SZ: Greetings one and all, and welcome to the awaited side story we promised for Galactic Shift Extend
Z0: Things are gonna get...intense from time to time.
SZ: Eeyup. Other than that, hope you all enjoy this...but before we begin, we own jack squat aside from original content
Z0: *in deep dark narrator voice* From the darkness of mankind, horrors rise to devour our souls, but even still the world has hope. A Protector in the night, a symbol of Hope that shines within the dark.
SZ: 0-0...uh oh…*goes into the bunker*
GT: So, uh, yeah...We own no series that go into this. With that, enjoy.
"Hmm...Team Variable Heart? no...I think that's taken...Team Varia Heart? No…" Jenny muttered, looking down a list of names as she was sitting in the school courtyard.
It had been a few weeks since Junko's plan to plunge the world and Ben into Despair, and things were starting to wind down...well, as much as a school meant for the best students in the world and country can get. After getting to know some of the Ultimates, Jenny had asked Ben's grandfather and the Headmaster of Kibougamine, Jin Kirigiri if she could attend the school and -after a few paperwork and a screen testing from Kirigiri- she was accepted as the Ultimate Gynoid. She was also gonna help expand Team Remix Heart by forming a club here at the school...if only she could decide on a name and who to ask to join it.
"OH MY GOD!" Naegi's voice could be heard as multiple windows began shattering.
"Hm?" Jenny looked up as the glass fell, she could see a familiar leg kick the window as a figure kept avoiding each swing.
"All I said was Good morning!" the figure snapped as suddenly his attacker was thrown out the window, "Ah...gomen…"
"...Well. Might as well stop it before someone gets hurt...again," Jenny muttered, putting the lsit away before she took off into the air and caught the falling figure, "You okay, Akane?"
"Heh...I almost won that time," Akane grinned.
"That wasn't a match! You just jumped me!" the figure spoke, revealing it to be Kuon Sena as he peeked out the window with a panicked Naegi, "And you triggered Naegi-san too...he's gonna be like this all day…"
"Sorry, Naegs!" Akane laughed as Jenny floated back down, letting the tomboy jump out of her arms.
"Why are you so strong Kuon-san?" Naegi asked.
"...I dunno…" Kuon shrugged, "I've always been strong. I never realized it was weird till I beat up that adult who was picking on my friends in Grade school."
"Really?"
"What...I just broke most of his bones…" Kuon replied.
"..." Naegi poked Kuon a few times, "Are you sure you're...human?"
"Rude…" Kuon crossed his arms, "'sides, surprised ya haven't asked Owari that."
"Eh? The heck is that supposed to mean?" Akane asked, casually picking her ear at the moment, "Hey Jen, know what Kuon's talking about?"
"I wonder…" she chuckled awkwardly.
"...Meh. Whatever. I'm hungry anyways," Akane shrugged before running off, "See ya later, Jen!"
"She seriously has as much energy as Makoto…" Jenny whispered as she began to walk back over to her spot, 'I'll probably think on the name later. For now...think on who to get to join...oh! Kyoko...she is one of the school's Ultimate Detectives, maybe I can get her to join!'
"What do you mean I just missed her?!" Jenny gawked as she met up with Asahina, Sakura, and Akane at the cafeteria.
"She left not too long ago," Hina answered, munching away at a donut, "Something about a project….wait. Sakura-chan we're not late on a project are we?"
"No."
"Phew…"
"Maybe she's got a secret date or somethin'," Akane shrugged, a large half eaten chicken leg before her, "Then again, it's hard to get a reading on that girl…"
"Irony...thy name is Akane…" Jenny muttered to herself.
"Wait...why're you looking for her anyway?" Akane asked.
"Well…" Jenny began as she sat down at the table they're at, "I was hoping to ask her to join that mystery club I'm trying to make."
"You mean like the one Makoto-chan and her friends have?" Hina asked.
"Exactly." Jenny nodded, "I figured it would be a good way to make more friends, and help around this place at the same time. Since...weird things still happen…"
"No one did find out how the gym got torn up the way it did…" Asahina muttered.
"Wasn't me…" Akane argued, noticing a few looks.
"You understand why...hai?" Sakura replied.
"Yeah, but I am telling you it wasn't me," Akane argued, "Seriously if it was me, then it would be really torn up...like when me and coach Nekomaru usually spar."
"I still say that's not a healthy outlet…" Jenny muttered, "Still...if it wasn't you, then who?"
"Beats…"
"IBUKI MAY KNOW!"
"AHH!" Jenny and Asahina yelped, jumping back in surprise when Ibuki popped up from under the table, "...How…"
"Best you don't know," Ibuki muttered as stood up, "But~ Your talk does interest Ibuki...and she may know something~"
"...you're possibly referring to one of the school's seven mysteries, correct" Sakura asked with a raised brow.
"Seven mysteries?" Jenny repeated before the lights suddenly turned off, "?!"
"They say late at night, a lot of weird and mysterious things happen here at Kibougamine~" Ibuki explained, holding a flashlight underneath her face as she spoke in a spooky tone.
"I...don't feel like I'm gonna like where this is going." Asahina replied honestly.
"No...no you will not," Ibuki replied, moving back under the table before popping back out, holding onto a map, "Ibuki managed to get this from Gungun...a map showing all the spots where the mysteries are happening~"
"Wait...how did you get his map?" Jenny asked.
"Oh that's not important." Ibuki smiled.
"AH!" Gundham screamed as his dormroom's door was kicked down.
"I have my methods." Ibuki added as she began looking at the map, "If I'm reading his strange code right…"
"That's not a code...that's so-so handwriting…" Sakura corrected.
"It's code! Ibuki can tell these things!" Ibuki argued.
"Ibuki...your point?" Jenny reminded her.
"Oh right!" Ibuki recalled before pointing at a spot on the map, "If I've read it correctly, there's something very mysterious going on at the gym at night...something wild bouncing around the place with claws tearing into the place~"
"Told ya it wasn't me," Akane snorted.
"And here's another! They say at night, there's something creeping around the library…" Ibuki continued, "Art coming to life in the art studio, the entire room near the sauna suddenly getting really hot, this place is super full of mysteries!"
"Is it wrong if I said I wish I was Jen-chan just so I wouldn't have to worry about most of those things?" Asahina asked.
"It's not, you're okay, and I'm freaked out too." Jenny replied.
"Good...I didn't want to be the only one…"
"Aaaaaaaaand since Jenjen wants to make a mystery club...Ibuki proposes a special opening case!" Ibuki declared as the lights turned back on, the Ultimate Musician hopping onto the table as she gave a dramatic pose, "The case of Kibougamine's Seven Mysteries~!"
"Are we going to punch and or potentially hurt things?" Akane asked.
"...Maybe…" Ibuki said after a pause.
"I'm in!"
"Sweet! Ibuki in too!"
"Eh heh heh…" Jenny began to sheepishly chuckle, "Girls I appreciate it...it's just I was hoping to find Kyoko before I…"
"Oh! Ibuki can get the next best thing!" Ibuki beamed before she rushed off...before returning with a confused Kaede, "Voila! Shuich's galpal Kaede!"
