Greetings.

The next update has arrived, earlier than anticipated. As always, open a new tab to access the story's profile via my own, where you can enjoy the music selection and images available on my DeviantArt account, "MakerOfSouls."

In any case, don't forget to check the ending author's notes for some context into this chapter.

Without any more delay, let's dive in.

Chapter 11 – Unfortunately, the New Layers of the World Prove to be Remarkably Problematic

11-1

I found myself in a state of uncertainty as I realized we were in the same complex Sobu's Ice Queen resided in. There was little time to process this revelation however, thanks to my present companion.

Usui Takumi, in a casual fashion that was constantly testing my patience, strolled into the building leaving me with no option but to hurriedly follow suit to avoid being stranded outside. Once we reached an elevator, he flashed that stupid smile of his and assured me that Yukinoshita lived on a different floor than him.

The bastard knew and he was having fun with it!

After I quelled my momentary indignation, we soon reached his surprisingly barren place of residence. It appeared as if he had just moved in, with minimal furniture beyond what the property already offered. His kitchen was a compact space adjacent to the entrance, effectively merging the two areas. In his living room, the only furnishings were a sizable sofa and a coffee table positioned near a large window that provided a picturesque view of the Chiba landscape. While a television sat opposite of the couch, it gave off the impression that it saw very little use.

When I pointedly asked about the lack of homeliness, the blonde merely mentioned that he had been content with this arrangement for the past two years. However, it struck me as peculiar when he disclosed that he slept on the sofa, despite a clearly visible third room located across from his bathroom, down the left hallway from the living room.

I chose to withhold my thoughts and instead asked about my accommodation, unless, of course, he was keen on me sleeping in his bathtub. In response, Usui chuckled and informed me that he had already purchased a futon for me to use.

After I settled in and took a seat on my futon across from him, Usui and I began our long awaited talk. Well, 'talk' might be putting it lightly, it was more like we were comparing notes. Although it was actually me jotting down notes here since I brought a journal and everything…

In any case, I had the feeling this would be very informative, and turns out, it was.

Usui first admitted to me that he was a drifter when it came to our group. He didn't frequently socialize with them since they had just met the previous year. It was more a matter of them stumbling upon him from time to time, rather than him actively seeking out their company.

"Well, that was mostly when it came to the others. When it was just Yukihira-kun and yourself, I spent some time with you. Although, Harima-kun would tend to do the same, so you can include him as well."

Is what he said about that.

Because of this, he only knew trivial things about Yuuki Rito, Aki Tomoya, and Aikawa Ayumu —even less about Sakurai Tomoki. Obviously, his interactions with people outside of the group were a lot more uncommon.

Seeing how beggars couldn't be choosers, I accepted it and had him share what he could. Mostly, he provided observations on their behavior and personality traits, although it was admittedly only surface-level information. He had slightly more details about Aki since they occasionally worked together on his game.

Allowing my curiosity to surface, I asked Usui how he got involved in creating a game with Aki, mentioning that I didn't believe he would have any interest in such a thing. And so he confirmed my suspicions, and stated that he had no actual interest in the game, and his involvement was solely due to Ayuzawa.

Usui explained that the girl cast as the main heroine, a girl named Kato Megumi, happened to be a friend of Ayuzawa's, who was also aware of the game. During the same period, Aki kept pestering Usui to join his project because he believed Usui possessed 'the clear qualities of a superior protagonist.' It came off as annoying to him, but Usui managed to brush off the bespectacled boy.

However, he began to notice Kato giving him glances when she spoke to Ayuzawa. This went on for a few days, during which it seemed like Ayuzawa wanted to ask him something but hesitated every time.

"It wasn't hard for me to figure out that she wanted to ask me to join that project. Her friend requested it obviously, but Ayuzawa's pride prevented her from asking any favors, just because she didn't want to owe me. I'm sure if I hadn't done anything, she would have twisted her head around trying to find an excuse for me to join. As funny as that would have been, I took it easy on her."

Usui mentioned that he joined Aki's project shortly after, but would never reveal his true reasons, often giving cryptic or whimsical answers that changed every time someone asked. While Kato provided decent interaction, Usui confessed that he wasn't particularly fond of his "job" there and tuned out whenever possible. As a result, he couldn't provide me with much information about the game, aside from the fact that it was a project Aki was very passionate about.

He met my annoyance with a humorless shrug, stating that they failed to hold his interest so he didn't bother remembering everything.

"These last two weeks were the longest span of time that they regularly saw me."

I questioned him on that and he expanded that the rest of the group would only see him sparingly, especially once he met Ayuzawa since she took up all of his attention. He grinned childishly after that bit of information, and I had to withhold a groan.

Fortunately, he knew more about Yukihira and Harima. Usui even admitted that he hung out with the delinquent quite often on their own, which was honestly surprising.

"We don't really talk when we are together, although we run into each other a lot either way. We don't particularly do anything either, just casually walk around for some part of the day before something takes up our attention and we split up. Ayuzawa for myself, and 'Tenma-chan,' for him."

When I remarked that it seemed like they were better acquainted than I had initially thought, Usui laughed it off. He acknowledged his curiosity about Harima, but emphasized that it wouldn't be right to call each other friends. However, he did confess that teasing the delinquent became an enjoyable pastime… in his own words.

"So, what can you tell me about Yukihira?" I ask after musing for a moment.

"A fair bit, I suppose," He shrugs his shoulders, "Before I start, what do you know?"

"Basically that we're apparently childhood friends and that our parents are very close. He left some time ago to study in a cooking academy in Tokyo. Also, his restaurant is pretty popular, and everyone says his food is great…" I tapped a finger under my chin, "Something I noticed in the couple of times we interacted, well, it's difficult to read him like the others. All I can tell is that he's sharp, and confident for the most part. That's it."

Usui nods and proceeds to share what he knows.

"Well, like you mentioned, Yukihira-kun and yourself are old friends. From how you two would act together, I could see that you were particularly close. If one were to ask, I guess it could seem almost brotherly."

"You guess?" I raise an eyebrow.

He chuckles, "I wouldn't know what a brotherly relationship is supposed to be like."

Looks like there's a story there, with the way he phrased that. I didn't think he'd have siblings, but then again, he is a bastard. Either way, I simply nodded for him to continue.

"Yukihira-kun is great at cooking, although you don't need me to tell you that after seeing everybody on Saturday," His teasing smile seemed indicate that he somehow knew I have yet to try the cook's food, "I would get compared to him a lot whenever I worked in Maid Latte's kitchen even though I focused on a cafe menu."

"I suppose that's where the comparisons end?"

"Pfft, that's riiight~" He sing-songs, "Yukihira-kun is much more competitive when it comes to cooking. I can't tell you the amount of times he's tried to challenge me since we've met."

His eyes briefly displayed actual exasperation about it, before his expression relaxed again.

"He's not fond of people who give up quickly, although he still gets on well with Lazy-kun…" He puts on an inquisitive look as he ponders, "Maybe it's different since he doesn't bother trying in the first place?"

I snorted. He probably would have gotten mad that Yuuki almost gave up on Sairenji last week before I egged him on. Looks like I made a decision he would have approved of.

Usui continues telling me about some snippets of the redheaded cook's personality for a few more minutes. It wasn't much compared to earlier, but it was fine nonetheless.

"Anything else?" I asked, looking over the notes I had written.

"He's acquainted with both Yukinoshita sisters, although I'm not entirely sure to what extent. If he knows about you and the older one, he hasn't mentioned it."

Leave it to him to drop a bomb like that…

"I see…" I simply mutter.

There were so many questions I had about this topic, and I couldn't bring myself to voice them. Usui alluded to knowing about it, and Aikawa had just revealed that he was aware as well, but I wasn't sure if my supposed relationship with Haruno was a well-kept secret even though I treated it as such.

"Ah, even though we live in the same building, I've never spoken to younger Yukinoshita," He states with a mischievous smile, "But I did meet the other that apparently had something with you-not-you."

That got my attention.

"So, you know… about them?"

He looked ready to start teasing me about the topic, but he abandoned the intent in the end, probably because of my serious expression.

"I could only guess before Lazy-kun decided to share his experience from a few months back," He places a hand on his cheek and leans on it, "She's quite the unpleasant person, isn't she?"

I chuckled this time, "She's worse compared to the one I knew in her own way, but I'm not sure how they really compare once I ignore this one's… desires…"

I got away from her earlier today via complete stupidity, but it's not going to work again.

"Scary~" He utters playfully before sobering his expression, "To get back to Yukihira-kun, he… is indeed hard to read."

My attention was piqued, so I nod, "I've noticed that. He can go from serious to idiotic in a split second, and it doesn't look like either ones are acts."

He returns the nod, "Even though I never cared to answer whenever he brought it up, he would ask me about girls that would act 'weird' around him." He adds.

"Weird?" I can't help but ask. Instead of answering he sends me a "You know what I mean." look accompanied with an aggravating smirk.

"You've met one of them before, Kurase Mayumi, back on Saturday, although I don't believe she's gotten 'weird' yet," He chuckles lightly at that, "I brought that up because I don't suspect that he's daft about women, well, not to the extent that he gave off when he came up to me. Although, like I said, he's a tough nut to crack."

"Then again, having such an obvious poker face could tell you almost as much as him blathering about it." I point out casually.

"Pfft, that's true," The blonde laughs.

"Is that all then?" I asked him. I almost filled this page on Yukihira from front to back…

"Let me think…" He ponders for a bit and then, snaps a finger, "I do know that when it comes to him, yourself, Author-san and Gamer-chan, that you four were a very tight-knit group."

"…I'm guessing you aren't referring to Tendou…?" I ask pointlessly. Anything to get away from interacting with Takao…

"Nope~" He laughs as he stands, "You really don't like her, do you?"

I groan to myself as I grind a hand to my face. Figures I get stuck being close to one of the most annoying women I had the displeasure of meeting…

Idly, I look up to see Usui's back towards me. Once he turns around, I blink in surprise at the fact that he now donned glasses.

He answers my unexpressed question, "I'm partly near-sighted after the amount of reading I've done since I was a child, although it was only recently that I needed to wear prescribed lenses. I normally wear contacts outside since I prefer them."

I nod silently and sigh before returning to our original topic.

"She's whiny, entitled, and just plain annoying to even deal with," I speak about my poor impression of Takao, "I don't understand how the other me had the patience for her, but treated so many others poorly."

"Others like your sister?" He questions with an unreadable expression.

I bristle at the accuracy, angry for my sister's sake but simply nod back.

"Well, regardless of how poorly you view Gamer-chan, she is someone that you'll have to get along with so long as you want to appear as the same Hikigaya Hachiman from before. Especially if she becomes a confirmed suspect." He advises me, "You're not going to let something happen to her just because she bothers you, are you?"

Tch, I'm not going back on my word, dammit. I just wish it didn't require me actually having to speak to her…

"What should I know about her? I've got a decent enough grasp on Utaha, but barely anything on Takao."

Instead of answering, Usui looks at me with a feigned scandalized look, eyes absolutely glowing in mischief.

ARGH! Of all times to remember to call the author by her given name!

"She asked me to," I grumbled out a weak response before he could tease me about it. "Things happened, and now I have to call her by her given name…"

"Pfft, how dutiful," He teased, but then shrugged. "Well, it is a good idea in the long run. Is she a suspect as well?"

"Yeah, she was the first one I confirmed…" I responded, still not liking that she was part of the game. Although, I promised the blonde I'd tell him about the confirmed suspects later.

"Well, I can't tell you too much about your author…" He says, looking up at the ceiling, "Since I don't tend to hang around with the others often to begin with, she is someone I saw even less so."

"Yet you were so quick on your critiques last night…" I pointed out, somewhat irked, "Was it all hot air?"

He laughs it off, as per usual.

"Now, now, just because I didn't see her often, doesn't mean I never saw her," He placates with a gesture telling me to relax, "Let's see… Well, you've been a big fan of her work, since she debuted. And I see why, she's quite the writer. A lot of girls in Seika read her work."

I nod, knowing that much.

"Whenever you would go off on a rant badmouthing Miura, she never disagreed. She even added onto it on occasion," He took up a pondering expression, "It was pathetic in a way, but it was obvious she was seeking to be validated for participating."

Leave him to be blunt about that…

"I know that much, although she clarified that she doesn't actually hate Miura," I echo her sentiments from last night.

"Really?" He makes a humming sound, his disbelief evident, "She could have fooled me with what she would say about her."

I refrain from commenting on it and shrug back. Only time would tell if Utaha really disliked the Fire Queen, although I don't need them meeting up again so soon after Thursday's debacle.

"Ah, there's also another thing that I've heard," His amused expression suggests that something else came to his mind, "It's a rumor of sorts that I've come across."

"Rumor?" I ask with some disdain on my features.

"Come on, don't look at me like that. It's clearly untrue, but it should give you some outside perspective about the two of them," He smirks, which doesn't really help with my skepticism. But seeing how I remained silent, the blonde took that as a go ahead.

"It's been rumored that Gamer-chan and Author-san are actually a couple."

Oh.

That… wasn't something I was expecting.

"Do they hang out that often?"

"I suppose they have to," He answers with a shrug, "I guess people never thought anything whenever you and Yukihira-kun joined them."

I huffed in amusement, "Well, I know where Utaha stands. And you guys said something about Takao liking someone back in the get-together, right?"

"Oh, you remembered?" He didn't look smug, but somehow I felt like I was being teased anyway. "Kazama Kenji is his name, the boy that Gamer-chan likes."

"You're surprisingly well informed about this," I note, surprised at his comment. Does he know more about Takao than the others realized? That would be a huge shock.

"Heh, well, it's not because of a hidden friendship with Gamer-chan, if that's what you're thinking."

Get out of my head, dammit.

"Then how would you know?" I raise an eyebrow, "Unless you were a freelance stalker?"

Another chuckle escaped his lips, "No, no… A few months back Harima-kun and I came across someone who knows both Gamer-chan and the boy she likes."

I glance at the clock, it's about fifteen past ten. I can probably last a little while longer with the little rest I require even if I didn't sleep well last night. Although, I'm not sure about my temporary roommate across from me.

"Nyaa~"

A sudden mewl breaks the silence, and I feel a warm tuft of fur rub against my left hand. I almost jumped at the sudden contact, but kept it at a minimum. I looked down and was greeted by a small black kitten with white patches of fur on its feet looking up at me with olive green eyes.

Well aren't you just adorable?

"I didn't think you had a pet," I told the blonde, as I watched the feline sniff me. Yukinoshita would be green with envy right now.

"Well, they aren't allowed. So technically, I don't have one," He responds, looking amused. When I extend my hand gently towards it, he speaks up again, "Ah, you should be careful Licht is…"

"Nyaa~"

And the tiny thing rubs his head against my open palm, the age-old feline behavior of bunting. Basically, it marked me as its territory although the optimists would say it's marking me as its friend. Nope, if you know cats, that means I'm now its property.

Kamakura is not going to like that.

"Licht, was it?" I'm careful not to pet her yet, "That sounds foreign."

"It's German for 'Light,'" I look up to see Usui playfully pouting, "It looks like she likes you better."

"It's just knowing how to handle these little guys," Now I slowly scratch Licht's chin, "You know what they say, it's the cats that own you rather than the reverse. In their eyes, you answer to them."

Fail once, and you might as well be dead to them.

"Pfft, I guess they are alike," He says with a wry smile.

They? Whether he noticed my bemusement he didn't say.

"Well, I admit that I'm not like Delinquent-kun when it comes to being good with animals. Licht's only just gotten used to me recently, although she still scratches at times."

I only chuckle lightly in response, looks like he's got all his points in human magnetism, leaving animals to freely hate him.

The cat mewls again before nonchalantly crawling onto my lap. It seems I'm now confined here until the little kitten gets bored of using me as a bed. My 108 Hachiman Skill, Cat's Cradle, is still as effective as ever.

"We still have time for your story," I say somewhat sarcastically, "And looks like Licht's here to listen to it, too."

We both share a chuckle when a small meow confirms my words.

"Harima-kun was the main protagonist of these interactions for the most part," He gives me a helpless smile, "I was relatively to the side."

"That's fine," I reassure, careful not to jostle the small feline as I prepare to write down my next bunch of notes.

I'm really thankful I had a journal.

Go to profile, LISTEN: Link in Logic Is My Sword: Chapter 11 Section: Song 01

Usui then proceeded to tell me about a time earlier in the year when he and Harima were walking around without a thought. As they traversed through the park where I met Suou, they came across the odd sight of a girl who had a bag over her head. Because of the heat of that particular day, Usui described with great amusement how Harima stormed over and tore it off, only for the girl to suddenly procure another and place it on her head again.

I couldn't help but sweatdrop as he described the scene of Harima tearing through numerous bags, only for the unknown girl to replace them just as quickly. I questioned if he was pulling my leg, but pretty boy assured me that it truly occurred. Nevertheless, his smirk left me with lingering doubts.

The situation didn't end there though.

As Usui indulged in the comedy skit, the petite girl executed a sudden leap, landing firmly on Harima's back, and swiftly draped yet another bag over his head. Somehow, it further devolved from there. Harima would sprint around in a panic, convinced he was slowly being suffocated as the small girl comedically dangled from her grip on the bag.

I didn't bother asking why he didn't rip through the bag like he did before.

According to the blonde, this spectacle continued for several minutes until the delinquent's stamina gave out. That was when Usui intervened, calmly removing both the bag and the smaller girl from Harima's breathless form.

"It was a hot day, after all."

He's having too much fun just telling the story…

Expletives were said by the tactless delinquent, but the girl was apparently unmoved by his behavior. Either the girl had guts, or she had dealt with people like Harima before… maybe both.

A tantrum from Harima later, the girl shared about her struggles to recruit students for her club at school. Knowing that Harima wouldn't understand and would make things worse —not that he cared anyway— Usui diffused the tension by advising the girl against putting bags over her head.

The girl put on a cute act and reassured them that she wouldn't.

"I left well enough alone, although I'm sure Delinquent-kun fell for it. He bragged how Tenma-chan would have been proud of him for helping."

However, it wouldn't be the last time they met her.

Their following interactions came from time to time. Days apart, or even weeks separate. They eventually learned that her name was Shibasaki Roka, who apparently was half-Finnish. Usui seemed inclined to believe her since the girl apparently possessed a distinct foreign appearance, which included natural blonde hair.

She was apparently the head of a gaming club within her school, and strove to bring people to it as members. Among these people was a guy who's name I heard before, Kazama Kenji.

Usui also mentioned that he later discovered she lived in the same apartment complex. According to her, Usui was a hot topic among other residents, not entirely surprising. It's worth noting that she seemed to find enjoyment in teasing and irritating Harima, much like Usui did.

"It's interesting… That girl was one of the first females our age whom I met that wasn't immediately attracted to me and not because she pined for someone else. Although that hadn't stopped some women before."

I give him a deadpan stare, wondering if this was an odd way for him to boast. He laughed at my dry comment and assured me that that wasn't his intent. And it's not as if he suddenly started hanging out with Shibasaki just because they lived in the same complex.

Although I did note the fact that Shibasaki belonged to the group of women who displayed no immediate attraction to the blonde heartthrob… if what he said was true.

Anyway, this Shibasaki girl would finally recruit that guy into her club, by kidnapping him and forcing him to join…

I had to take a pause to register that fact, but for the sake of remaining sane, didn't question it. While something similar happened to me, it was done for an even more pointless reason.

And so Usui's recollections continued. I summarized it rather frankly in my note-taking.

So it turned out that Shibasaki was a friend of Takao's and attended the same school. It seemed that they had some sort of rivalry, and at some point, Takao attempted to dismantle Shibasaki's club for such a reason. Something about there being two gaming clubs or something?

I wasn't sure if schools even allowed for multiple clubs with the same purpose, but whatever.

Also this Kazama guy seemed tied to their rivalry, but from what Usui mentioned, they managed to solve it. Who knows how though.

I was honestly curious how Usui dealt with such a peculiar girl, given his personality. I know he used Harima most of the time to reduce any interaction, but those times when they were alone…

So I asked him about it.

"It was somewhat like with Harima-kun, although she did speak more," Usui replied after a moment of reflection. "It was mostly meaningless things, completely one-sided, but she did try to ask about me."

"And how did your deflections work on her?" I asked knowingly.

He smiles wryly at that, "It didn't take much to distract her and focus on another topic. She stopped asking after a while, whether it's because she noticed my lack of interest or not, I can't say."

I only hum in response.

"Do you think I should meet her?" I ask the 'one important' question.

"I don't see why you shouldn't, it's a matter of convenience to do so," He looks at me, probably curious about my hesitance.

I understood his utilitarian views, hell, I'd be the first to agree, but…

"It's not that. The deal with the suspects just doesn't make sense."

"How so?" I hear his curiosity ring out.

"If I participate in the game, that means I have to kill whoever the creation wound up being, right?" He nods as he follows along, "Thing is, I don't know how to figure out that they're the creation in the first place, unless I have to get them to reveal it to me?"

"And if that is the case, how could you do that for suspects that are unconnected to you?" He guessed my line of thought correctly.

"Yeah. Not only that, but why would Deus Ex give us an out by potentially having the creation be one of the suspects that aren't directly connected to either of us?"

He nodded, "Even if it's slightly, that could make things 'easier' for you with the emotional struggle being mitigated by having to kill someone else."

Well, there would still be the moral quandary about killing someone anyway, but yeah, it's a lesser burden by not having an emotional connection to the being added onto that.

"Is it important for you to find the created being so soon?" Usui suddenly inquires.

"What?" I look back at him in bewilderment. I'd imagine that it was important.

"Well, if you want to focus on simply protecting them from your opponent, shouldn't you focus on hoarding as many suspects to yourself? You said that once you see that symbol, it will no longer appear for him, right?"

Ah, I understood where he was going with that idea. The plan was to reduce Ayanokouji's chances of stumbling upon the creation by narrowing down the pool of suspects. Essentially, it was the same strategy I had intended to employ at Totsuki as a general approach. The aim was to force him to focus on the ones he had already confirmed.

This was a reasonable strategy to be honest, especially since I wasn't going to focus on the game. My only concern was the unknown number of suspects Deus Ex might have out there, and I was betting on Ayanokouji not discovering the creation in the future, assuming he hadn't already.

Maybe it wasn't the best approach, but it was the only one available to me at the moment. I nodded in agreement just as my phone went off, drawing our attention.

*Brr Brr*

Geez, was it time for Gasai's call already?

"Yuuki?" I looked at my screen in surprise at who was calling me instead. Did something happen over there? I quickly slid to accept the call.

"What is it?"

"Dude! It's happening tonight!" He exclaimed excitedly over the phone.

I winced and pulled the phone away from my ear. Quit abusing my hearing, dammit. I glowered as Usui looked on in amusement. Rather than chancing damage to my other ear, I put the phone call on speaker.

"What is?" I asked sourly, still rubbing my poor organ.

"There were rumors, remember? About that guy, Okumura?" I raised an eyebrow, wondering if this was something I was supposed to know, "The president of Big Bang Burger?"

What the heck is that?

"You called me to gossip about burgers?" I asked in annoyed disinterest, glancing at Usui, I could tell he shared my sentiments. But it looks like he was writing something on a separate piece of paper.

"C'mon man, the Phantom Thieves site mentioned they might go after him, even if there's no mention of a calling card yet. If that's true, he's probably going to confess his crimes like the others!"

What on earth is this guy talking about? And why should I care?

Wait… could it be this was relevant to my previous self or something? Maybe…?

A gesture from Usui draws my eye and he has the paper raised for me to see.

"You guys eat there sometimes. It's currently dealing with a supposed employee abuse scandal."

Is that it? My question must have been on my face since Usui shrugged back. I look at the clock, it must be a major thing if it's drawing attention so soon after that bombing incident in Europe and this late at night.

Wait, Phantom Thieves? What the hell is that and why do they have such a chunibyo name?

I look up at the resident teaser for assistance. He flipped the paper in his hand, looking like he's having fun with this.

"Vigilantes who have been eliminating corruption in Tokyo for the last 6 months. They're pretty popular right now. Yuuki liked following them."

Well, it gave me some context at least. Vigilantes exist in this world, but at least they aren't actual superheroes…

"Is that right?" I responded to my neighbor, making sure to add only a slight interested inflection to my voice. While I'm probably not going to nail any voice acting jobs, I think I'm getting pretty good at manipulating my voice. Although, I'm not sure if that's a good thing.

"Apparently he called on a sudden press conference, which is happening right now! It's on BS-TBS, dude." Yuuki says rather loudly… Why is he so excited? "Check that out!"

I lazily glance at my companion, he chuckles with a casual shrug and reaches for his remote, "I'll do that."

"Alright man, talk to you later! And, hey, good travels!"

