I - Spitfire, Hellion, Rock-Bottom

4 - Seeing Red

"This 'episode' was rather… grave, Miss Ryuzaki. And dangerously visible."

Mr. Akamori, the principal, looked down to the table and not at me as he spoke. He rested his pronounced chin on his linked hands, elbows on the table.

I sat across him. I leaned back on my chair, arms behind my head, lazily assessing the anxiety bleeding from his every unsubtle gesture. I caught his eyes with an unblinking stare a couple of times. He quickly turned to look somewhere else, dressing his nervous fidgeting with a deep voice that I found surprisingly convincing in its assertiveness.

Delusions.

"Visible? Dunno about that, sir," I said disinterestedly. "There ain't no decisive clue connecting me to the incident or proving that it happened at all. Oh, wait…"

As I finished speaking, I shoved one hand inside my mouth. I took hold of something soft and squishy, firmly stuck between my teeth. A few calculated pulls were enough to remove the object.

I took it out. With a flick of my hand, I let it fall with a wet 'plap' on the table.

A piece of meat. Half-cooked, half-raw. It was still steaming, leftover saliva dripping off it and onto the surface below.

Solved problems.

"That's Hayate's," I pointed out while cleaning my lips on my sleeve. "His side, to be specific. Or was it his shoulder? Bitchtard kept running and my hands were full, so I had to bite him a couple times to keep him in place. Might've gotten one or two pieces trapped between the pearly whites."

Mr. Akamori seemed positively sickened at the sight of human flesh. He took a deep breath and reclined on his chair, allowing himself some room to breathe. The man quickly slapped a hand over his mouth as he registered the distinctive smell of hot meat.

Weakling.

'Fucking animal'. I heard good ol' Kensei mutter something of that nature as he pushed a glass of water towards the principal. He was sitting besides the old man, no doubt sporting a killer look I wasn't delighted to observe anytime soon.

"That's, hmgh… That's quite fine, Supervisor Ikegami," said the principal as he pushed the glass aside, Kensei patting him on the back. "Just had something funny for lunch is all."

Mr. Akamori shifted and now did his best to hold my gaze. The alternative was acknowledging the medium-rare remains of one his students sitting on the table. One corner of my lip twitched upwards, and I dedicated him a near smile that could've come off as worried.

"This situation could've been much more severe. I just hope you understand the delicacy of our positions, the recklessness with which you acted. One mistake from any of us can push everyone else off the edge, Miss Ryuzaki."

I licked my lips as I stared elsewhere. People usually imagined a demon and an angel debating on their shoulders when they questioned the morality of their decisions. In my case, the two demons on my shoulders were plotting, deciding which action was the most improper to piss off this old fucker.

The principal at least tried to conciliate. I couldn't really hate him – he was just an old guy saving cash for his retirement through the shittiest job imaginable. At this point I wondered if he wasn't better qualified to become Tartarus' warden. It'd have been less treacherous than any gig in Dairoku.

Still, I couldn't pretend his light prodding didn't piss me the fuck off.

I was too old for lectures. Well, no, a fifteen-year-old was still a perfect recipient of rebukes if the grownups considered so. But I liked to think I'd played the independent and strong woman role well enough they wouldn't even consider it. Hell, I was sure the police wouldn't beat around the bush as much if they knew about my underground dealings like this school's staff.

Fear.

They fear.

I didn't like roundabouts either.

Messing with the principal did calm the voice inside. Just a bit. Just enough that this headache and anger didn't bother as much.

The red at the edge of my vision wouldn't disappear, though.

I blinked and pointed at the piece of Hayate on the table.

"Ya gonna eat that, sir? It'll get cold."

Mr. Akamori jerked as if about to retch. He quickly composed himself. His decrepit, copper-brown face hardened. In a face so marked with age and wrinkles, the change of expression was particularly disgusting. He looked like a dried raisin.

"…Fifteen students," he stated as if that said all. He went on to explain. "Fifteen students who suffered grave injuries and for whom I have to answer to. Had it been more, it would've been much more difficult to concoct an excuse."

I sniffed a bit. I raised one of my hands and scratched my nose with my pinky, as if thinking deeply of the situation.

"Just say they had a brawl. One guy disagreed with another, they fight over something stupid, more people join… it ain't gotta be the perfect crime and Sherlock Holmes ain't gonna knock on our door anytime soon. Simple, believable, feasible."

"Notorious, Miss Ryuzaki. Notorious." He said so while raising a finger and adjusting his glasses. "We can't thank you enough for restoring—or more accurately, establishing—order in this institution like it hasn't seen before. However, a skirmish of this magnitude after a long period of peace is bound to raise many eyebrows. It is notorious for that reason."

"So what, sir? You just gonna wait it out as they rot the school from the inside, little by little, until they decide they had enough of authority?" I countered. "That's a bomb waiting to blow up. Ya ain't gonna hide that one when it explodes. I simply took preemptive measures."

"And I wholeheartedly agree with your course of action, Miss Ryuzaki. I also understand the need to… assert authority through a show of force. Youngsters do respond better to tangible strength. However, I still am of the opinion this last-minute confrontation was reckless."

Mr. Akamori signaled at Kensei with a hand and a nod.

"Supervisor Ikegami took it upon himself to keep this event within wraps," he explained with something like pride. "He did so splendidly, so much so I can only applaud his quick wits. I also applaud you, Miss Ryuzaki, for being sensible and asking for help. I simply would've preferred you took more time to consult with us, instead of jumping the gun."

I rolled my eyes. Then, I kicked one leg over the table. I stared at the ceiling for a bit, chewing at nothing, until the response came to me like a flash.

"Chances come 'n' go. I can't let the animals get away with property destruction and disrespect just like that. The faster I respond, the more they'll think 'fore fucking some shit up. Strike while the iron's hot and all that."

"Of course, but fifteen students. Fifteen sets of injuries that require justification. A justification which doesn't incriminate you and us by proxy."

"What about seventy students? Or a hundred? Hmm?" I asked absentmindedly. "Prepare all you like. Ya won't explain dozens of injured bastards under the pretext of a 'school fight'. The more you wait the more students that'll question the idea of following rules at all. Students I gotta grind beneath my heel when they get too cocky for their own good."