"Eh?! We're not...th-that is…!" Kaede stammered, a blush forming on her face.
"Ahh nonsense~ Besides, I know you tag along with Shuichi when something mysterious goes on in your guys' class," Ibuki argued, "...like the time Hiyoko and Kokichi tried to prank all three of our classes with a super stink bomb hidden underneath the gym."
"Well yes...but that doesn't make me qualified to solve mysteries professionally...d-does it?"
"No...but since this is mostly girls and Kyoko is unavailable, you will have to do," Ibuki argued with a simple shrug.
"Eh...I'm just a best replacement for the real deal…"
"Eh. More o-" Ibuki began before Sakura pinched her neck, "?! Nigh nigh~"
*THUD*
"...eh heh. I'm really sorry about this, Kaede," Jenny apologized, "I wasn't expecting Ibuki to do that..."
"I...it's fine...just…" Kaede began before noticing the map, "...huh. I was wondering about that actually."
"Hmm?"
"Every morning when I head to music class, I see a few piano keys out of place and some of the other instruments messed up," Kaede explained, "I didn't realize it was one of the school's seven mysteries."
"Weird stuff has been happening a lot since...that event." Asahina spoke slowly.
"...well. I guess we'll have to investigate them then," Jenny stated.
"Sweet!" Ibuki beamed as she shot up, "..oh! We should get three more!"
"Three more?" Jenny repeated.
"Yeah! One from Hina and Sakura's class-most likely Kyoko-, one from my and Akane's class, and two from Kaede's class!"
"I don't feel safe…" Kaede replied.
"Neither do we…" Asahina and Jenny admitted.
"Why do I have a feeling things are gonna get crazy?" Naegi asked as he sat up straight suddenly.
"Naegi...in the few weeks I've been here, when don't things get crazy?" Kuon asked, playing a video game as they sat around during their free time.
"...Okay good point," Naegi muttered as he sat back down, "Sorry just...after what happened with Junko a few weeks ago, things have been feeling...strange here at Kibougamine."
"Careful he's learning…" a hushed voice spoke as Kuon suddenly put one hand in his pocket.
"I think I am going crazy...I keep hearing this snarky voice in my head…"
"Maybe it's Kokichi trying to prank you again," Kuon suggested.
"No...this voice sounds cool…" Naegi shook his head.
"Oh...then I dunno."
"Soka...wh-" Naegi began before he noticed something nearby, "...uh...Kuon?"
"Yeah man?" he asked as Naegi pointed to the side...and saw Akane carrying an annoyed Maki over her shoulder, "..."
"For the last time, I'm not interested…" Maki stated to Akane, "Now let me down or else, Owari…"
"Mmmm...nah. You see pretty good in the dark, and we could use your help," Akane argued.
'Do you want to die that badly?" Maki frowned dangerously, a look of death in her eyes.
"Girl I took on an army of killer robot bears with Jinjin and Juzo-san...that ain't scaring me!" Akane laughed.
"...'help me'" Maki mouthed to Naegi and Kuon, noticing them staring as Akane carried her off.
"Oi...Akane...what ya doing?" Kuon asked slowly.
"Seven Mysteries here at the school. Girls only deal," Akane replied as she turned a corner.
"...Seven mysteries?" Kuon repeated.
"Some things that happen at the campus during night," Naegi explained.
"So...why Maki?" Kuon asked, "Cause...I don't think she wants to be doing this."
"Because Tenko and Himiko were busy, Angie is on an art making spree, and Tsumugi is god knows where, so that just leaves Maki and Miu," Akane answered, poking her head out from the side, "Besides...I think Maki can use some more social interaction, and a club should do it."
"I'm pretty sure this is kidnapping," Maki deadpanned.
"Not if it's helpful!" Akane laughed as she pulled her head back.
"...We're gonna follow them later tonight, aren't we?" Naegi asked.
"Most likely," Kuon nodded.
"Ibuki's gotta play it smart," Ibuki muttered to herself, looking around with her binoculars to find one of her female classmates, "Gotta get the right gal from the class. Mmm...maybe not Hiyoko..she'd end up causing trouble...Peko? No...she never leaves Fuyuhiko's side...that leaves Mahiru, Sonia, Chiaki, and Mikan...But where are they?"
"Ano…" Ibuki turned to see Mikan looking at her in confusion, "What are you doing, Ibuki?"
"..." Ibuki began to grin, which started to make Mikan both confused and nervous, "Found one~!"
"E-Eh?"
"You got pulled into this, too?" Maki asked, sitting in one of the vacant classrooms with Mikan, who nodded.
"Ibuki's hard to say no to," Mikan sniffled.
"Of course…" Maki groaned, "Wonder who else is gonna get roped into this?"
"The fuck?! Let me go!"
"...Joy…" Maki deadpanned before the door was opened and Miu was thrown in, tied up in rope, "...Okay, I'll bite. Why the rope?"
"Oh, she asked," Akane replied.
"...Ugh. Of course she would…"
"Okay. We're back a-" Jenny began as she, Asahina, Kaede and Sakura walked in...and saw the scene, "..."
"...What?" Akane asked.
"Did you really have to tie them up? Also...you kidnapped them?!" Asahina asked.
"Lies! Lies and slander!" Ibuki declared.
"What? She asked for the ropes," Akane noted.
"I did," Miu admitted.
"...Okaaaaay," Jenny muttered.
"So~ Who did you guys get to join?" Ibuki asked the three.
"Still couldn't find Kyoko," Jenny answered, "As for the others…"
"Celeste got permission to go to a pachinko parlor, so she's off campus right now," Asahina explained, "Sayaka is with her bandmates doing some practice for a concert they're doing Saturday night. And the less said about Toko and what she's planning to do with some binoculars, the better."
"We did ask Chihiro if she wanted to participate, but she turned it down politely explaining she was going to be busy tonight with some books about programming written by a Galvan," Sakura added.
"I know it's been almost several months since that invasion, but I'm still shocked aliens are actually real," Asahina admitted.
"I'm still surprised we had Ben 10 of all people attend here for a bit," Kaede admitted.
"W-"
"Hey!" Miu shouted, earning everyone's attention, "You gonna tell us why ya kidnapped us?! ...Are we starting an orgy or somethin'?"
"Wh-?! No!" Jenny exclaimed with a blush.
"You sure? ...I ain't judgin'. Would be kinda interesting doing it with a sexy femme like yourself, too..."
"You see what I have to deal with?" Maki sighed, "And all I know it involves seven mysteries here at the school and some club."
"C-club?" Mikan repeated.
"Yup! We're the….ugh…" Ibuki blinked, "...psst! Jenjen, what's the name of our cub?"
"I'm still trying to figure out a name," Jenny admitted, holding up the list, "I want to keep the heart part of it since it's like Makoto and the other girls' team, Remix Heart, but I'm having trouble with the name…"
"...Did you try Variable Heart?" Asahina asked.
