka blurted out, firing her point across before the receiving end could fully process - signaling the Trinity and Gehhenna students to follow suit.

"I've been waiting to finally have our meeting, Chief Officer."

Hasumi was next, practically body-blocking Chinatsu as she made her way - pulling the Gehanna student into an awkward stumble as she quickly recovered, readjusting her glasses.

"I'm here to meet with the General Student Council president. The head perfect has terms they'd like revitalized-" And Chinatsu last as she dusted her clothes off.

"-Oh my god..."Rin uttered, headache rushing to life.

"I'M SORRRYYYY, , THEY REFUSED TO LEAVE!"The receptionist yelled from across the room, hoping to alleviate a fraction of the blame.

"Rin, the hells going on?" Yuuka's eyes widened, a foreign voice caught people's attention, silencing the one-sided flood of dissatisfied students - a person, a boy to be more exact, lower in pitch with a colder tone to his words.

"Well.. this timing is rather inconvenient.." Rin thought, quickly faking a smile to hide her irritation - this encounter being the last thing she hoped to ever happen.

"Huh- w-wait, who's that adu- I mean, the boy behind you?" Yuuka peered over Rin, but with no success, as Rin kept blocking her view."Ughh- why are you-?!"

Rin spread her arms out in a seemingly welcoming way, frantically attempting to shield their views while also trying to keep it natural. "Greetings, guests of neighboring academies' student councils, disciplinary boards, and those who otherwise have nothing be- been waiting patiently for a response regarding the...Recent fuss in the academy city. Am I right?"

"If you're well aware, then do something! You've been dodging the entire city, refusing to tell people anything! You represent the council after all, so start taking your role more seriously!" Yuuka scolded, jabbing her finger towards her as she glanced back at the other students - all of which harbored the same frustrations, despite being in different schools.

"Yo vato, quit blockin the way and move your fuckin ASS!"

"I CAN'T! Boss is in front, and he ain't movin-! Hey, that shit hurts!"

More voices forced their way through the commotion, this time, there was no hiding it - the first gruff and rowdy, the second chirpy with a sarcastic undertone. The verbal assault from the students in front, and the physical pushing from the squad behind, were all slowly tearing apart the buffer zone Rin was helplessly defending.

"Whose voices were those?" Chinatsu questioned, stepping forward as she tried peeking through the cracks - eventually Hasumi, then eventually Shizumi, joined in as well.

With an exasperated groan, Rin gave up, dropping her arms in a defeated huff as the four boys came pouring out - stumbling over their feet, awkwardly recovering before they could collapse in one tangled heap.

"Rin, I swear to f-!"Palus held his tongue, eyes wide and downright stunned by the hundreds of questions formulating at what he was seeing. Despite already being thoroughly fried by the recent wave of esoteric knowledge and bizarre sights, the sheer overload in the room was enough to completely destroy his brain - even more so for the other three.

"Que mierda, I thought we'd seen all of it- they must've put us on sum..."

"Wings..and b-big.. very big~"

At first glance, one would think they were stepping into a costume party; while on an LSD trip. To their surprise, it was all real. Aside from Rin and their view of the city, this was their first real interaction - Having thought Rin was as outlandish as it could get, the four girls before them proved them wrong; All seemed from a mad-libs character prompt. With an appearance more akin to an overtop cosplay than actual attire, and features that defied any law of science, these girls were undoubtedly a sight far from the norm.

Regaining their footing, the four boys stood in dumbfounded awe, awkwardly trading looks with one another and the four girls.

The same could be said for the Kivotos students, all sharing the same level of confusion." W-who ar-?"

Rin cut in."I know you all, alongside the rest of the citizens here in Kivotos, are demanding answers...So ill cut to the chase.."

Despite committing, Rin hesitated - a portion of her still contemplated the potential backlash and outcomes the truth would result too. Only when the students focused their heated glares at her was when she submitted.

Taking a deep breath, she hardened her expression.

"Currently, the General Student Council has lost authority because the top administrator of Sanctum Tower has gone missing.."

A wave of dismay tore the girl's complexions, the corner of their lips either tearing open with shock or tightening into a crinkled bitter frown as the news broke loose.

"Wait, what-!? A-are you certain or-?"Yuuka blundered. Knowing the truth, the severity they found themselves in came to realization - for a mathematician such as herself, she processed all the possible factors that would cause problems.

"So the rumors were true.." Hasumi murmured, her face swollen with unease as she stared down at the floor, contemplating.

Chinatsu stepped forward, locking eyes with a warry but determined look."Do you have some kind of plan? There has to be a way to decrypt the login?"

"We've been..investigating various methods..All of which were for finding a way to bypass the strict verification."Rin explained, invoking a few dubious looks.

"Have there been any signs of success?"Hasumi questioned.

Rin hovered around her explanation, unsure how much information she should share - these were influential figureheads for some of the largest schools in Kivotos."To some degree, Yes."

"Although it's still being discussed, we've come up with a temporary solution for the time being."Rin paused, stepping to the side while gesturing to the four boys with a welcoming smile."Currently, they're being emplaced to act as support roles for the General Student Council."

Suddenly thrown in the spotlight, the four boys clumsily regained their bearings - tossing the accumulated shock momentarily. Palus, the involuntary leader, was first to step forward, then Diego, Feng, and Shiloh last.

"Palus Viotto, good to meet you all"

"Yo"

"I like this place already~"

"Shiloh. It's a pleasure."

Rin gave a quick nod before turning back to the four girls."As I said, these four will be acting as support roles - tasking for the general student council and helping alleviate the issues within the various school zones. Whether it be law enforcement, fire support, or all-around school assistance such as private lectures or supplementary lessons - these four will be available."