I say a brief farewell and end the call. Just as Usui mentioned, Yuuki's a fan of that vigilante group. It's not like people our age really care about corporate press conferences otherwise.

"Well, we could use the break from all our talking," Usui's voice comes as he places two water bottles on the coffee table. I nod in thanks and agreement.

"I can't believe I haven't lost my voice yet," I quip. He chuckles again and switches on the television.

With the channel switched, the screen is soon to show a bespectacled man dressed in a business suit, with a brown checkerboard ascot under his white shirt. He definitely looked like the CEO of a big company…

So this had to be Okumura.

As for what appeared on the screen, a man stood beside a conference table, all by himself. Several microphones were arranged in front of him, all pointed in his direction. I exchanged a brief glance with my blonde companion before turning my attention back to the screen. Flashes of light came at random intervals, which I presumed were from the journalists taking photographs.

"…taking time out of your busy schedules to gather here."

"Seems like it just started," Usui comments, boredly looking on. I nod my head, focusing again.

"…borate upon the whole truth behind my company's labor situation," The wealthy-looking man lowers his head for a moment, more flashes following up, "How my employees were forced to work under severed conditions, how… lax we were with sanitation… and how my corporation acted as a whole to… cover up every facet of this scandal."

An actual confession? And disclosing everything in this manner? I know that's what Yuuki was talking about but it's still surreal to see it happen this way. Just what could those vigilantes do to make him admit to his crimes?

"For all this, I wholeheartedly apologize."

Numerous flashes illuminate the screen as the man bows forward to accentuate his apology. The voices of the people around his table resonated in the room.

Well, if that guy is this important, this announcement probably came as a shock to everyone… I mean, according to Usui, I ate at his restaurants or whatever it was, which means…

I shudder, shutting down that line of thought, I don't want to go there… geez…

"So are you saying all of this was done under your orders?" A voice asks, most likely a journalist.

The man nods his head, responding with a lone, "…Yes."

My eyes move to the lower part of the screen, the title already having changed to:

CEO of Okumura Foods, Okumura Kunikazu, confessing all his crimes!

Huh… the editors were so quick to change it to be more engaging, a good move on their part I admit. Sensationalism had long been a recognized style of journalism used by the media to attract more viewers, and more often than not, it yielded results.

People's morbid curiosity was so easy to entice… which was honestly pathetic.

"I… am solely responsible."

"This is typically how it goes for that group," I turn back to the blonde, "Whoever they're after soon confesses, although this time, there was no spectacle concerning their calling card for Okumura Kunikazu, which is odd. There was always a calling card… Could be a copycat vigilante this time. Who knows really?"

"How do they even do it?"

Usui puts a hand under his chin, "They apparently steal hearts… or that's what they claim."

"What the hell?" I furrow my eyebrows at that, but he only shrugs, equally as stumped.

"…dozens of your employees were forced to resign due to mysterious illness. Furthermore, these happened to be officials who stood against your proposal for oversea expansion," Okumura opened his mouth to respond, but the journalist continued, "The same thing also happened to executives at competing companies who were looking to expand abroad. Is all this true?"

The older man sighed heavily. I had to wonder if he was that good of an actor, but it seemed all of this weighed on him… I could be wrong but it's as if he's truly repentant.

And so he responded, "Yes."

"Was it all coincidence?" Added the journalist, but Okumura looked away, "We'd like some answers."

His eyes shut, "About that… I have critical information to announce here today."

The room fell into a heavy silence as the man took a moment to gather his thoughts, and most likely muster the courage to speak. I couldn't begin to imagine what it was, but all this anticipation seemed to imply it was very important.

"I…" Okumura started, "…Ngh!"

The man turned pale, his eyes widening in unseen pain. Okumura stumbled forward, resting one hand on the table and the other clutching his chest. I exchanged a glance with Usui, who appeared just as taken aback as I was. Clenching his teeth, the man emitted strained sounds that gradually intensified into deep, agonizing groans.

"A-agh… Ah…"

My phone starts ringing, but I ignore it, the screen holding my undivided attention. Okumura tumbles over the table as another man attempts to help him, "Okumura-san?"

A brief silence takes hold once more, the man lowering his head onto the table. Our collective shock persists as Okumura unexpectedly lifts his head, directly exposing his face to the cameras. My eyes widened in horror at the unexpected sight.

"Aaaaahhh!"

Go to profile, SEE: Link in Logic Is My Sword: Chapter 11 Section: Picture 01

His eyes presented a disturbing absence of irises, appearing entirely white, with blood leaking from them, as well as from his mouth.

The scene was followed by a flurry of flashes and frantic screams breaking out in every direction. The man who had attempted to aid him fell backward in sheer terror. The camera wobbled as another man hastily appeared in front of the table, waving his hand frantically just before the transmission was abruptly cut off, replaced by a colorful image of a dog chasing butterflies.

A message above it said the following.

We are currently suffering technical difficulties for the time being. Please wait a moment.

The only sound within the room was the strangely peaceful music playing, a stark contrast to the recent events. Soon, my phone started to ring persistently, abruptly snapping me back to my senses.

I answered it after seeing it was from Yuuki again.

"Yeah?"

"D-dude! Did you see that!?" I recognized Yuuki's alarmed voice, "That was so fucked up! What the hell happened to him!? Shit! That was so awful!"

"Uh, yeah," I say numbly. Why wasn't I panicking? "That was crazy."

"This shouldn't have happened dude!" Yuuki laments, "I'm glad Mikan didn't see it…"

"They're probably all asleep already," With how late it was, I imagined they were already in bed. I felt relieved that was potentially the case.

"Yeah…"

My gaze sharpens, realizing something relevant, "Did this happen because of the Phantom Thieves? He confessed, like you said he would."

I cast a quick glance at Usui, who, in response, shook his head and held up yet another piece of paper. It said that this kind of occurrence had never happened with other exposed criminals.

"I'm not sure…" Yuuki finally speaks, "I mean, the Phantom Thieves page stated that Okumura's illegal activities would be stopped, which happened… in a way… Dunno… Shit… Do you think that guy's dead?"

After the scene, it's hard to imagine anything but…

"Maybe," I admit, still uncertain, "There might be a public statement about his health tomorrow, that's when we'll find out."

"They saved so many people before… what the fuck is happening…?" Yuuki releases a sigh, "Maybe that Okumura guy was sick or something. The Phantom Thieves couldn't have killed him… right? They are good people, right, Hachiman?"

Yuuki was clearly seeking my validation, and his voice betrayed his eager anticipation. It seemed that he held this group of vigilantes in high regard, and although I wasn't yet acquainted with their deeds, the fact that they had gained popularity and had such a profound influence on someone like Yuuki could only mean that before today, they had the popular support.

So then, what happened? Would they actually kill a criminal to achieve the greater good? I know this was a moral dilemma some of the western superhero comics ventured in, but does that mean that this group finally crossed that line?

"Let's wait a bit more," I responded seriously. "It's too soon to reach a conclusion. Overreacting won't help anybody and I'm sure Mikan won't like to see you all worried about something that isn't official yet."

I made sure to avoid his sister's nickname so he could understand the gravity of my statement.

Why am I so calm though?

"Y-yeah…" He stammers slightly, "You're right, Hachiman… I should be more level-headed… yeah…"

"Try to get some sleep," I tell the younger boy, "Take something that'll help with it, if you need to."

My neighbor releases another sigh, "Will do. Sorry for overreacting."

"It's not your fault," I assure him, "Make sure Mikan doesn't try looking into it tomorrow, I'll do the same for Komachi."

"Yeah… I'm gonna have nightmares man. Whatever… laters…"

The call ends with that, leaving the music from the terminated broadcast being the only thing keeping the room from being encapsulated by a stifling silence.

Looking back at my blonde companion, I notice that even if he didn't panic like Yuuki had, Usui still seemed rattled by the events on the television.

"You alright?" It was a stupid question, but I really didn't have many alternate things to ask.

He laughed mirthlessly, "I'll need a few moments to gather myself. If you don't mind."

I nodded back in understanding, "Sure."

In a brief show of vulnerability, Usui runs his hand through his hair as he stands and heads into the restroom. He closes the door behind him, leaving me and his cat to our own devices.

Doesn't matter how great he is at hiding his emotions and keeping his composure, he's still a high-schooler at the end of the day.

So what's my excuse then?

11-2

Go to profile, LISTEN: Link in Logic Is My Sword: Chapter 11 Section: Song 02

"Somehow, I'm not surprised that you handled that so well. Although… it's a bit too well, wouldn't you say?"

I look up at the returning Usui, catching hints of the lingering disturbance he felt at watching someone probably die on live television, hidden beneath his sharp gaze. I look at my hands, they aren't even trembling as an unconscious way for me to express my panic. I don't feel any anxiety or fear after the initial shock… that's strange… It's like I was able to process everything and move on quickly.

No, it was like I disregarded it entirely.

But why? Even I know that something as serious as watching a live death would affect me badly.

A scene flashes through my mind of night where I witnessed three students my age get tortured and brutalized by Gasai Yuno. Because of Deviluke's emotion wipe, I was able to remember the memory without flinching. Everything that happened that night was an audiovisual recollection, I shut my eyes at times, but I did see what Gasai did for the most part, especially after I grew numb to what took place.

Was it that? Did the emotion wipe affect how I would process these types of situations? Was it good that it did?

Whatever the case, I think I should mention my particular 'problem' to him, given that there's the chance I'll experience more side effects… or something.

"You give me too much credit," I chuckled humorlessly, "My composure isn't that impressive, it's just something along the lines of aftereffects of certain events that took place."

Usui arches an eyebrow in a sign of interest, "Like what exactly?" He asks.

"It involves Gasai Yuno."

The blonde blinks twice, "That girl? I was actually curious about her… I knew something was going on the few times I saw her around, but our little interaction was… eerie."

Looks like even he was at a loss in handling Gasai when she was… eccentric. His acting skills really bailed him out, didn't they?

I nod my head, "It happened late Saturday. It's not really a light-hearted tale."

A vast understatement.

He looked more serious now, "What did she do, Hikigaya-kun?"

I exhale deeply and start recounting my harrowing experience. I explain to Usui how I had essentially been kidnapped after being rendered unconscious, awakening to find myself tied to a chair in an abandoned building.

After sharing this, I fell momentarily silent, not due to my inability to handle it, but to give Usui a moment to digest my words. Judging by the shock etched on his face, it was clear he had never anticipated something like this happening to me. Who would in all honesty?

Continuing my tale, I spoke of seeing the three other unconscious males that were equally as restrained and how I recognized them as some of the ones who assaulted me last Thursday. I proceeded to describe Gasai's arrival —briefly mentioning the limp she had and the reason behind it. I went on to detail how the situation devolved from there: Gasai's anguished tirade, her reasons for bringing them there, and the excruciating torture to which she subjected all of them.

I had to backtrack numerous times after reaching that point. Each time I realized that I was going into excessive description of what Gasai committed when it wasn't necessary. Usui didn't need the specifics just because I could speak of them with little thought.

Then I spoke of what happened after, explaining the rational state I entered when I became emotionally numb to everything. I described how I managed to dissuade Gasai from adding homicide to the long list of crimes she had committed that night and convinced her to consider repairing the damage through the involvement of Belldandy and Deviluke.

Afterward, I summarized the remaining events swiftly: Gasai's departure, Belldandy's healing, Deviluke's memory device, and my eventual emotional erasure.

I finished by telling him that I no longer held fear towards Gasai and that it was mostly a blank slate with her, just obviously wary because I retained the knowledge of what she could do. I advised him to do the same since she's someone to be careful with.

"I was careless to forget that Gasai had shown up a few days prior, sending me a message." I said at the end, "So many things happened after that night that I forgot all about her until she was at my doorstep. Literally."

Usui remained silent. From his expression, I'm sure he was still trying to get his head together after my tale.

Finally, he sighed and rubbed the back of his head, "I suppose… that emotion wipe is why you were able to handle the press conference fairly well?"

"That's what I think," I nod in agreement. "It might be another aftereffect of Deviluke's device."

"Another?"

I told him my situation with Shiromeguri-senpai, and how she has unintentionally become a trigger for me to compose myself.

"Was it worth it?" He questioned me suddenly.

I paused for a moment, mulling my answer, "I can't say anything other than 'yes.' I can understand from the outside just how screwed up it is, but I can't honestly feel it because of how I defaultly disregard Shiromeguri-senpai now."

"I can't imagine, honestly," He says unhelpfully, and then, his eyes narrow slightly. "I don't suppose you like utilizing this new 'ability,' do you?"

To call it an ability…

"It makes me uneasy," I answer honestly, "It feels unnatural whenever it purges whatever emotions I previously had."

He shrugs his shoulders, "I can see why you'd think that, Hikigaya. But I'm sure you already know that this 'hiccup' brings more advantages with little drawbacks… to some extent. It could be a skill of sorts if you wanted it to be."

I look down, and pet the kitten on my lap in order to keep my hands busy now that we're on an uncomfortable topic. He was right, there was an advantage to handling things that normally shouldn't be possible. But just because the drawbacks didn't seem dramatic didn't mean they didn't exist at all.

And who knows? Maybe what I initially assumed as an improving composure is actually because of Deviluke's device? I could have been benefiting from the emotion wipe since that night without realizing it.

"I know what you're saying," I sigh in defeat, "I haven't really needed to use it, but I should probably keep it in mind that it's there."

"Well, luckily for you, you have a naturally impressive poker face," Usui chuckles slightly, probably trying to help make me feel more at ease.

We let the following silence linger for a small moment before the blonde speaks up again.

"So, about that time when the homicidal urges you felt for Gasai-chan, I mean, when your emotions were returning to you…"

I blink, before releasing a sigh, "Whatever happened when things became numb helped keep me from doing anything, but it was just barely."

Usui leans back onto his couch and looks up at the ceiling with a deep breath. "You probably endured emotional flooding from the experience, and your mind automatically disassociated as a defense mechanism. It sounds like something you would hear about a high-functioning sociopath since you managed to keep going instead of shutting down completely."

That… didn't particularly help me feel better. Sure with him explaining things, I know that I more than likely avoided having PTSD with Deviluke's device, but knowing that I was capable of sociopathic tendencies if I was pushed far enough was a point of concern.

"You don't have to worry about it sticking," He must have noticed my body language, "True sociopaths would have disregarded this without an issue. If anything, that says more about your mental endurance that you never acted on your darker impulses."

I feel a weight come off my shoulders that I didn't realize was there. I hadn't realized how intimidating by the aspect I was.

Usui makes a humming sound, "Do you think you can make a comparison? Between that numbness you felt back then, and what you experienced just now, when we saw that incident on TV?"

"Every time," I run a hand through my hair, "They're the exact same… sensation."

He doesn't immediately respond, but he does look like he's pondering about something.

"Why ask?" I question him.

"Granted, this is just a humble hypothesis from a fake alien…"

"Get on with it." I can't help but snap.

Usui huffs at that, "What I'm saying is that perhaps these after effects were caused by you desperately trying to disassociate yourself again?"

"What are you talking about?" I furrowed my brow.

"Well, think back to what led up to Deviluke-chan using her device on you. You were on the brink of a meltdown and you were consciously making an effort to keep yourself together even as your sanity was slipping through your fingers."

I nodded along, vividly recollecting the dire state I had been in with absolute clarity.

"Your mind protects itself through dissociation, Hikigaya, that's how you unconsciously protect yourself mentally," He elaborates, "Perhaps as your mind desperately sought out to disassociate again, the memory device altered your brain chemistry to match. You did say it wasn't meant to affect emotions in the first place."

That hit me like a ton of bricks. The idea that I unintentionally did it to myself shocked me to my core.

"But," He states clearly, probably to get me out of my head, "It's only a guess. After all, it doesn't explain the connection with your senpai, right? It really could have just been by chance that it all happened with using a prototype for something it wasn't meant for."

I swallowed heavily and nodded. Maybe it was a mere coincidence, or perhaps there was a distinct cause behind it. I didn't have the answers, and I couldn't have them anyway until Deviluke got back to me.

It just wouldn't be wise to dwell on this issue and compound the existing stress I was already dealing with.

"It might be odd to say, considering the circumstances you're putting up with. But I envy you, Hikigaya…" I look back at Usui, my eyes widening in surprise. The blonde leaned forward with his head propped up by his hand, gazing out at the cityscape, yet I could discern a hint of bitterness in his expression.

"I assure you, there's nothing to feel jealous about," I try to assuage with a joke, "Any redeeming qualities I may have are overshadowed by my eyes."

He chuckles mirthlessly, "Give yourself some credit, Hikigaya-kun. You do have respectable virtues to be proud of."

"Ah, yeah," I continue, not really amused. "I guess I am better than the previous Hachiman that you knew before me, but that doesn't seem like a high bar."

He gives me a look of understanding mixed with wry amusement and nods in a manner that says… "Alright, I'll play along."

"That's true."

Silence comes again as the blonde collects our empty water bottles and walks to his kitchen. After a few moments, he returns with two new bottles of water and sets the one for me down on the coffee table.

"Tha—"

*Brr Brr*

I am cut off when my phone starts vibrating. Did Yuuki want something again?

I stare at the screen, seeing it wasn't him but Gasai Yuno. I kinda forgot she was supposed to call… I guess she's not letting any chance slip by. I hope this doesn't become a concurrent thing, I don't need to be stressed about my nights too.

I glance at Usui when he says, "She's fairly punctual, isn't she?"

That doesn't help at all. I release a breath and answer the call.

"Yo, Gasai," Be casual, that's how I've been with her.

"Hachi~" She began with that absurd nickname, the inflection in her voice was intoxicatingly sweet, "I called like you said I could earlier…"

"Yeah," I responded easily enough, "Was there something you wanted to talk about?"

"I just wanted to chat with you a bit, Hachi…" She replied softly, "Are you okay?"

I raise an eyebrow at her question, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"…Are you sure?"

Did I miss something? Where did this come from?

"Why wouldn't I be?" I ask back, suspicion in my voice.

"I saw what happened on TV…" She began, the sweetness gone, replaced by a rather off putting tone, "Wanted to know if you were scared, Hachi…"

Ironic coming from her, honestly.

"Nah, nothing like that," I tell her the truth, "It caught me off guard, but, I'm alright."

Maybe if she realizes she doesn't need to coddle me it will help relax her obsessive protectiveness.

It takes several seconds for her to speak, but eventually she does, "I'm glad… you know… I just want you to know that you don't have to worry about that kind of thing." She giggles, "Because I will always take care of you. I will protect you, Hachi!"

Great… This is exactly what I wanted to avoid. I guess she didn't get the message… I'm not a fan of being overly stern with girls, but I can't let her call the shots between us.

"I told you, I'll be fine," I keep the snideness out of my voice, "If anything, you should worry about yourself. Don't think I didn't notice what you tried earlier with Usui."

"I didn't mean it… I just wanted to make sure he was nice… sorry…"

Huh, I didn't expect her to offer an apology so readily. I thought she might get defensive again. It was unclear whether she had improved in handling such situations or if Usui's positive influence had played a part. Although, after I told Usui what she was capable of, he might not come off as nice.

"Don't do it again," I tell her firmly, "As annoying as they can be, they're still my friends no matter what you think of them."

Ugh… Using the "F" words still feels gross.

I glanced at Usui, who was putting on a blushing maiden act, one hand pressed to his chest. I had to fight to keep the heat off of my cheeks out of sheer embarrassment. You're not helping anyone, dammit!

"Y-yeah… I won't do it again…" Was she pouting now? "I said I should consider Hachi's friends my friends as well, I mean it…"

I'm probably the last person to say this, but I'm not sure that's how friendships work.

"Yeah, and who knows, they'll probably like you back if you're friendly." I wisely keep my comment to myself.

So long as they aren't female, or romantically-inclined towards me. Or like me in general.

"I will do my best to make them like me, Hachi! You will be proud of me!"

"Sounds like you're going to have a busy next three days then," I say idly.

I blink at the sudden squeal that came from the phone, followed by a, "I'll make the most of them and give you a surprise when you come back, Hachi!"

Oh dear… I don't know if that's good or not. Ah, well, she was already planning on integrating herself into my group even without my saying so.

Well, better to keep her close so I can actually keep her in check I guess…

"I'm looking forward to it," I say easily enough, but then add some sharpness to my tone, "But if you come across the girls I know… You. Will. Behave. Right?"

Another pause came, longer than I would have liked. I really didn't feel like dealing wi—

"…If that is what it takes to earn your trust, then I will."

I couldn't help but be startled this time. Unlike any time before, her voice didn't convey that usual sweetness, nor the coldness that she usually displayed when she didn't like something. What she said came with a very mature tone, not playful, not overly serious, but just firm and even earnest.

What the hell is going on?

Even Usui came to notice the perplexity that covered my face all of a sudden. He raised an eyebrow at me, which helped snap me out of my brief speechlessness.

"If…" I paused to regain my footing, "If you mean that, it'll be a good first step."

"Yes…"

"Uh… okay. Anything else?"

"No… I should let you sleep, Hachiman…" There was a brief silence again, "I'll call you tomorrow… if that's okay."

"I'll, uh, probably be busy," I stumble my words, "So I can't make guarantees I'll be available to answer."

"That's fine…" A sudden giggle came just after, "Have a good sleep, Hachi!"

Once again, her bubbly self returned for no reason, and I could only say: "Same." in response to that notorious change in her voice. The call ended just after that.

Ever a storm, Gasai Yuno is.

"It looks like you both have an odd relationship after the events of Saturday, Hikigaya," Usui idly quips with some curiosity.

"I never expected her to be agreeable," I reveal to him, "It shocked me."

"Pfft, I'll say," He laughs lightly, "You look no better than I did after the unfortunate press conference."

I snorted at the ridiculousness of it, and nodded back.

"Is it alright if I clear my head?" I pinch the bridge of my nose.

"The bathroom's down the hall behind me, to your left," He points over his shoulder, "I'll take Licht from you in the meantime."

Carefully, I hand him the kitten without a fuss and make my way to the bathroom to wash my face.

And stretch my legs while I'm at it.

11-3

"How's Licht?" I idly inquired. I look down to see the small feline fast asleep on the blonde's lap. I can't help but chuckle at that.

"Looks like she's nice and comfortable, maybe with this she'll finally like me better," Usui lets out a small chuckle and shakes his head.

Once I retake my seat, he gestures towards the television.

"I suppose after all you experienced, what happened on television was a walk in the park?"

"It was still a surprise," I responded with a frown, "But I was able to process everything much more effectively than I typically would have."

Usui makes a thoughtful expression, looking away for a moment, "I guess that's a matter you'll tackle down the road."

"I will, I will," I look back at the blank TV and switch back to a previous topic, "About that group of vigilantes… Do you think they did this?"

"I can't say, but it is unlike them," He shrugs his shoulders, "Regardless of what happened, the Phantom Thieves may have the blame shifted onto them."

"You think?" I tilt my head, he would know more… although, if one were to put the pieces together…

"Like Yuuki-kun says, the group tends to announce whatever targets they're going after before tonight. I don't recall him mentioning them having done so for that CEO, although he was apparently a highly requested target in the Phan-site. Perhaps it was an unfortunate coincidence, either way, the Phantom Thieves probably won't come out of this unscathed."

I saw the logic in that. Regardless if they were involved or not, suspicion would be drawn to the mysterious team of vigilantes when something happens to a person that fits their criteria to go after.

"Short-kun has this large collection of merchandise based on them in his room, that's what Lazy-kun says anyway," Usui comments thoughtfully. "So this must have been especially hard for him."

I observe Usui, he looks better than before. I had to appreciate it, anybody else would still be in shock after everything that happened since turning on the television.

"Well, I can't really say much since I've never been one of those fervent fans that take this kind of thing to heart," I reply with a shrug. "But I guess that seeing the people he admired possibly kill a person must be rough."

Usui nods in agreement before asking, "So, is there anything else you might want to address?"

Well, let's see… What else was there? Ah, I know.

"Do you know anything about Sakurai Aoi?"

He arches an eyebrow, "That security girl?" His eyes wander to the side, "Not much aside from knowing we have mutual acquaintances, I'm afraid. I heard there was some incident at a train station which involved her and you. Aki-kun was also with you at the time so he might know more."

Wait a minute… A train station incident? She mentioned some other situation where I saved a CEO and how I was involved with a bomb threat, didn't she?

Could it be a coincidence and they're actually separate circumstances?

Well, considering I probably trained with that redhead for a brief period of time but didn't ultimately take the job with her, my previous self might have left before joining that security force.

I had to wonder… what were the odds of being drawn into two separate dangerous situations as a mere trainee in such a short span?"

No, it's probably wise to assume that Aki, Sakurai-san and I went through the same event. Although, with the penchant for getting into trouble I tend to have, it might not be wrong to think that they were separate after all.