"Yup...but it feels like it's been used."
"Shoot…"
"Ibuki likes having 'Heart' in the name!" Ibuki grinned.
"Oh! Team Fire Heart!" Akane suggested.
"That sounds more like a fight club or a wrestling team…" Jenny deadpanned.
"...No," Maki spoke before Miu could suggest anything.
"But I…"
"You were gonna suggest something lewd or based on your own name."
"...Nooo…" Miu denied, looking away from Maki.
"...Wh-what about Hope Heart?" Mikan suggested
"Eh?"
"Well...if it's made up of students from here, why not combine Hope and Heart?" Mikan asked, earning silence in response, "...I...I'm sorry…I shouldn't have said anything..."
"I kinda like it." Jenny admitted.
"Eh? R...really?"
"Yeah, it's got a cute ring to it, it fits with this place and like you said, made up of students from here." Jenny explained.
"It does sound really cute," Kaede added.
"Yeah. It's a great name, Mikan," Asahina added.
"I...I did good…" Mikan whispered as she smiled a bit, "I did good…"
"MMM…" Ibuki muffled a yell.
"You want to hug her?" Most of them asked.
"Mm-hmm…" she nodded her head rapidly.
"...Go for it," Akane shrugged.
"Eh?" Mikan blinekd before yelping when Akane glomped her into a tight hug, "Ahh!"
"Aw...this is sweet." Jenny smiled.
"Help...can't...breath...too much...cuddling…" Mikan groaned.
"Uh Ibuki...Mikan c-"
"No! Ibuki will cuddle the precious marshmallow cinnamon roll!" Ibuki argued.
"M-marshmallow?" Mikan repeated.
"Yeah. C-" Ibuki began before Sakura picked her up, "...mmm~ Poo...poo on you, Saku…"
"I still don't appreciate being kidnapped just for a club…" Maki muttered.
"I had no control over that…" Jenny sighed.
"She tried to resist...but it was pointless." Akane smirked.
"Please don't say things like that…" Jenny sighed.
"...another thing…" Maki began as she stood up, the rope holding her falling to the floor, "If you're intending on examining these seven mysteries here at the school...it's impossible. There's security cameras on each floor, and there are no blind spots for you to hide in."
"We'll figure something out." Akane shrugged, "'Sides, tons of people here know how to sneak around without getting caught."
"I know a spot," Miu spoke, earning the girl's attention, "The bath house duh...found out there was no camera in there when I tried to sneak a peek."
"She got caught and was put on cleaning the bath house for a week," Maki spoke.
"H-how did she...know what? Maybe I don't want to know," Jenny muttered, "...But wait. How are we gonna hide in there? Someone's gonna be bound to check it."
"..."
"No Ibuki. We're not using bamboo to hold our breath under the water," Sakura spoke.
"I wasn't thinking that."
"Yes you were."
"Yes I was…" she smiled, "Just need to get the bamboo…"
"...Pfft! I can do ya better!" Miu laughed as she shot up, despite being tied up, "Just give me a sec and we can go full on Aquaman in this bitch!...Wait. I mean go full on fishman!"
"..."
"...Don't look at me like that! I do not read comics! They're for nerds anyway!" Miu denied
"We didn't know that was a comic…" Akane replied.
"You goofed again." Ibuki chuckled.
"D'oh…!"
It was late at night, the halls of Kibougamine empty and void of any students as the moon shone in from outside, lighting the barely lit school. However...it seems there was some form of life happening in the school...deep in the bath house as some muffled yells were heard.
"ATSUI~!" Ibuki's voice screamed.
"Of course it's freakin' hot!" Miu's voice exclaimed.
"Is it wrong to say I don't feel bothered?" Jenny's voice spoke up.
"Neitehr do I," Akane's voice added, "And Sakura seems to be enjoying herself kinda."
"I was meditating…" Sakura's voice stated.
"Did we really have to change into our school bathing suits, Mioda?" Maki's voice asked.
"What? Like we were gonna get our regular clothes wet!" Ibuki's voice huffed.
"Logically...it made sense...but we could have gotten wet suits too…" Jenny spoke.
"I think Sonia had some," Asahina's voice added.
"Ano...can we get out before we further boil?" Kaede suggested.
"Y-yes please…" Mikan's voice agreed, "It's...really unhealthy to be in hot water for this long."
"Maybe for you weaklings…" Akane replied.
"I don't think it's fair to count me. I'm a robot girl who's been treated to survive intense heat...and I'm waterproof." Jenny added.
"Three of us are super...the rest of us aren't!" Ibuki laughed, "On that note! Atsui~!" at that loud splashing could be heard followed by footsteps, slipping and other loud noises.
"Ahh~!" Mikan yelped as another splash was heard.
"Mikan are y-HOW'D YOU GET THAT POSITION?!" Asahina gawked.
"Mmm~"
"Wow that is lewd," Miu muttered
"You all suck at being sneaky…" Akane spoke.
"How are you not slipping?" Asahina asked.
"Pfft...like this is the worst unbalanced thing I've ever done."
"Out. Now. Or else," Maki spoke in a very threatening tone.
"EEEP!" almost all the girls screamed
"I'm leaving because I want to…" Akane replied as the door leading to the bath part was kicked open by her, revealing all of them -including Jenny- wearing the school swimming uniform, "Besides...I'm hungry. Let's hit the cafe before we go searching!"
"I'm pretty sure they've most likely locked the fridge and food storage," Kaede pointed out.
"Not with that attitude!" Akane laughed.
"I still regret this deeply." Maki groaned.
"This is getting a little out of hand." Jenny admitted, "I wonder how the guys are holding up?"
"Probably bored out of their minds…"
"No!" Naegi spoke as they were all playing video games.
"You gotta tilt! Tilt!" Kuon complained, "Gah! And we lost the round!"
"Heh heh...we win again," Komaeda chuckled a bit.
"Nee hee hee. Well of course...we're just that good," Kokichi laughed.
"No...it's because you have king bagel lord as your team mate and taking advantage of his BS luck," Kuon argued, "Seriously, how does his luck outluck Naegi's?!"
"Oh my luck isn't as anywar as good as Naegi-senpai," Komaeda chuckled.
"You're taunting me…" Kuon frowned, "I'm breaking his legs." he spoke getting up.
"Not again!" Naegi complained as the chasing began, "I feel like we forgot something…" he pondered as he suddenly stopped.
"What?" Kuon asked as he had Komaeda and Kokichi in a headlock under each arm, "AH!" he dropped them, "The girls were planning something stupid again!"
"Eh?" Komaeda and Kokichi blinked as the two ran out.
"How could you forget?! You were the one who were planning it!" Naegi shouted.
"Well how was I supposed to expect Kokichi and the Bagel would drop in and challenge us to our game?!" Kuon argued.
"You're the one who's good at sneaking around the cameras!"
"SHH! I told you that in confidence!" Kuon hushed, "And it was just...five times!"
"Ten! It was ten!" Naegi argued quietly.