With a sigh and a huff, I kicked my other leg onto the table.

"And if I draw too much blood too late… the big fish will want a culprit," I continued before pointing a thumb at myself. "I ain't gonna eat dirt just 'cuz you wet your panties instead of showing some damn attitude when the time was right. And lemme remind ya that if this fucking ship sinks? All y'all are goin' down with me."

The old fool sighed, exasperated. He rubbed his index across his forehead. Sweat gathered on his skin and made it look shinier than usual.

"I believe this isn't the time for threats, Miss Ryuz—"

"Threats? Threats? Bitch, I ain't dishing out no threats. I'm speaking facts," I snapped. "That was our deal. I handle the muscle; you handle the bureaucracy. You trust my judgment on violence; I protect yer hides. I ain't complained once about yer cooperation in the dark. My methods've worked pretty damn well so far. Why are ya so shifty about 'em now, huh?"

Mr. Akamori adjusted his glasses and rested his open palms on the table again.

"Nobody's shifty about anything, young lady. I'm not questioning your decisions either. I'm simply assessing the situation, analyzing what went wrong and offering my little grain of sand so that matters proceed smoothly next time."

I felt a spike of anger inside my mind. Images of me strangling the life out of the principal crossed before me. I entertained them yet didn't turn them into reality. Yet.

"I'll shove your little grain of sand inside your eye socket, sir," I spat. "Nothing went wrong. The thing's yer so fuckin' removed from violence ya wouldn't know when it's necessary. Hell, the animals could be kicking your kidneys into jelly and you'd probably just recite bible passages until they fell asleep."

"I'm not Christian, Miss Ryuzaki. I'm not a fool nor a coward, either."

"Oh, so yer not?" I said with a chuckle. "Then spit it out motherfucker. What's all this nagging, all this questioning? It ain't just the fight."

"Once again, Miss Ryuzaki, I'm not questioning anything. I just wished to offer some perspective. As you perfectly explained, your specialty is violence, and that is why I don't interject on the matter. On the contrary, all I say is that certain degrees of violence complicate my task, the supervisors' task, of painting a good picture of you. There are politics and influences involved in Dairoku, young lady, and recurring incidents like these could prove disastrous to all of us."

"Uh-huh. So ya don't trust me," I replied drily.

"That is not what I—"

"The students. Didja check their injuries?"

The principal stopped for a moment. He gave me a pointed look before sighing.

"I didn't. Not yet."

"…Course ya didn't," I continued with another chuckle. "You'd have noticed. Ya ain't stupid even though you play the part well."

Mr. Akamori seemed fidgety all of a sudden. He tapped his fingers on the table, now adjusting his tie to breathe a bit easier.

"Notice what exactly?"

"That they ain't burned. Not too much at least," I explained. "That I broke their hands so they couldn't write names. That I broke their jaws so they couldn't snitch on me. That I used my flames to the very minimum, so nobody could trace the injuries back to my quirk."

The principal looked aside, pensive. "But, there were witnesses, scores of them…"

"All people who know better than to talk."

"And the cellphones?" quickly added the old man, nervousness taking over his rational mind in a bout of overthinking. "Many students must have taken pictures or even filmed a video. That… that is a dangerous possibility I didn't think of…"

"A friend of mine can shut off electronic devices at a distance," I rebutted with disinterest. "No digital proof of any kind. Kensei helped with that too."

Kensei grumbled upon hearing my mention. The principal glanced at him. Then at me, with something like disbelief and shame washing over his features.

"Hahaha, really, what's gotten into ya?" I asked in good nature, before adding a certain edge to my voice. "It's just, I dunno… It's just pretty weird you've grown a backbone to question my decisions when it ain't even urgent."

"For the last time…" sighed the principal, deflating pathetically. "…There are no questions of any kind. Simple advice, yes, but no more than that. Nothing conflictive. I fear you may lack tact in a heated situation and that's all I'm suggesting."

"Hmph. 'Tact'. Yeah right. Why don't you try to be tactful with the uninhibited fuckheads?" I said, pounding my fist on the table. "See how long they take 'fore shattering your spine for shit and giggles. Ideal with them so ya ain't have to. That was our arrangement: you get off my ass and I discipline the savages."

"No.

"The deal was that you would keep the harsher students in line. In exchange, you get privileged treatment within the institute and a recommendation letter. What you did—and have been doing in recent times—is a blatant overstep of the boundaries we all agreed upon."

I smiled in satisfaction.

"…Until he decided to speak." I giggled to myself and grinned to Mr. Akamori. "Sorry, principal, sir. I had to poke you a bit so bitch boy here would come outta his shell. He's pretty shy, ya see, and he ain't comfortable talking unless you shove a finger up his ass."

I turned to look at Kensei for the first time, then.

He still had that impassive look of his. His resentment, he couldn't hide nor cared to, frustrated at how I'd ultimately cornered the principal and forced him to interject.

The principal did agree with my decisions. The one who didn't was Kensei and he'd definitely fed the old man some lines to use against me. My arrangement was, after all, with Mr. Akamori and thus we were on equal standing. Any objection made by the principal would obstruct my work. He had to stand up for me or I wouldn't move a muscle.

Kensei was a mere tool at most. A cog of the machine to keep things up and running.

A cog that wasn't greased as it should've been.

Not like the woman at his side.

Raine was a woman of few words. Not because she was serious or some shit. Bitch was just busy smoking day in, day out, all day, all night. She didn't care about anything or anyone. I suspected she didn't care about herself either.

However, whenever I needed her to do her job, she was always available. I asked her to move the hell outta my way? She did it. No complaints. No questions. Sometimes, a simple 'yes', but nothing else.

She was a disheveled person, all the opposite to the stuck-up Kensei. Her jacket had hairs, her shirt was loose and so was her tie. Raine tied her brown hair in a messy ponytail and that's as organized as she'd be. She had a cigarette in her mouth and a lighter in hand. The thing was not working and she was transfixed in it to pay attention to the conversation.

Good. One distraction less.

