-Hayase Yuuka Substory Chapter 1-
o-0-o
The jarring blare of the alarm clock disrupted the serene slumber of the room's sole occupant, Yuuka. After a late-night marathon of assembling a report on the dramatic incident involving the General Student Council and the enigmatic Sparda-Sensei, she found herself roused by the unwelcome intrusion of the morning. With her eyes heavy and a yawn that could compete in a drowsy Olympics, Yuuka shuffled towards the bathroom to freshen up, her favorite light blue pajamas offering no protection against her persistent exhaustion.
"Hah," she sighed with the weariness of a thousand Mondays. Her initial impulse begged her to dive back beneath the cozy confines of her sheets, but a glimmer of purpose held her back. She had set the alarm with a mission in mind.
And boy, did she have a premonition that today would be a "don't-talk-to-me-I'm-so-tired" kind of day.
Yuuka glanced out the window, her bleary eyes meeting the inky darkness outside, punctuated only by the occasional sentinel streetlamp. But that's precisely what she had expected. When she cast a glance at the clock, it proclaimed it was a cruel quarter past four. Her choice to rise at such an ungodly hour was deliberate; she needed a few moments of solitude before donning her official hat as the treasurer of Millennium Science School.
She'd come prepared for this battlefield, naturally. Cans of energy drinks stood at attention on her desk, an army of crackers ready to charge, and a trusty compress to cool her overheated brain. She was armed to the teeth with provisions for a taxing day.
"Now, then…" Yuuka opened her laptop and was met with a sense of accomplishment as she beheld the multitude of documents she had birthed into the digital world the previous night. Sure, they might be akin to literary blandness, but her heart swelled with pride. Today, she'd bestow upon them the gift of eloquence, perfecting them for the discriminating taste of her club comrades.
But just as she was about to dive headfirst into the virtual sea of words, her eager fingers were distracted by the siren song of several notifications in her social media inbox. She couldn't suppress a sigh when she discovered the digital treasure trove of clips documenting yesterday's chaotic incident.
She had predicted this. The incident was a spectacle too grand to go unnoticed. With a resigned attitude, she began to peruse the videos. Unfortunately, they mainly depicted scenes she had already witnessed firsthand, only from various, slightly less exciting angles.
Then, like a light bulb flickering to life in her mind, she embarked on a quest to find a particular moment - the one where Sparda-Sensei effortlessly sliced through a shell and a tank like a culinary master preparing sushi.
As she scrutinized the video, her excitement bubbled up, and she couldn't help but grin like a child who'd just discovered an unexpected bonus in their cereal box.
Lo and behold, it was the moment when Sparda-Sensei's katana appeared to materialize out of thin air. The blade was simply not there one moment and then, poof, it was there. Her bewildered muttering couldn't possibly convey the shock she felt at this peculiar phenomenon. It was as if Sparda-Sensei possessed a real-life cheat code for summoning swords.
She played the video in agonizing slow motion, hoping to catch the elusive instant when Sparda-Sensei pulled out the katana. However, the more she watched, the more convinced she became that he had no such weapon concealed on his person.
"Spatial manipulation?" Yuuka pondered aloud, before shaking her head in disbelief. "No, that can't be it, can it? Sparda-Sensei couldn't possibly possess such advanced technology while remaining oblivious to the rest of the world's progress." Besides, manipulating space was still science fiction, despite Millennium's exorbitant spending in trying to make it a reality. The dream of shaping space at will remained a mere wisp of possibility, somewhere between the improbable and the impossible.
But there was no denying the surreal sight she had witnessed. One moment, Sparda-Sensei was as unarmed as a newborn kitten, and in the next breath, he brandished an unsheathed katana as if it had materialized from the ether.
Yuuka's bewilderment extended beyond the sudden appearance of the blade. Her amateur detective's eye had missed the precise moment when that katana struck the tank's shell. And there was the conundrum: how on Earth did Sparda-Sensei manage to slice apart a tank from a distance with a single, elegant swing? What was his trick? Was the katana the key to this riddle?