"Bah!" Kuon replied as he swung his hand back and slammed the wall, revealing a secret passage way.
"Have we always had that?" Komaeda asked.
"We found them after we fixed the school!" Naegi spoke.
"Tell anyone and I mangle the two of you into a human pretzel!" Kuon added, closing the secret door behind them.
"..."
"That goes double for you too, Kokichi!" Kuon added.
"Poo…"
"Okay. Good idea on splitting the group up so we have more ground to cover, Kaede," Jenny muttered as she, Kaede, Asahina, Akane, and Mikan were looking in the school music room, the girls back in their regular attire.
"Honestly I figured less problems would arise if we separated," Kade shrugged.
"Got it," Jenny nodded.
"This anything weird?" Akane asked, lifting the piano over her head.
"Ahh! A-Akane! B-be careful with that!" Mikan yelped.
"Oh relax...this ain't a cartoon." Akane replied as she put it down, "Those things don't just fall on anyone's head like that."
"I think she was referring to not breaking it," Asahina sweatdropped a bit.
"Oh…Shoot."
"It's fine. At l-" Kaede began before blinking when Akane put her hand on the piano key, "...huh. That is odd."
"Hmm?"
"Akane, can you...play two notes on the piano?"
"...uh….okay?" Akane muttered as she pressed two keys, earning an odd sound from the piano, "...uh..I'm no music nut like you or Ibuki, but...do piano's make that type of sound?"
"Uhm…" Jenny paused for a second as her eyes began glowing, "Nope." she shook her head.
"Did...you just internet check?" Kaede asked.
"Yes." she nodded simply.
"...that's cool~" Asahina awed a bit, "Oh! See if you c-"
"Hina? Mystery?" Kaede reminded
"Oh right…"
"But that is odd. First the keys were out of place, and now they don't sound right?" Kaede pondered as she looked at the piano, "...I wonder...Can someone open it up?"
"Can we not, say we did, and go meet with the others?" Asahina asked.
"..." Akane blinked a few times before kicking the piano, knocking it over.
"AHH! WHAT HAPPENED?!" a voice screamed from inside the piano.
"...wait," Jenny blinked as she picked the piano back up and opened it...revealing Hagakure inside, "...Hagakure?"
"Oh...h-hey Jenny...fancy seeing ya…" Hagakure sheepishly greeted.
"The heck are you doing, bumming in a piano?" Akane asked.
"Honestly? Hiding from Gonta before he could pull me and the other guys into one of his bug meet & greets," he replied, "I ended up breaking a few of the keys so I played them back...I think...what day is it?"
"...were you drinking again?" almost all the girls asked.
"...maybe."
"You really sh-shouldn't be doing that in school," Mikan spoke.
"But I can't help it...guys night has gotten so much more fun since some of us learned to sneak out so easily." he chuckled, "I still don't know where we got that Rhino…"
"..."
"...I'm in trouble, aren't I?"
"...Hold that thought," Jenny spoke as a headset formed on her head, "Good thing I gave the others a communicator…just hope they answer."
"So...like...I'm not in big trouble right?" Hagakure asked, "Cause I don't think I'd survive my room getting checked. Cause uh...we lost the Rhino..."
"...that might explain the gym then, so...that's two mysteries down," Asahina noted.
"How do you lose a rhino?" Mikan asked.
"I don't know...we started playing cards...someone called cheater...then fists began flying...and I woke up in the recycling bin outside the school the next morning...and I think the rhino ate my pants…"
"Ew," Kaede and Asahine cringed while Mikan blushed a bit.
"Oh! I got a signal,"Jenny spoke, "Maki can y-"
=What are you doing?= Kyoko's voice asked, making them all tense up.
"...K...Kyoko?"
=Do I want to know what this is? Or should I assume it's something akin to the boys' Guys night, and the wild animal they somehow lost in the school?=
"It is a Rhino!" Hagakure spoke up.
"...wait. How…?" Akane began.
=I bumped into Maki and her group while they were searching the library for that 'specter' Ibuki was talking about..it was Fukawa working on another book=
=It's true= Maki chimed in =...She was mostly muttering about Byakuya in her half-asleep state=
"That explains a lot…" Asahina sweatdropped.
"...Wait. What are you doing here late at night, Kyoko?" Jenny asked.
=Would you believe I'm chasing after two idiots I've come to think of as friends, and seem to have a pension for causing shenanigans anytime they leave on their own?=
"That could be anyone!" Akane snapped.
"...it's Naegi and Kuon, isn't it?" Jenny asked.
=They discovered a secret tunnel system to get in and out of the school=
"We have that?!" Hagakure gawked.
=Apparently...but only Kuon knows how to use it…=
"How?" Jenny asked.
=If I knew that...I would have caught them…=
A wall suddenly opened as Kuon and Naegi walked into the kitchen, the two looked around before going back in and closing the secret door.
"Told you it was a left…" Kuon complained from inside the walls.
"Truth be told, I don't think even they know how to navigate it properly…" Kyoko sighed.
"If Ibuki was with them, they could have!" Ibuki declared...currently tied up with Miu as Sakura had them over her shoulders..
"They started scheming how to get into the tunnels...It had to be done," Sakura sighed.
"Joke's on you! I, Miu Iruma, the greatest being to ever walk the planet is planning to make such a device now!" Miu laughed.
"Be silent." Kyoko replied with a sigh.
"Hiiii!" Miu flinched at that.
"I'd suggest something to cover her mouth, but she'll probably get off on it," Maki sighed.
"It would be easier if we had some sort of anesthetic to just make her go to sleep," Kyoko added.
"Oh! Oh!" Asahina raised her hand.
"Yes?" Kyoko asked with a sigh.
"Sakura, do the Star Trek thing!" Asahina smiled.
"We talked about calling it that..." Sakura sighed while pinching Miu's neck, making her fall face first to the ground.
"Thank you…" Maki sighed before blinking, "...Wait. When did you…?"
"We just arrived," Asahina replied as the others walked in.
"...Ugh. How many more of these mysteries do we have left to do?" Maki sighed.
"Given Kyoko already solved two mysteries and we found Hagakure was the one behind the music room mystery...four," Jenny answered, "The one involving the sauna, the art studio, and two other ones we've yet to check out."
"I'm sure there is either a logical explanation, or a lackluster one…" Kyoko added, "But I really should find the boys before they do something stupid...stupid-er."
"I swear to god this was supposed to lead to the music room." Kuon spoke as the two were dangling from an open door that led to the side of the school's outside wall several stories up, "Who builds a door like that?!"
"I don't know!" Naegi yelped, holding onto Kuon's leg as he tried to not look down, "Who builds a...this feels like another of Kokichi's pranks."
"I'm gonna hit him for this even if he's not involved." Kuon grunted as he began trying to pull them up, only for the hinges to creak, "No...no no no…"
"No no no no…" Naegi gulped before the door broke off, letting them fall to the ground, "AHH!"