I stared at Kensei once again.

"So… got a problem with my way, bitch boy? There's the highway," I said while licking my lips again. They were dry. "Methinks you haven't been in many fights in yer life. Or what, ya don't think fifteen students ganging up on one girl won't end atrociously?"

I shrugged in a challenging manner before slapping the table. The principal flinched.

"The only reason yer speaking so liberally is cuz you have less holes that'll be fucked silly if ya can't walk the talk."

Kensei closed his eyes and seemed to consider that for a moment. I leaned back again, feeling a scowl form on my face, but kept silent regardless. He eventually fixed me another stare, still dripping with disapproval, but less aggressive than before.

"Fair enough. Although I do dislike the excess of force you displayed, I still believe the situation demanded it." He adjusted his tie and joined his hands into fists. "Nonetheless… I'm not concerned about that."

"Thought as much. Give it me to me straight, then. Stop wasting my goddamn time."

Kensei huffed, leaning back with an air of superiority and crossed arms.

"It's the blackmail, girl," spat Kensei with a groan. "We never discussed financial rewards at the moment of joining strengths to control the institute. Worst of all, almost all of the teachers have given into your irrational terms in fear they'll see themselves in situations of danger again. That's why I said you were overstepping. You're taking advantage of the situation and forgetting you're just another student in our custody."

'Custody'. A part of me appreciated the honest description provided by Kensei, instead of a lukewarm 'care'. For all his surface honesty, though, bitch boy was the poster hypocrite of Dairoku. It wasn't his aggressiveness as much as his fraudulent attitude that pissed me off something fierce.

It was like the wildfire telling the lava 'Hey dude, you're too hotheaded'.

Yeah, no. Fuck that. This reunion stopped being about business and morphed into petty chicanery in a second. I wouldn't have it.

"Kill yourself, Kensei."

"M-Miss Ryuzaki, that's a bit…" the principal said.

"No, no, it's quite fine Mr. Akamori," assured Kensei with a smug expression. "Crude insults are a sign of convincing arguments… or lack thereof. I wouldn't blame young, brash Miss Ryuzaki here for acting her age either."

I chewed on my tongue. I spoke after sniffing a bit.

"Seriously, Kensei, yer one pathetic fuck sometimes," I replied wearily. "I ain't wanna explain a grown-ass man why yer supposed to get paid for doing yer job. Some ol' communist bullshit you've got goin' on there."

"S-Sorry, sorry. Get paid for doing your job? Which job?" the suited man gasped dramatically. "You're coercing the teachers into giving you money! You don't have a job, you psychotic little thief!"

"On paper I don't," I rebutted swiftly. "In practice, I'm the best supervisor Dairoku's ever had and I'm sure that irritates your gaping asshole a fair bit. Oh, about that… do you wanna tell the government why a teenager is performing yer role but yer the one gettin' a paycheck?"

Kensei's heartbeat sped up a bit. He didn't say anything, opting to deflate slightly on his seat. The man controlled his breathing soon enough and fixed me another impassive gaze.

"No?" I prodded further. "I could tell 'em if yer embarrassed. It'd be more believable than, I dunno… 'A fifteen-year-old girl is holding an entire school hostage'. Sounds like an excuse an incompetent fucker would make."

I waved my arms around as I continued.

"An excuse with no proof to back it up, also," I added. "Well, no, I'm lyin'. The proof is that yer so goddamn useless it wouldn't be weird for a girl to boss yer ass around. Hey, maybe you can end my reign of terror if ya tell 'em that!"

The suited man took a noticeable bit to answer. He simply closed his eyes. I wasn't about to disturb his musings if that meant I could end this reunion even faster, no matter how much I wanted to provoke him or how much he deserved it.

Thankfully, he was enough of an adult to get back on track.

"…You never brought up anything about money, Ryuzaki," he explained with a strangely tranquil voice. "Perhaps if you'd done that from the very beginning, I wouldn't be calling you out on your reckless plans now. I don't agree the way in which you're hounding the teachers and extracting percentages from their salaries as if you were their bank. This is striking against the order we built."

The order I built, I thought to myself. While the school staff was necessary for this arrangement to work, we wouldn't have come together if I hadn't proposed it in the first place.

It was my idea. My plan. My initiative.

But some uncomfortable truths were better left unsaid.

"I ain't a charity, Kensei," I replied after a few seconds. "And I ain't striking any stupid deal with you. This thing's between me 'n' the teachers. They want safety? They got it, provided they pay for it. It's sad enough that I gottta step up and put my neck on the line for all y'all. Imagine if I did it for free."

I took my feet off the table. Then, I squared my shoulders, straightened my back, and moved some hairs from my face.

"Which begs the question… why the fuck are ya so bothered?" I asked, linking my hands in a professional gesture. "Yer on payroll and yer only task is to move the hell outta my way. You get paid for literally doing nothin'. What gives?"

Kensei didn't seem particularly upset about my comment. He creased his brows, tightened his jaw, ready to lash back.

"I said I didn't care about your decisions as long as they didn't harm the school staff. Do understand if we're not too comfortable while you and your lapdogs stroll about as if you owned the institute."

"It's called delegating tasks, boyo. Ever heard of it? I can't be the boogeyman and be in every place at every time. Gotta put pressure with numbers too."

"One thing is delegating tasks. Another entirely is imposing yourself as the one true authority of this place, which you're not. We heard your little speech back there. Should we be worried about a complete takeover? Is the institute going to become your personal little playground? Are we going to suffer from it?"

I threw my hands in the air.

"This dude…! Okay, Kensei, my brother in Christ, lemme share a fact 'bout myself real quick," I groaned out. "…I. Ain't. Got. The patience to run this shithole. Not for much longer. I just want out of here, fast, 'fore I fuck it up. If that means I gotta be ruthless 'n' nasty while I'm here, then I'll be ruthless 'n' nasty. Okay? If you ain't like it then bite me."

Kensei huffed tiredly at my constant negatives. He adjusted his tie once again, more like an unconscious reaction than an attempt to make himself comfortable. His expression was still stern, static.

"And I suppose you still won't even bother discussing about the money, to see if we can arrange something less stressful for everyone?"