"Wait..WHAT-!?"Deigo cursed out, quickly sneering at Rin from behind.

"Them..?" Suzumi ogled, tilting her with raised brows."Are you sure?"

"And the hell are you implying with that?!"Diego sized her up, only to be stopped by an exasperated Shiloh.

"Who exactly are they?"Chinatsu critiqued, eyeing the boys up and down.

"Whoever they are, they aren't from Kivotos.."Hasumi raised a hand to her chin, examining the four strangers - the conversation quickly derailing to a full-on interrogation.

Yuuka gave her head a vicious shake, still taken aback by the situation."Wait, just hold it! What are they even doing here in the first place?! And you're telling me they're gonna be teachers here?!"

"What the fuck."

Palus snapped on the last few mentions, immediately rushing up to Rin, placing a hand on her shoulder and leaning in."Woah, woah woah, hold it-! I didn't agree to anything involving teaching-!"

"Remember how I said much of the terms are still being discussed?" Rin chided, her lips stretching to a chilling smile as she narrowed her icicle-like glare - face visibly trembling in an attempt to cover up her raging temper.

"Well.. they've been decided.."

Upon seeing the return of Rin's colder nature developing into something more sinister, he backed off. Noticing this, Shiloh slid next to Palus.

"So, what's the p-"

"Just go with it." Palus swallowed, not even taking a second to contemplate - saving the time to mull it over for later, definitely when Rin was far from their vicinity.

"Are we on the same page?"Rin smiled, sending a chilling pain down the squad leader's spine.

Breaking eye contact, the boy nodded, crossing his arms with a huff."Yes"

"Good~"

"Don't fuck with Rin.." Palus noted, for more ways than her being their employer - executioner more like.

Returning to her usual demeanor, Rin clasped her hands."With all that being said. This decision wasn't made on a whim - this decision was made by the Student President herself."

"The Student President Chose them? The same one who's currently missing?"Yuuka exclaimed, pinching her nose hard in irritation."Things are making even less sense.."

"Tch- chose.. Palus muttered to himself.

Yuuka's eyes widened in revelation, panic quickly surging as embarrassment shrouded her visage in a shade of red - this person, whoever they were, was given special privilege by the student president herself.

"W-wait right-! Pleasure to meet you, I'm Millenium Science School's treas..and- Ugh, why am I even bothering to introduce myself righ-!"

"Relax chica, I ain't here to babysit." Diego mocked, immediately sending Yuuka into a frenzied embarrassment.

"I'm Hy- and.. HOW RUDE-! What was that for!"

Rolling her eyes, Rin branched off from the commotion as she dialed a number into her holo-device - following a few seconds of dialing, the caller connected.

"Momoka, I need a helicopter. Narrow in for the Schale Club Room" After another long pause with the occasional rustle in the background, a chirpy voice came through.

"Wait, the run-down place near the outskirts? Whelp, sorry to bear the realllyy bad news, that place is kind of a warzone right now."

"What do you mean by that.."Rin asked, her voice shriveling down.

"Oh, so basically, Correction Bureau managed to let one of the Seven Prisoners escape, and now they've rallied a raid party consisting of numerous thugs."Rustling through a bag of chips, Momoka sent a quick aerial shot of the skirmish.

"And they intend to storm the Schale Building?"Rin concluded, feeling her headache returning - burning hotter than ever before.

"Yup. Revenge maybe, or they know something important is there."Finishing her bag, Momoka dialed a number and hummed in affirmation."Anyway, my foods here- BUT, I called a chopper in for yeah. Have fun!"

Squeezing her fists hard, Rin could feel the raging storm in her head - a collection of all things gone wrong, ruining and making her day significantly more challenging.

"So ladies, pardon me for not introducing myself~" Feng began, instantly making Palus stride over to Rin, tapping her on the shoulder.

"We should probably wrap up.."Palus commented, pointing towards the slowly worsening situation in the reception room.

Rin didn't respond, heaving a deep sigh before her head perked up, freezing momentarily eyeing the squabbling group - a cynical smile enveloping her face as she rubbed her hands.

"U-uh Rin..?" Palus questioned, giving her a light shake on the shoulder.

As if feeling the room shift in temperature, the room froze, silence engulfing the banter whole - all eyes turning towards the source.

"W-why are y-you looking at us like that?"Yuuka uttered, voice shaky and rigid.

"It's so reassuring to have you, trustworthy academy representatives, here with us.."

Finally, Rin spoke, sending a blood-freezing fear to everyone. "It truly shows the extent that you ann- aspiring figureheads go to maintain peace here in Kivotos."

They all traded looks, the four boys included.

"Por amor a Dios, don't say it."

"I'm both liking and hating where this is going."

Scanning the room with a predatory gaze, Rin gave a devilish grin at the group of noble volunteers.

"Kivotos is going to have need of your services, Ladies, and Gentlemen."

A/N

And boom! After several months of hovering over this chapter, its' finally done. Been extremely busy these past couple of months with work and graduating highschool. Hopefully I'll have a better schedule lined up but at this rate I never end up sticking to it.

Regardless, this chapter was extremely fun to write and in my opinion, one of my better ones. The character introductions was a blast to do and I got to be real creative with how I was gonna shape the dialogue for them all four characters;plus an already pre established cast gets hard to plot with. Hopefully I'll improve on it over time. I apologize for the wait. I really do try, but life happens and i'm always working hard, plotting and refreshing my source material to create a more vivid story. Also sorry for any blaring issues and the slightly rushed ending, I'm finishing this chapter up the night before I go on a 9 day vacation - it's still a longer chapter than usual so I hope that atones for it.

Anyway I appreciate each and every single reader and do share your thoughts, opinions and critiques. As always stay safe, treat each other with respect and ill catch you later.

-IBENZ_Mp4