"I blame you, Ko…!" Kuon began before they landed...onto a trampoline before they were propelled back up onto the opened doorway, "..."
"...eh?" Naegi blinked, "How...why was there a trampoline there!?"
"Naegi…" Kuon spoke, "Let's just pretend this never happened...hai?"
"Agreed…" Naegi nodded.
"Good...now let's find the girls before something happens."
"Hai."
"Hoo...okay...we're at the sauna...why is it so hot~?!" Miu complained, "Did someone crank the fucking heater to maximum overdrive?!"
"I...dunno…" Asahina panted, foregoing her jacket as she fanned herself a bit.
"W-we should hurry. This much heat isn't good for the human body," Mikan spoke in worry.
"Hmm...Jenny, you have a x-ray function correct?" Kyoko asked.
"Hmm? Oh I do," Jenny nodded
"Think you can scan the room?"
Jenny nodded as she closed her eyes for a moment, opening them as there were a black and green color. She then began to looked around before looking to the left, "...There's four people inside the sauna."
"Four?" Kaede blinked.
"Huh?" they blinked.
"Wait a minute…" Kyoko blinked recalling something.
"Yeah they are right in here…" Jenny said as she forced the door open with her strength.
"Ah…" Four male voices looked up at that, all four clad only in towels around their waists.
Jenny blinked a few times as the steam fogged up her eyes.
"...I should've realized it was you two…" Kyoko sighed, noticing one of the males to be Mondo and Ishimaru.
"We can explain…" Mondo and Ishimaru spoke.
"I'm...going to go delete the last four minutes from my brain…" Jenny spoke walking away.
"Harsh!" Mondo snapped.
"Coach Nekomaru? What are you doing here?" Akane asked, noticing Nekomaru was amongst the four men there.
"Oh! Well uh...Mondo and Taka were having an endurance contest to see who would last longest in here...so I decided to join in and train to resist high heat!" Nekomaru explained in his declaration.
"...and you Kaito?" Maki asked, giving the Ultimate Astronaut a deadpanned look.
"Well...you never know when you have to deal with high heat in space," Kaito explained, "Also wanted to join in this here contest between men."
"And if there's one thing that bonds men together is contest!" Mondo added.
"It is a valuable bonding experience for classmates!" Ishimaru added.
"Okay...but why this?"
"It's what these two did when they first became friends…" Kyoko pointed to Mondo and Ishimaru, "Things got...awkward…"
"They did not!" they snapped.
"Honestly I think we stopped them before things got bad…" Kyoko sighed.
"We only hallucinated for five hours!" Mondo countered.
"Yeah! That shows how tough we are!" Kaito added.
"...You four are idiots," Maki bluntly stated.
"Yeah! You should've invited me if th-" Akane began before Sakura put a hand on her shoulder, "?"
"Akane, no…" Sakura shook her head.
"So this whole time...you guys have been sneaking out here in the middle of the night and cranking this thing too high and making things difficult for people later…?" Kaede asked.
"...Well when you put it like that…" Kaito muttered.
"Yeah...but at least we got some good endurance training in!" Nekomaru laughed.
"...Sakura…." Kyoko spoke.
"Hai?"
"I do believe they have caused us unwanted problems...judgment is required." Kyoko replied with a dangerous tone.
"...Uh oh," Mondo gulped as a fierce aura surrounded Sakura, who began to crack her knuckles a bit
"Starting to get flashbacks of Gonta when he first 'invited' us to that insect meet and greet…" Kaito sweated nervously.
"Now...there's no need for this…" Ishimaru gulped.
"Oh...there is need." Kyoko and Sakura replied.
"Bye guys!" Asahina waved as the nicer girls began leaving.
"...Know what? Fine…" Nekomaru spoke as he pounded his fist together, "A good workout after a nice steam sounds good! I accept your challenge, Oogami Sakura!"
"Oh no…" Mondo and Ishimaru paled at that.
"Ahahahaha...he does not speak for all of us…" Kaito chuckled, "Oh I don't feel safe…"
"You're not." Kyoko shook her head just as Sakura and Nekomaru charged at one another.
"...I feel as if a big battle is about to commence," Kuon spoke as he and Naegi stood within the empty cafeteria, "...Akane's not behind me is she?"
"Ano…" Naegi paused as he looked around, "...no. No she's not."
"Good...I hate her constantly jumping me…"
"And yet she's never even won…" Naegi argued.
"Don't say that...it just ticks her off." Kuon spoke.
"But I mean...you are called the Ultimate Street Fighter...you probably are one of the strongest in school in terms of fighting, next to Sakura of course." Naegi pointed out.
"I don't like fighting...people just don't listen when I tell them that I don't want to hurt them." Kuon spoke.
"Oh..soka," Naegi noted
"...Besides, I've learned fighting can't help everyone…" Kuon sighed, "But that's enough of that." he sighed looking at his ring for a moment, "I have a bad feeling of tonight for some reason…"
"Right," Naegi nodded as they rushed out.
"Okay...here we have the mystery of the art suddenly coming to life~!" Ibuki declared, holding a flashlight underneath her to emphasis on the spookiness.
"P-please don't do that," Mikan meeped, hiding behind Jenny.
"It's okay Mikan. Ghosts aren't….uh...well actually I can't finish that sentence…" Jenny paused as she recalled Danny, "I'm...gonna go grab something I borrowed from a good friend just in case." she spoke jogging away.
"That doesn't inspire confidence!" Asahina declared.
"Don't worry...I can back you girls up!" Akane assured with a toothy grin.
"I...don't think you can hit a ghost…" Kaede sheepishly chuckled.
"Not with that attitude!"
"Pfft! It's probably something lame or stupid...in fact, I can probably make something better t-" Miu began before somethign fell over behind her, "AHH FUCKING HELL!"
"Ahh!" Asahina and Mikan screamed as they and Miu shot behind Akane.
"Relax...it's just the statue…" Maki sighed, motion to the statue that was on the floor.
"Why did a Statue fall over?!" the three scared girls demanded.
"Probably just a wobbly leg…" Akane guessed.
"...Hmm…" Kyoko pondered before noticing a light was on in the next room, "...I wonder..."
"Got something, Kyokoko?" Ibuki asked...before pulling the flashlight out again, "is it a possible gate to the underworld~? Ooh Gungun would love that~"
"Please stop~!" the three scared girls begged.
"I wasn't going to say that…" Kyoko sighed, "And stop trying to scare them...Miu is somehow worse when she's legitimately scared."
"HEY!"
"It's true...you are worse when scared," Maki stated before walking over to the door leading to the next room.
"Says the girl who blushes when Moanmota grabs her when scared," Miu countered, making Maki tense a bit as she blushed a bit.
"...sh-shut up," Maki stated, shaking the blush off as she opened the door, "Now let's s-"
"Nyahaha!" Angie's voice laughed a bit of paint splashed onto Maki's face when the artist ran by, "Almost finished~!"
"...I think I found the culprit," Maki muttered as her eye twitched a bit.