"…Nah man. No way. It'd be a disservice to me," I answered with a wave of my hand. "Why ain't you stop pretending yer doing this for the teachers, huh? Yer twitchy cuz it's beyond your control and nothin' else. Just be glad it ain't your salary the one I'm taking away."

We locked gazes again. Our stare down went on for around a minute. It was he who broke the silence again, with something like anger and irritation tainting his measured tone.

"It's hard to believe you're so effective while also perpetuating actions that clearly cause instability amongst us," he declared. "But I guess it's not surprising. You're also a student of this institute. Any quality you have inspires little trust when we take in account what you are… a problematic brat, a menace to society, dumped in here with the rest of your kind."

Punishment.

And suddenly my headache returned with a vengeance.

But Kensei wasn't mistaken. Nobody got thrown into Dairoku by chance. This institute was a stain, a black spot in a student's record that denoted their inability—or unwillingness—to go along with the rest of law-abiding people. The exact reason didn't matter. The students were problematic, dangerous, unpredictable, and that was all that mattered.

Being king in hell didn't make me an angel. Quite the contrary, it meant that amongst criminals or killers in the making, I was the worst of them all.

Recognition.

…A guilty pleasure of mine. I enjoyed being at the top no matter how much it muddled my reputation. I couldn't make anyone change their mind about me even if I tried, anyway, because I was no longer a desirable member of the community.

The situation in this institute was a result of that. Pandemonium and manipulation taken to their most profitable extreme. Why bother going against the current when I could benefit from the punishment grownups wanted to inflict on me?

Insolence.

In that same vein… accepting a fact didn't mean I had to like it. And I disliked Kensei's foolish comments about me all the same.

"Watch your words, Kensei," was my curt warning from me to him. "Dunno what insect crawled up your ass and died… but it'll cost ya yer pleasant position and a bit more."

"Imaginative threats coming from a fifteen-year-old girl with no morals or restraint. Perhaps if you tried a less criminal approach I'd treat you as someone of esteem. Alas, you're too wet behind the ears, too fresh out of the cradle to discuss like an adult."

"If anything, my age is just proof that yer a pathetic excuse of a man. I ain't the one relying on a bratty, fifteen-year-old girl to do my biddings because I'm fucking inept at my job."

Kensei leaned back a bit. His expression hardened, and not in the way his face was normally menacing. I glared at him.

"…Careful with what you say, or I might see myself in dire need of teaching you a lesson. You're still a student, and I'm the supervisor," he said while crossing his arms in a defying manner.

"Shut that whore mouth. 'Supervisor' is a big word for a limp-dick like you. Especially when I can just break yer neck at a moment's notice."

"You won't break any necks while knocked out cold. That monstrous quirk of yours does take its time to escalate, doesn't it…?"

Insolence. Challenge.

Battle.

"I don't need to wind up to melt you into a shapeless puddle, faggot."

Kensei stood up. I followed suit.

"Care to try, girl?"

I smashed my fist on the table. It cracked where my knuckles hit.

"Just say the word."

My teeth clenched to a breaking point. Kensei had his arms already balled into fists, shoulders squared and ready for a fight.

We stayed like that, immobile.

I became aware of my surroundings when my wristwatch beeped. An unpleasant smell hit me moments later. Something was burning.

I didn't move from where I was. Not until a new voice joined in the conversation.

"Hikari."

I wrenched my eyes away from Kensei. Then I saw Raine staring at me with those hollow eyes of hers, emotionless.

"What do you want Hanesaki?" I grinded out.

"Please calm down and take your hand off the table. It's going to catch fire."

My eyes wandered down. Smoke was steadily rising from where my clenched fist connected with the table. The color around the point of impact was blackening. My hand, on the other hand, acquired a bright orange color.

I scowled and retrieved my hand.

"Thanksie," continued Raine. "Now, can you do me a lil favor?"

My neck craned just enough so I could get a good look at her.

"What?"

Raine pursed her lips, sticking out the unlighted cigarette in her mouth. The lighter she was using lay there in front of her, useless.

"Give me light?" she asked in an uncaring, almost innocent voice.

I rolled my eyes.

Huffing, I inclined my body over the table, just enough so I could reach her. She did the same by slowly bending herself forward

My index finger stuck out. Orange light gathered on its tip, and with a barely audible crackle, a small flame appeared on it. Raine aligned her cigarette just above the fire. Within a couple of seconds, smoke was puffing out of the corners of her mouth, and out of her nose.

I didn't hide the grimace as the clouds of tobacco hit my face. I waved my hand as I plummeted back on my chair.

SMELLS LIKE CANCER

EVERYONE IS CANCER. GET RID OF THEM NOW

KILL THEM

EXECUTE THEM

Shut up, me. Not now.

"…Hey, Kensei," I called out tiredly while resting my chin above my crossed arms, on the table. "Act like a gentleman for once and open the windows. Maybe I'll calm down when you do."

The tall guy sighed, exhaustion ruining his strong bearing. He simply walked to the windows and dutifully wrenched them open. Moments later he was back on his seat, face resting on one hand.

Silence settled in. Neither Kensei nor I seemed like we had it in us to keep arguing, so everyone could gather their thoughts without much issue. A dull interval of quietude had come and gone. The principal coughed, running a and across his balding head, readying himself to speak.

"Ehem… well, I suppose we have discussed the most pressing matters," he stated in a timid tone. "Miss Ryuzaki has proven to be imperative for the correct and undisturbed functioning of the institute. As long as the teachers aren't being pressured to the point of finding themselves stifled in their finances, I think we can let her continue collecting money. Is that good enough, supervisors?"

Kensei grumbled and nodded. He definitely disliked the idea, but it was better than nothing. Raine simply shrugged her shoulders.

Mr. Akamori hummed, satisfied. "Good, good. Miss Ryuzaki, you can continue carrying on your affairs on the condition they don't escalate any more. Is that satisfactory?"

I yawned before letting out a noncommittal sound.

"Yeah. Fine by me."

"Can we also expect you to be more subtle?" added the principal at the last second. "Careful planning helped us dodge a bullet today. But it is best not to try our luck when a little misstep can ruin everything we've built."