But… Considering that PSF-san only brought up the CEO/bomb threat incident in her attempt to persuade me to join her company, it implies that it's the only notable thing I accomplished during my training. If whatever Aki and I dealt with was different, she would have likely mentioned it, wouldn't she? With how gung-ho she was about her job and having me join, she struck me as the type to bring it up as additional arguments.

"You even did _ even after saying you were done with us, it's obvious you want to join the security force!"

Is my poor imitation of what the gun freak might have said…

"Going by the extended silence you suddenly adopted, I assume you're internal monologuing, Hikigaya?" I'm pulled out of my head to see an amused look on the blonde, "Do you know something?"

I nod before revealing to him what Sakurai Aoi had alluded to earlier in the morning. He frowned at what he heard from me, clearly, this is the first time there was any mention of rescuing a CEO and a potential bomb threat.

"That's far more than was reported by the press, and it was also the only incident that was mentioned in Chiba these last two years." He looked to think about it for a moment, "Seems more and more likely that it was one whole event shared between the three of you, doesn't it?"

"Looks like," I nod before asking, "How much do you recall?"

"Take into account that I was a drifter," He didn't bother to at least look apologetic, a smug grin and all, "I didn't even follow the actual coverage itself. I only got secondhand accounts from Yukihira-kun days after."

"And you weren't interested in the specifics," I finished for him.

He simply chuckles with a shake of his head.

"Well, what were these 'secondhand accounts' that Yukihira gave you?"

"All that I remember being told was how a disgruntled employee damaged the electric system," He rubbed his chin in thought, "It was evident that there was more to it than that, considering what Yukihira-kun said at the time. Apparently, your past self and Aki-kun showed signs of stress because of that incident, but never said a word about it."

"That's… odd…"

He nods, "There was still some news about the company potentially hiding things, but there was no further investigation, and soon people just forgot about it."

"When did the situation with the railway happen?" I inquire, "Do you remember?"

I'm debating whether Usui-pedia was a downgrade because of his teasings compared to the verbal assaults one can expect from Yuki-pedia.

He makes a humming sound, "I think it happened during last year's summer break… well near the end actually… Ah, there was also something about Glasses-kun that Yukihira-kun mentioned as well. Apparently he missed the first few days of school after that incident took place."

That further proves that he really was involved with whatever happened with the CEO and the bomb threat that Sakurai mentioned. And it must have been hard to handle to the point that he skipped school.

"He never said anything?" I asked, "I'm sure the previous me didn't bother."

"True enough," Usui smiles back, "To answer your question, Glasses-kun was also relatively tight-lipped when it came to what took place last year, even towards Yukihira-kun. Clearly, it must have been something pretty serious."

Great, not only did I have a previous arc with Aki, but it was on a topic only the two of us were privy to out of our entire group… And that's not even taking PSF-san into account.

The good news is that it's a subject that he might actively avoid speaking of altogether; the bad news is that if that girl ever brings up any specifics —I just don't know with her.

I'm in a tight spot. Playing dumb isn't a reliable strategy, as she quickly got frustrated when I tried it last time. It appears to be a secretive matter, so for now, I have to bank on that and figure things out on my own later.

"I'll try looking into that," I sigh and lean back on my arms. "No idea how, but I'll figure something out."

"Might be worth putting a pin on that for now," Usui shrugs.

"Maybe," I responded without much thought, "So, anything else you think I should know?"

"There's plenty to talk about~" He grins playfully at me and claps his hands together, "Buuut, I want to hear about Pervert-kun's chained angel!"

"The others didn't tell you?" I raise an eyebrow.

"They did," He chuckles, "But Hikigaya-kun might tell me more about her than just 'She could fly, I dunno.'"

Of course he could do a perfect imitation of the delinquent's voice. Hey wait a minute, didn't Harima freak out? Oi, did you blow off what you saw out of convenience?

"Right…" I deadpanned, "Well you aren't wrong, I do know more than probably even than the shrimp does."

With how little knowledge the angeloid named Ikaros held, whether through deception on her part or because of her programming, I was probably the only human who knew what she really was.

"I figured you did," He smiles in humor, "You seem to always be at the center of so many exciting things these days."

"Tch," I clicked my tongue but was unable to rebuke his point, "I'll tell you what I know later, but I think it's important that we keep tabs on him because of that girl."

"This ties into what you know, I imagine?"

"Yeah," I nod, "I told him to let me know if something comes up, but I wanted to keep my own tabs on him. It keeps slipping my mind to ask Deviluke about it."

"I would say you could give him a call, but seeing what time it is, he might not answer."

I glance at the clock again. An hour had nearly passed this time, and it was just about midnight. He was probably right, other than Yuuki staying up to watch that unfortunate press conference, there's a low chance of Sakurai being awake this late on a school night. Plus, there was no rush yet, I can always check in tomorrow morning.

"Sure, I can try and check in on him in the morning."

"Speaking of morning," Somehow I felt like the clock struck twelve as he said, "Is there anything else you wanted to mention? I don't know about you, but I don't handle mornings very well, so I'll want to at least rest for our trip tomorrow."

I don't know if he's telling the truth about not being a morning person, but he doesn't look tired. He probably just wants time to think things through on his own.

Too bad for him though.

"There was that thing you mentioned," I said, "The favor I'd owe for your help. What did you have in mind?"

Owing him wasn't something I wanted to keep up for too long, or else it'll become a bigger headache.

He looks away, massaging the back of his neck, "I mentioned it before, about that woman who's intruding between me and Ayuzawa. I'll need your help with her."

Recalling our past conversation, I must admit that I wasn't exactly thrilled with the nature of his request. In fact, my apprehension has only grown since then. However, I owed him a favor, and that debt had only grown tonight. Better to bite this bullet and get it over with.

However, it doesn't mean I'm going to comply with his vague demands without further information.

"I'll need more than that before I can accept, don't you think?" I rested my arm on the coffee table and leaned on my hand.

"There isn't much to tell, really. All you need to do is be yourself and get her out of my way." He stated calmly, closing his eyes, "Easy right? For someone with your experience."

I frown at his suddenly curt demeanor, "'Get her out of your way,' how?"

And what the hell do you mean by someone with my experience?

"With your charm, I'd say."

I was growing increasingly uncomfortable with his detached attitude. It was as though he considered this topic a nuisance he wished to rid himself of. Frankly, he looked utterly disinterested, as if he couldn't be bothered to care while discussing it.

"Cut the crap," I glower, "At least be direct when asking for something. Who are you talking about and why do you want her gone?"

"Hehh…" Usui smiles despite my inquisitive glare, "I think I mentioned her, a girl that has, for some reason, decided that she liked me, and countless rejections did not stop her from following me around. She's very persistent no matter what I say."

I recall that much; it was someone who had interrupted his date with his maid during their visit to a summer festival. However, the way he was describing it now, it sounded like he was dealing with a stalker, as she continued to bother him even after being rejected. She wasn't someone he particularly liked, obviously, and I doubt the rest of the group were aware of her.

"Who is this person exactly?" I decide to ask that first, seeing how complicated this character seems, I mean, not even Usui could deal with her and that certainly proves it.

"There isn't much to say," He begins, his face showing deep thought. "She is… something of an acquaintance from my childhood. Unlike the Shidare heiress, the person I'm talking about came from a family more formally connected to the Usui Family."

"Does this non-acquaintance have a name, to start with?" I asked dryly. I understand writing her off as an annoyance, but at least call her by her name.

He frowned, as if the mere thought brought him unpleasantness. "Kaga Kouko. Her father is the director of a large hospital in downtown Chiba. It might not seem as impressive as the owner of an entire company, but her family has been connected to the Usuis for a long time."

Rich people and their connections…

"So did you meet her in the same manner as Shidare?"

"Something like that," He nods before releasing a heavy breath. "She also roamed around before coming across me. Like before, I wasn't interested in reciprocating her approach, as friendly as it appeared to be."

He paused for a moment, and I remained silent so he could continue.

"Just like Shidare Hotaru, Kaga Kouko was a novel experience for me," He gets a faraway look as he recollects old memories. "She was slightly older than me, and once she saw that I was alone, she dragged me around in order to find something to do together. I believe she was attempting to appear like a reliable figure for me."

It looked like he was struggling a bit to label Kaga somewhat.

"Like an older sister?" I offered.

"I'm not sure, I don't have any sort of reference point," He then shakes his head, "We saw one another a total of four times as children, and each time it was the same. It… wasn't unpleasant, to be honest."

From the nostalgic look on his face, he might have even enjoyed the time he spent with her. But I could see that there was a disappointed glint in his eyes, and seeing how he regards her as an annoyance now when they met each other again as teenagers, she must have done something to ruin the lukewarm relationship they had from childhood.

Usui sighs a bit, and reclines onto his sofa lazily, "We met again a little over a year ago. I would say by chance, but seeing how coincidental it happened and how quickly she went back to the role she originally had, I'm unsure if it was the case. But I didn't mind it, until she grabbed my hand."

I gave him a look finding irony in him disliking someone overstepping his boundaries.

He understood it since he gave a small laugh, "I know, I know. Perhaps she was an unconscious influence on how I tend to act with Ayuzawa, before it became more teasing than anything else."

Teasing, he says…

"I let it go the first time, thinking that she didn't realize how she went back to how we were before. But from then on she seemed to desperately try to please me in some way or the other. Either by paying for meals whenever she invited me out, or trying too hard to speak of things in order for me to engage."

"When you prefer to just listen," I guessed knowingly.

He nodded, "It got worse as time went on before it culminated with her attempt at a confession."

I looked on in surprise at that abrupt turn of events.

"That was my exact same reaction," He smiles wryly. "Although I was just as quick to reject her."

"She sure seems a pain to deal with, huh?"

"Yeah, but don't get me wrong. I was grateful for her presence during my younger years, but I held no romantic feelings towards her, and she should have had none for me either. She didn't even seem to factor in how I'd grown from the boy I was, so I know that superficial attraction played no part."

I'm sure he appreciated that then, as the first girl he came across to not be taken in by his looks after he hit his growth spurt.

But that begs the question of why she desperately wanted him in her life that she would suddenly confess. I'll leave that for later, however, no use in pondering without meeting the female in question.

"I'm guessing things got worse from there?" I inquired. He was probably fond of her before, maybe not for her personally but out of nostalgia.

"She refused to accept my rejection, actually," He looked petulant as he recalled the memory, "From then on she would pester me no matter how much I rejected her company and began following me. She was easy enough to lose in a crowd, but she was persistent. She recently stole a scooter just to follow me after I entered a train, it actually caused a police chase."

I paused in my writing, processing the ridiculous series of events I was told. Was the concept of normality just not a thing in this world? I simply release a breath and accept it anyway.

"You mentioned an annoyance that interfered with you and Ayuzawa once before, was that her?"

He nodded, looking more irritated now, "It was. Kaga went up to Ayuzawa and dragged her away under a false pretense. And once she knew I was on my own, she cautioned me about keeping an eye on my sense of propriety given who my family is."

To me, it sounded like she was simply sticking her nose into someone else's business and masquerading it as a concerned acquaintance in an effort to be manipulative. When I tell him that, he surprisingly chuckles.

"It would be much easier if that were the case. She did seem genuinely concerned when telling me that. I almost believed her until she realized that I was what she wanted, that cast some doubts on her intent."

It just seems like such a roundabout way to manipulate someone.

"Do they know about each other?" I inquired, realizing that both girls had actually come in contact with one another.

Usui shakes his head, "Kaga knows about Ayuzawa, but to Ayuzawa, Kaga is a complete stranger. I made sure of that."

I reckon that's because he doesn't want her questioning things that he wasn't prepared to talk about.

"I'm sure you'll find Kaga interesting once you meet her. And who knows? Perhaps she'll be charmed by you as well~" His eyes practically glittered in mischief.

I wasn't sure I liked the fact I was being pawned off to some girl in order to take her attention away from this shameless blonde. Even if she was a problem to deal with, it was a low thing to do to a person.

But I did owe him, especially after tonight.

"Sounds like you have something in mind…" I muttered.

Usui flashes me a sly smirk, "Maybe… but I'll tell you about it some other time." He takes a sip of his bottle of water, "Shall we call it a night then?"

What's putting a pin on another future annoyance? I've already got plenty of those.

"Yeah," I rub my eyes, remembering how much sleep I've been lacking these last few nights. "It's getting late."

"Pfft, I'll be in the restroom first while you ready your futon," Usui's playful inflection makes this seem like a normal sleepover that I almost believe it to be. Instead I snort, and shake my head.

I look around for a moment as Usui does his thing.

"Ah, that's right," Usui pops his head back out of the bathroom and looks back at me, "Next time we have free time, I'll help you with the Galax App. You said you haven't downloaded it yet, right?"

I tell him my thanks. I forgot about that popular phone app he mentioned days back. Apparently it wasn't because it was trendy that I should get it, it was actually that useful.

As I begin setting up my futon, which was a bright red for some odd reason, I reflect on the night I had the past few hours.

I had a notebook full of information about the people that are closest to me because of previous ties. This compilation included a blend of Usui's somewhat superficial trivia and my personal observations. It provided me with some insight, ensuring that I wasn't entirely in the dark when it came to the close circle of friends I apparently had.

I still had some unresolved matters regarding my relationships with people whom Usui wasn't familiar with. However, it was a significant improvement compared to where I had been before.

"The bathroom is free," Usui returns with a humored smile on his face as he grabs the sleepy Licht and places her on a nearby cat bed. I nod in thanks and take my things to prepare for the night.

The positives pretty much ended there. We were both subjected to watching a man potentially die on live television. I know I wasn't affected by it, but Usui's hypothesis about why I was able to disregard it so quickly was troublesome. He said it himself, it was nothing more than a guess, but the idea that I unintentionally did it to myself did bother me.

Perhaps it was for the best; I couldn't be sure. However, at least I now knew that was enough to clear my mind and reinforce my composure. I should take advantage of it while I'm able, even if there was a nagging feeling that refused to fade.

Hahh…

I gaze at the sink and place my toothbrush back after using it. Tonight has been eventful, beginning from the moment I returned home. No doubt tomorrow will promise the same once we arrive at Yukihira's school in the morning.

Here's hoping that my reputation had only reached the staff, I'm sure I could handle their judgmental stares. But if the students found out, dealing with their attempts at instigation would be even more annoying.

I release a breath and splash the pooling water onto my face.

Ah, well, whatever. Can't do anything else but get on with it.

11-4

My morning, for once, wasn't completely terrible.

Sure, we had to get up earlier than usual to make the train to Tokyo, and my blonde companion made true to his word of not being a morning person.

…alright, so it wasn't a great morning today either. But at least we didn't engage in the old cliche of missing our alarms and running late. That's one positive.

Still, it was plenty aggravating whenever I got stuck behind Usui's lethargic pace. He seemed utterly listless to the world around him, except for acknowledging Licht's and my presence. And I almost blew a gasket when he went into the restroom when I had a full bladder. I had no doubts he had done it all on purpose, especially when I heard his showerhead go off.

I almost screamed.

Luckily, he was quick to wash himself and even made a show of sparkling as he exited. He was spared from being bowled over by me with his quick reactions.

Once I was ready and dressed, nicely layered since it should be colder in a mountainous area like Hachioji, I exited to the pleasant smell of Usui preparing a small breakfast for us and Licht. I was surprised by the quality of his meal, despite its simplicity. When I tasted it, I couldn't help but draw comparisons with Belldandy's cooking. If Usui was able to make something like this with convenience store groceries, what could he do with actual ingredients?

I could see why Yukihira asked him to come to his event. Smart.

Once we finished up, we steadied up his abode as it was going to go unused for the next few days. Concerned about leaving Licht alone, I asked how she would be taken care of. Usui assured me that he had bought her a food and water dispenser and placed them in the bedroom, along with some toys to keep her entertained. If he grew concerned, he mentioned that he'd ask Harima to check on her using a spare key he kept hidden outside his door.

With some farewell scratches to the again sleeping kitten, Usui and I exit his home in our respective school uniforms and our overnight packs.

In the corridor, we made our way to the elevator. It took a few seconds for the double doors to open after we called it, and to my surprise, a short blonde girl was already inside. However, I couldn't even focus on her because my attention was immediately drawn to the damned symbol floating over her head.

Whoever this small girl was, had been dragged to the game.

I slightly grunt at the headache that came along with spotting Deus Ex Machina's mark, but I manage to keep my reaction to a minimum. Naturally, my companion quickly noticed it. I suppose he recognized a similar reaction to the one I had when I saw the marks on Ayuzawa, Shidare, and Gasai.

"Ah, Usui-san. Good morning."

"Morning, Darkness-chan~" Usui singsongs a small greeting.

Huh? Wait, this is that 'whatever Darkness' girl you mentioned last night? How the hell did this loli get such a chuni name?

With the pain in my head gone, I finally took a moment to observe the newcomer in detail.

Everything my sight was telling me was that she was young, but it was the lack of Onii-chan Mode automatically activating to dote on her as a little sister character like with Mikan, Rumi, Keika, and Komachi that told me that it wasn't the case.

You're no true imouto! You're just a fraud! Apologize! Apologize to every adorable little sister for stealing their aesthetic!

She had shoulder-length blonde hair tied into two small pigtails and brown eyes. She was notably short, even more so than Mikan. Her outfit consisted of the same uniform Takao wore during that outing with Tendou… —she's a high schooler!? Although, she wore a light blue blazer over the light blue vest, a white shirt, and a light green ribbon. Completing her ensemble was a short gray skirt, black pantyhose, and white shoes.

Go to profile, LISTEN: Link in Logic Is My Sword: Chapter 11 Section: Song 03

"Hm?" She blinks twice, directing her attention to me, "Hello, never seen you around here before… although…" Her gaze narrows slightly, before shaking her head, "Nevermind."

Usui yawns extensively and appears rather sleepy. He wordlessly steps into the elevator, positioning himself beside the girl. The height difference between them is striking, bordering on comical. To say Usui towers over the girl would be an understatement; they resemble an older brother accompanying his little sister to elementary school.

The yawn seemed to be contagious, as she yawned as well and now appeared equally eager to fall asleep, just like the other idiot. Were they actually synchronized, or was it just a strange coincidence?

"This is… Hikigaya-kun," Usui idly gestures to me as he yawns again, "We know each other…"

What the hell kind of introduction was that?

With a shake of my head, I decided to just go in as well.

"Hikigaya Hachiman," I properly provided her with my name, with a roll of my eyes.

"Hello, Hikigaya-san…" She says in the same manner, staring at the ceiling blankly. I blink twice, just coming to notice that she somehow looks… smaller… as she raises her arms, "Shibasaki Roka."

The second chibi, Shibasaki Roka, has made her debut. Was this a power shared between her and the pervert Sakurai? How did you do that?

"Right…"

In a matter of seconds, I found myself staring at some sort of… cards? Shibasaki had extended a hand to my face holding them, of course, she had to be on her toes to do it. From this close I could see some of the draws in them… wait, are those tarot cards?

"What?"

"Aren't these cool?" She says with a dumb smile, "These were very hard to get!"

Talk about a shift in topic. Also, how'd you get here so fast?

"Were they?" I wasn't sure how to treat her.

I stated that I wouldn't participate in the game, so she'd be safe from Ayanokouji as well since I spotted her first. I didn't need to investigate her to see if she was the creation either given my current strategy. So really, my obligations towards her have already ended and she's clear to enjoy the rest of her life.

"What are they from?" I asked her.

But, in the end, I'm not that much of a jerk to just ignore her.

"From another dimension!" She replies fast, storing them back into her school bag, "I was lucky that a witch wanted to sell them. It was cheap… I think?"

What do you mean, you think? Oi, oi, please don't tell me you got conned into buying useless cards. That'd be way too sad, and bring up bad memories of me being ripped off as a child by my own classmates.

Usui presses a button, the elevator going down. Then he peeks at her, "Did you get them for your club, Darkness-chan?"

She nods her head, "Yep! I have no idea how they work though. Maybe we can play poker with them!"

Excuse me, Darkness-chan? You can't play poker with tarot cards like those. They don't have duplicates, you'd bust on every hand you get and the house would win. Wait! Could it be that that's your plan all along, and you plan to swindle all of your clubmates who don't know how to play!?

That's unfair! I should have thought of that first!

"Tarot cards aren't meant for those types of games, Darkness-chan," Usui mumbles lackadaisically, "Especially the version you have with you."

Of course he has some kind of knowledge about this stuff. The most I know about tarot cards is from a certain Bizarre Adventure's third part and a certain game about an extracurricular squad that dealt with specialized executions by shooting themselves in the head.

"Why not?" She stands before him, still in chibi form and she frantically waves her arms, "I thought I could look cool with them while playing poker… the witch told me that, Usui-san!"

"Maybe Spike-kun would like them as a gift instead," He responds idly instead of answering, stifling another yawn.

Shibasaki's eyes becomes literal stars as she releases a rather loud, "Hooooaaaaahhhh!" And it is then that her chibi is reverted, again looking normal, though this time, something was different. "I bet that Kazama-san will see how much of a cool person I am~"

All of a sudden, the smaller blonde took on the look of a blushing maiden reminiscing her first and truest love. Heck, she even managed to pull off the same aura Usui could. If she were Isshiki and had done it to me, I might have actually fallen for it, but she isn't and she wasn't so I could easily tell that it was a fake expression.

"Hehh… Doesn't Darkness-chan make your heart skip, Hikigaya?" Usui teases and I give him a look. What are you trying to do here, Pretty Boy?

I glance back at the girl, and it looks like she's expecting a compliment or something. If anything, I could see the 'Go ahead! Go ahead!' in her eyes.

"Not particularly…" I grumble, knowing Isshiki would get mad that I, as a man, didn't pay a 'deserving girl' a compliment. Although I would have lost points anyway even if I did give out a compliment because I was creepy. What's with that broken system?

"GOUHH!"

I blink at the sudden gasp that had escaped Shibasaki's lips, echoing inside the elevator room. She as a whole seemed shaken to the core, as if the worst mental damage befell her. She supports herself on the wall, panting heavenly and looking like the very image of misery.

And I could have sworn I heard a disjointed piano key play just now in response to her. Elevator music sure is dynamic these days…

Good grief, what's with her? You're acting like someone insulted your family's lineage or something. I'll have you know that girls that force the moe are in turn not moe!

"Hey now, Hikigaya-kun," Usui seemingly tries to mediate, but there was a gleeful glint to his eyes, "You should be careful about saying that to girls."

"Like you're one to talk," I bite back, "You think the same."

"Pfft, that's true~"

Seriously, this guy…

"GAHH! Critical damage!" Shibasaki kneels, holding her chest in apparent pain.

Usui smiles in amusement, "You alright there, Darkness-chan?"

The question implied concern, the mirth in his inflection overruled it. The dude was just having fun being able to mess with her.

"I'm f-fine…" The short blonde wipes her mouth as she slowly gets on her feet. Why are you pretending to be physically hurt? Wait a second, you're not just like Aki, are you? "Don't worry Usui-san. I've been subjected to this kind of abuse from Kazama-san… I've leveled up."

She sends him a thumbs up, smirking.

Oi, oi, why are you trying to act cool now? You took damage from not being validated about being cute just now, your image has already been compromised!

Also what kind of guy is this Kazama fellow if you're already used to his abuse? Say, Darkness-chan, are you sure you're alright over there?

Before anyone else could speak, a sound signals that someone called the elevator. It soon stops, the doors opening to reveal a girl who —in another reality— became someone who mattered to me. Such was the case, that I constantly dreaded coming across her.

Yukinoshita Yukino.

My gut plummeted, leaving me with a dry mouth and a painful throb in my heart. I stood there, paralyzed. I kept my mouth forcibly shut; otherwise, I might have let out a pathetic stutter. I could only return her stunned and fragile expression with wide eyes.

It felt like her physical presence caused me to want to recoil, as if she was the manifestation of a burning light that purposefully repelled me. I don't know why that is the case, I didn't want to know.

But I wanted nothing more than to get away from her.

As if sensing the myriad of thoughts rushing through my head, Usui extended his arm towards the panel and pressed the button that closed the doors.

"Sorry! We're in a rush this morning~" He grins playfully as he says this, and his words were enough to snap Yukinoshita out of her brief funk. She glances at the taller blonde as if she just noticed he was there, and she hurriedly looks back at me. If I wasn't already rendered speechless, the vulnerable look in her eyes would have done it to me immediately.

Shock, regret, and betrayal. Of what? I didn't, couldn't know. But I despised seeing it on her countenance more than her forced smiles could ever compare.

"W—" But whatever she wanted to say was coldly cut off as the doors shut. I reflexively began to extend my hand towards her, for reasons unknown. But as the elevator began to descend, I retracted my limb.