"Eh? Angie-chan?" Asahina blinked as she and hte others peeked in, "What are you doing here?"
"Hmm?" Angie blinked as she turned to see them, "Oh! Hello, everyone! I was not expecting you to suddenly arrive...this must be Atua's will that guided you here."
"...it's been a weird night...can you tell us what's happening with this scene?" Kyoko sighed.
"Oh sure! I usually come in here to paint many many sculptures and paintings for Atua," Angie explained, motioning to the many status and paintings within the large room, "I tend to run out fast, so I go into the next room to get new supplies to work with!"
"...so all those rumors of 'art coming to life' was just you...bumping into stuff?" Kaede asked.
"More like her not paying attention and knocking stuff over," Maki deadpanned.
"Aww~! Lame!" Ibuki and Akane complained.
"More often than not, truth is not as impressive as legend…" Kyoko sighed.
"Hmm?" Angie blinked.
"It's complicated, but-and I was dragged here against my will- we're looking…" Maki began.
"I'm back!" Jenny called as she ran in, "Sorry! I had to get something and...there's no ghost in here is there?"
"Nope," the others nodded.
"In fairness...I'm glad." Jenny admitted with a sigh of relief, "Guess that leaves two more mysteries…"
"Mysteries?" Angie repeated, "...oh! You must mean Atua's divine interventions on teh school rooftop and cafeteria."
"Huh?" the girls blinked at that.
"They say in the cafeteria at night, food vanishes with bits and crumbs on the floor," Angie explained, keeping that calm smile on her face as always, "It is most likely Atua wanting some food so he took some for a offering….but it does not explain the claw marks."
"...cl...claw marks?" Mikan repeated with a nervous gulp.
"We'll have to figure that one out," Kyoko spoke, "That's one of the few that concerns me. While I'm sure the food itself could have been any number of things, the claw marks are odd."
"No kidding…" Kaede admitted, "...What about the one involving the roof, Angie?"
"Hmm? Oh! Well they say if you look up...you see something flying in the sky," Angie explained, "It is most likely Atua's avatar, looking down upon us."
"...I keep forgetting how unique she is…" Kaede blinked.
"No kidding…" Miu muttered, "...Maybe she was dropped on her head as a kid."
"She's just eccentric. Least she's not as troublesome as other people we know." Jenny smiled.
"...what?" Akane asked, noticing some of the others looking at her, Miu, and Ibuki, "...what?!"
"Yay, Ibuki's popular!" Ibuki beamed.
"Oh please, Ipukie. It's obvious they're staring at me, the world's sexiest smartest genius!" Miu laughed.
"We're staring because you three end up getting into trouble," Maki sighed, "Especially you, Miu."
"Hah?! When have I…"
"A few days ago...that octopus robot you made to help you 'relax' that went berserk."
"How was I supposed to know it would happen?!" Miu barked.
"I get the feeling you knew something would go wrong," Kyoko spoke up.
"Most likely did considering it went after her and Mikan the most," Maki added, making Mikan blush a bit.
"Least Jenny was there to save us in time and turn that robo octo into robo takoyaki," Asahina spoke.
"Would've been there a bit faster if Kokichi and Hiyoko hadn't gummed up my jets while I wasn't looking," Jenny admitted, "...ahem! L-let's just go figure out what's behind the last two mysteries…"
"Given what's happened so far...it's most likely another of our classmates," Kaede suggested.
"I hope you all have fun finding it out," Angie spoke, "If it is Atua, please do not be afraid of accepting any blessings He may give."
"...Noted," Kyoko muttered, a slight mental sweatdrop going down the side of her head.
"...How'd we get up here?!" Naegi exclaimed as they were now on the school rooftop.
"I don't know! This place is like a giant maze at night!" Kuon exclaimed.
"I told you those tunnels were trouble..." Naegi sighed.
"I only memorized a few paths! Sue me!" Kuon complained.
"...Well. If we can find the exit, w-" Naegi began before something zoomed past them, "...what was that?"
"...aaah!" the blur screamed as it flew by them, "Tatsukete!"
"...Was that Kiibo?" Naegi blinked.
"I...I think it was," Kuon replied, "Oi! What's wrong with you!?" he snapped, chasing after him.
"My flying features are stuck on autopilot!" Kiibo screamed, "Kokichi claimed it was to fix some dust on me, but I started worrying when he turned the autopilot on!"
"Again with that guy…" Kuon sighed, shaking his head, "Don't worry buddy! We'll get ya down!"
"Please do! I have been up here for a few days now!" Kiibo shouted.
"That explains a lot…" Kuon spoke as he kicked open the main door to the roof before going in and grabbing an emergency firehose, "Talk about lucky…" he spoke, yanking it off the wall and running back out as he began unwinding it, "Okay, I'm gonna toss this to you!"
"I don't think that's safe!"
"Trust me...I'm not gonna be the one who gets hurt by this," Kuon replied.
"That doesn't inspire confidence!" Naegi and Kiibo complained.
"Oh relax. What's the worst that could happen?" Kuon shrugged as he fashioned the hose into a lasso.
"I still don't think you have the strength…" Kiibo began before the lasso latched around him...and he was violently yanked down towards them, "N-nevermind...you are very strong...for anything…"
"Hmph...advanced machine…" Kuon's ring scoffed, his jaw moving like an actual mouth, "Modern humans sure are full of themselves these days."
"What was that?" Naegi asked, looking around.
"I think you're just hearing something squeaking in Kiibo that's breaking due to stress from his flying," Kuon replied, pulling said robot down to them, "So, uh...How do we turn off autopilot?"
"There is a button hidden underneath one of my wings...you need to carefully press it to turn it off," Kiibo explained.
"Right...Naegi, you press it."
"Eh?!"
"He said 'carefully.'" Kuon argued, "My controllers are made from reinforced bulletproof plastic…" he reminded, "So...probably not a good idea that I do the button pushing."
"Yeah, but..you know how my luck tends to be!" Naegi argued, "It's 50-50 here! 50 I might get it, 50 I might make it worse!"
"Well we won't know until you try it, buddy."
"..Okay…" Naegi muttered, carefully moving behind Kiibo as he reached out underneath one of his wings, "Just hope I hit the right one…"
Naegi felt around and found a button. Pushing down on it, the engines shut off and Kiibo dropped on his feet with a sigh of relief.
"Autopilot has shut down," Kiibo informed, "Thank you both for assisting me."
"No prob, man," Kuon nodded, "Though...why does a robot need an autopilot function?"
"Oh. It is in case I am flying over the ocean and unable to use my arms and legs," Kiibo explained.
"Huh...Neat," Kuon admitted, "Say...mind helping us with something?"
"Of course. What do you need help with?" Kiibo asked.
"We're looking for some of the girls that probably snuck into the school late at night. Think you can help us find 'em?" Kuon asked.
"Of course. I have the bio-scans and heat signatures of all our classmates registered to my systems," Kiibo replied.
"Yosh! Spy tech for the win," Kuon gave a thumbs up, "Let's head out, boys."
"Hai."