"I'll try. Enforcing order ain't easy if you can't inspire fear on the threat of physical punishment."

"It's good enough. I know you're a sharp lady. You'll know when to pull your punches. I did say I trusted your judgment on violence," he said, affable. "With everything said and done, I say we finish this meeting and go on with our lives. I have to speak to the police and I'd rather be at home with my wife. Careful on the way back, Miss Ryuzaki. It is getting late."

I nodded. Wordlessly, I was the first one to exit the room.

All students had left the school premises by the time I was outside. The setting sun painted an ugly orange light on the darkening skies.

Leave.

I jogged my way through an empty yard and the school gates. I was half-expecting to stumble upon a police officer or a student still prancing around, but nothing of the sort. The place was desolate…

"How did the meeting go, boss?"

…Save for one irritating exception. I stopped as I put one foot out on the street. I could already tell where she was from her heartbeat but I decided not to look.

"…'Twas fine," I replied lazily. "Why are you still here?"

She made a funny sound while approaching me. I imagined her shrugging or rolling her eyes in dismay.

"Sometimes you hurt me, dear Hikari," moaned the gremlin with a pained voice. "I waited until you were freed from the clutches of those pesky, unimaginative adults. I hoped a little smile would find its way onto your face after seeing I value our friendship more than anyth-"

"Did everyone leave like I told 'em?"

If my interruption bothered her, I didn't notice. I did hear the light clapping of her mouth as she licked her lips. Natsuko hummed and responded.

"No man nor woman from our side remained here after the skirmish," she confirmed. "No suspicious students the good officers could ask questions to. And no proof that they were even here today, after some… light tweaking."

Disobedience.

"…I told ya not to use yer quirk."

"Well, events today were somewhat too visible," responded Natsuko with that uncaring drawl of hers. "I believed we could do with a bit more security. A smidge of prodding in the right places and… well, many of our guys basically skipped classes today!"

I didn't comment on Natsuko's actions.

Instead, I stared at the sky for a moment. At that bright orange light glimmering like live embers. Like a fire that hadn't gone out yet.

"I told ya not to use yer quirk," I repeated.

I didn't give her time to follow up with another dumb comment. I quickly turned.

Natsuko perked up. There was a Cheshire cat smile on her face, though it wasn't accompanied with a lighthearted attitude, a facetious mood. She stared with eyes wider than normal and wiggling fingers.

"I told ya not to use yer quirk."

"That… that you did, boss," said she while taking a step back. "I can safely say that I didn't leave any traces of my presence. None at all. I double-checked and I'm rather sure nobody thought about me twice."

"I told ya not to use yer quirk," I continued, taking a step towards her.

"Yes. Yes, those were your orders. But, boss, huh, sometimes it is best to make sure there are no loose ends. This is the big event in a while, here in Dairoku, and I'm sure you wanted it to be the last one, being your last year here and all. All's well that ends well, no?"

I took one step. And another. And another.

Natsuko backed one step. And another. And not one more.

Her back bumped against the wall encircling the institute. Her eyes darted from one place to another before landing on me.

I simply walked. I walked till I was at an arm's reach. I inched closer until my chest pressed against hers. Till she was struggling to breathe. Till I was staring down at her and she was looking at me dead in the eye, unable to move away.

"I told ya not to use yer quirk," I simply said. "How many times does that make in a couple o' minutes?"

"F-Five. Five in total."

"Uh-huh," I replied. "And how many times since I first told you?"

Natsuko gulped. Her heartbeat sped up.

"C'mon. Your memory's perfect. Never missed a thing, girl. Mine's good too, but… only for grudges. Ain't useful like yers."

Natsuko gasped lightly. She was clawing at the wall behind her, wearing down her nails.

"One hundred and seventy five."

"Attagirl," I praised, bringing a hand up to her face. She flinched, smile trembling as I decided on what to do next.

I took my time. Then I posed my fingers on her cheek, gently, and began caressing her. Her skin was incredibly soft like a baby's. So soft and fragile. So smooth and tender. And beneath… warm flesh and blood.

Open her up.

"One hundred and seventy five times," I repeated in a low voice. "Somehow, you still need me to warn you like a fuckin' parrot. But… that's okay, girl. It's okay. I get where ya comin' from. Been there, done that."

I left her cheek alone. Then I gently, very gently took a few strands of her hair between my fingers. I felt them, rolling them around and sizing them up.

"You've got beautiful hair," I told her. "Really beautiful. It's kinda like silk, y'know. Pleasing to the touch. Did you, huh… did you dye it? Or it's all natural?"

"Natural," quickly gasped Natsuko before adding, "Boss."

"Right, right. It do be nice, eh. It's really nice."

"Yours is, hmm… rather beautiful too boss. More so than mine. Normally you'd need a stylist to keep it like yours."

"Nah," I said with a chuckle. "I ain't like it much. Black 'n' red like this goddamn uniform from this goddamn school. Don't bring good thoughts to mind. Yours, though…"

I pressed the strands between my fingers.

"Blue. I like blue. It calms me down," I muttered. "Red doesn't. I'm… I'm sick and tired of seein' red."

I played with the hair a bit more.

"It's everywhere. All the time."

Then, I grabbed Natsuko's head and smacked it against the wall behind her. She yelped in pain as I loomed even closer, pressing my forehead against hers.

"Yer quirk is real good, Natsuko. Real good," I whispered. "It's subtle, it's effective. It can be impossible to detect and you could even kill someone with it without leaving traces. It ain't flashy or super strong. But that's what makes it dangerous."

I smacked her against the wall again. Natsuko swallowed the ensuing cry of pain and stared at me fearfully.

"Y'know who'd notice yer quirk? Villains. And law enforcement," I explained. "They'd be the ones most interested in a power like yers. They'd be trained to notice a power like yers in a second. And if they did… man, they'd drop on you like an eagle on a snake.

"Now, think about our situation. We're permanently mingling with potential criminals, potential villains, and you still make it a fuckin' habit of drawing attention when you shouldn't. The government is looking closely at us too. Ya think you'd go under the radar forever?"