Ruffling her hair in frustration, Yuuka felt like a character stuck in a mystery novel with missing chapters. She contemplated seeking assistance from fellow students – perhaps those in the Engineering Department or, reluctantly, President Himari herself.
Both options were unappealing. The Engineering Department was known for being, well, the Engineering Department, while President Himari was, well, President Himari.
As she pondered her predicament, her phone chimed with a new message. A direct message from Tsukatsuki Rio, the cold and calculating president of Seminar, which conveniently made her Millennium's student council president, had just landed in her inbox.
The message was succinct and authoritative.
[ I expect your arrival at my office by 8 AM. ]
Yuuka's face twisted into a disapproving frown. "What in the world is she thinking, sending a DM at this ungodly hour?" she muttered. And then another unsettling thought nagged at her. How did Rio know she was already awake? Did she secretly install surveillance cameras in Yuuka's room?
With a resigned sigh, Yuuka closed her laptop. Her hope of squeezing in a few more precious hours of sleep dwindled as the weight of Rio's 'request' pressed upon her.
"Well, guess I'll have to put my morning beauty sleep on hold," she mused with a hint of sarcasm. She then decided that a walk outside in the crisp morning air might help recharge her groggy brain. After all, what better way to prepare for a rendezvous with the 'illustrious' Rio?
And boy, did she have a premonition that today would be a "don't-talk-to-me-I'm-so-tired" kind of day.
o-0-o
Yuuka ventured out for a brisk jog, her destination uncertain, but her mission clear: to shake off the clinging embrace of exhaustion and grant her mind a reprieve. She had swapped her pajamas for a sleek navy tracksuit, a costume change that both shielded her from the morning's chill and provided her with the freedom to move effortlessly.
With contemplation as her compass, she veered towards the southern precincts of Millennium, a random choice she intended to execute for fun. For a fleeting moment, she even dared to break into a run, eager to push the limits of her physical endurance.
However, her ambition outpaced her stamina, and not even five minutes had elapsed before Yuuka found herself wheezing for air.
"Huh? That's weird... I thought I could go a bit further," she mumbled to herself, slowing to a limping pace and seeking solace on a nearby bench.
Eyes shut, she inhaled deeply, urging her lungs to greedily devour the morning's crisp oxygen.
"Oh? How rare to see you here this early," a cheerful voice chimed in.
"Huh?" Startled, Yuuka turned her attention toward the source of the voice and was greeted by none other than Otohana Sumire.
Sumire, an embodiment of vitality with her long onyx hair tied into a ponytail by a purple scrunchie, sported a vivid violet flower hairpin adorning her right bangs, and her piercing purple eyes were a statement of determination. She wore a glistening white jacket with sleek black lines and a stylish purple belt, a flower-patterned sports bra underneath, and black stretchy pants held together by a vibrant purple sling. Her silver sneakers, complete with purple shoelaces and green soles, seemed to whisper of her active lifestyle. A green armband adorned her arm, a clover necklace dangled around her neck, and an orange visor rested nonchalantly within her sports bra.
An imposing semi-automatic shotgun was strapped securely to her back, a testament to her readiness for anything.
Sumire's skin glistened with a slight sheen of sweat, and her breath, while slightly uneven, showcased the telltale signs of someone in the midst of a rigorous workout.
"Sumire...aren't you cold dressed like that?" Yuuka couldn't help but point out.
"Not at all," Sumire replied with an unfazed grin. "I've just wrapped up my third round of jogging, so I'm actually feeling quite toasty right now."
Yuuka's eyebrows shot up in response. "Only three? That seems a bit modest for someone of your caliber."
Sumire chuckled softly. "Well, even for me, encircling Millennium three times was a challenging workout."
"Forget I ever asked," Yuuka responded, her tone dry and eyes rolling, as if she'd just encountered a one-woman army who considered three rounds of the campus a casual warm-up.
"And what about you? I never pegged our esteemed treasurer as someone inclined toward morning exercises. What's brought about this change?" Sumire inquired.