My legs gave out, so I leaned against the railing at the side, releasing a shuddering breath I hadn't realized I had been holding the entire time. I quickly worked to steady my breath and calm my painfully beating heart.

I didn't expect the extent of emotional turmoil her presence alone would stir within me.

All of a sudden, everything went black.

To my shock, something was suddenly draped over my head, enveloping me in darkness. Panic crept in, and my breath quickened as I struggled to make sense of the situation. After a moment, I realized that my breathing remained unrestricted, so whatever this was didn't seem to be malicious. I cautiously reached up to touch my head, sensing some kind of fabric.

I gripped it and pulled it off. Thankfully, it had been easy to remove.

I observed the object in my hand, and it was a purple bag of sorts. There was also some sort of rope attached around it. Was this the bag Usui had mentioned? The one she would cover herself and Harima with?

I send the smaller girl a questioning gaze.

"…what was that for?" I display my bemusement of her actions.

"You looked very sad…" Shibasaki commented, looking straight at my face, "Like, you were in a lot of pain. So…"

I knew it myself, but my composure had to be in absolute tatters if I looked pathetic enough that someone I just met was concerned for me. Hah… I should have been better than this.

"Ah, Shibasaki tends to put the bag on herself when she's feeling blue, just so you know," Usui adds, actually giving me context about the bizarre act she just pulled.

The blonde girl looked away, "If I wanted to hurt you, you wouldn't have been able to remove my bag so easily."

I slowly nodded my head, gazing at her for a moment. There was no moe facade nor the initial carefree attitude she displayed upon meeting her. This time she looked unexpectedly serious. I release a sigh, handing the bag back to her.

It was stupid, but her act actually managed to snap me out of my own stupor. Reflecting back on what happened, I ran a hand through my hair with another deep sigh. I completely lost my composure, and was left like a fish out of water, not knowing what to do next. If Usui hadn't closed the doors, and Shibasaki helped in her own unorthodox way, I don't know how I would have handled that.

Usui was absolutely right, I have to make use of the newest tools at my disposal. If I had just thought of Shiromeguri-senpai, I might have been able to handle this differently.

My returning composure and calm would have never been compromised.

I stood straighter, and my expression was back under my control. I could tell at a glance that Usui suspected what I did to get myself back together so quickly. Shibasaki on the other hand, glances up at me silently, slightly tilting her head to the side.

The elevator doors finally opened up again, and this time we were on the ground floor.

Shibasaki checks her phone quickly, and then turns to us.

"I have to rush to school to prepare the activities of my club, so I'll see you around," She says, mainly focusing on Usui. After that, she stares at me, pulling something out from her bag.

It was one of those tarot cards.

"What is—" I began but she cut me off.

"Take it. It will make you look cooler, even with those eyes."

I hesitantly accept her… gift? But did you need to bring up my eyes?

I blink as she sprints away, not even giving me a chance to respond. A humming sound at my side calls my attention.

"Shibasaki is an odd girl," Usui chuckles, "But she can mean well."

I shook my head, "Apparently…"

Give me a break… She goes at her own pace, that one. Speaks about whatever interests her and does what she wants without care of others judging her. She really is odd.

"Hikigaya," I looked up at the blonde boy, who regarded me with a seriousness I wasn't expecting, "Are you alright?"

I paused at his question, I knew my knee-jerk answer was to say yes and move on. To disregard what happened as my composure hardened. But at the same time, my typical pretenses weren't dictating me at the moment.

"I didn't expect it to hurt that much…" I tell him honestly.

He blinked in surprise at my words, but his expression morphed into one of bitter understanding.

"I don't think we ever do," His smile was forced, and he momentarily allowed for a pained look to glaze in his eyes.

He could sympathize with me, and he had no desire to patronize what I had gone through. He only walked towards the exit with me in tow. Life really did deal us some really shitty hands.

11-5

"So… have you finally changed your mind, Hikigaya?"

We finally arrived at the bustling Chiba Station, students from different schools and backgrounds strolling through the area, corporate slaves rushing to take the first rides to make it to their workplaces in time, even a couple of tourists here and there, minding their own business.

I thought it was going to be the same for us since I hadn't noticed a single hint of another culprit in the congested area.

Unfortunately, while waiting for the next train to Tokyo, a familiar redhead intercepted us. It was that girl who had a knack for overstepping boundaries, insisting that I should return to work for her ominous revolver-wielding, high-school-student-hiring, security job.

Sakurai Aoi still sported an elaborate security guard uniform of sorts as she stood before me, completely ignoring my companion.

Are we seriously doing this again? You annoyed me about the same thing last morning. I thought you were satisfied with my decision?

It was worth mentioning that, unlike last time, she wasn't alone.

And even then, that's not what caught my attention, but that damned floating mark behind Sakurai, over the head of the other girl, who wore a similar uniform.

I suppress the rising pain, although it's not as intense as before. Disguising the long breath I released as an annoyed sigh, I managed to conceal my reaction completely. My frowning face and the twitch of my brow further reinforce the impression that I was merely 'annoyed' by the interaction.

Then again, I suppose I'm annoyed anyway.

"No hello again…?" I grumble, pinching the bridge of my nose as I ride out the pain.

I decide to ignore the glare directed at me, courtesy of the redhead. Instead, I finally observe the girl behind Sakurai, who obviously worked as security, given her matching uniform.

She had long, kinda wavy hair, its color a soft shade of pink, with bangs that gracefully framed her face. Interestingly enough, her hair was styled in a way that made her bangs reassemble cat ears. What struck me even more were her round, pink eyes that perfectly matched her hair.

All in all, it was another attractive girl I've come across. Seriously, what's with this world and its ratio of beautiful women? I don't think I've seen a single girl yet that I didn't find at least somewhat cute! Older women like the Headmaster didn't count.

Oi, whoever made this world, what are you doing?

You do realize you have to ration them out, right? If every girl ended up being beautiful, by default, no one would stand out anymore. Plain girls are necessary to make a comparison! The very meaning of beauty would lose its appeal if less attractive people were gone!

Well, while Sakurai Aoi had a slim and athletic physique you'd expect from an active officer, this new girl was significantly well-endowed and softer. I think she'd give Yuigahama's Yuigahamas a run for their money.

Wait a second, why do I keep using them like a unit of measurement? I don't stare, and I didn't commit them to memory, honest!

I feel an amused pair of eyes watching me, and I look away with a grumble before I get accused of staring.

"Hikigaya! I'm talking to you!" Sakurai piped up, stepping closer to me. Her gaze lands on my travel bag, "Where… where are you going?"

"Tokyo," I answered bluntly.

"Hey now, you need to improve on your communication skills with civilians, Revolver-kun," A playful voice cuts in before I probably set off another vitriolic tantrum, "First, no greeting and then yelling at poor Hikigaya-kun? You didn't even introduce your friend here."

"Usui? Are you with him?" She blinks, a small flush spreading across her face. After that, she cocks an eyebrow, hands resting on her hips. She glances over her shoulder, "She's my partner, Koumi Haruka."

Shyly, the girl in question smiles, "Nice to meet you, umm… Usui… Takumi?"

"Well now, I didn't think you'd ever mention me to anybody else, Revolver-kun," Usui plays coy as he teased the redhead before sending her companion a brilliant smile, "It is my pleasure, Koumi-san."

Predictably, Koumi Haruka's cheeks turned slightly rosy, unable to meet his gaze. Being as ridiculously good-looking as he is gives him the default charming effects a riajuu strives for. Truly, he is a broken character that should be patched in the next global update.

"Stop with that nickname, Usui! It's not funny!" The redhead furiously blushed before sighing in defeat, "…I almost got my gun license revoked yesterday. Don't remind me of it!"

Probably for brandishing it inside of a moving train last morning…

"Small wonder…" I mumble under my breath, avoiding the notable scowl aimed at me. Following that, I quietly nodded in acknowledgement of the unfamiliar girl.

Well, I have to appreciate Usui's method of helping me learn her name. Koumi Haruka, huh? I wonder what my story could be with her… if there is any that is.

Upon fixing my gaze on her, she released a subtle gasp and promptly cast her eyes downward. I frowned slightly, unable to determine if her response stemmed from inherent shyness, apprehension due to my reputation, or the usual reaction to my dead fish eyes. Maybe all three…

"It's… it's good to see you again, Hikigaya-san…" She forces herself to speak, her eyes wandering everywhere but refusing to meet mine.

"Koumi?" Sakurai narrows her gaze, peeking at Usui, "Are you nervous because of this guy?"

"N-n-no!" She stammers, frantically shaking her head, "I-I should probably check the o-other platform…" She bows respectfully to us, "B-bye…"

With that said, the curvaceous girl turned and hurriedly walked away.

What's with that? Was there an issue between us or something? Even with Usui, she seemed composed to a degree, yet the instant I acknowledged her, she began to panic.

I glanced back at Usui, and he only shrugged back at me once our eyes met. No doubt he wouldn't know since he just met her today.

"What's with her today?" Sakurai comments out loud before peering at me with suspicion, "You didn't say anything bad to her, did you, Hikigaya?"

"I haven't talked to her," I calmly respond, trying not to sound defensive, "You're the only one that's been bothering me from your group."

That is true. I don't recall being messaged by a Koumi or a Haruka, depending on whatever relationship we had. Hell, I don't think I've seen her name in my contacts list either.

Sakurai folds her arms, her suspicion still lingering, "She was alright until… whatever. I'll talk to her later." I blink as she steps closer, "So, why are you going to Tokyo? Are you moving?" She peeks at Usui and adds, "Are you two moving somewhere or what?"

I glance at the clock, grimacing that our line still has a few minutes before it arrives. That much longer to deal with this headache.

"Something like that," I said non-committedly.

"Be careful there, Hikigaya-kun," Usui lets out a chuckle, the mischievous glint in his eyes hinting that he was about to say something absurd. "You might excite Revolver-kun's mind by saying that."

Good grief, don't go and reveal yourself to be a fujoshi now.

"W-w-what the heck are you saying!?" Sakurai flushes red again, stomping furiously towards him, "I'm not into that kind of stuff! And I wouldn't care if you two did to begin with!" She suddenly falls silent after that, "I'd still arrest Hikigaya for indecent behavior…"

"What did I even do now?" I deadpan. Also what's with this blatant favoritism? Why does he get a pass while I get arrested?

"As much as you may like to see Hikigaya-kun in handcuffs, we don't want to miss our train, Revolver-kun," Usui winks at her teasingly.

We both stare at him in disbelief, but it's Sakurai who suddenly looks at the handcuff dangling by her belt, "I-I guess I wouldn't mind that… I-I mean… He would deserve it for leaving the PSF hanging… yeah… that…"

I look back at her in shock, her face beet red. It doesn't take a genius to know what her reaction implied. Oi, oi, I don't need you unexpectedly exposing your quirks to me.

"Oh?" Usui waggles his brow at the girl.

"D-don't look at me like that! That's not what I meant!"

Before I can voice my skepticism about the matter, the arrival of our ride draws our attention. In all honesty, it was a relief, not having to deal with this annoying girl any longer.

Still, the blonde quickly returns his attention to Sakurai. Of course he wouldn't miss the chance to mess with her…

"What, Revolver-kun…" Usui feigns bemusement, "What do you think I meant?"

Much like Harima, this girl seemed remarkably easy to tease, and Usui was by all means aware of it. For someone who obviously took pleasure in getting under people's skin, Sakurai offered endless entertainment with the least effort. Gotta admit it was quite entertaining to see her gaping at him in disbelief.

Before she could try stammering out a response, I interrupted, "We're leaving."

I shove a laughing Usui through the doors, attempting to follow him inside. However, I come to a stop as my arm is held tightly, rooting me in place. I peek over my shoulder to see it was Sakurai. This woman doesn't give up, huh?

Excuse me? Do you realize if you don't let go, I'm going to lose my arm when the doors close? Or are you trying to kill me?

"Hikigaya," She began, her eyes darting back and forth between my face and the ground in a repetitive pattern. "I'd like… if you truly considered coming back…" I'm taken aback, realizing that for the first time, she was being honest… I think? "I wouldn't mind having you around… again…"

It actually caught me off guard seeing her look so earnest.

"The Narita Express is about to depart. Please leave the dispatch platform. The next train will arrive within an hour. Please wait patiently for the next transport."

"This… isn't really the best time or place to talk about this…" I could only tell the girl. There was less than a minute before the doors closed.

"O-of course I know that," She lets go, her blush gone, replaced by determination. "I mean it, Hikigaya. There's a lot of things going on, and I'd… everyone would appreciate your help."

I rub the back of my head, "Look, I told you I'd consider it once I finish up my editor business with Utaha."

Ugh… Of course I continue to remember using her name at these moments.

A tick mark appears on Sakurai's forehead as she forcefully pushes me into the train. I staggered backward, cursing silently. Just before I could crash into the seats, I felt an arm catch me by the small of my back. I look up to see a smiling Usui with nothing but mischief in his eyes.

"That could have been dangerous," He chuckles slyly, "I'm glad you're safe~"

Then he allows his flowery aura to bloom. I blanch and quickly straighten up, distancing myself from the scene that resembled something out of a fujoshi's dream, enough to give Ebina a nosebleed. Wait, there were already some girls with nosebleeds staring at us.

Hold on, this isn't… We're not… Damn you, you stupid alien!

Disregarding my annoyance with him, I whirl around and glare at the girl that caused this situation in the first place. I really was starting to get fed up with her. She was gaping at us, equally surprised by the turn of events. What? This is your fault, why are you looking innocent now?

The train door closes after that.

Pheh, I didn't know if it was anticlimactic or not. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with her for the next three days.

11-6

After the lingering attention of the fujoshi crowd finally left us alone. I went ahead and took care of the first order of business. An aspect I still struggled to grasp since coming to this world.

Social interaction via my phone.

I first tried giving Sakurai Tomoki a call, but there was no answer even after three attempts. He must not have had his phone. That was annoying.

I took care of the easiest messages next. A one-word response of 'Morning' or 'Thanks' from my male companions wishing me well on my trip as well as Takao (I didn't want to interact further and lied that my battery was low). Miura, Shiromeguri-senpai, was something along the same lines, although I made sure to tell them good luck with classes today. Suou required an explanation once I let slip that I was headed to Tokyo and she thought I was ditching, then she got excited for me and wished me luck.

Utaha was the toughest since I still felt somewhat self-conscious after she kissed me on the cheek yesterday morning.

She kicked off the conversation by nagging me about not informing her yesterday of my trip to Tokyo. Like the doormat I was, I apologized, explaining that the day had slipped away, and I honestly forgot to update everyone. In truth, I'm just not used to having to report my business to others.

She let it go, surprisingly, since I was only going to Tokyo to help Yukihira. But she did make sure to let me know that I was to give her a call later in the night. It wasn't a request. And of course I acquiesced.

Hahh… Was socializing supposed to be this exhausting?

Actually wait a minute, wasn't this what it was like to have a pushy girlfriend?

I took a rain check on that semi-revelation and pulled out a certain book from my bag that I brought with me.

"Oh? Are you trying to get a better understanding of Author-san through her writing?"

I grunt at his extremely accurate assumption. Why the hell is he so good when it comes to these things? You might as well have no privacy around the guy…

"Figured I might also see what the fuss is about with her writing…" I added with a grumble.

"I see," He smirks, "And Hikigaya-kun is already on its third volume~ Can I assume you approve?"

I hesitantly shared my thoughts with him. How impressive it was for an amateur author's debut work, especially with the female main character being the highlight. Yet, I also pointed out the lack of depth in the male deuteragonist, which seemed inferior to his female counterpart. I conceded that this might be due to Utaha's lack of experience with the black hole that is the mind of high school boys.

He gave me a smug look afterwards, which was very irksome.

"Editor-kun is so dutiful to his dearest author," His teasing tone comes at an infuriating octave. I almost crumbled the book because of how irritating he was. I'm starting to regret telling him about my imminent internship with Utaha.

"You're being a pest." I mutter back at him.

A chuckle escapes him, nothing but mischief in his eyes. He looks ready to poke fun at me for something else before he's cut off by a gasp from another passenger.

I glance at the source, spotting a couple of middle schoolers gushing over something on their phones. Usually, I wouldn't pay any attention, but when the words "riots" and "bombing" were mentioned, I couldn't help myself from eavesdropping on their conversation.

"This is soooo scary!" One of the girls exclaims, her eyes widening with excitement as she leans in closer to her friend. It's an intriguing reaction, given her earlier statement.

"Totally! First those riots everywhere, and now a bombing!?" The other girl seems equally as excited, "This guy says the world will end soon!"

"Like that could happen!"

"Most forums say the same, Yoriko! It must be true, they HAVE to be connected!"

"Maybe the Phantom Thieves would do something about it?"

The shorter of the two rolled her eyes, "Duh… didn't they just kill that guy from the burger stuff?"

"Oh! Maybe they caused that bombing, too!"

I keep my focus on the duo as they continue to fiddle on their phones, until another loud gasp comes from one of them, "Ah! They canceled Sonico-chan's concert!"

"Ehhhh? WHY!?"

I tune out after that. What a world we live in… a bombing occurred just last morning and then a man potentially died on live television and yet these brats are more worried about a stupid concert being canceled.

It's then that I come to notice the subtle tension enveloping our surroundings. Almost every passenger on the train, from teenagers to adults, wears a grim and worried expression. I can't help but wonder if it's because of the Euro Tunnel incident, the public death broadcast on TV, or something entirely different.

But what's this about riots?

I decided to ask my companion about it. He briefly looks surprised, before realization quickly replaces that initial reaction.

"I forget that you're relatively new to all of this," He now seems slightly apologetic, "There were riots occurring in numerous countries regarding protests against Academy City."

Usui then proceeds to explain to me how the riots were mostly centralized in European nations. The core issue revolved around the existing Catholics, who viewed Academy City as a threat to their faith, some of them labeling it a "City of Atheism." Pretty idiotic since I don't believe atheism works as an organization in the same way other religious institutions do. After all, you can't really act in the name of nothing. The city being secular isn't all that noteworthy, plenty of modern governments are supposed to be secular if I recall correctly.

The blonde agreed with my point, and supplied that the more zealot followers didn't care about that. I had to concede that he was just as right.

Aside from the underlying sentiments from the more vocal groups, he also mentioned the general concern about a single city possessing a monopoly over the world's most powerful weapons. According to Usui, Academy City was supposedly thirty years ahead in terms of technological achievements compared to the rest of the world.

I shudder at the mere thought of the weaponry developed by them, which most likely surpasses the power of modern nuclear deterrents. And that alone is already terrifying.

I see now what my old man was talking about back on Saturday, and even my mother yesterday. It's understandable to be apprehensive as a Japanese civilian who could get dragged into this conflict just by being near Academy City.

Then again, that same apprehension by other countries could just be a pretense in order to pressure that fantastical city into sharing its technology. Whatever, I was never really one for politics, and I wasn't about to start dissecting these sorts of events.

Who would expect a teenager to be able to influence events between that city and the rest of the world?

"Ah, you can see it for yourself if you check your map," Usui pipes up again, "After all, we'll be afforded an extended view of the 'City of Science.'

We'll what?

Confused at what he was talking about, I dug through my phone and loaded up the map application. Immediately, I search for directions for Yukihira's school and I'm stunned when the map zooms out and shows me the route.

Just about cutting the entirety of Tokyo prefecture in half, as well as encroaching upon small sections of Saitama and Kanagawa was an encircled area labeled as Academy City.

How the…? How does this make sense!? It replaced a multitude of districts!

Then I noticed the route we would have to take to reach Hachioji, the mountainous prefecture where we were supposed to link with Yukihira. That train line doesn't exist!

Canceling out of the request for directions, I swap the map settings to show me the satellite imagery and zoom out to look at Tokyo from a broader perspective.

At first glance, it became evident that Academy City was a congested urban jungle, even by Tokyo proper standards. Enclosed by a notable border, it maintained a substantial gap of several kilometers between its boundaries and the urban surroundings of the remaining Tokyo districts.

Then I noticed something even weirder as I zoomed out.

Placed on Tokyo Bay, connected by a single road, was a landmass that wasn't supposed to be there. It was somewhat large, and it had the label of: Advanced Nurturing High School.

What the hell was that? Why was there a high school in Tokyo Bay?

Ayanokouji mentioned before that Japan was bigger than he noted. Was this part of that? Some artificial island that was erected for a high school?

Zooming out further, I noticed an even larger landmass south of the Kanagawa Prefecture. A quick examination indicated that it was called Itogami Island. What is this? There shouldn't be another island of that size to the south of Honshu…

Wait, was it also not a part of Japan as a whole? Another city-state aside from Academy City?

I swipe through the map, and this time I see numerous city names that I didn't recognize. Sure I wasn't the keenest at memorizing cities outside of Chiba, but even I knew there wasn't a Sakurami City in the Ibaraki Prefecture.

Now that I think about it, wasn't that the same place Ayanokouji mentioned not existing back then?

I zoom out to overlook the main islands, curious to see if there were even more additional landmasses. From what I could broadly recall from the last time I saw my version of Japan, there were a few more islands that were off the coasts of the main ones. But that actually wasn't what threw me off the most.

Japan was no longer made up of four closely compacted main islands. They were all connected to each other into one pseudo landmass, and it was all through what appeared to be numerous points of regions of ice littered throughout the country's coasts.

But it was confusing how their placements were, it looked like random miniature icy regions that didn't appear to affect the climate of areas outside of its immediate vicinity. I wasn't one for geography, but nothing about it appeared natural.

Ugh… Another weird change…

I decided to ask Usui about the frozen regions, idly recalling hearing about frozen seas on the news a few mornings back.

"Oh, those are the areas where the sea people live."

…somehow I managed to forget the existence of sea people in this world…

"Impressed by this fantastical world, Hikigaya?" The blonde smirks at my silence, "I don't know much about them, honestly, aside from the freezing of their villages being a complete mystery. The resident expert was yourself and Pervert-kun, if I remember right."

Right, my family had some type of connection with this stuff, I remember now.

"This Japan has way too much going on with it," I sigh in exasperation, pinching the bridge of my nose, "It makes me wonder if whatever planned it out was overcompensating for something…"

Usui chuckles at that.

"We are soon arriving in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Bound to Tokyo on the Narita Express. Our next stop will be at Shinjuku. Exit for arrival at Tokyo Line 11 is at the right side."

Well, there's our stop. We rise from our seats and make for the door before the mass of people could cut us off.

"So this second train we take is here?" What did the ticket say it was called again? Frontrunner?

"The Groundliner," As if answering my unvoiced question, Usui nods with a cheeky smile, "Don't worry, I'll take lead, Hikigaya~"

Whatever confusion I had at his phrasing was immediately answered when I heard poorly subdued squeals coming from nose bleeding fujoshis. I just palm my face with an aggravated groan.

Give me a break…

11-7

It… kinda hurt my eyes.

No matter where I looked, advertisements filled every inch of the train's interior. They covered the walls, the floor, and every available space from time to time.

I was very confused at first, but my ever knowledgeable companion came to the rescue, explaining that while he never took this particular train before, he had read about it.

As he mentioned before, it was called the Groundliner, a train that used technology developed by Academy City itself. Apparently, every surface inside the train was made with large monitors, which meant that no matter where I was, advertisements would pop up from nowhere.

But surely it didn't make me almost scream out when it caught me off guard. Surely not.

Usui's shit-eating grin was from an entirely different coincidence. Yep. That was how it was…

Malicious advertisements that would make the best pop-ups proud aside, the technology in this train was amazing. I've never seen this kind of thing before outside of the media depicting an advanced future. Honestly, if I weren't still sulking about the jump-scare, I probably would have been acting like a kid in a candy store out of how cool it was.

"Well, if this is what secondhand technology from Academy City looks like, I can't imagine how the actual thing is," Usui noted idly as he looked around, hands in his pockets, "Do you suppose it would be faster as well?"

Secondhand!?

"If they call this a hand-me-down, the actual thing better hover," I muttered lowly instead of going the tsukkomi route.

We shared the cart with several other students from various schools, all equally engrossed by this new experience. None of which triggered the mark of being a suspect, thankfully.

At the same time, I couldn't tell whether Ayanokouji was aboard this train or not. I had no information regarding the geographical orientation of his school in relation to Yukihira's. If he happened to be on the same train though, he could have gotten ahead of me without me realizing it.

[You're gonna need to be ever vigilant, if you want to succeed that is. Our opponent is far more cunning than you think. You better not forget all you learnt so far, or you'll fall behind.]

And here I was, hoping I could have gone even longer without seeing him…

Thanks for the reminder, I would have gone through this like a complete idiot if it weren't for you.

Ignoring the useless reflection(lol), Usui mentioned that we should scout the carts while some of the students I'll be seeing regularly in these next three days are grouped together.