The gremlin seemed like she wanted to say something. I pressed myself against her even further, pushing the air out of her lungs.

"Now listen. Listen closely, you stupid bitch," I growled as softly as I managed. "Yer not my right hand. Yer not my friend. I ain't consider you a peer either or a simple employee like the others. Know what you are?"

I squeezed the side of her head I was grabbing.

"Yer a goddamn tool. A means to an end I'll use at my own fuckin' convenience when, how and if I so chose to do it," I grinded out. "The only reason I ain't use you like a sex doll is cuz I hate women. Do you understand? Your one saving grace is how useful you are at a given point. And if I decide you ain't useful none more… I'll throw your corpse into the river."

I shut up to let the words sink in. Natsuko eventually regained control over her breathing. She refused to stare at me, directing her sight to the ground. The creeping shadows of the evening obscured a segment of her face.

"I ain't ask you think or device fun little plans behind my back," I continued in a low voice. "I ask that you obey. And obey you will or die in any other case. I know that for all your freakish faults ya still value yer life."

At that moment, I eased up my grip. Just a bit. Just enough that she relaxed and was more attentive to my words, knowing that I could snap at her at any second.

"I envy you," I declared. "Ya were born with the perfect quirk to pass unseen and avoid all these annoying fuckers, these know-it-all adults. It'd save me so many headaches if I had it. So many troubles. Alas, genetics don't lie and neither do I. Figures the mindfucking powers had to go to the histrionic bitch."

I said so while growling. A second later I scoffed.

"Anyway. That's it for the light offenses."

Natsuko snorted.

"Hahaha… 'light'. So all this was for something 'light'? I was about to pass out back there, boss."

I smiled. It made my face hurt.

I let go of Natsuko's hair and brought my hand to her face again. I did so quickly, suddenly, making her flinch again. Something inside my head was pleased at seeing her reaction.

"Yeah. Now let's talk about something I'd kill ya for," I muttered. "Natsu, girl, yer smart. Very smart. Much smarter than I am. But even though I'm a slowpoke… eventually, I do connect the dots. And, y'know, on my way here, I was thinkin' about the things that happened today. Was thinkin' real hard…"

In a second, I pushed my forearm against Natsuko's neck. I pushed and lifted her up to the point she had to stand on her toes.

"…This whole thin' happened cuz Hayate injured Yamada, and Daisuke," I explained. "And, well, they wouldn't have been my first choice to beat up some animals. But I was on edge, frustrated. I figured you'd make better judgment than I would've. I miscalculated."

"Hahaha. I feel you're implying something, boss," squeaked Natsuko while struggling to breathe. "Something dark. I can't quite put my finger on it."

I pushed harder. She choked.

"I ain't implyin' nothing. I'm stating," I said. "Stating yer a conniving piece of shit. Ya knew about Hayate's powers. Ya knew Daisuke and Yamada would stand no chance against 'im. Ya knew I'd react badly and rip those bastards apart limb from limb. That's the reason you were taunting me the whole day."

"Guh… Well, let's pretend you're correct about me," said she, her voice a tad weaker but words no less sophisticated. "Everything worked out in the end. The rebels are no more. The students are scared. The higher-ups are more lenient towards you. The business will keep on running like nothing happened… and nobody knows what actually transpired in this school. Because nothing ever happened today.

"You've won. What are you so angry about?"

Destroy her.

Get rid of her.

Challenge. Opposition. Disobedience.

Double-crossing slut. Sociopathic bitch.

Lying piece of crap.

She will ruin everything.

Will you let her? Will you allow her to feel so cocky?

The crown is slipping off your head.

Then, your head will slip off your shoulders.

This cannot be.

Pull out the weed before it grows. Set the wasp nest on fire.

Burn it all down.

THREAT.

…Few things I'd actually consider a threat in this world. Like cages, or women. My auntie too. And ghosts.

Seemed I had to add 'blue-haired rats' to the list. It was an achievement for the rat in question, honestly.

"Pfft. Heh… hahaha."

"Ugh…?"

"Hahaha… hahahahahahahahahahaha!"

It was all the opposite to what I was feeling. But I laughed.

Laughed, and laughed, and laughed. Until I was coughing and laughing. Until I was giggling maniacally. Until my throat felt sore and my voice came out harsher, deeper.

"Haha… hahaha. I've won. I never doubted that, not once," I explained with a smile. "I just don't know how to lose. Even if it costs me everything else. And that's why I'll never lose no matter what."

I relaxed my arm, letting Natsuko breathe easier.

"The reason I'm angry… you know already. You've looked into my head once. Remember how that played out?"

Natsuko chuckled weakly. The struggle left her body at that moment. She used my forearm for support.

"Of course I do. Perfect memory and all that. Besides, it's not as if I'd forget. I still flinch every time you raise your hand."

"Uh-huh. Well, you already know me better than most people I've encountered in my life, even if it's just a bit," I continued. "Now tell me. What did you see when you plunged inside?"

The gremlin shifted a bit in place. She took another breath before responding.

"A lot of red."

"Red. It reminds me of… y'know about bullfighters? Matadores, people used to call them before they banned the sport."

"…Yes," replied Natsuko. I nodded.

"A matador, he's a really slippery one. He knows how to deal with a raging bull, feinting and taunting the beast with his lil' red blanket. And the bull will just keep charging and thrusting and trashing around until he skewers the smartass in front."

"The bull will miss most of the time. Poor guy's just an animal after all. An angry animal, taught to hate and rage at the slightest provocation. It's just doing what it knows best.

"The matador is a master of his craft. He knows when to step away, when to wave his bloody curtain, and he enjoys the thrill, the cold caress of death as it passes inches away from his side. It brings him satisfaction. Fame. Money. Recognition. All at the expense of one bull's misery. It is the dexterity and courage of humans triumphing over the instincts of the cornered animal and people just love it.

"Then the luck runs out. And the matador realizes he bleeds the same color as his blanket. He bleeds real easy. It just takes a graze, a stupid misstep, and in the next second… there's a couple inches of horn shoved inside his chest.