Taking a generous gulp from the drinking fountain, Yuuka mused, "Well, once in a blue moon, there's a day like this. The fresh air's quite invigorating; maybe I should consider doing this more often."
Sumire's proposition made Yuuka's senses prickle, and a chill danced down her spine. Slowly turning to face Sumire, she found the ponytailed dynamo eyeing her like a seasoned hunter eyeing its prey. "Then," Sumire suggested with an inviting tone, "Would you like to join me in my exercise? I'm sure you'll discover even more wonderful things!"
Yuuka found herself caught in a dilemma when faced with Sumire's spirited invitation. She had the urge to decline outright, but the intensity in Sumire's eyes made it unexpectedly challenging to refuse.
"What should I do?" Yuuka pondered desperately, her mind racing for a plausible escape. Then, like a lifesaver in the vast sea of her thoughts, an idea surfaced. "O-oh! Would you look at the time!" she exclaimed, feigning sudden realization. "I'm terribly sorry, but I have an urgent report to complete for Seminar! Catch you later!"
Without waiting for Sumire's reaction, Yuuka beat a hasty retreat, leaving behind a stunned Sumire. She felt a pang of guilt for her impromptu escape, but the prospect of being swept away by Sumire's boundless enthusiasm for sports and physical activity was too overwhelming to contemplate.
As she distanced herself from the encounter, Yuuka couldn't help but feel that she had dodged a bullet. After all, there was no telling when she'd have returned from Sumire's exercise adventure if she had accepted the invitation.
o-0-o
Yuuka's post-escape sigh was laden with a mix of relief and weariness. It had indeed been a disaster, and now she found herself plagued by an inexplicable drowsiness.
"Why," she gasped, her voice carrying the exhaustion that clung to her like a stubborn shadow. "Why do I have to be this tired so early in the day?"
She knew the answer, of course. It was because she had ventured beyond the confines of her comfort zone. If she had known she'd feel this drained, she would have gladly remained in her room, diligently working on her report. But now, returning to her room held the ominous temptation of her bed, a siren's call that might lull her into an undetermined slumber.
"Uugh…" Yuuka grumbled. She desperately craved a can of coffee, or, better yet, an energy drink. But she hadn't brought her wallet or her student ID with her. With her ID, she could have swiped a can of liquid energy from the vending machine. Dejected, she decided to trudge back to her dorm, resigned to her fate.
However, just around the corner, fate had other plans. She stumbled into another person with an abrupt, "Ow!"
"Oii! Watch where you're going! Don't you have eyes or what?!" the aggrieved voice scolded.
"Huh? This voice…" Yuuka murmured, her recognition dawning.
"Huh?" the other person echoed, their gazes locking in a moment of bewildered silence
"..."
"...".
Standing before Yuuka was none other than a pint-sized girl, a familiar face with a knack for causing mayhem. Her short vermillion hair boasted a distinctive cowlick and a braid adorned with two Millennium tags on her left side. A French maid headdress crowned her head, and her sharp red eyes scrutinized Yuuka.
She was decked out in a black sukajan jacket embroidered with vibrant red sakura plants, while her typical short French maid uniform peeked from underneath, accessorized with a loose blue ribbon. Her red and black floppy boots completed the ensemble.
"Oh, my bad. Bye," the girl quickly attempted to retreat, but Yuuka managed to catch her at the last possible moment.
"Neru, why don't you stay and chat? I'd love to have a conversation with you," Yuuka suggested with an alluring smile.
Neru shouted, "Like hell you do! And let go of me! My bad, okay! I'm busy right now!"
"Oh?" Yuuka feigned innocence, her curiosity piqued. "Then it's all the more intriguing why the leader of C&C is in such a hurry this early in the morning."
"Gah! Cut it out with that sweet act! It's nauseating!" Neru bellowed, her face contorted with revulsion at Yuuka's attempt to be agreeable.
"What? Who are you calling 'nauseating'!" Yuuka retorted, her own anger flaring up.