From what I could tell, it appeared that the train wasn't completely booked. It seemed to be reserved exclusively for the visiting students, yet not all of the seats had been occupied. This was rather unusual.

Either way, we were in the butt-end of the Groundliner, so that made it easy for us since we just had one direction to explore.

We moved through the current wagon, earning icy glares from the male students, while most girls just stared adoringly at Usui as he passed by. He, of course, ignored them flawlessly, which only seemed to escalate the situation. His indifference clearly incensed the idiotic boys, while the girls swooned even more.

Somehow, it felt odd for me not to be subjected to the glares for once. Ah, no, there's a few eyes I can feel on me. Well, at least it's not the case of me being the center of attention.

Usui opens the door to the next wagon once we reach the end. He stands there for a fleeting moment, and looks over his shoulder with a smile, "Hehh… Someone from Sobu is here, Hikigaya."

I blink upon entering the next train car, seeing that it was moderately filled with students. Our arrival piqued their interest, inciting similar reactions. As the saying goes, the second verse is the same as the first or something… anyway, we simply chose to disregard the attention of those that didn't matter.

But the certain tuft of silver hair did catch my attention along with the familiar uniform Usui had mentioned. So there's Kawasaki. Luckily for me, she didn't seem to pay any mind to us showing up, seemingly more focused on talking with someone else.

That someone happened to be a person of interest since she was the first suspect we came across on the train, the mark floating over her for a short moment. It was also someone I hadn't thought of all that much to be honest. Couldn't tell if it was because of the headache, but I wasn't particularly looking forward to interacting with her.

Nibutani Shinka was her name.

Our only interaction didn't particularly go well…

She obviously carried baggage over whatever past we shared, and me thinking this entire situation being a dream back then didn't help our first exchange. Not to mention Haruno's involvement, which only worsened it. It was apparent that Nibutani harbored some unresolved issues with me, and I wasn't particularly impressed that she felt justified in her preconceptions, especially when Haruno was pushing herself onto me.

Well, let it be known that Hikigaya Hachiman does not hold grudges. But that doesn't mean he won't also actively avoid awkward situations(lol).

Before long, Kawasaki's gaze fell on us, likely drawn by the attention of the people around her. She blinked twice, exchanged words with her friend, and then made her way to us. Nibutani trailed behind her in silence, avoiding direct eye contact with me.

"Hey, didn't see you at the station," Kawasaki starts, folding her arms. "I guess there were a lot of people…" She glances at Usui, clearing her throat, "Y-yo, Usui."

"It's been awhile, Drifter-chan," Usui nods back with a playful smile, "Hard to believe you'd actually join a social event~"

"Tch. It's not like I had a choice. This is better than having to hear my friend whining all day."

Ah, she did say we were on the same boat, didn't she?

"C'mon, Saki! You know Ryoko just misses us…" Nibutani comments, pulling her arm.

"Oh. Eh…" Kawasaki glances between her and us, "This is Nibutani Shinka." She purses her lips, "Well, Hikigaya kinda knows her? So I meant that for Usui… eh… yeah…"

She couldn't have done that worse unless she somehow tripped mid sentence…

Usui, as he tends to do, ignores the atmosphere and puts on airs. He lets a small aura bloom behind him, as he unleashes a small portion of his immense charisma.

On a side note, I think I heard the sound of multiple thuds of fainting girls in the background.

"N-nice to meet you… uhm…"

"My name is Usui Takumi," The blonde smiled so radiantly that I almost covered my eyes, "It's nice to meet you Nibutani-san."

She nods timidly, and then looks at me, "Hikigaya-kun… it's been a bit… I guess…"

"Yeah," I nod back easily enough at them two, "Morning."

I wasn't even going to bother to try to follow up the Wonderboy over there. A basic Hachiman greeting is all you're getting. Plus, it'd be weird if I wasn't stand-offish again.

Kawasaki's eyes shifted nervously between us two, a drop of sweat on her cheek. She either suspects that something happened between us, or Nibutani told her about us… and I'm inclined to say it was the latter. Wouldn't really surprise me, they seem close enough to confide in each other.

And then some seconds of silence followed.

The awkward atmosphere returned with a vengeance. Usui, again, ignored it, preferring to peer at me in interest after watching my interaction with Nibutani. He probably didn't know about her then, besides not having met her.

I wonder what that could mean. Did anyone else know her? Yukihira might, what with the childhood friend thing we have going on.

"A-ano!"

I blink at the sudden raise of volume, Nibutani having stepped up to me. I found myself raising an eyebrow as the brunette stared up at my face, "Can… can we talk?"

Isn't that what we're already doing? Also, is breaching my personal space necessary?

"Did… you need something?" I take a small step back to widen our uncomfortably close berths.

"Y-yeah… I want to talk in private."

Oi, are you forgetting where we are? What privacy could you even find in a train filled with so many people? I don't think the other wagons are empty either. For all of its advancements, this train doesn't have private booths in them.

"Say, Drifter-chan," Usui pipes up, "Why don't you tell me how Kei-chan is doing in the meantime?"

"W-why are you asking t-that now?" Kawasaki barks, her cheeks reddening.

"Come now, didn't you tell me that she had her first crush a while back~?"

She what!? Who is it!? Who's the parasite trying to deceive Kei-chan!?

Seemingly aware that he had achieved his objective, Usui redirected his attention at the previous cart, likely anticipating Kawasaki's pursuit. His prediction turned out accurate as the girl took the bait and began chasing after him.

"You idiot! Why the hell would she have…"

Kawasaki's furious rant fades as she storms after my blonde companion, leaving this cart. Well, I guess they did give us some privacy… as much privacy one can get inside a train with people. I really wasn't keen on having to talk to her alone to be honest. Nothing personal, honestly, even if socializing wasn't my favorite thing in the first place. I just had limited time before the ride was over. If the countdowns some of the popups were showing, I had a little over thirty minutes left now.

I sigh to myself, well, might as well get it over with then.

"So?' I offered, beginning my trek back to the seats Nibutani and Kawasaki occupied, "What did you want to talk about?"

Nibutani takes a seat, and expectantly stares at me. Scratching the back of my head, I followed her lead and sat across from her.

"You know, this is hardly the best place to talk about something private," I pointed out idly when it looked like she was mulling over what she wanted to say. Sure there weren't prying eyes, and everyone was minding their own business, but if she causes a scene, we'll have an audience.

Nibutani tucks a lock of her hair behind her ear, "I-I know… but… I didn't want to let things remain like this, you know?" She releases a long sigh. "Last time, I kinda let my temper get the best of me… so… I was… unfair… to you…" She averts her gaze away, "So… sorry… about that."

To be honest, I wasn't anticipating her apology. I figured she might bring up what happened before, but considering how I was typically treated like I was at fault for these things, I had expected her to say that my actions prompted her own.

Ah, well, I already said it. I never had any intention to hold what happened against her.

"…I mentioned it before, but, I'm not interested in holding grudges anymore," I rub the back of my neck uneasily, I really don't like having to deal with these serious conversations with people I have no attachments to outside of basic acknowledgement.

Plus, I can't lose more time than I already have.

"So you don't really have to worry about that," I added afterwards.

She nodded, the tension on her shoulders fading.

"Okay…" She finally let a smile grace her lip, "Your friend is still a bitch though."

If I was drinking anything, I would have choked on it for sure. That came out of nowhere. She really didn't like Haruno.

I cleared my throat, hiding my surprise, "Well, she can be a pain."

"And a total bitch, yeah," She grins at me, then her eyes wander around, ultimately landing on me again. "So we're good, right? At least for the time being?"

"We're fine, woman," I can't help but chuckle at her expletive. Good grief, if there was anything unexpected it was Nibutani having a foul mouth.

She giggles with a hand on her mouth. That was unexpectedly cut—

"Hehh… I'm not interrupting anything here, am I?" A certain sing-songy voice cuts in, "You both had such a nice atmosphere."

Ugh… I knew he was here to keep me on track with our scouting, but Usui was a professional instigator, given the crap he would say most of the time.

I look up at the smug smile of the blonde, with an irritated Black Lace right behind him. I understand that he's annoying, Kawa-something-san, but why does it look like you're glaring at me?

"We just finished talking," Instead of taking the obvious bait, I just answered the guy.

I peek at Nibutani from the corner of my eyes, she was pressing her lips, looking away.

"So I'm guessing you two patched things up," Kawasaki takes a seat by my side. "Finally. Her constant whining about it since you two met again was giving me a headache."

"Kgh…" Huh? Nibutani stared at my classmate with a gelid gaze, "Ara? Who was whining, Saki?"

"Ah? You! Everyday!"

Nibutani was now sulking, and it was clear that she's holding back. The idea of a volcano on the verge of an eduption came to my mind. Good grief, nothing about what I first suspected of her would have told me she was a bundle of anger and rage.

Not wanting to be dragged into another catfight only a week after the last one, I decided to make my retreat.

"We'll see you both later then," I stand from my seat and move back to the aisle, careful not to bump into Kawasaki and have her mad at me again.

In less than a second, Nibutani had swiftly occupied my seat, leaning towards Kawasaki with a forced smile, eyebrows twitching in irritation. Even the walls behind them began displaying advertisements for a phone mecha game, which really set up their mood.

"Huh? Got a problem with me, Shinka?" Kawasaki growled.

Are you sure you're both friends? They're not supposed to want to kill each other, right?

"Shall we make our glorious escape, Hikigaya?" Usui's amused voice gets my attention.

"Yeah…"

As we retreated, the tension was so thick it felt like a bomb was about to go off.

Yikes, they were starting to get everyone else's attention now… We should actually consider running before we become casualties!

"Let's get out of here…"

We snuck away, their argument becoming increasingly heated. Geez… I wondered whether this was precisely the situation I avoided when Miura and Kawasaki argued before Valentine's Day request.

"I don't want to hear that from you, fucking idio—!"

Women are scary…

11-8

"We are soon approaching the scenic viewpoint of Academy City. For the view, please look towards the northern side of the Groundliner."

We had only just reached the fourth wagon when the announcement came through. The previous cart had proven fruitless in terms of identifying a suspect, which was a relief as it spared me from a headache. Looking around, it became apparent this wagon was also devoid of potential candidates.

I come to a stop, glancing at the time indicated on one of the screens.

I know I should focus on getting to the next wagon, but I had the urge to see this 'City of Science' I had first heard about last Saturday. From the caution my parents had advised regarding it to the genuine excitement that Suou had exhibited while talking about it, I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.

There was a space that the crowding students hadn't occupied, offering a view outside. Usui followed me silently, so I guessed even he was curious to see the polarizing city for himself.

Go to profile, LISTEN: Link in Logic Is My Sword: Chapter 11 Section: Song 04

From this distance, the city seemed some sort of futuristic utopia. Countless skyscrapers soared into the sky while massive buildings sprawled across the enormous expanse enclosed within a colossal, circular wall that served as a perimeter. I could discern what seemed to be towers with a very futuristic design as well. Even from this panoramic view, the buildings looked massive, so I suspected they could easily outclass a majority of those found in Japan's largest cities.

There were also large expanses of green mountains, dividing some of the urban areas within the walls. Something else to notice were the countless amount of tall wind turbines spread across the ultra-modern cityscape.

It both looked like a crowded urban jungle compressed within itself, yet spacious enough to hold the entire population of a prefecture inside of it.

"There used to be a space elevator as well," Usui voices casually, "From what I read, it was visible from countless districts once you had a clear view of the horizon. Maybe that large hole over there was where it was previously located?"

I directed my gaze to the spot he indicated, and there it was: a vast, empty cavity within the city. It did appear to be an ideal location for constructing a building of such characteristics, as Usui had suggested. It could still be something else entirely.

So a space elevator!? That's way past thirty years ahead of the rest of the world!

He chuckles at my shocked expression, "Then all of a sudden, a few months back it was thought that the city demolished it. I don't believe they ever revealed why. People said some sort of miracle happened with it being gone, I don't really know for sure."

Demo—!? How could you even do something like that without risking massive collateral damage!? Since when are miracles used to describe destruction? Wait, zealots probably regard Academy City residents as heathens. Probably…

Usui responded with a nonchalant shrug, accompanied by a chuckle. However, his demeanor gradually shifted into a wistful expression.

"Considering the circumstances of my birth, I've always wondered if my adoptive family ever thought about sending me to that city," This time his laugh is devoid of mirth, "I have heard that Academy City has been cynically regarded as a gilded cage for its espers."

That's the first I heard about it.

Usui glances back at me, and answers my questioning gaze, "Academy City has the absolute monopoly of espers in the world, none that reside in the city are allowed to leave. It's why you'll never hear about espers existing in other cities. Hence, a gilded cage."

More like asset protection… I couldn't help but cynically muse. I found myself pondering whether the espers served as Academy City's unique deterrent, something the world most likely feared even more than any nuclear device.

I was actually curious to hear more about it, but the scientific marvel of a city seems to be a somewhat sensitive subject for the blonde. And I'm not tactless enough to sour his mood so I could press him for answers.

"Let's keep going…" I simply say, turning away from the window.

We move past the crowd of people ecstatic about the view of the city of science, and leave for the next cart. Seriously, hearing all the excited comments about that place can't be helped, it's a stunning sight. But the occasional envious comments of those wishing they lived there were surreal. Was the aspect of being or living amongst espers so appealing that people would just disregard the prohibition against leaving the city and visiting your family outside?

Espers and having powers is cool and all, but losing the freedom to leave the city and see my folks isn't a great trade-off. It would have been a lot better if Academy City chose Chiba instead, then I would have thought about it.

As expected, almost all students in the next wagon were glued to the window displaying the view, similar comments coming from them. This time however, I didn't pay them any attention, my focus drawn by the sight of two marks in front of me. One hovered behind the stacked crowd, so I couldn't see the suspect well, but the other—

"No, thank you. I'd rather stay away from that city," I blink at the voice, belonging to the male student apparently chatting with one of the suspects I just spotted. "Imagine wanting to live in a place full of dangerous people."

Well, that just sounds like everywhere except for Chiba(lol). Oh wait, this world has ruined a lot of aspects of my beloved Chiba as well.

Nonetheless, I'm surprised to hear another contrarian amongst this gaggle of high school students. Even if only around a third of them aspired to live there, the rest were primarily enchanted by the view and simply admired it for its aesthetics. But this guy, whoever he is, appeared to have no interest in Academy City whatsoever.

"But imagine developing some sort of power, Kyon-kun! I bet you could impress Nagato-san a lot!"

"Sorry, but I value my life," The boy addressed as Kyon-kun waves a hand dismissively, "I just can't trust a city where kids and teenagers have that kind of power. I don't even want to imagine what delinquents there could do with their psychic abilities."

After the pain in my head had subsided, I studied the duo, although discreetly, employing my signature 108 Skill Stealth Hikki to keep from getting noticed. And with Usui here capable of drawing the eye of just about anyone, I was functionally invisible!

The boy had brown, cropped hair, and his attire featured a cerulean blue blazer, a dark vest, a white shirt beneath, a red tie, gray school pants, and brown shoes. On the blazer's chest pocket was an insignia of some sort.

"Why not think of the good things?" The girl next to him, the new suspect, frowned, "I mean, I don't really think it could be that bad."

"I just think that people overhype that city and ignore the dangerous implications, is all. I mean, didn't someone try to trespass that city's perimeter a couple of months ago," The boy facepalms, "Only a real idiot would go that far…"

"Oh, that's right," The girl comments. "I heard it was someone from Kouyouen."

"Isn't that like a prestigious school or something?"

"It is, so it's really odd someone from there would do it… they got arrested even…" The girl rests a hand on her cheek, "Whoever that was, it was never shown publicly… and…"

I tune out of their conversation and direct my attention to the suspect. Her hair was a deep shade of blue, with a portion tied up into a ponytail secured by a red hair clip, and her eyes were blue. The skirt was cerulean blue, and a red ribbon hung from what seemed like a sailor fuku, though I wasn't entirely sure.

"Say, if you keep staring for too long, it won't be long before you get regarded as Creepy-gaya-kun," Usui's light hearted voice cut into my thoughts, as per usual.

Tch, Stealth Hikki doesn't work on those who were already aware of me, so of course he wouldn't know that I was safe from that predicament. Regardless, the proverbial spell was broken, and now I was open to being caught. Honestly, the cooldown for Stealth Hikki isn't short, you know?

"I don't know her, let's keep going," I mutter to him gruffly. Another target, another girl free from being underneath Ayanokouji's gaze. I do good work.

"The view of Academy City has ended. Please return to your seats and don't gather in any area. We will arrive at Hachioji Station in 15 minutes."

As the crowd of students eventually disperses, I scan the surroundings, attempting to locate the other suspect. All I managed to see was that she had dark pink hair... oh well… I suppose it doesn't matter anyway. She's another one that won't have to deal with Ayanokouji.

"Akuma-dono!"

I turn my head to my left, my eyes widening at the sight of a girl standing over an empty seat. I quickly recognized the dark pink hair color, confirming her as the same suspect I had spotted moments ago. She wore pigtails, and her eyes were… turquoise?

In contrast to everyone else that donned on their school uniforms, she stood out with a peculiar ensemble. She wore a long-sleeved gray blouse, an unusually wide reddish tie snugly fixed over her chest, a red jumper skirt, long black stockings, and strap boots.

What truly caught my attention, however, was the extravagantly long, dark blue scarf that extended down her back, and all the way to her ankles. Oh, she also had a heart-shaped sticker affixed to her left cheek.

I blink in surprise when, all of a sudden, the pinkette leans towards me. I instinctively take a step back, but she reaches out and places her hands on my shoulders, effectively holding me still. She continues to draw nearer until our noses are practically touching. And just like that, she abruptly retreats, struggling to keep her balance, and hops off the seat, landing on the floor.

What just happened?

The suddenness of everything caused me to briefly short out. If I were an android, a spring would have burst through my head just now.

I wasn't certain whether I should be glad that my mind essentially blue-screened at this girl's unexpected gesture. Sure, I avoided making my best impression of a tomato, but now my thoughts were slipping away rapidly. It's times like these that I curse my shortcomings in social interactions.

"Wow… I don't even think Glasses-kun would have this type of event in his game," Usui's deadpan voice allowed me to regain myself. But with my mind catching up and replaying what occurred, every instinct I had wanted me to retreat into myself.

Er, uh, Shiromeguri-senpai?

…

Good grief, I knew I was eventually going to start using that to forcibly calm myself down, but this was the first catalyst? I almost felt disappointed with myself.

Now that I was able to get myself under better control, I look down back at the girl. Her eyes were alight in sheer happiness as she looked up at me. Her smile was bashful, and she looked to be on the brink of bouncing in place with the level of excitement she was giving off. Her hands were behind her, as she continued leaning towards me. I suppose that she was expecting me to greet her back.

Except, I did not know who she was.

There was a nickname, one reminiscent of those I would come up with when I was younger. And then there was the Eskimo kiss, both of which suggested a level of intimacy. Then again, taking into account all I've been learning these past days, maybe her intentions weren't of a romantic nature. It was just too soon to tell…

Regardless, not responding would be the wrong choice.

"Yo," I greet her back, injecting some warmth in my voice along with a casual air to it that one would hear when interacting with a close one. Because of the eskimo kiss, I also took the guess of extending my hand and ruffling her head while adding, "It's been awhile."

Immediately, I noticed Usui send me a sharp look. Not surprising, my actions were nothing close to what he's grown used to seeing.

"Akuma-dono!" She chirps childishly, "You're so tall now, although it's not surprising for the Lord of the Underworld! You might be bigger than a demonic anarthrous worm!"

Truly, I am thankful for utilizing my newest "ability," I know I would have been taking mental damage with her words alone. Akuma-dono was already bad enough, but giving me the full title of the Lord of the Underworld probably would have made me want to curl up into a ball.

And no doubt she used "anarthrous" just because it sounded cool. I did it plenty of times of my own.

"Pfft," I send an unimpressed look at the snickering blonde next to me, "I didn't realize Akuma-kun had such an important position~"

Ugh… Now I knew that my emotional state was getting back to normal since I had to keep myself from grimacing. Wait, did she compare me to a worm?

"Don't start," I mutter back at him.

"Woah!" The girl beams at Usui, her eyes shining, "Akuma-dono managed to get a very good-looking servant! As expected of the Lord of the Underworld!"

Give me a break here, are you trying to kill me?

I knew Usui wanted nothing more than to egg her on, what with the palpable amusement he was emanating. But, at least he knew not to make things bad for me in the name of fun.

"This humble servant's name is Lucifer," I would say he exaggerated a bow, but he actually went through the act properly as if he really were a butler or something, "Might I know the name of Akumo-dono's lady companion?"

Cue the blossoming flowers. Again.

Also, don't encourage her. What the hell is with that name? Give back what I said about you, give it here.

"That power… is so high!" Her cheeks flush red as she gapes at him in surprise, "I'm… I'm Sophia Ring S.P. Saturn VII." She makes a pose, one that reminds of something I'd see from Zaimokuza. Through that comparison, I'm now able to handle that girl a lot better. "I'm also known as the Magical Devil girl, Sophia-chan! Remember that, 'kay?"

They look nothing alike, but if I replace her with his image, I won't take anymore damage.

Also, what is with that ridiculous name? Magical devil girl? Are you the anti-PreCure? Also with a name like that you sound more like a rocket ship!

"Alright, but in return, please keep my true name secret, Sophia-chan~" Usui puts a finger to his lips and playfully winks down at the girl, "Normal mortals refer to me as Usui Takumi."

This guy, he really is annoying…

She rests a hand over her chest in agreement, "Don't worry Lucifer! I also carry a name to blend with the mortals. For the sake of our identities, you shall refer to me as Shichimiya Satone!"

Quit giving me that smug look! You chose the most annoying way to get her name! I don't care how effective it was!

"Then, Shichimiya-chan," Usui chuckles lightly, "Are you a friend of Hikigaya-kun's? I had no idea he was so popular~"

So that most likely means he doesn't know anything about her. Not a great aspect since now I had to guess how our interactions go.

And can you not make it sound like I want to be surrounded by so many people. Thanks.

"Niihahaha!" She laughed loudly, which came off as slightly annoying to be honest. It also earned the attention from the others in this cart, "We've been rivals for a long time! Since he was a level 4 Maou!" She turned to me, "What's your level now, Akuma-dono?"

Was that code or something? Should I say I was level 17?

"High enough," I eventually muttered, not wanting to play along with that any further, "So you got called in to Totsuki as well?"

She blinks and leans her head to the side, a finger on her chin, "Ah! This is a request from a partner of mine, who's also in the ranks of devilish magical girls! As her superior, I couldn't ignore her request! Which is why I'm here!" She grins, "I also happen to excel at making demonic food! Hehehe!"

Excuse me, Sophia-chan? Devil's food is already a thing in the culinary industry, and it typically pertains to a certain style of desserts like the cake. We're going to be expected to make more things than just sweets, you know?

Also, I'm not looking forward to seeing another chuni over there and their eventual interaction.

Throwing her a bone since I'm supposed to play along, I quirk my lip in a show of feigned amusement, "Make sure to practice the proper rites before making your dishes, or else the Underworld's power won't empower your food."

I want the earth to swallow me whole.

Shichimiya suddenly holds my arm and pulls me closer, whispering to my ear, "Don't worry, Akuma-dono. I brought my special fairy wand, and it's in my bag. I'll show you it later when we're alone…" She lets go of me, much to my relief, "Since you are here, let's join our forces! I'm gonna bring my bag, so don't move, 'kay?"

I look blankly as she strolls away, humming to herself, seemingly unconcerned about the attention she effortlessly gathers. Even that guy called Kyon and the girl accompanying him seem to be interested in her.

"I see we've come across your weakness, Akuma-kun," Usui unhelpfully points out with no small amount of glibness.

Leave me alone.

I only glower in response, to which he chuckles.

"Seeing as how you two seem to know each other, I'll take it upon myself to sate both of our curiosities," The blonde then offers, "Surely, there should be nothing wrong with a discussion between peers concerning the Underworld's Lord?

I understand that you're actually doing something helpful in order to gather information, but you make it very difficult for me to show any gratitude, given your particular phrasing. I simply grunt in acknowledgement, which Usui seems to find amusing.

In any case, we wait for a moment longer, until the girl returns with her belongings in tow.

"Okay!" The short girl beamed, "Are we taking this wagon hostage?"

…I don't suppose she has a mute button on her?

"We're simply scouting our rivals in the next cart, Sophia-chan," Usui casually inputs in my stead as I massage my temple in exasperation. Dear me, I might just go insane because of the train ride…

"Ah!" Shichimiya nods, "That's very smart!" She gives us a thumbs up, "Of course! I'll refrain from releasing my magical girl power, so they won't detect me either."