"The bull lives. Angry, itching to kill the next one that pisses him off, but he lives. Or not! Maybe his human masters decide to put him down eventually. Whatever the case, be damn well sure they haven't learned a thing about beasts and underestimating them.

"Look at the bright side, though. It was pretty fucking fun while it lasted."

"Hya!"

Natsuko jumped in surprise as I shoved two fingers on her side. I swallowed the ensuing laugh even though I just savored her reaction and the fact she showed something like that.

I waited a second. Then, I put those two fingers beneath her chin and made her look up.

I stared at her eyes. Dark, green eyes, with a hint of emerald shine appearing as the streetlights turned on.

I saw another light. An orange one reflected on her pupil. It was fire and blood. Crystallized anger, waiting to unleash itself onto the world. Sizing up the prey in front of me.

Conquer.

Frustrated and angry as I was, I couldn't hold back anymore. My instincts won.

I inched closer and pressed my lips against Natsuko's.

She tensed up, seeking to make space between her and me to no avail. There was nowhere to go with the wall behind or me in front. Her only recourse was to accept me, unwilling and all.

I didn't go very far. Simply limited myself to taste her lips, lapping at them a couple of times. They tasted like sweets with a subtle leftover of alcohol. Wine, of the pricey kind. I'd smelled this flavor once though I couldn't put my finger on which brand it was.

I broke off the kiss.

The tiny she-devil was staring at me with a mix of anger and amusement. She didn't say anything.

I smiled and put myself close to her left ear.

"Play me like a fiddle ever again and I'll personally see that you're put in a titanium coffin for your funeral. Even dead I wouldn't trust you not to escape your grave just to fuck me over again."

Having said that, I grabbed Natsuko by the shoulders and shoved her aside. She stumbled to a standing position before directing me a not-quite glare.

Yes, that's it, I said inwardly. Put up some fight.

"Now go home and keep the cash flowing!" I ordered, already feeling calmer. "Mama's gotta pay the bills."

Natsuko didn't respond for an instant. She quickly composed herself, anyway, and dedicated me a mocking military salute.

"Roger that, boss," said Natsuko with her usual smiley face. I felt the need to laugh at her, knowing there was at least some irritation hiding under her guise.

I didn't laugh. I simply opted to watch as she dutifully left my sight. Her figure illuminated by streetlights continued onwards until I lost her in the distance. Until I couldn't hear her heartbeat anymore.

I sighed in relief.

"Man, what a fuckin' long day!" I whined. Then I smiled. "But it ain't nearly as long as my dick, hahahaha!"

I turned around and began walking home.

It was nice, the feeling that a heavy weight had lifted off my shoulders. No annoying heartbeats nearby. No people to scare to death. No grandiloquent adults to piss me off.

Just me. It was all I needed.

There was a problem, though. I had to deal with many problems today to the point I couldn't focus on other equally important stuff. I only noticed when an ugly noise like a groan reverberated from deep inside.

I rubbed my tummy. It hurt.

"Oh. Oh, fuck…" I said while doubling over. "Hate it when it happens. Feels like it's burning a hole inside, ngh…"

Hunger.

Eat.

Consume.

"Y-Yeah, yeah, I heard me loud 'n' clear. Don't have to tell me twice… ugh. Motherfucker, yer actually gonna make me vomit. At least wait until we get home, stomach."

Consume.

"…Really don't listen to reason, eh?" I murmured, chuckling. "It is me alright. Don't worry; we'll get you some fuel to keep things up 'n' running buddy."

Having said that, I began marching. I did so without glancing around too much. The place wasn't exactly a beauty to look at. All the opposite, actually.

The neighborhoods near Dairoku were as much of a shithole as the big place itself. Houses were run down; streets were cracked in half, and if you had a keen eye, it'd be easy to spot a couple of the unsavory characters around a corner, lurking amongst the filth. The streetlights were the one thing working fine and their only purpose was to highlight how utterly disgusting everything here was.

It wasn't an easy sight on the eyes. Not mine, in particular, considering I could see clearly in the dark, and I could already spot seven or eight ugly bozos rearing their ugly heads from a hole in the wall or overgrown spots of grass. Even more were hiding somewhere behind me, rising heartbeats giving them away.

I mean, I couldn't blame them. Cute teenage girl, all alone on the street while it was dark out in one of the shittiest places in city?

A juicy fruit ripe for the taking. This was the kind of place you went to get raped and you'd have to be retarded not to notice. My ears picked up a bit of ravenous salivating and then I was sure we were thinking the same thing.

The red in my vision became brighter for a moment. Then it receded. It changed again following the rhythm of my heartbeat, preemptively preparing my mind and body for further conflict.

I waited. And waited. And waited.

Nobody jumped me.

I heard their heartbeats, saw them sneaking around, caught their animalistic stares betraying animalistic intentions. But they didn't come out.

The reddish spots ultimately receded. Then, I let out a laugh I intended to make as audible as possible.

"Smart choice, folks! The big bad bitch's feeling real hungry right now!" I said while patting my belly. "Human meat wouldn't be my first choice but I'll take what I can get! Hahahahaha!"

Weak.

Not stupid

Recognition.

I strolled onwards while feeling much smugger.

Many students of Dairoku were living here. And word… it got around fast within the institute.

They wouldn't dare cross me.

For the first time in a while, I felt genuinely satisfied. And I intended to bask in that feeling until morning come.

The night was so young she hadn't left the newborn nursery, actually! And what better way to kick that bitch off than with a huge feast to celebrate me!

Glory. Recognition. Victory.

Fuck, yes. Hearing those words within felt like injecting wine inside my bloodstream and I just fucking loved it.

Celebrate. Consume. Hunger.

Meat.

But enough about masturbatory musings. I had to get home, fast, or all this salivating would dehydrate me. I didn't want to pass out in the middle of the street.

I continued walking and quickly travelled downtown, far away from the asscrack of civilization.

The telltale changes of scenery appeared after a short while. The tall skyscrapers, the myriad of shining lights, the honking of cars… it was all stimuli that dragged my mind off darker thoughts. Annoying, overwhelming, but necessary. Auntie hadn't exactly chosen residence for me in the city center, knowing it'd cater to my needs, but she made the right call.