"..." the girls slowly blinked as they looked in the cafeteria...seeing bits of meat and food on the floor with claw marks littering the place.
"...Okay. I think we're good here, so let's wrap it up!" Ibuki shouted quickly as she was about to bolt...only for Akane to grab her, "Hey~!"
"Yeesh, what do you think made these kinds of marks?" Akane pondered.
"They're too big for a normal animal. Oh, I hope it's not another Cybertronian that took on a carnivor Alt Mode by accident again," Jenny noted, "We don't have Makoto here to be the ba...er...distraction."
"She was gonna say bait…" Asahina and Kaede muttered.
"C-can we please leave…?" Mikan asked, meekly poking out from behind Akane, "I've had enough mysteries for ton-" she tensed when a crashing sound was heard, "?!"
"...Whatever caused this is still here…" Kyoko frowned as Maki pulled her dagger out.
"Just as I thought...It's been ages since I caught wind of this vile scent...but I'm sure of it now," Zaruba spoke up, making Kuon pause and look at him, "Kuon...there is a Horror within the school."
"A Horror?"
"Horror's are attracted to Inga...the essence of sin and malice of humanity. It attracts them in droves if strong enough. The sins of Junko have stained this school's grounds, turning it into a lure for their kind."
"Is that why you were sent to me with the letter of admittance to this place?" Kuon asked the talking ring.
"I don't know. I was only awakened after I made the pact with you. Where I've been for the last few generations is lost on me," Zaruba spoke, "Our world has not had a Garo for many generations...To my surprise, the New Garo is a punk kid...but I like you more than some of my past contractors, so I want to see you succeed...even if you do use Garo for things Makai Knights should not get involved in."
"I get it...your kind don't bother with human problems…" Kuon sighed.
"Tis but the rule of the Makai Order...However, you were not born to the Makai Order...so...I suppose I can overlook it," Zaruba chuckled, "So long as you slay Horrors and supply me with your energy...I have no complaints."
"Then can you not talk so much while others are around?" Kuon sighed, flicking Zaruba's forehead.
"Sorry...part of the contract is I am allowed to comment on your life. Either take it or find another Madogu to help you out," Zaruba replied in a cheeky tone.
"Hai hai…" Kuon turned around and dashed off.
"Okay, I think...wait. Where did Kuon go?" Kiibo blinked.
"How does he do that?" Naegi asked.
"Unknown," Kiibo replied, "Though it reminds me of these American comics that Ben-san forgot to take back with him about a man who dresses as a bat."
"Oh come on...Kuon's not exactly a superhero type…" Naegi muttered, "I mean...kinda...uh...huh…" he blinked a few times, "No...no! Let's just find the girls...He probably just got lost again!"
"I think I hear something in there…" Jenny pointed towards the back of the kitchen. She walked forward slowly before stopping as something ran around as a blur, "Something...is here…" she flinched as it stopped.
"...M-maybe it's that rhino Kyoko was talking about…" Miu nervously suggested, "Yeah...yeah that might be it…"
"A rhino would not make claw marks, let alone ones that big," Maki pointed out, pointing to a large set of claw marks on the wall.
"C-Could it be a new animal that Gundspam forgot to mention?" Miu asked.
"Aaaaahhhh…." a horrible gasp filled the air as they slowly turned to see a human shaped visage rising up from the dark, "Hunger…" it turned its head around as two red eyes began glowing in the darkness, "Humans…"
"..." the girls tensed up, staying completely still as the figure stared at them for a moment...feeling as if they were being stared down by a hungry predator ready to strike.
The creature moved around, its body moving in clunky...irregular ways. It seemed to suddenly jump up and crawl along the ceiling above them. It moved past them before jumping down and moving into better light where it could be seen. It had blue skin that looked thick and armored, glowing purple lines lit up along its arms and legs. Wires dangling around its neck, two small wings made of metal sprouted from its pack with spikes growing from its arms and head. It turned around revealing the red visor that acted as its eyes, its mouth filled with razor sharp teeth as some sort of black substance drooled from its mouth.
"Inga...iinai…" it dashed forward, suddenly much closer as it began sniffing around, "Umai…" it sniffed more, "Innocent...souls...so...hungry...feed...must...feed…" it growled out, leaning forward as it seemed to emit something...call it an aura...an intent, that froze each and every single one of them in place, the only reasoning they could think of was simple.
Fear… Whatever this...creature was, it made them feel a pure form of fear they'd never felt before. It wasn't the same as when one felt in danger from an evil person. Or a hungry animal. It was just a pure form of fear that kept them from doing anything. It reached out a hand, revealing the razor sharp talons growing from its fingers as it moved as if...trying to pick who, pick who it'd eat first. It growled out before suddenly stopping and whipping around and unleashing an ear piercing screech that made everyone flinch. The beast was suddenly pushed away by a figure who appeared out of nowhere. They wore a long white trench coat over their black attire with a hood drawn up over their head.
"That scent...Makai Knight…" it growled as it flipped back and clung to a wall.
The man said nothing as he fixed his stance. He ran forward and jumped at the beast as it lunged at him. The two clashed as the man blocked it's arm, before spinning around and slamming his elbow into its face, sending the beast flying back. The creature growled, jumping away again as the man jumped and with inhuman power leapt into the air after it. He grunted and swung his leg around, striking the beast across the face and making it fall back down to the ground.
The man grunted, landing on his feet, as the beast flipped itself over and rose to its feet in a defiance of gravity. The beast growled and charged again, only to gasp as it was struck to the chest, the force sending it slamming into the wall once more. The man's raised arm revealing in his hand was a red sheath and sword. He slowly drew the sword out before thrusting it upwards towards the sky. With a flick of his wrist, he drew a circle of light which began to glow with light. The light shone down upon him...as what looked like the wireframe for something formed around him. Bit by bit, the light filled in as he was covered by a black bodysuit keeping a suit of gold armor, with silver accents and glowing neon blue lights. The helmet formed last with a growl, revealing it to be the same wolf themed helmet as before. The sword and its sheath changed with him as they became gold and blue.
"GARO!-!-!" the monster growled in rage.
"Horror...kisama no inga...ore ga kiru!" Garo spoke pointing his sword forward.
He leaned to the side as the Horror suddenly rushed him, causing it to miss. Garo spun around and slammed his sheath into the Horror's face sending it tumbling forward and through the wall. The Horror grunted slowing to a stop before blinking as Garo was already upon him. The gold knight swung his leg and kicked the Horror, sending him flying through another wall and outside of the school. The Horror flipped around before growing its wings out and stopping mid air. It looked around before gasping as Garo once again appeared before it.
"Ha!" Garo growled sheathing his sword and punching the Horror in the face with such force he shattered the metal visor.
The Horror spun around in the air, before Gato grabbed it's leg and swung down slamming it into the ground with enough force to crater it. The Horror screeched and got up only to grunt as the Knight slammed down with his knees and pinned the Horror down.