Now that I think about it, taking into account the absurdity of this world, I might be due to come across an actual magical girl. Even if they loosely fit the motif in their own ways, Belldandy and Deviluke don't quite fit the bill.

Good grief, look at me. This girl is making me regard this nonsense so seriously.

[Better get used to this kind of thing. I'm sure we'll have to deal with a lot worse than a girl with fantastical delusions.]

Yes. Thank you for that reminder, it helps so much…

[Heh, remember that I'm your ally, no matter what you think of me. I'm merely making sure you are ready for what's to come. Of course, you're free to take my advice… or not.]

A subtle glance showed my doppelganger having taken an empty seat.

Once your advice gets past pointing out the obvious, I'll readily receive it with gratitude. Last I checked, whenever I needed actual answers you either weren't there or refused to answer.

The only way you'd be worse would be if you yelled out "Hey! Listen!" every five seconds…

"Onward!"

Seeing no point in dawdling with the second chuni, Usui and I both went along with the girl, who decided to take the lead and move onto the next cart. Shichimiya absorbed everyone's attention at first before Usui immediately stole her thunder.

Now it was like I wasn't even here. It was honestly a relief.

Shichimiya enters the next car, hands confidently resting on her hip, "Hmmm… I don't think there's any spies here…" And then folds her arms, "Sophia-chan can't detect any angels either! I think we're safe!"

She was wrong because the instant I stepped inside, a new mark materialized at the far end of the current train car. I moved past Shichimiya and some students, this time, determined on getting a proper look of the suspect before the mark dissipated.

A faint pain throbbed in my head, but I shook my head slightly, very familiar with the unwanted sensation at this point. Just today it has been six times already, not to mention all those from yesterday. I just hope my brain doesn't implode at some point.

"Is something wrong, Akuma-dono?"

Holding my head in one hand with a grimace I respond, "There's someone here…"

…ARRRGH! Of all times to choose to play along I choose now when I was unintentionally posing!? Is this what relapse is like!? Could it be that I actually wasn't cured!?

I want nothing more than to crawl back into bed and scream into my pillow for the next few days.

"Hoh!" Shichimiya seemed impressed, her rise in voice reflecting it, "It's probably the Dark Ultra Vision you mastered! This is the first time I've come to witness it! Impressive, Akuma-dono!

Please, for my dignity's sake, stop talking…

Anyway, this cart has a lot more people on it than the others…

I release a sigh, and focus on what I first intended. The mark was now gone, but I had no doubt who was the suspect this time.

A few meters ahead of us were a pair that stood out from the rest, their attire lacking any semblance of a uniform, as far as I could tell. It was a boy and a girl, with the girl obviously being the suspect.

The girl had an unusual hair color —although I've actually seen worse— being platinum blonde, somewhat wavy, and fashioned into two bushy pigtails. A yellow hair clip adorned her hair, securing the parted side bangs on the right side of her face. And was that an earring? It was tiny and circular.

Wow, all in all.

Wait, stop that, you idiot. Don't get stunned just because she's more than a little pretty.

A-anyway, regarding her attire, she wore a beige and brown varsity jacket, which covered what I presumed was a... a black vest, I think. There was another piece of clothing underneath it, but it was impossible to tell from this angle. Her plaid skirt was noticeably short, and she paired it with red tights and brown boots. Over her shoulder hung a fairly big book bag.

The boy had short, spiky yellow hair and wore a red hoodie under a black blazer with red buttons. His pants held the same design of the girl's skirt, which suggested these were their own customized uniforms. I couldn't recognize what school they belonged to, but it seemed they had some freedom in their dress code. That is unless their hair was actually dyed, and they were considered delinquents.

Still, that kind of pattern on pants did seem rather unusual. I couldn't imagine having my uniform reflect the girl's skirts in Sobu.

Go to profile, SEE: Link in Logic Is My Sword: Chapter 11 Section: Picture 02

Whatever the case, it seemed these two were a couple (go blow up), given how she clung to his blazer, not to mention their close proximity. It seemed that both had dozed off at some point during the ride, with the guy drooling as he clutched a grab bar…

Oh, come on, that's gross… Look, you're already threading the needle with not drooling onto your girlfriend as it is. Do you want to get killed?

It looks like for once I wasn't the center of envious glares since I could see more than half of the male population in the cart glaring at the drooling mess, surprisingly even women. Was that what I looked like to everyone? Am I the one who should go blow up!?

How can they sleep so peacefully with such tension around them anyway?

"Are those two the spies?" Shichimiya asks with a curious face, "Well don't worry, Akuma-dono! I'll take them now with my Heimdallr Beam of Destruction!"

She takes two steps, and makes a new pose just before me, as she extends her arms at the sleeping duo. I could hear her whispering words very fast, as if she was chanting a spell or something along those lines.

There were two things at war inside of me right now. One was my instinctive desire to destroy those screwed up delusions of hers, and the other, not wanting to hurt her feelings. That, and crying girls were a serious pain to deal with.

"They're formidable rivals," My words were causing me so much damage, I could swear I'd cough up blood at any moment, "It's best if we lay back and watch them from afar, Sophia."

I want to die, I seriously want to die at this very moment.

I hear a suppressed snort, and slowly turn to the source to the point that I think my neck was creaking.

You! Stop laughing! Do you realize how much damage I'm doing to myself!? I actually want to jump off this train right now!

"Hmm, Are you sure Akuma-dono? My supercharged Heimdallr is capable of destroying entire nations. I'm positive that those two spies wouldn't stand a chance!"

Please don't, I might actually die before you even fire off your 'attack.'

"They're smarter than that, Sophia," I say gruffly, like if someone made me suck on a lemon, "You don't see it, but they have an Archdemon-class reflective barrier glyph underneath them. They were prepared for possible opposition."

Please, please, can we stop here? I'm about to cry if this keeps up.

"Thank you for using the Groundliner 1.0. Five minutes remain before we arrive at the Hachioji Station. Exit for arrival at Hachioji line 00 at the left hand side. Please refrain from rushing out when the doors open. Have a nice day."

Was this divine intervention? Did one of the gods out there finally take pity on me? Whoever it was, thank you for keeping me from having to continue reliving my dark history!

I suddenly realized that the announcement had been rather loud, and its reverberation had managed to rouse the sleeping girl. In a matter of moments, her gaze darted toward the still-dozing guy. A rosy hue crept into her cheeks, and her eyes widened briefly as the peculiar nature of their situation dawned on her.

Huh? Wait… are they… not a couple…? Then… why…?

Let's assume that they weren't a couple based on her reaction, and had somehow found themselves in this predicament due to falling asleep, still, I had anticipated some form of response from the girl. Instead, she continued to grip the guy's blazer, fixedly gazing at his sleeping face. Well, granted, a drooling face isn't the most pleasant sight to wake up to, but there was no need to keep staring at him.

"A preemptive strike is out of the question now, Akuma-dono," She leans to me, whispering. "One of them woke up…"

Thank you for the detective work, Conan…

"Yeah," I really did not want to continue the chuni charade by telling her they sensed her magic power or whatever.

It takes just a few more seconds for the guy to slowly open his eyes, letting out a yawn as he looks at the girl. A couple of seconds later, he flinches upon realizing their close proximity, surprise painting his face. With a swift movement, the pig-tailed platinum blonde jerks away and shoves him away… hard.

"What the hell are you doin', Ryuji!?"

The blonde guy stumbles back, and crashes into a couple of students behind, eventually landing on the seats. The girl gasps in surprise, hands instinctively covering her mouth, likely because she hadn't meant to react so aggressively.

Is it just me, or do the girls in this reality seem inexplicably strong by default? Well, it's a welcome change to see that it wasn't me being manhandled for once.

The flushed girl notices the announcement passing by the wall of the train, and her embarrassment evaporates in a single second as she turns to the opposite side, where the large windows were located.

"Oh no! The viewpoint of Academy City! Ryuji! We totally missed it!"

The blonde guy rises to his feet, disregarding the glares of the two students he had bumped into a few moments earlier as he rubs the back of his head. His attention shifts to his companion, pointing at the announcement with widened eyes.

"For real!?" He looks out the window in vain, "Aw, man! We really missed it!"

"I just told you that!"

It's funny to see how they both somehow managed to forget the brief display of violence in favor of mourning having missed seeing the technological marvel of a city. You both realize we're probably going to take the same train back, right? You have a second chance, you knoooow?

Usui only stares blankly, while Shichimiya seems confused… even a chuni is lost at trying to comprehend what just happened. These two seem like they came from the same drop.

And finally, the train begins to decelerate and eventually grinds to a halt. The double doors slide open, and the majority of students waste no time disembarking from the train. It's almost anticlimactic how this rollercoaster of a train ride concluded. I didn't even get to enjoy the loops…

"We should head along now, Hikigaya," Usui's voice urged me onwards, "Don't want to keep Yukihira-kun waiting, do we?"

"Yuki…hira?" Shichimiya repeats slowly before she lets out a gasp of delight, "Oh! It's been like a thousand years since I last saw the Dimensional Cook Emperor!"

I almost trip at the name. Great, Yukihira's part of this too…

Also, what do you mean you haven't seen him in a thousand years? You're supposed to say that you've been friends for each incarnation throughout the thousand years you've known each other. At least get that right!

11-9

We finally exited the train, and I felt relieved. All these encounters and the endless stream of advertisements popping up everywhere inside the train was mentally taxing.

An uneasiness had begun to take hold of me towards the end of the ride.

"Is something wrong?" The ever observant Usui asked me, although it led to Shichimiya overhearing him.

"Akuma-dono?"

"Ayanokouji wasn't on our train," I murmured back, "And I couldn't see him in the group from the western line."

Or in any of them, for that matter.

"Hm? Is that another spy?" Shichimiya starts scanning around the area, "Or an enemy!?"

I deadpanned at the ironically accurate comment, "Er… something like that…"

"There are two other train rides at different times. That's what I was told at Seika when I retrieved my papers, so…" Usui peeks back at the stationed train, "Chances are, he's on one of the other rides scheduled for later."

Multiple lines? That's the first I heard of that.

"And I doubt they'll let us loiter as we wait for them all to arrive…" I frown to myself.

"Hey! Hachiman! Usui!"

I blink in response to the familiar voice and turn my head slightly. Amid the waves of students and commuters in the train station, I spot the redhead who was supposed to be my closest friend.

Yukihira Souma.

"Oh! Is that the Dimension Cook Emperor!?"

For the sake of not getting dragged into another existential crisis, I ignore the girl, and approach the guy that dragged us so far from my beloved Chiba.

"What are you doing here?" I asked the aspiring chef. It's not like you needed to wait for us or anything.

Yukihira, sporting casual attire, grins with an arm raised, "Yo! Good to see you guys!"

"Yo," I greet back and sarcastically add, "Didn't trust us to find our way?

Usui mentioned how Yukihira and I tended to interact with one another by trading sarcastic barbs.

"Well, I did trust Usui to not get lost," He snickers, patting my back. "Can't say the same about you, but, hey, I came to pick you up just in case!"

What am I, a kid?

"Yukihira-kun is such a caring friend~" Usui sing-songs, "Like a little brother excited to show his 'Onii-chan' his new school~"

Sometimes, I had to wonder how he managed to say that without missing a beat…

"That I am, mehehe!" And once again, this guy acts like a dumb idiot. He blinks, noticing the girl with us, "Huh? Is that…?"

"Dimensional Cook Emperor!" Shichimiya squeals, stepping up to him as she raises a hand to the air, "You are taller, too! Although not as much as Akuma-dono!"

"Shichimiya!?" He seems surprised, so I can assume he also hasn't heard of her in some time, "It's been like, two years I think?"

She nods her head, "A bit more than that, but yeah! I've been mastering my magical girl powers to the fullest, so as to not be left behind by Akuma-dono!"

Yukihira sweatshops, "You haven't changed at all, hehe!"

"Magical girls are eternal after all, we just don't change!"

A glance at Usui tells me he's started to tune out again. I decide to cut in before we're dragged into another delusional rabbit hole.

"We're going to miss the shuttle if we stick around here any longer," A private train line followed by a shuttle escorting us to the campus. Just how rich is his school?

"Hai, hai, you don't have to remind me," Yukihira spins around. "Let's go. I'll explain everything to you guys on the way… Wait, maybe at Totsuki."

"Whatever, let's just go…" I retorted.

"Ikko! Niihahaha!"

Guided by the cook, we navigate through the busy train station, eventually reaching the parking area. We observe the students who were on the train and others that most likely came through other means, queuing up to board their respective buses.

It seems we'll be parting ways here, as Usui's transportation is different from mine. Something about the guest students getting organized by surnames or something. The only exception is Yukihira, as he actually attends the school.

"I'll see you both soon," Usui sends me a playful wink, "I'll make sure to guard Sophia-chan in the meantime."

He's having way too much fun with that.

The pinkette waves a hand at us, "See ya in a bit!"

We watch as the odd duo set off to stand on their respective lines. The redhead suddenly clears his throat, calling my attention.

"Give me a couple of minutes though," Yukihira comments, scratching his cheek. "I still have to confirm which bus I'm taking. You know, people in Totsuki take this kind of thing very seriously."

Sounds like a waste of effort just to see us ten minutes earlier.

"Right," I deadpanned back, "Wouldn't want you to get in trouble and get to go home after you get disqualified."

Yukihira laughs and runs away.

Now that just leaves me on my own, for once. It's a rare moment to reset after a continuous string of interactions since the waking hour, and it's barely a few minutes after 8am.

I could get ahead and wait in line for the shuttle and grab a good seat in the back, but then I'll be prone to dealing with a lot of noise from the energetic students. On the other hand, if I wait for the cook, we might end up with the worst seats. While I might have a somewhat questionable reputation, I don't believe I'm in Harima's league where I could intimidate others into giving the seats I want.

Oh, what to do? What to do?

My inner deliberations come to an end, halted by the sight of yet another mark hovering over a girl. I do my best to suppress the pain, pressing my lips tightly to conceal any signs of discomfort. My gaze steadily follows the girl as she joins the same line as Usui.

The girl had brown, long hair that reached her back but I couldn't get a good look at her face. Her uniform though, is one I saw in Chiba, at least, that's what I recall from the countless uniforms I've seen since waking up in this new reality. Her uniform consisted of a mustard blazer, a large ribbon tied by the neck of her shirt, a brown skirt and shoes.

She must have been on the west line. Well, it doesn't bother me that I can't make out her face from here as I'll probably come across her later, or I can just have Usui describe her to me.

For the time being, knowing her identity isn't relevant, hiding her from Ayanokouji is the priority.

[Are you sure that's gonna be enough?]

Go to profile, LISTEN: Link in Logic Is My Sword: Chapter 11 Section: Song 05

I blink at the sudden voice in my head, and instinctively glance over my shoulder, having sensed the shadow bastard standing behind me as he stared in the opposite direction. Ugh, it's so uncanny to see a carbon copy of myself that doesn't actually exist to anybody else but me.

I release a sigh, already annoyed at his latest appearance. He looked like he wanted an answer so I pulled out my phone to start up our previous act.

"What are you talking about?" I eventually asked him.

[Who knows? Maybe you are underestimating the game Deus Ex Machina created. Just preventing Ayanokouji from finding the suspects is too easy, don't you think?]

"It's not like I have much of a choice," I grumble softly, "If the suspect was someone he already interacted with and saw the symbol, I already lost. This whole thing is banking on either of us having not yet come across the creation."

I questioned it myself. What use was making this into a game with the new rules, if Ayanokouji or I have no small number of potential candidates that only we can interact with?

It wouldn't be fair to him if someone like Nibutani was the created being. At this point I have the sole access to interacting with her, and he'd have no way of knowing she was a candidate.

But then that opened up more questions.

Does that make them a ruse? Is the actual created being more likely to appear during events like this where we're both physically here to confirm their identity? Because there's no doubt in my mind that if Ayanokouji and I were to both identify at least one candidate at the same time, we'll race to monopolize her attention in some way.

…When I say it like that, it makes it sound like it'd be a crappy love-triangle. Give me a break…

[And you thought that Shichimiya was like Zaimokusa… when you come up with your own stupid delusions about romance. How about you give me a break?]

Figures that's what he focuses on. And you wondered why I ignored your "advice" earlier…

"You're free to leave me alone," I respond flatly, "Saves us both the headache."

[I wish, but there's too much at stake here. Anyway, during your small elucidation session last night, you were on the right track about the game, but you ended up getting distracted. All I'll say is that… think carefully, nothing is ever simple. Expecting such from Deus Ex Machina would be your downfall.]

A gust of wind came after that, and with it, my 'ex-reflection' was gone.

Distracted? What was he talking about?

"It's because I don't trust he'll make things easy for us that I know there's more to the game…" I mutter to myself and put my phone away.

Deus Ex prioritizes being entertained by his chosen heirs, even more than safeguarding his own realm. It'd be redundant to call him inhuman, given that he's a god in the first place. But his game was initially designed for us to confront our weaknesses, and I'm certain that overthinking is one of mine.

The catch is, he provided us with a reason to overthink because the race was never intended to be taken at face value.

What could I even do with these thoughts? Deus Ex will probably refuse to answer, and the doppelganger might either deliver a backhanded compliment or mock me for dwelling on something trivial. The Muru Muru brat is out of the question since she's on Ayanokuji's side.

Then there's Aqua, but… I have no idea if she even cares enough to entertain my thoughts.

That leaves, what, talking to Ayanokouji about this? Yeah, right…

Hahh… It's too early to be this stressed already.

The sound of hurried steps had me looking to my right, it was a returning Yukihira.

"Okay! It's all done!" He comments but then looks over his shoulder, "Why are you still here and not in line? We're getting the worst seats, Hachiman!"

"It's noisy," I responded flatly, showing him my phone, "Got a call."

Yukihira scratches the back of his head and sighs, "Whatever… C'mon."

He trudges forward and I follow suit. It takes about ten minutes for us to finally get in the transport, though honestly, the minutes passed fast as we watched Kawasaki and Nibutani still arguing while waiting in the line. For some reason, Shichimiya was shouting nonsense at them.

I do what I do best, and pretend that they don't exist. Yukihira, on the other hand, sends me a dirty look. Hey, I know I caused a lot of issues last time you saw me, but that wasn't my fault this time. If anything, you should be worried about how I managed to get out of that intact.

Of course, as we were at the rear of the line, all the best seats, specifically the ones at the back, had already been claimed.

Then again, as a professional loner, I viewed the back seats as something of a trap.

Sure, they seemed appealing because for some inexplicable reason, teenagers have designated the front seats to be for the teachers' pets. However, not only do you have to scramble to secure a back seat, but you're also stuck there until the bus emptied. In contrast, the front seats allowed for a quicker escape from the crowd once you reached your stop.

So in all, the front seats were actually better to be at. Bonus points if the bus driver didn't try interacting with you because you look lonely.

Source: Me.

"Tch…"

Well, my current companion seemed to disagree, but I'm sure he'll get over it once the bus driver stops talking his ear off(lol). I turned towards the window to hide my smirk.

It sure was a nice view outside.

11-10

Luckily for Yukihira, his impromptu conversation with the overly friendly driver didn't last long. Which meant he could cast his attention back at me. A snide comment and me playing innocent later, he began to tell me what to expect from his school. And the more he told me, the more I understood how ridiculous the place was.

To begin with, the Totsuki Culinary Academy was apparently founded by the head of the current Nakiri Family, a very wealthy and respected household known for their contribution to the culinary industry. The founder was the current director, his name was Nakiri Senzaemon, who Yukihira had met in person. His description left a lot to be desired, saying that he was a very scary old man.

That's not really how I pictured the founder of such an apparently prestigious academy to be like, but whatever, a lot of things don't make much sense in this reality anyway.

From what I could gather, one could get expelled easily by failing a single test, and these tests have so far been very difficult to pass, coming one after another. He had seen countless students being expelled so far since he enrolled, and honestly, I wasn't surprised. Prestigious schools tended to demand a high level of performance, not to mention the hard curriculums they applied to ensure the best results from their students, and the competitive nature these institutions pushed.

Still, getting expelled over a single fail was almost comicable. Add in a video camera, and they've got one of those guilty pleasure American reality show competitions.

It all made more sense when Yukihira stated that Totsuki's main goal was to train the next generation of top chefs and culinary experts. While he did mention that he didn't really believe this was the case at the beginning, he had been proven otherwise, having seen at face value the capabilities of several prodigies this academy had produced, through demonstrations and such.

I didn't even want to think about that kind of pressure being pushed on me. No thank you, I'll make do having to save all of reality from a horrible end(lol).

Ugh, but I'm still stuck with making sure this idiot doesn't get kicked out. I have no idea how I'm going to pull off being a supposedly good cook. I was only decent back in my world, and that was at househusband levels.

I do see now why his school put up all this pretense and spectacle just for this event. They were expecting nothing short of the best, and what better way to show it than having visitors witness it all?

Now what I didn't expect was the size of this whole thing. Yukihira mentioned the academy having multiple dormitories to house their students and staff, many buildings for different purposes such as clubs, research facilities, classrooms, lecture halls, complexes filled with kitchens… there was even some sort of coliseum or arena for a specific event… Oi, how big was this place?

…I wasn't going to come across a miniature Academy City, was I?

Anyway, when I asked about the event he was dragging me to, he turned to me with that dumb expression of his and told me he had no idea about it. All he knew was that every student should bring two students from any non culinary school to participate in an event. Apparently, later on there would be an announcement speech that would inform about the rules of the coming event, so that's that.

After that, Yukihira started babbling about the new techniques he had picked up, and since I was clueless about the topic, my attention began to drift away. Thoughts of Usui crossed my mind, and I idly wondered how he was holding up. The guy despised being the center of attention, but he probably tasked himself with investigating the kind of person Shichimiya was, and my ties to her.

I almost felt bad for him potentially getting subjected to unfiltered chunibyo. And I think I saw the duo from the last train cart board the same shuttle, so he might be witness to another show.

Couldn't imagine being there(lol).

The bus eventually stopped, the driver announcing with a microphone for the passengers to leave the bus one by one. Since we were on the frontal seats, thankfully we were the first to get off, not having to wait at all. See, Yukihira? Aren't you glad I'm such a genius? We avoided the crowding. All it cost was you having to talk to the nice driver. He's even waving at you.

Walking away from the bus, I momentarily crane my neck while observing the students exiting the other shuttles. It doesn't take long for me to notice expressions of astonishment all around me, so I follow everyone's gaze, my eyes widening in shock.

Oi, what the hell was this?

Are we in a battle manga? Why the hell is your school on a mountain top? What's with the old traditional entrance being juxtaposed by the modern buildings hidden behind the shrubbery? Do we need mountaineering gear just to go from each building? Is there a hidden conclave at the peak where you find the Scroll of Infinite Cooking?

Could it be that this is how you people stay in shape after all the cooking and eating? Moving from building to building doubles as hiking and mountain climbing?

I send the redhead a flat look.

"I didn't joke when I said Totsuki was huge, Hachiman," He chuckles, standing at my side with arms folded. "I was also intimidated when I saw this the first time."

'Intimidated,' my foot, I thought the random school in Tokyo Bay was bad enough, this takes the cake.

Even this parking area we're at is big, although there's only a couple of vehicles parked aside from the three buses.

Oi, whoever built this, you realize you're just cooking, right? You're not raising the future leaders of the country here. You're just raising the next top chefs who will sell overpriced food that only rich people will be willing to pay for while the rest of Japan can only dream of tasting it. You don't impress me! Saize will financially outperform any chef that graduates from here and opens their own restaurant!

"Right…" Was all I could say. This world was fond of outlandish schools for some reason.

"Niihahaha!" Shichimiya's loud laugh came just from the right, which almost caught me off guard. How the hell did I not notice her presence? Is she an actual ninja!?

I regard the blonde who was almost twice her height. There was a subtle tension to his brow, and he released a breath since the chuni wasn't paying attention to him. Aside from last night, that was the most frustrated I've seen him. Once he met my gaze, he gave me an exasperated smile.

He had it rough, eh?

"Hoh? Isn't that…?" Yukihira comments, looking at the other bus, "Kawasaki and… uh…" He immediately turns to me, "The other girl…" He leans towards me and whispers, "Isn't that your other friend from middle school?"

Middle school friend? That's funny. Oh, right I have those now.

"Well… ex friend…" He adds awkwardly. Say, she has a name, you know?

Honestly, what was that history we shared? Why so many ominous titles?

"We talked," I suppose I should give some vague explanation, "An understanding was reached."

I understood that Nibutani had a sailor mouth to her, at least.

The cook places a hand under his chin, appearing deep in thought for a brief moment. After a humming sound, he shrugs his shoulders and moves to greet Kawasaki and company. I roll my eyes at that, does he always have to make a show of this?

I hang back, there's too many people here. Another glance at Usui showed he was feeling the exact same. He already detached himself from the world.