"You, obviously!" Neru shot back, jabbing an accusatory finger at Yuuka.
"Take that back!" Yuuka demanded, her voice laced with indignation.
Their exchange devolved into a heated argument, both hurling insults at each other until they were left panting from the verbal sparring.
"Damn it. Meeting her first thing in the morning; my luck today is just rotten," Neru grumbled, her breath ragged.
"I'm still here, you know!" Yuuka exclaimed, her upset apparent.
"Why were you out so early anyway? Couldn't you at least let your fellow students enjoy some morning peace?" Neru inquired, drawing an irate glare from Yuuka.
"What? Quit treating me like I'm some kind of pest!" Yuuka snapped back.
"Are you not?" Neru asked, genuinely perplexed.
"Do you want me to slash your budget?" Yuuka threatened, a note of danger in her voice.
"That's sneaky! And here I was, sacrificing my morning for your sake!" Neru accused, her tone accusatory and bristling with frustration.
Yuuka halted at Neru's words, sensing there was more to this than met the eye. "What do you mean 'for my sake'?" she probed, her curiosity piqued.
Neru, caught off guard, hesitated for a moment. She appeared like a deer trapped in the glare of headlights; as if she had inadvertently let slip something she hadn't meant to say.
"You... did you receive a message from Seminar? But that's odd, I haven't been informed of any mission for C&C," Yuuka remarked, eyeing Neru intently.
Neru finally burst out, unable to contain it any longer. "Ah, damn it! The cat's out of the bag now! Fine! I got a direct message from your president, summoning me for a mission! I have no clue what it's about, though."
This revelation struck Yuuka as peculiar. Rio typically assigned C&C matters to either herself or Noa. So the fact that Rio personally requested Neru's presence for a mission was indeed unusual.
And what made it even more intriguing was the timing. Why would the president of Seminar summon the leader of C&C at this early hour when most students were still fast asleep? What urgent matter demanded such immediate attention?
"Now that you know about it, can you let me go?" Neru requested, hoping to be freed from Yuuka's grasp.
Yuuka released her hold on Neru, prompting a simple 'thank you' from Neru before she scurried off toward Seminar's office, leaving Yuuka with a perplexing puzzle to decipher.
o-0-o
Standing outside the Seminar's office, Yuuka found herself unable to shake off the memory of her encounter with Neru. Despite her attempts to return to her dorm and resume work on her report, her mind continuously drifted, rendering focus impossible. Sleep eluded her as her thoughts darted in all directions, dragging her mood down with their relentless pace.
In an attempt to shake off her unease, Yuuka resorted to a self-inflicted face slap, rousing herself to face the impending meeting with the president. It wasn't that she disliked Rio, per se, but there was an ineffable quality to Rio's personality that didn't quite sit right with Yuuka. Efficient, yes, but she came off as too authoritarian and seemingly unfeeling. In Yuuka's view, she would work better with machines than with people.
"Yuuka-chan," a gentle voice called out to her, snapping her from her contemplation.
Yuuka was met by her friend, Ushio Noa, who served as the secretary of Seminar at Millennium Science School. Noa was renowned for her exceptional memory, able to memorize nearly everything she saw or heard, including the contents of Seminar meetings and decisions made within. She sported long, flowing white hair, a pair of striking purple eyes, and a peculiar halo that was white on the outside with a bluish inner circle. Noa wore attire similar to Yuuka's, but all in pristine white, and black tights. A set of futuristic earpieces perched on her head, concealing her ears, the purpose of which remained an enigma to Yuuka.
"Noa, you've been summoned as well?" Yuuka inquired, her surprise apparent.
"Yes, although I wish she'd give us a hint as to why she messaged us so early," Noa confirmed, stifling a yawn.
"Huh..." Yuuka mulled this over, further deepening the mystery. First herself, then Neru, and now Noa—two Seminar members and the leader of Cleaning & Clearing. It was beginning to feel like the setup of a convoluted spy movie.
"You're here," a familiar and somewhat emotionless voice cut through the suspense, signaling the entrance of Rio herself.