"H-how...your lineage died ages ago...there is no one to claim the mantle of Garo...we killed them all...we slaughtered any clan with blood ties to this accursed armor...How!?"
"How would I know…?" Garo responded, "But...when you revive...tell your buddies..." he jumped back as he drew his sword once more, "I...am…" he gripped the sword as blue flames covered the blade, "BACK!" he roared, swinging down and unleashing a wave of fire which sliced the Horror down the middle.
After a few moments...the Horror slowly split into two now burning halves which fell in two directions. Its body quickly disintegrated into black dust as it fell. A purple smog floated up before it was 'stabbed' by Garo's sword and dissipated into the blade. Garo swung his sword to the side before swinging it back and wiping it between his forearm and upper arm at the elbow...as if cleaning it of blood.
The girls finally let out a breath of air, collapsing onto their knees as they began to heavily pant.
"I...I saw my life flash before my eyes!" Ibuki exclaimed, "...Ibuki has played a LOT of death metal…"
"W-what...just happened?" Kyoko asked as she looked up, seeing Garo as he turned to them.
The Golden Knight sheathed his sword before jumping away and vanishing into the night's sky through the broken window.
"...So cool~" Akane whispered.
"Jumpin' jimminies…" Jenny gawked.
"So...that...was that Garo thingy...guy…" Asahina spoke, "Is...is he magic?"
"Could be," Jenny replied, "If there's aliens, then I'm not above believing in magic."
"After tonight, I am beginning to question certain things…" Maki admitted as Mikan was laying on the ground unconscious.
"Y...you okay, Miu?" Kaede asked.
"Pfft! Of course I'm okay!" Miu laughed, "...Though question is...you guys don't happen to have a nightlight, do ya?"
"So...how do we explain that a demon broke into the school...and a magic golden knight came in to slay it?" Jenny changed the subject.
"..." Maki facepalmed, "Let...Let's figure that out in the morning, alright?"
"Agreed…" many of them sighed.
"So it was the boys doing some sorta contest?" Jenny asked.
"Buncha idiots," Asahina huffed, "If Mikan were there, I think she'd still be there trying to make sure they're not dying from the dehydration...or from what Sakura did."
"Man...I missed out on a good fight," Akane muttered, "...Least that gold knight fighting that demon was awesome."
"What gold knight? I didn't see no demon!" Miu denied, some goggles over her face as she was working on something.
"She's in heavy denial…" Jenny muttered.
"...Gold knight?" Sakura repeated.
"Now that I think about it...It was the same guy that took down that giant weird-lookin' robo-panda," Akane recalled, "Gah! I missed having a chance to fight him again!"
"Given how he took down that monster easily, I doubt you'd stand a chance," Maki deadpanned.
"...Ibuki would've loved to see it," Ibuki muttered, fixing the strings of her guitar.
"N-not me…" Mikan whispered.
"...Well, at least we can say we solved the seven…" Kaede began before blinking, "...Wait. Did we ever check the rooftop for that mystery flying figure?"
"I told you I got lost!" Kuon's voice snapped, walking in as Negi and Kiibo followed him, "What thanks to the guy who saved you from being a UFO!" he pointed to Kiibo, "Ah forget it. I'm gonna go find that sneaky little brat and do something I refuse to share, otherwise you'll stop me."
"I think we should still stop you!" Naegi panicked.
"I'd try, but I almost doubt I have the strength to…" Kiibo sighed as they chased him.
"Wait!" Akane grabbed Naegi, making Kiibo stop, "What are you idiots on about?"
"We ended up on the school's rooftop and found Kiibo flying out of control!" Naegi answered, "Kokichi turned the autopilot for his flying features on and he's been stuck flying around the sky for a few days!"
"That explains where you've been," Kaede noted with a surprised look.
"So why…" Jenny began before they heard screaming.
"Come back here and let me thump your head into your ribcage!" Kuon snapped, chasing Kokichi with a meat tenderizer.
"Y'all done come back here with that!" Teruteru shouted, chasing them, "That is not th' way you use a meat tenderizer!"
"I see murder in his eyes!" Kokichi panicked, "No, really! You can see the flaming kanji for 'murder' in his eyes!"
"...Huh…" Akane blinked a few times, "One two…" she held up her fingers as she muttered to herself before grinning, "Alright! That was all seven!"
"The last one felt anticlimactic since we didn't figure it out on our own," Jenny sighed as the chase continued around them, which they tried to ignore.
"But it's still the first mystery solved!" Akane beamed, wrapping an arm over Jenny's shoulders in a side hug, "Sure, that last bit was nuts and I'm jealous Sakura got to rumble with the Coach, but I say this was a great first activity for the group!"
"Yeah! Great first case for Team Hope Heart…" Ibuki began, standing up on her desk as she strummed her guitar, "Officially closed~!"
"Yeah, it was mostly fun still." Jenny nodded.
"Yeah...fun…" Kyoko sighed.
"Oh I know! Next let's learn who that Garo guy really is!" Ibuki declared.
"I second that!" Akane exclaimed.
"Ga...ro?" Kiibo blinked.
"It's a long story…" Maki sighed.
"No, it's not!" Miu exclaimed, "...In fact, Kiibo...you still have dust stuffed up your vents?"
"?! N-No!" Kiibo exclaimed with a heavy blush.
"You sure~? Mama Miu c-" Miu began with a grin.
"Sakura, please do the thing that you need to talk to Asahina about calling," Jenny spoke.
"Wait, wh…" Miu began before Sakura pinched her where the neck and shoulder meet, causing her to collapse, "Zzzzz…"
"Still…" Kyoko spoke, holding her chin in thought, "This Garo does present a one of a kind mystery. Whoever he is...he must be near."
"Say it! Say it!" Kuon ordered, holding Kokichi in a choke hold as he held his wet finger near his face.
"U-uncle! Uncle!" Kokichi gagged out.
"What else?" Kuon asked while tightening his grip.
"I'm an annoying little troll...gh! And Kuon is the coolest guy in school and I am not worthy to be around him….ugh!" he grunted as Kuon smirked.
"You try this stuff again...and next time I'll invite Akane to help me teach you your place…" Kuon smirked.
"Doesn't that seem too cruel?" Asahina asked before blinking, "...Wait. I forgot this is Kokichi…"
"Exactly," Kuon smirked.
'Hmm...I've always wondered what this highschool thing was like. Maybe you'll be an interesting Garo after all, Kuon Sena,' Zaruba smirked, watching his contractor interact with his classmates.
GT: Phew. That's the first of many side stories to GSE complete.
SZ: Eeyup..and you heard him right. We decided to change things up a bit...instead of just one side story focusing on one particular individual and group...we're gonna be having side stories focusing on the other heroes of this little shared universe we've created.
Z0: Things will get diverse and interesting!
SZ: Eeyup..and tune in next time as we make things more than meets th-*collapses onto the couch*zzzzz
Z0: *telekinetically lifts SZ and drops him on the sofa in the break room* He's sleepy, but anywho next time will be More than Meets the eye~
GT: Till then, please Read and Review!