"Huh?" The 'magical girl' suddenly points a finger at Nibutani, "Hold on a minute… I wasn't sure before, but now I see her fac— I mean, sense her spiritual energy! There's no mistake… she's… Mori Summer!"

Oi, if you slip back to reality, you might as well stay there instead of keeping up the fantasy. No point in keeping up an already broken illusion, you knoooow!?

And what the heck is a Mori Summer?

Without further warning, furious steps are heard, coming from… Nibutani? What the hell? What's with that scary look? She's sprinting towards us while screaming nonsense!

I step back as in one swift movement, the brunette covers Shichimiya mouth with one hand, and drags her away from everyone else, far enough where they couldn't be heard. I narrowed my gaze, observing in interest as they seemed to argue… Well, Shichimiya was just laughing and nodding happily while Nibutani was… reprimanding her… I think? She didn't look happy, that's for sure.

"They seem close," Usui idly mentions, as he yawns.

"What is that idiot doing now?" Kawasaki comments out loud as she joins us alongside the cook.

Yukihira folds his arms, thoughtful, "Hmm… I don't remember very well, but I think those two were in Hachiman's school when he was a middle schooler. They probably knew each other since then." He turns to me, seeking confirmation, "Right?"

The terms "middle school" and "friends" does not compute with the name, Hikigaya Hachiman. Please input something else.

"A little Saturn told me that she was Hikigaya-kun's secret friend when they were still in the same middle school~"

Must he say it in a way that makes it sound worse than it was…? Also, does that mean she transferred out at some point?

I give a noncommittal grunt to make it seem as if I didn't want to talk about it. And considering Shichimiya's… eccentricities… it would be understandable why that was to the others.

Of course, Yukihira failed to get the message as he put on his dumb face again, "You should have seen this guy. Wearing funny clothes and making this cringe manly voice. Isn't that right, Dark Knight?"

Erk.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I say a bit too tersely. Is this what friends exist for? To remind you of your dark history? This is a complete rip-off and I demand to be reimbursed for my emotional damage.

"Hehh…" I felt despair as I saw a familiar twinkle in Usui's eye, "You must have really gotten strong to go from a Knight of Darkness to the Lord of the Underworld, eh, Akuma-dono?"

Ack. I want to die.

Yukihira lands a fist on his palm, "Ah! That was his title too. Did you ever take over the school like you said you would?"

I hate everything about my previous self right now.

"Shut up and worry more about not getting kicked out of your own," My tone was clipped and obviously defensive. Ugh… What did I do to deserve this?

"Hey! Why are you mad at me now?"

I'm trying hard not to do my best impression of an ostrich against concrete, give me a break.

"Let's just…" I release a long sigh, "Let's just go. Everyone is already going in."

Kawasaki shoots me a glance as she smiles coyly, but says nothing. Please don't later reveal yourself as someone who likes to tease me. I'd much prefer you stick to your original self as closely as possible.

Also, don't tell Miura. Please?

"Soooo guys…" Nibutani's voice draws our attention as she walks to us, "We shouldn't keep the instructors waiting, right?" She stops just by us, winking.

What's with this excessively sweet act, huh? Just a moment ago, you were acting like a maniac, not to mention that I've already been subjected to your particular vocabulary.

The brunette giggles and walks past us, Kawasaki joining her, commenting snarkily. "So she's that girl, huh?"

"Shut up!" Nibutani growls, glaring at her, "Just walk."

These two spend most of their time arguing rather than acting as actual friends, then again, I wasn't even sure I knew how friends acted in the first place. Though I can say I didn't miss anything if it turns out friends just exist to annoy the hell out of each other. Yukihira also helped in solidifying that notion very well.

"Niihahaha!" Shichimiya jumps before us, hands on her hips, "Mor—" Nibutani casts a death glare from over her shoulder at her, "Ehh, hehe. I mean… Nibutani…san…teehee!"

"Alright, alright. Let's not waste more time here," Yukihira exclaims, and follows after the girls, the pinkette tailing him as well.

I was looking forward to this experience even less than before, if that were even possible. Not that I was expecting these next few days to not be a headache in the first place.

Hahh…

"What a mighty sigh there, Hikigaya," Usui chuckles lightly, "You seem so excited~"

"No less than you were after your ride here," I retorted snidely. The blonde pouted at that, and this time I huffed at his reaction.

"How much did you get out of her?" I ask him more seriously. He took the hint to what I meant as his expression sobered.

"Not an insignificant amount, actually," He answers before chuckling slightly, "You'd be surprised how much Lucifer can charm a magical girl."

I roll my eyes at that, but nod along with what he said. It's good, the more information I get, the better. I couldn't stand wandering around blindly.

Well, with the peanut gallery going on ahead of us, I had plenty of time to listen to what Usui learned on his trip here. Though knowing him, he'll probably also use the time to whine about what he had to go through.

As we followed the flow of students through the entrance, I had to dread what I was going to have to deal with in this place.

11-11

Give me a break, what's with this school?

It was bad enough that we had to somewhat acclimatize to the cooler weather that's expected on a mountainous area, but most of the travel to the administration building was on an incline. It was fine at first, but after a while I started to hear complaining students who had begun to fall behind as their fatigue set in.

Usui, of course, went along like everything was fine because of course he did. Yukihira seemed seasoned, but actually pulled back once the others began to slow down. Even with my new fitter body, I was beginning to feel the burn on my calves.

Only after we eventually reached the administration building, with a considerable number of students sweating through their uniforms, that we were able to submit our passes to gain access to Totsuki's facilities. There, we were given the choice between staying in the special dormitories specifically raised for the special event or we could actually share our rooms with the students already dorming here.

Shichimiya left to join her group, saying that she was planning to stay with them at their dormitories.

Yukihira, being the idiot that he was, pressured Usui and I to join him at his dorm. I rejected it, obviously, there was a better strategy for me to room with Usui so we can have our discussions away from the red headed chef's prying eyes. But, just like yesterday morning, the resident dumbass wouldn't take no for an answer. No amount of knowing I was validated about how annoying he could get was enough for me to get over the fact that I eventually caved and agreed to go to his particular dorm. And me agreeing meant that Usui decided to follow.

Not only was it far, it actually required a proper hike to get to and from it. The only upside was that the blonde and I weren't the only ones who would suffer, as apparently Nibutani and Kawasaki were also strong-armed into joining us at Yukihira's special estate. I knew this because I could hear Nibutani's whining to someone over the phone about the distance they were going to have to walk.

Sounds rough, lady(lol).

The redhead, ignoring my annoyed glare and Usui's unimpressed aura, compassionately offered to lead the girls to where we're all going to be staying. That sure is nice of you, I sure wish you could have extended that same consideration to me not wanting to have to literally hike to your dorm.

Just as we were about to depart to Yukihira's dorm, an apparent friend of his showed up, a short girl that also lived in the same place. My focus is momentarily drawn however to the mark floating over her head, until it fades some seconds later. I didn't even have to force myself to not react to the headache since the new arrival gathered everyone's attention.

She had long dark blue hair, braided in two pigtails, with a white hair ping on the right side of her bangs and yellow-colored eyes. Her petite figure and cute face made it seem like she was Yukihira's age, though I couldn't be sure just yet.

The new suspect sported what I presumed was Totsuki's official uniform, which was composed of a navy blue blazer with white borders over a white-collared shirt, a red striped bow tied to it, a plait short skirt with white outlines and brown shoes.

Oi, now that I realize, why aren't you in uniform, you redheaded slob?

Anyway, I soon realized that she was accompanied by the eccentric duo we spotted at the train, the couple-not couple that fell asleep during the ride.

"A-ano, Souma-kun," She glanced behind her. "Remember my childhood friend I mentioned?" Yukihira nods his head, folding his arms. She stands aside, the boy in question stepping up to him, "He's—"

"Suuup!" The blond guy grinned, "Heard lotsa of stuff about you. The name's Sakamoto Ryuji."

The short girl flushed red, frantically waving her arms, "Don't say it like that, Ryuji-kun! You're making it sound like I talk a lot about him!"

"But you totally do, Megumi!" The boy that presented himself as Sakamoto Ryuji snickers, "Why are you actin' all embarrassed now?"

"Geez, lay off, Ryuji!" The other girl he had come with elbows him in the midsection, "Can't you have just a little bit of tact?"

Yukihira lets out a laugh, "Hehehe! My special dish must have left a good impression on her! That's good to hear!"

I raise an eyebrow at the redhead's remark. Sure, a girl would ecstatically talk about you to her friends just because of your food. And make her best impression of a tomato for that same reason. Let's go with that.

"Well now, Yukihira-kun, are you going to introduce us to your friends?" The ever encapsulation of charm that is Usui makes his vibrant return. There's the suave smile, and flowery aura.

Does he have an on switch or something?

As expected, the short girl stared at Pretty Boy intently for some brief seconds before she even came to realize it. Soon, she became a panicking and blushing mess.

"Oh, yeah!" Yukihira points a thumb at the girl with dark blue hair, "She's a classmate of mine, Tadokoro Megumi." Then looks at the girl with blonde platinum hair, "She's ehhhhh… someone I don't know."

If you didn't know, why'd you keep up the pretense?

"I'm Takamaki Ann!" She introduced herself with a smile, "Ryuji and I are students from Shujin Academy in Minato."

So these two are students from Tokyo proper then?

…Nice to see how the false capital dresses its students. Chiba would never.

"Whoa, dude!" Sakamoto exclaims to Usui while still nursing his side, "You, like, an actor or something?"

"Yeah! You're seriously good-looking!" Takamaki Ann nods along in excitement, "If you modeled, you'd take over all the magazines!"

Usui simply smiles back at them with humility, and I could tell he wasn't a particular fan about the topic they were on. I'm sure he wanted nothing more than to ignore the two of them.

Poor guy(lol).

After that, the cook introduced Nibutani and Kawasaki to them as well as Usui and myself. Geez, just how many introductions were there going to be before the morning ends? It's only a few minutes until 10am and I've already met as many people today as I did the last week, probably.

Okay, fine, I'm exaggerating but for a former loner like me, it's practically the same!

And honestly, it's exhausting. Just thinking about the effort of attempting to remember all these people was already tiring on its own. At the rate I was going, I'm going to need another notebook soon…

At long last, Yukihira finally asked for everyone to follow him, and so we did, but I waited for the others to do it first. First, because I can't stand to be stuck in crowds in any form. Second, I wanted to further study the newest members who linked up with us.

From the hushed whispers I heard as the eccentric duo spoke to Nibutani (Kawasaki took a page of silently hanging back out of my book), I heard mentions about the twin tailed girl being a model. Honestly, I could see it.

So as of now, it's been fifteen minutes since we set off towards the dorm.

It was only because Yukihira was still walking with that Tadoroko Megumi girl with all the confidence in the world that I wasn't panicking that we were lost. Surrounded by a forested area and with the paved road having long since turned into a hiking trail, it didn't really inspire much positivity.

I still wasn't convinced that we weren't being led into a trap and cannibalistic mountain men were about to eat us.

Still, I wasn't just passive aggressive with my thoughts. I made sure to toss multiple sizable pebbles at Yukihira's head in retribution for this impromptu walk in nature.

Kawasaki seemed moody, clearly on the brink of snapping at anyone who dared to bother her. Takamaki and Nibutani were whining about how exhausted they were and how much this sucked. Most of us had long since abandoned our outer layers, feeling stuffy from all the walking, and the girls had wrapped their sweaters around their waists.

Sakamoto attempted to look easy-going, but I could see the tension on his brow and how he was clearly favoring his right leg every other step as we trekked further down the path. He must be injured or something.

Usui was dead to the world, he was not amused one bit and I'm pretty sure he's the one who's been pulling off the trick shots where the pebbles were actually hitting Yukihira on the forehead after bouncing off a surface ahead of him.

Our mutual aspiring-chef acquaintance didn't seem to appreciate our precision. Each time he felt something hit him, he shot us a dirty glare while rubbing the affected area. In an unusual display of synchronization, Usui and I responded with not-so-innocent smiles that epitomized our shared dissatisfaction and the implied threat to his physical well-being should he say anything. Yukihira would just grumble and turn away with a pout.

Another fifteen minutes later…

"Mou! I'm not going to take another step!" Nibutani exclaims, crouching, "I'm sooo tired… Where are we? I'm hungry…"

Luckily for me, my honest intention of throwing mud at Yukihira was interrupted.

Sakamoto was sitting on the ground, head between his legs. At a quick glance, one would assume he was just tired, but his face looked somewhat pale. Probably out of pain. Takamaki was crouched next to him, speaking softly to him. I wasn't able to hear what she was saying.

"Ryuji-kun…" Tadokoro leaned down at him in concern, "Is your leg hurting?"

"N-no way!" Sakamoto tried laughing her off, "Just tired is all. Oh man, can't believe how out of shape I've gotten!"

"Quit acting tough, you idiot! We should have just stayed at that dorm for the event!" Takamaki suddenly growls at him, pressing a finger on his cheek.

Yukihira looked at the scene from the corner of his eyes in silence. Based on the frown on his face, he probably felt guilty about this for some reason. Good grief, it's your fault Usui and I are annoyed with you, not this. This is on the school for making your dormitory inaccessible for this guy and people in general.

"Sorry guys…" He says, turning around, massaging the back of his neck, "I got so used to this distance that I didn't really think how you guys would take it."

"Ah! I'm at fault too, Souma-kun…" Tadakoro comments softly, dropping her gaze.

"Hey, come on!" The spirited boy stood up energetically, "I'm telling you, I'm fine! I was just tired from not sleeping all that great, is all."

The sweat running down, may have been able to be attributed to his claim of fatigue, but I suspected it was cold sweat from the pain he was enduring.

"Ryuji…" Takamaki whispers.

Yukihira stares at him for a brief moment, then walks up to him and places his hands onto the spiky-haired boy's shoulders, much to his surprise as well as everyone else's.

"Uhh…" He looked gob-smacked, "What are y—"

"C'mon, Hachiman. Give me a hand," Is all Yukihira says. Oh, great, I have to participate now.

Thoroughly annoyed after all the walking, the humidity, the failed attempt at displaying pointless machismo, and now this friendship thing Yukihira was going for, I walk up to the duo with a flat look on my face. I really had no desire to go through whatever speech he had as I saw him start to smile his stupid smile.

I long since lost the last inkling of anything resembling a good mood.

So I promptly shoved Yukihira away, and grabbed Sakamoto, lending him my shoulder so he didn't have to put as much weight on his leg.

"Hey!" He tried to protest, but I was quick to cut him off.

"Eating mud after taking your first step is nowhere near as cool as you're trying to be," I tell the wannabe tough guy bluntly, brokering no argument with how annoyed I sounded. Do you think I want to be here right now doing this?

Looking back at the idiot cook, I tell him, "Lead on then."

Yukihira gazes at me in surprise, but he then lets out a soft chuckle, "I guess you're the one acting cool now." He grins, "Sorry, but letting you take all the credit isn't my style." He stands at the other side of Sakamoto and does the same as I did with his other arm, "Still, I'm gonna help."

If someone asked if the chuni stuff from earlier was worse than the sappiness taking place right now, I'd probably have to ask them to get back to me. All of this physical contact sucked…

"It's his right leg, you idiot…" I mutter back at him.

"I know," Yukihira releases a sigh, "Still, two helping is better than one. Let's continue." And then turns to his classmate, "Hey, Tadokoro. You take the lead."

The blue-haired girl nodded rapidly, fists raised before chest, "Y-yes!" And walks ahead, "Everyone, please, don't deviate from the road. We're not so far from the dormitory, but still… it can get a bit tricky up ahead."

"Hey Nibutani, Takamaki!" The cook calls out, "Please bear with it a bit more, okay? I'll make it up to everyone once we get there."

I peek over my shoulder, seeing Nibutani sighing and getting to her feet with Kawasaki's help. Takamaki merely fixed a lock of hair dangling on her forehead and nodded, looking more concerned for this guy we were helping.

Usui was still pulled back, remaining silent as he looked on at Yukihira and I. His expression was unreadable so I couldn't even guess what was going through his mind.

So, our group pressed on, with Tadokoro in the lead. As we trailed behind her, Sakamoto attempted to reassure Yukihira that he was capable of walking. I suspected he didn't direct the same reassurance to me due to my Loner aura being in full swing. Takamaki interrupted anything Yukihira tried to say by telling the spiky-haired boy to stop being stupid and just accept the help.

For a brief second, I did notice some bitterness in his eyes before he shut up and looked down with a click of his tongue, allowing the redhead and I to help him walk.

Eventually, the group came to a stop again, it was Nibutani, who asked for a minute as her feet were aching, not used to such a long trek. She jokingly asked Kawasaki to carry her, and to everyone's surprise, a flat expressioned Usui swooped in and lifted her into a bridal-hold. While everyone was stunned at that, the tallest of the group simply kept his neutral expression and walked onward as if the additional weight wasn't there.

Was this a shoujo? There were better ways to carry a person, you know? Or was I the weird one for giving Utaha a piggyback ride the other night?

Once everyone else snapped out of their surprise, the immediate reactions began. Sakamoto uttered a "Whoa…" Takamaki and Tadoroko flushed at Usui's actions, Yukihira whistled and Kawasaki gained a mocking smile as she teased Nibutani about getting princess service. The girl of the moment had a heavy shade of red on her face as she looked at anything but Usui.

I, of course, rolled my eyes at the entire scene.

There seemed to be in the distance some really tall and important looking buildings, but it seemed none of them were our destination as we proceeded up the trail. However, ten minutes later, we came to spot a building up ahead.

"We're close guys!" Tadokoro announced, pointing towards the building.

"Ugh… For real…?" Sakamoto groaned with a whine.

I ignored the rest of the comments, focusing on not making a wrong step. It must be nice to complain when you don't have to support another person's weight.

I could only hope the dormitory was worth this nightmare of a walk.

11-12

It wasn't.

"This is the Polar Star Dormitory!"

Tadokoro announces, extending a hand to the building behind her. Everyone in the group stared blankly at the building before us, with the obvious exception of Yukihira.

How do I even describe this? I honestly had expected this to be the same level as all those buildings we saw on our way here, but I was completely wrong. There was no modern architecture to see, no cleanliness, to the contrary, the whole structure seemed to be abandoned from the outside.

The place was completely surrounded by slightly tall, brick walls, an old looking barred gate being the entrance to the premises. The building itself held a rather western-styled architecture, and it looked rather run-down, hell, it was so easy to notice the decay of the structure no matter where I looked. There were even creepers clinging to the walls of the three-story dormitory, adding to the already old and abandoned appearance.

Surprisingly, none of the windows seemed broken…

Did we enter an exclusion zone? Or could it be that we unknowingly walked through a portal and traveled far into the future where Japan had fallen into ruin?

"Huh!?" Takamaki's confusement broke through our shared stunned silence, "You mean this is the place!?"

It didn't seem to have fully registered with the others yet that we would be staying here. Usui and I looked at our redheaded companion unimpressed.

"Trust me, it's not as bad as it looks," Yukihira commented with a grin. "It was a lot more scary when I first came here, and it was dark."

Do you think if we dumped his body in the woods, nobody would find it?

Nibutani, who was back on her feet, stood in front of the cook, "You are joking, right?"

Tadokoro let out a nervous giggle, "It's… not… a joke." She said, earning her attention, "This is where we'll be staying…"

The brunette looked at her in disbelief before turning to a deadpanning Yukihira, "So this is where Ryoko is staying! Where is she?" She uttered menacingly, "That idiot didn't even come to pick us up and told us to come all the way here…" She points at the dormitory, "For this!?"

Letting go of Sakamoto, the cook scratched the back of his head, "I honestly have no idea where she's at. Maybe she was… uh, busy?"

Kawasaki rolls her eyes, approaching the gate, "Who cares? We're already stuck here, let's just go in."

Takamaki, with hands on her hip, nods her head, "I mean, I'm sure this is still better than being in some creepy castle anyway."

"I know, right?" Her blonde friend snickers.

I might be the last person to give social advice, but sharing inside jokes with one another just makes everyone else feel lonely, you know? We're just going to feel left out.

"C'mon guys! Someone is waiting for us there," The redhead says, opening the gate.

Everyone exchanges a glance and follows after him. I glance at Sakamoto from the corner of my eye, "You alright on your own?"

He grins back at me, "Totally! Man, you sure saved my butt back there! Can't thank you enough even when I was being dumb about it."

"It's nothing," I assure him as he removes himself from me and stands on his own.

"It ain't nothing, dude," He responds, bumping his fist to my shoulder, "Not that many people would have helped as readily as you did."

I don't say anything, but nod back at his words.

The punk-looking guy laughs, "Well, I better see where I'm staying. Don't want to take anymore chances with my leg."

He hobbles off, following Tadoroko and Takamaki. The two girls smile as he catches up with them, before sending me a grateful look. I nod meekly, while rubbing the back of my head, uneasy at the gratitude.

I release a sigh and finally move after them. The group stood before the double wooden doors of the dormitory, Yukihira waiting for me to open the doors. Good grief, we're way past the point of showing off here. Half of us here want nothing more than to go lay down in bed at this point.

The cook pushed the doors open, revealing the insides. Surprisingly, unlike the outer part of the building, the inner hall looked well maintained, with cleaned walls and floors. Really, this all looked exceptionally comfy… now I understand why Yukihira would stay here… although I'm still not sure if the distance made it worth it. Maybe seeing my actual room will help me decide.

"Whoooaa! This ain't what I expected from this oldass building!" Comments Sakamoto in awe, "This is sweet!"

"There's even a ventilation system here," Yukihira raises a thumbs up, "Despite the heat outside, it feels so fresh in here, right?"

Kawasaki lets her bag fall to the floor, well hers and Nibutani's, which she also carried, "Talk about a deceptive place, huh?" She smiles at her close friend, "See Shinka, you cried so much about this, but this place ain't half bad."

"Shut it. The whole trek here was still tiring," Nibutani countered.

That was the general atmosphere as the others began to talk amongst themselves. Heck, even Usui was interacting with Yukihira using full sentences rather than teasing one-liners. Well, it was actually a good 70-30 split between teasing and earnest communication.

Some steps are suddenly heard, coming from the right wing of the building. Silence broke through the chatter, all of us turning towards the new presence in the lobby.

"Ah, Obaa-san," Yukihira raises a hand in greeting. "We're back."

An old woman approached us at his call, with spiky gray hair combed backwards, held back by a red hairband. Her wrinkles were mostly noticeable on her forehead and near her mouth. She sported a long-sleeved yellow t-shirt, a long, orange skirt that almost reached the floor and a brown apron.

"Hehehe, you took longer than expected," The old woman stares at each one of us, cocking an eyebrow when her eyes land on Usui, "Hoho! Aren't you a very good looking guy?"

The tall blonde blinks for a moment before smiling suavely, "You flatter me."

I wondered if he had specific masks for any situation that called for it. His default one seems to fall in the 'mysterious' category, as he remained quiet and left people speculating on his thoughts. Wait a minute, isn't that how a lot of shoujo male leads are portrayed?

"This is Daimidou Fumio," Yukihira stands between the woman and us. "The warden of the dormitory."

Nibutani steps to her, and politely bows, "It's very nice to meet you, Daimidou-san. I'm Nibutani Shinka," And brightly smiles at her. "Please take care of us for the coming days!"

If it wasn't for the fact that I saw her screaming match with Kawasaki, I would have thought that this was how Nibutani normally behaved. Talk about contrasts.

"Hoho, such a well-mannered ojou-chan," The dormitory's warden, Daimidou Fumio, chuckles, a hand under her chin. Kawasaki looked ready to laugh at her comment but refrained from it. "Nice to meet you, too."

"Hello! I'm Takamaki Ann!" The platinum blonde girl grins, pulling Tadokoro and Sakamoto along with her, "We've come for the event to help Tadokoro! Hope you take care of us, too!"

"Hey there, Granny! I'm Sakamoto Ryuji," He greets her with a laugh. Oi, didn't anyone tell you to never mention a woman's age?

"Such energetic friends you have there, Tadokoro-chan," Daimidou comments, before turning to the rest of us.

"Kawasaki Saki," The silver-haired girl merely says, raising a hand.

"My name is Usui Takumi. Thank you for having us," The tallest of us smiles amicably and bows towards the older woman.

The woman nods with a smile, before turning to the only remaining person within the group that has yet to be introduced. That was me, of course. I didn't like the unnecessary attention that fell upon me, being the last to speak.

"Hikigaya Hachiman," I nod at her in acknowledgement.

I felt a bit gross for not following my expected modicum of respect for my elders. Acting the part of a delinquent was something I'll probably never get used to. At least Sakamoto was more of a punk with well-meaning intent, I was supposed to be more antagonizing, probably.