All eyes fixated on the president as she gracefully navigated to her chair, a sight that never ceased to stir a twinge of jealousy in Yuuka. Rio's striking presence was difficult to ignore: long, flowing black hair, cold and captivating ruby eyes that seemed to pierce into your very soul, a noticeable bust subtly outlined beneath a white wool shirt and a black custom suit, and a gracefully slender figure that defied any logic for someone who mostly stayed indoors.
Yuuka couldn't help but wonder how Rio maintained such a figure while being predominantly confined indoors. It was a mystery that had occasionally crossed her mind.
"Let's get straight to the point. Yuuka, I want to know more about this so-called 'Sensei,'" Rio demanded, her tone cutting to the chase.
"Oh, are we talking about Sparda-Sensei?" Yuuka responded, attempting to clarify.
Oh, so this was about Sparda-Sensei? Was that why they were summoned—to discuss yesterday's incident?
"...Sparda?" Rio intoned, repeating the name.
Huh?
Yuuka and Noa exchanged puzzled glances, their expressions mirroring their befuddlement.
In that fleeting moment of uncertainty, they both caught a subtle shift in Rio's typically expressionless face. A faint but noticeable frown creased her brow. It was an uncommon sight, given Rio's reputation for resembling an emotionless doll.
Did she recognize the name "Sparda" from somewhere?
"President, if I may ask, what's your concern with Sen—Sparda-Sensei?" Noa inquired.
Rio's response was composed and straightforward. "Nothing of great significance. I merely wish to determine if he poses a potential threat or not."
Yuuka took a step forward, her gaze locked onto Rio. "He isn't a threat," she asserted firmly.
Rio met her gaze head-on. "And how can you be so sure?"
Yuuka hesitated for a moment. "Well, you'll see for yourself if you meet him."
"Yet, you've encountered him just once, and during that single meeting, he exhibited an ability that we have yet to comprehend," Rio countered with a cold, analytical tone. With a press of a button on her tablet, she displayed yesterday's incident, specifically the moment when Sparda-Sensei cleaved a tank into pieces for them to witness.
"There's no guarantee that he won't employ his ability against us, against Kivotos. Or, even worse, infiltrate the minds of students, as he appeared to have done with the masked delinquents in this footage—and with you, it seems," Rio said, her gaze fixed on Yuuka.
"Are you implying I've been brainwashed?" Yuuka inquired, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"To be certain, we would need to conduct a brain scan," Rio replied as she stood, her attention returning to her tablet. "In any case, that is the extent of what I wish to convey. Exercise caution around this 'Sensei.' Keep your distance until we can gain a clearer understanding of him."
Yuuka lapsed into silence, but another query pressed upon her.
"Then, what about C&C?" she questioned.
Rio returned the question with another question, her tone implying that Yuuka should not delve further. "What about them?"
"You summoned Neru this morning, didn't you? Does it relate to Sparda-Sensei as well?" Yuuka asked, her gaze accusatory.
Rio muttered to herself, "I knew she couldn't be trusted to keep quiet." Aloud, she responded, "It pertains to a matter outside your purview."
Frustration welled within Yuuka, but at that very moment, her phone vibrated. She retrieved it, noticing a notification indicating that she had received a message through MomoTalk.
"Then, what if he's the one coming here?" Yuuka questioned.
"What do you mean?" Rio inquired.
Yuuka held up her phone, displaying the messages she had received from Sparda-Sensei.
[ Yuuka, your library, I need to borrow. Be there in an hour, I will be. Thanksies! ]
A heavy, almost unbearable silence enveloped the Seminar's office, seemingly stretching on for an eternity.
Finally, Rio broke the stillness, a hint of bewilderment in her voice as she asked, "Why does he speak like that?"
"I don't know! I've only known him for a day, remember?" Yuuka responded, her own confusion mirroring Rio's.
o-0-o
A/N: Next up is -Volume 1 Chapter 1-.
I'm on fire here; let's see how quickly I can get the next chapter out.