I was already daydreaming. Or nightdreaming? Well, just thinking, imagining the obscene words I'd whisper to my supper once it was loaded on a fucking plate. I hadn't even decided what I'd cook but that didn't stop me from making plans.

"Oof, man, I think I'll need fifth or sixth servings already…" I muttered, trying to imagine my stomach wasn't growling something fierce at me. "What should I make, though…?"

Picanha.

"Oh! Oh, that's a good one. But, hear me out on this one, something from up north… Shashlik."

Delicious.

More.

Consume

Masala kheema.

"Now we're talking! Haven't had something Indian in a while. But, I dunno, I'd like somethin' that cooks fast… oh. Oh, I got it!"

Churrasco.

I laughed.

"Took the words right outta my mouth. Man, it's been ages since I've agreed so much with someone. Granted, it's me, but…"

Consume.

Hunger.

Meat.

Devour.

"Devour indeed, queen," I encouraged while nodding solemnly. "Now, for the drinks-"

"HELP!"

And just like that, my lighter thoughts were enshrouded in red again. Not quite the deep crimson that I always see at the institute, but red nonetheless. A color of warning. Of conflict. Advising me that whatever happened, whatever occurred, there'd be blood spilt.

I heard the cry a couple of feet away of me. It was faint, muffled by struggle and the ambient noises of the city. But with my sense of hearing, I was able to pinpoint its source very quickly.

I huffed.

There was just no end to it. One conflict after another after another.

"Please hel- agh…!"

Worst of all, it seemed as if I had to intervene in every one of them.

I walked. I did so in the general direction of the screaming. It took me one or two minutes to pass by a narrow alleyway. I turned and saw them, two figures wrestling where the light didn't reach.

A crime. A man was pinning a woman against the wall. In his hand, there was a knife.

Bloody knife. Stained with the woman's blood, dripping from the wound on her shoulder where the criminal had stabbed her. I could see it in detail from that distance. The way the liquid flowed down the steel and dripped onto the floor.

Steel and blood. Always there. Always in every conflict.

The woman caught sight of me, in a moment. She probably wouldn't have while struggling and screaming. But she turned in the right moment and saw in me a savior out of sheer luck.

There was deep fear in her eyes. There was also a flash of relief. In her mind and heart, the instant when she was convinced her life was over, someone arrived to prove her wrong. She visibly deflated while in her captor's grasp, trusting that I'd scream or do something to defuse the situation.

The criminal took a few more seconds to notice. I could smell strange substances on him, drugs of the nasty kind. He probably had his mind in another dimension while the worst of his impulses dictated his actions.

He snarled something at the woman. When he finally noticed she was looking at her side, he turned too.

The criminal was a mutant. Something like a lion. A dirty yellow mane covered his head and chin. He also had a bulkier, flatter kind of nose, not like a human's. His lips were wet and black.

We stared at each other.

I looked into his eyes. They were of a golden-orange color. They were also all the opposite of the woman he was threatening.

They had no emotion. No feelings. No thoughts.

Instinct. Instinct and nothing else.

Instinct to eat. Instinct to kill. Instinct to violate.

I already had a much better read of the criminal in the same amount of time it took me to decipher his victim. I knew what he wanted, what he needed, and what he'd do to get it.

His pupils dilated. His body tensed up. He bared his fangs.

Back off. This is mine. Take another step and you'll be next.

The red became crimson. My heart thumped louder. I heard metallic scratching.

Next?

Don't get cocky, kitten.

You're dead meat.

I'll rip out your guts and use them as belt.

Then, I'll pluck out your eyes and chew on them like gum.

Your bones will be nice to pick my teeth.

You will die screaming.

The silly little kitty took a step back. He held my gaze for a second. A tense second in which I was seriously considering shoving my arm down his throat and ripping his stomach inside out.

He stared down. His hand with the knife trembled. There were moments in which gathered enough courage to glance at me. I growled and he whimpered even further.

The woman smiled a teary smile. Saved at last.

I quickly set my eyes on her. On that smile. On that relief.

I couldn't read her. I couldn't see past the immediate shock or gratitude.

Nothing. Nothing to work with. Nothing to assess the situation.

No insurance.

The red became redder and redder and redder and then black—

Monster.

How could you?

He was a person.

You should've asked for help. Sought someone to vouch for you.

There is no proof.

Was there no one to assist you?

Or was nobody willing to assist you?

Killer. Murderer. Criminal.

This wasn't the first time, Miss Ryuzaki.

This is your last chance.

Next stop is Tartarus.

TRUST NO ONE

.

.

.

—I turned around as my vision quickly returned to normal.

"Hey, kitten," I called the criminal. "Get the hell outta here by sunrise. I see you again in my turf, and you're finished."

I didn't even wait for him to respond. I strutted out of the alleyway and resumed my walk back home.

I slapped my hands over my ears as the woman began crying for help again.

"Fool me once, shame on me," I muttered. "Fool me twice… suck my dick."

I massaged my head as the screaming reached its crescendo. It did so for a full minute.

Then, silence. Only cars honking, passerby talking, phones playing music.

I kept on walking.

I smiled from ear to ear at the idea of supper. I did so ignoring the fresh stench of blood already wafting in the air.

Yellow! Here's me with a new chap. Usually don't make it a habit of updating this fast, dealing with other responsibilities and all, but I felt inspired! Hope it is to your liking.

Next chapter marks the end of this introductory arc. I wanted all y'all to get an idea of sweet and innocent Hikari before jumping onto the actual plot. I think I did a pretty solid job and that I'm almost ready to move onto more interesting stuff, soon.

Nonetheless, I still wanna know what you think! Was Hikari's aggressiveness-fueled POV interesting to look through so far? Did any of the other dysfunctional characters draw your attention? Were the descriptions to your delight or were they lacking? Were the dialogues to your liking as well? What would you enjoy to see in future chapters the most? And what do you think could happen, while we're at it?

Take your time and enjoy! I'll be glad if you just have a nice moment reading. ;D

See you later, 'gators! Sooner than I hope too. T_T

(25/01/2024)