The woman stares at me, taking a few steps forward, curiously studying me. I can't help but raise an eyebrow at the unwanted attention.

"So… this is him… right?" She asks, glancing at the redhead.

Huh? Me… what? Why am I the one gathering additional interactions?

"Oh, yeah!" Yukihira smirks, nodding in confirmation, "He's the one I told you about."

Daimidou's quiet gaze lingered and an uncomfortable tension started to creep in. It was quite unsettling, and to add to that, the old woman didn't even blink.

I shoot a disapproving look at Yukihira. Oi, what exactly were you blabbing about me for? It better not be anything embarrassing, or I'll just deny it all and put the blame on you. I'm your elder, so they'll believe me. No, wait, that's for younger brats.

Source: Komachi.

"So… then…" The old woman's expression hardened out of the blue, some sort of dark aura coming from her as she looked incredibly intimidating. "I was thinking of making everyone do the challenge, but I have changed my mind."

"Huh?" Yukihira blinked at that, "Challenge? You don't mean…"

"But!" Tadokoro started, looking pale. "Considering the event… is that really necessary?"

"W-what challenge is she talkin' about?" Sakamoto turns to his friends, nervously scratching his cheek due to the sudden shift in atmosphere.

"B-basically… it's a test all of us living here had to pass in order to gain residence in the dormitory," Tadakoro explains as she rests a hand on her chest.

The old woman let out an intimidating chuckle, hand resting on her hip, "As the Madonna of the Polar Star, I have decided that only one of you will do it," She points a finger at me. "You, are you interested in taking our infamous challenge?"

…Hah?

"I refuse," I scoff with a blunt tone in my voice.

The old woman makes a humming sound, arching an eyebrow. Whether it was intrigue or just surprise at me rejecting her challenge, I couldn't tell… Frankly, it didn't matter to me, and I had no intention of allowing her to impose an impromptu test on me either.

"Is that so?" She chuckles slightly, "Are you afraid that you'll fail?"

Cheap bait, "I'm not an aspiring chef, I have no obligation here other than helping Yukihira."

The old woman glanced at the redhead, "Hohoh, isn't he a good friend?"

Yukihira peeks at me, and hesitantly nods, "He has my back…"

"If helping him meant you taking the challenge," She returns her focus to me again… this woman doesn't give up, huh? "Would you change your mind?"

"I might if it wasn't an empty threat," I narrowed my eyes, "I doubt you'd be severe enough to punish him for my refusal."

Losing a talented and aspiring chef for the sake of getting back at an outsider would make no sense, after all.

"Hoho… That is true," She nods calmly. "He already earned his place in the dorm, although he still has a long way to go."

"Tch… you know the only thing holding me back are all those annoying rules this academy has," Yukihira barks at her, "And I'm always up for a challenge if you wanna give me one, Fumio-san."

"Hehh…" An amused tone coming from Usui rings through, "You should be old enough to know how to follow rules, Yukihira-kun. You're not in elementary anymore~"

"Might as well go back," I add dryly, "Maybe he can get a refresher course about consideration for others…"

Yukihira cringed slightly, as if he took a physical blow.

Daimidou smirked, "You three remind me of the old students that lived here years ago," She seemed nostalgic for a moment, but then shook her head, "In any case, I actually expected something different from your friend, Yukihira. It's rather disappointing."

Yukihira shrugs his shoulders, "Everything I mentioned is still the truth, Fumio-san." He glances at me, "But maybe, putting stock on him to do something like that isn't really the best idea."

I didn't realize you had any good ideas today…

My brow twitches in annoyance, but I kept my barbed comment to myself.

"Hmm… maybe…" Daimidou turns to the others, "Anyone of you want to take the challenge then?" The woman asks out loud. "Maybe you, pretty kid." She looks directly at Usui, "You're the one that worked in a maid cafe, correct?"

"My experience is circumstantial," Usui smiles with humility, "I am a simple part-time student worker who can follow recipes."

He's hiding his skills behind modesty. He was equal to Belldandy with convenience store quality of products, there's no doubt he's better than he lets on. Right now, he can't make a name for himself.

Suddenly, a soft, eerie chuckle escapes the old woman's lips.

"Interesting…" The warden muttered, "Let me be honest with all of you. I was asked to give residence to the participants for the coming event taking place in Totsuki, and while I accepted to an extent, I never explicitly agreed to allow people in here so easily. This dormitory has produced numerous top chefs over the years, and even though our reputation has been on the decline, I refuse to let people stay here without proving themselves."

Takamaki frowns, "But… aren't you going against the rules of this school?"

"This dormitory works independently from the Totsuki Academy as a whole," The old woman elaborated, taking some steps around us. "We give housing to those that excel at cooking… for free. The only condition is for applicants to prove their worth. Just this time, I'll grant you all access to all the facilities within this dorm, but one of you must pass the challenge first."

Everyone exchanges exasperated glances, Sakamoto stepping up, "Is this for real!? We came all the way here and now, and there's the chance we get kicked out?" He shoots a dirty look at Tadokoro.

She waves her hands frantically, "I didn't know Ryuji-kun… sorry…"

Nibutani sighs, dropping her previous polite facade, "So what is this challenge exactly?"

Daimidou stands before us, looking serious.

Go to profile, LISTEN: Link in Logic Is My Sword: Chapter 11 Section: Song 06

"The participant is to make a meal," The warden begins, briefly glancing in my direction before continuing. What? "Considering the current circumstances, I'll provide the necessary ingredients for the participant."

"So… one of us makes a dish…" Nibutani's voice is sharp, "Then what?"

Daimidou-san smirks, "As the supervisor, I will assess and taste the dish of the participant. If it's good, you'll pass and everyone gets to stay. It's that simple."

Comments soon came up from everyone within the room, and no one seemed too pleased about the sudden requirements. Who would honestly, after that long hike we had to endure.

In any case, this challenge appears to be a straightforward test, especially when viewed at a surface level. Prepare a single meal of your choice. It sounds easy, and it even gives the impression of a handicap since an aspiring chef can showcase their best dish and win with it.

But that inlines the actual challenge. It's not a handicap; if you opt to prepare your best dish, Daimidou-san will anticipate even greater skill from you. Any mistakes will be all the more glaring because your best dish should be one you are intimately familiar with. So if you were to screw up in any way, how can you be expected to excel with anything else?

Sure, as something less than amateurs, students like us will be forgiven for our less egregious mistakes, but we still need to display talent.

In the end, those aspects don't really concern me. If we're forced to take the challenge regardless, it requires us to place our trust in one person within this group to create something that meets the older woman's approval.

"Fumio-san," Yukihira calls out. "It's because of me that they came here. It should be on me, taking this challenge. I caused them too much trouble already," With his lips pursed, he continues. "Is there something I can do to change your mind?"

Tadokoro nods her head, "I a-also brought my friends here, so I—"

"No. My decision is final," She states firmly, "It's on them now. You have five minutes to decide who will participate. If none of you want to take the challenge, it's fine. You can go back to the special dorm for the event."

"That's not fair…" Nibutani mutters.

"Nothing ever is, my dear," With that, Daimidou walks away, but not without adding, "When I come back, I expect either a challenger, or all of you gone."

Silence engulfed the room once she was gone, but only lasted until the others began to voice their thoughts on the current situation. It was clear that nobody wanted to take on the challenge, most likely at the possibility of failing and the associated responsibility. As for Yukihira, he looked troubled, scratching the back of his head and lost in thought.

Tadokoro started apologizing to everyone, person by person. Eventually, she approached me and bowed to me slightly, clearly ashamed even if she wasn't responsible for this development.

"I-I'm sorry Hikigaya-senpai. We should have let you all s-stay at the special dorm," She apologizes, her eyes unable to meet mine. There's a moment of silence as I mull my words.

"Don't worry about it, it's not like it's your fault," I attempted to reassure her.

"But it is…" The short girl shakes her head and looks away, "We should have expected this from Fumio-san…"

"Seriously, you don't have to blame yourself," I again try to placate her, "I mean, seeing the situation, you probably only invited your group over because this idiot," I gestured to Yukihira, "Got overly excited about inviting me and dragged you into the atmosphere."

Yukihira glances at me over his shoulders, but says nothing, folding his arms.

"Mou, I might as well try that challenge," Nibutani growls. "Better than just getting left outside without even trying."

"Didn't you just hear?" Kawasaki mutters, "That old lady said that top chefs were produced here. There's no way we can pass this test, you know? Let's just head back while the sun's out."

"C'mon, man…" Sakamoto facepalms, "This isn't what we signed up for. Damn rotten adults, changing shit at the last minute…"

I raised an eyebrow at the odd comment, but otherwise decided to not think of it too much.

Anyway, Usui was the only one among us who didn't exhibit any signs of anxiety. It wasn't particularly surprising, considering I was pretty confident in his ability to secure a victory for us. However, he didn't look pleased either. It was subtle, but his posture conveyed a hint of deflation. He actually might volunteer himself for the challenge.

But in order to win, he'd have to impress the matron of the dormitory. And if he were to impress her, he would attract even more attention to himself. That's a considerable risk for him to undertake.

Ah, well, I did owe the guy for a few things…

"I'll do it," I say before the tall blonde could step forward. Surprise briefly appears on his face, but as our eyes meet, he gives me a subtle nod of gratitude.

The rest just gaze at me in shock.

Kawasaki is the first to approach me, "Didn't you just say this thing had nothing to do with you?"

"Yeah, it's a total pain," I exaggerate a sigh, "But it'd be a bigger pain having to walk all the way back to the other dorms."

Lazy pretense, I'm not going to try to appear to be a hero. That's not me.

"Are you sure dude?" Sakamoto asks, "You don't have to do it, man. Who cares about that challenge? We can go back."

"Yeah, right… Quit saying nonsense, Ryuji!" Takamaki growled, pushing his head with a finger. "You barely made the trip here!"

The two continued to argue, so I tuned them out, noticing Tadokoro looking down to her feet. She was really bothered by this, it seemed. Nibutani approached her, smiling at her and whispering something to her ear, which oddly enough, made her turn to me for a moment. Huh, what's with that?

And it is then that I come to notice it.

I sort of expected from Yukihira a similar reaction to the others, but strangely enough, he only stared at me blankly, his expression completely unreadable. It was just like that one time at his restaurant after I managed to fix things with Miura.

And what was weirder, he didn't make any comments about it, and just leaned against a wall in silence. I briefly recall Usui's advice from a while back, about being upfront with my intentions. Unease hits me… I didn't make a mistake, did I?

[Maybe you did make the wrong move.]

I blink as my gaze shifts towards my shadow self, who stood near Yukihira. His hands were tucked in his pockets, a mocking smile directed at me. I suppress a sigh, not wanting to draw any attention. Since I'm the only one that can see him, displaying any reaction could prove to be detrimental.

I was between a rock and a hard place. Sure, my initial rejection was understandable and seemingly in character, given it was a ridiculous aspect to put up with for a non-Totsuki student, but changing my mind had been a mistake. I was likely expected to double down on my decisions.

Should I have added in the aspect of not trusting the others to pass? It could have served as a pretext for changing my mind, considering it was expected of me to antagonize others.

It's too late for that.

Still, I may be able to save face if questioned privately later. I could admit that the laziness excuse was merely a pretense, and my true reason was a lack of trust in others. This might come across as less suspicious, especially since I've been less confrontational lately.

[While you may be correct to some extent, that's not really what you should be focusing on. You are underestimating Yukihira, and you'll eventually realize why. Be mindful of that.]

Rather than underestimating the guy, I didn't have a good grasp on him to begin with, which led me to overlook it too often.

[Understandable, but that is just half the part of the problem. Consider your actions, consider possible scenarios, consider other people's backgrounds before deciding on how to deal with what will come. I'm expecting our enemy to do the same, so we can't make mistakes ourselves and fall behind.]

I get it. But sometimes I'll have to make decisions I wouldn't be expected to make. Miura was a good example even if I screwed up with Utaha. I couldn't let whatever odd relationship I had with the Fire Queen be destroyed at the time.

This time, it was more of an underhanded situation where I didn't really have a choice to begin with.

[Huh… let's see how this goes…]

In the blink of an eye, my shadow self was gone, and soon enough, Daimidou returned, looking amused, and most likely guessing what was going to be the response to her conditions. It kinda pissed me off.

"So…" The warden calmly started, looking at each one of us before speaking, "Who will it be?"

Glances are exchanged within the group, but ultimately, they land on me. Sure it's somewhat embarrassing being so adamantly against participating, to only volunteer myself some minutes later, but for sanity's sake, I decide to let it go.

After an extended train ride to reach this district, a shuttle escort to arrive at the campus, an uphill walk to reach the administrative building, and then over a half-hour's hike to reach a decrepit dormitory, we're now faced with a ridiculous challenge for the sake of staying in the building. I'm already sick of it, and we haven't even started the stupid event.

Really, it was one test of patience after another when it comes to this school.

But this was the first challenge from the so-called Totsuki academy. Prove myself in everyone's stead that we're good enough for what we came here for, whether it was for our sake or for the sake of the students in her dorm.

Regardless of the reason, it didn't matter.

But if we had to undergo the challenge, I might as well be the one to do it. There wasn't anyone whose talent I was willing to trust to get us through this. Only Usui could do it without breaking a sweat, but the risks outweigh the benefits. Even though I knew my own talent wasn't at the level I've been told it is, that meant nothing in this world.

I didn't have the ability to cook like Yukihira gloats about. But then again, I wasn't supposed to have fighting skills either. So, what's one more gamble?

"It's going to be me," I state bluntly, hands in my pocket.

Go to profile, SEE: Link in Logic Is My Sword: Chapter 11 Section: Picture 03

"Hohoh," The old woman smirks, meeting my gaze, "So it's gonna be you after all."

I massage the back of my neck and release a sigh, already disliking her tone. I wasn't gonna dance to her tune, if she wants her challenge, so be it, but earning her personal approval is the last thing I care about.

A way to pass the test, that is all I have to focus on.

"Let's get this over with."

Chapter 11 END

GTH 04

A tall woman with long flowing black hair stood in the middle of a class, all the seats taken by the Readers, who eagerly awaited for the presentation of the newest characters. Her gray eyes radiated a profound sense of irritation.

She was dressed in a white lab coat that she wore over a well-fitted black vest. Beneath the vest, there was a crisply ironed dress shirt, and she had casually loosened her tie just a tad. Her lower half was clad in sleek black pants that matched her attire perfectly. A brown leather belt that encircled her waist and stylish black shoes completed the ensemble.

"Hello readers, I'm Hiratsuka Shizuka. One of the supporting characters in the light novels you all know as Oregairu." She released a sigh, annoyance painting her features, "Today we have a lot of people to present, and sadly for me, it's going to be worse in the next chapters…" She glanced at the classroom door close to her, "Anyhow, let's get on with it."

At that, a short girl entered the class, someone that had the looks of a foreigner.

"Hello!" The blond girl waves a hand at the readers, "I'm Shibasaki Roka. One of the main characters of the manga and anime, D-Fragments!" With a confident smile and hands on her hip, she adds, "I'm also the president of the Temporal Game Creation Club, and also a fire type!"

Hiratsuka sweat drops slightly, "Fire type? Are you a Pokémon?"

A chibified version of the girl raises her arms to the air, "Yeah! I'm like a Charizard!"

"Uhuh…" The teacher decides to ignore the nonsensical comment, shaking her head, "So, who's next?"

A newcomer entered the classroom, dressed in a security uniform that exuded an air of professionalism. She greeted the readers with a shy but warm smile, and as a gesture of respect, bowed gracefully before the attentive audience.

"H-hello everyone… I'm Koumi Haruka, a main character of the Rail Wars! Series…" Clutching the fabric of her blazer with a hand, the girl with pinkish hair took a deep breath to quell her nervousness, "I'm a member of the Fourth Peacekeeper Squad."

"Ah, that's something like security teams assigned for train stations," With a hand under her chin, Hiratsuka commented. "I already met one of your members… she was hotheaded."

Koumi smiled awkwardly, by all means she knew who Hiratsuka was referring too, "I-I'd say she's a bit bold, but always means well…"

"I just hope none on your team get hurt," Hiratsuka nods at her.

"O-Of course!"

"Hoh… security girl is kinda cool!" Chibi Shibasaki signsongs, "I feel that you're also a fire type!"

"Y-you think?" Koumi leans her head in curiosity.

Hiratsuka rolls her eyes at the odd interaction, "Anyway! Come in whoever is next!"

A boy entered this time, his short brown hair neatly combed, and he too was wearing a school uniform. He shot Koumi a brief glance before clearing his throat.

"Hello… I'm—"

"Ah, you are that Kyon your friends talk about?" Hiratsuka interrupts the boy, reading on her phone, "Ah yeah, the main protagonist of the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise, right?"

"Wasn't I supposed to be presenting myself?" The boy deadpans, "And Kyon is not my nan—"

"Are you also from that spin-off?" Hiratsuka asks, interrupting him, "A friend of yours that was present on one of Onizuka-sensei's presentations said she was from a spin-off."

Kyon sighed heavily, "Yeah… I'm also from the Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu spin-off where none supernatural events occur. The story is more focused on romance, I suppose."

"I see, I see," Hiratsuka chuckles slightly, leaning on a desk, "Thanks for clarifying, I was getting a bit lost on that." She turns to the door, "Alright, who's ne—"

"Niihahaha!"

A loud laugh resounded from the door, echoing through the classroom. Without delay, a girl dressed in a modified school uniform, who sported an extraordinarily long blue scarf, burst through the door. She slowed down just in time, avoiding a collision with the other guests.

"Hi, hi!" The girl with pink hair and pigtails made a pose, holding on one hand some sort of wand with a start at the end, "I'm Sophia Ring SP Saturn VII! A devil magical girl! Nice to meet you all!"

"Oh! This girl is also so cool!" Shibasaki comments excitedly, stars shining in her eyes, "Want to join my club?"

"She's from another school… right?" Koumi said awkwardly, "I don't think she coul—"

"That would be the logical thing to think, but…" Kyon waved a hand, earning her attention, "I know someone who successfully joined a club at a school that wasn't her own. It's possible…"

Hiratsuka was taken aback by that statement, but she quickly redirected her focus to more important matters, urging the cheerful girl to abandon her delusional persona.

"That's not your name."

"But it is m—"

"It's not, c'mon," Hiratsuka cut her off, "On with it, present yourself properly this time, okay?"

The newer guest dropped her shoulders in disappointment, "Fine… I'm Shichimiya Satone. My character becomes relevant later on in the story of the light novels and anime of Chunibyo Demo Koi ga Shitai!"

"Good girl," Hiratsuka looked pleased, despite the fact that Shichimiya was pouting. "Ok! Let's continue!"

A stunning girl walks into the room, her platinum blonde hair styled in thick pigtails. Her uniform appeared to have some customizations as well. She casually positions herself in front of the readers, elegantly tucking one pigtail behind her ear, an action that exudes an air of seduction, even if it's unintentional. The male readers erupt in enthusiastic cheers.

"You're very cute, huh?" Hiratsuka commented, "Are you a model or something?"

"Huh? You could tell?"

"Cute face, and you got quite the figure," Hiratsuka replied, "C'mon, introduce yourself."

"Okay… I'm Takamaki Ann. I'm one of the playable characters from the videogame Persona 5," She elaborates, waving an arm. "I happen to be one of the Phantom Thieves, my code name being Panther, though I can't really show you guys my costume," She smiles, sticking out her tongue playfully.

"Maybe you happen to have a picture of it…" Kyon asks, clearing his throat.

Hiratsuka glares at him, "Stop that. I'm the only person that can be flirted with in this class!"

"But you are old—"

A sudden punch connected with the boy's face, leaving everyone in the room stunned as he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

"Anyway," The teacher grins at the terrified guests. "Don't you have a friend that needs introduction too, Takamaki-san?"

"Y-yeah…" Takamaki peeks at the unconscious student with a forced smile. Then she turns to the door, "Ryuji! It's your turn!"

"For real?" A male voice comes from the door.

"Yeah! Hurry up!"

A blonde boy strolled into the classroom, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. He wore a uniform similar in design to Takamaki's. He ambled over to the others, with Shibasaki suddenly pointing a finger at his face.

"You remind me of someone I know!" The short girl exclaims in surprise, "Are you a tsukkomi, too!?"

"Uh," The boy scratched the back of his head, slightly confused. "No? …I think?"

Takamaki rolled her eyes, "You kinda are… wait… you like punk music, right?"

"Oh yeah, totally!" He grins, "Guess that makes me a tsukkomi!"

"I don't think that's what tsukkomi means…" Koumi shyly points out.

Hiratsuka facepalms at the dumb scene, "This is getting out of hand. Please, just introduce yourself, alright?"

"Oh, sure. I'm Sakamoto Ryuji!" The blond boy says, pointing a thumb at himself with a smirk, "I'm also a playable character of Persona 5. My code name is Skull. Pretty cool, huh?"

"So cool!" Shichimiya squeals out loud, followed by Shibasaki, "Can I see your Persona!?"

Takamaki blinks, "Wait, I also have a Persona. Why are you gu—"

"This section is just for presentation, kids!" Hiratsuka cut her off, "Stop making a fuss, there's still more people to introduce. C'mon, next one! Come in!"

Upon Hiratsuka's call, a blue-haired girl with neatly braided pigtails, dressed in a school uniform, hesitated before making her way to the center of the room. Her demeanor clearly revealed her shyness, and it seemed as though she was on the verge of panic at being thrust into the spotlight.

"I-I-I f-from t-the—" The newest character stammered, unable to speak properly.

Hiratsuka put a comforting hand on the trembling girl's shoulder, "C'mon. No need to panic. It's alright. Breathe deeply and just present yourself. No one here is gonna pressure you."

Sakamoto gives her a thumbs up, "Yeah, it's not a big deal. You can do it!"

"What part of 'no one is going to pressure her' didn't you get?" Hiratsuka growls at him, who just gulped in response.

"It's f-fine!" The girl waves her hands, "It's a just b-bit difficult for me to handle the attention of so many people, although I-I think I'm getting better at it…" She rests a hand on her chest, and breathes deeply just as she was advised, "Okay! I'm Tadoroko Megumi! One of the heroines in the Shokugeki no Souma manga and anime. I'm part of the 92nd Totsuki generation…"

"Good work, Megumi-chan!" Shimamiya exclaims out loud.

The remaining guests congratulated her, but the cheerful atmosphere quickly dissipated when an imposing presence entered the classroom. Both guests and readers turned their attention to an old woman with a peculiar hairstyle.

The imposing woman stepped up to the others, and utter silence fell upon the room. Hiratsuka was impressed by how effortlessly the old woman managed to silence the entire class.

"F-F-Fumio san is h-here, too!?" Tadoroko visibly pales.

"Of course!" The woman states firmly, "I'm Daimidou Fumio. Supporting character in the Shokugeki no Souma series, and warden of the Polar Star Dormitory."

"So you basically house most of the main cast of the series, right?" Hiratsuka asks in curiosity.

"Pretty much," She easily replied and turned to Tadokoro, "I'm expecting you to put a good name for the dormitory, eh?"

"Y-Y-Yes!"

Hiratsuka checks on her phone, and releases a sigh of relief, "Well, it seems Daimidou-san was the last guest today. We sure took a while."

Daimidou nods in agreement, "Hoho! I got the feeling that your next session will be worse, dear. You better get ready for it."

Hiratsuka slumped her shoulders, "I know… Anyway…" She looks at the readers, "This is all for today. See you all next time!"

Author Notes:

There are several things that should be mentioned about this chapter, just in case. These are as follow:

- Hikigaya has begun his strategy against Ayanokouji. Simply denying him as many targets as he can. Basically hoarding suspects to himself, and not bothering to engage with them if he doesn't have to. It's his first step in the path he decided to take.

- For those familiar with Persona 5. The day Okumura dies in canon is different compared to the LiMS version. In P5, Okumura's death happens on the 11th, while in LiMS, on the 13th. This was an oversight that had to be adjusted since we didn't think about it until after the Monday chapter with Utaha was already published. Other relevant changes will be mentioned later on.

- The changes to Japan. In order to incorporate other anime aspects, Japan's geography was altered:

There are multiple tundra areas that were left frozen concerning the sea villages, previously mentioned.

The Nurturing High School, a place that was always going to exist in Tokyo Bay simply because of Ayanokouji's presence in the story.

The mysterious land mass such as Itogami Island in Sagami Bay, below Kanagawa.

And finally, the elephant in the room, Academy City. We had to look into it, but Academy City does indeed basically cut the "Tokyo Prefecture" in half. In canon, it takes up a few districts around Tokyo and we kept it as it was.

Keep in mind that Hachiman's POV can be unreliable at times, so anything he learns may be either true or false until it's thoroughly confirmed.