"That's all for today. I hope today was wonderful for all of you. Recently there's multiple missing persons incident, so everyone, be careful on your way back home!"

"""Good bye, sensei!"""

The long day of studying was over. After shortly finishing the end-day meeting, Saya sensei sent us off with her warm unchanging smile. When we bowed our heads, sensei bowed back, still smiling even when she lifted her head.

"One, two..."

Sensei then lifted the mountains of books that was stacked on the lectern. We, as students were finished for the day. But Saya sensei's day looked far from finished. Several guys quickly stood up and volunteered to help her, but sensei shook her head, saying that she could handle it.

There was six books in her arms, and every single one of them looked big enough to be a weapon. It looked liked it weighed at least 15 kilograms, but surprisingly Saya sensei didn't look like she was having trouble. In fact, when she lifted the books, she lifted them in one go, when a woman or even a man would at least struggle once.

I guess being a teacher really requires a lot.

"Good bye, everyone!"

Sensei opened the door, and kindly waved her hand goodbye before she left. While carrying a 15 behemoth with only one hand. I could see the other student's being shocked at sensei's unexpected strength, which also included me.

I gotta say. That is the second weirdest thing I've seen today.

Tud Tud Tud

Sensei's fast footsteps rang through the hallway. For her to run like that, it looked like she was in quite a hurry. It was odd to see her finish homeroom faster than usual. When normally it took her way longer, asking us about basic safety procedures that even a kindergarten would know. But she did say something about 'being busy today', so I guess that's the reason.

Not that I'm complaining. Nobody in our class looked liked they had problems about going home earlier.

"Hey. Wanna go to a Karaoke? I know a place that just opened, and it's fifty percent off!"

"Really? Then we should go!"

"Do you remember where I saved? I'm sure I saved before the boss room."

"What, you don't remember? You saved at the red hallway."

"...Oh god, I'm screwed.."

Everybody had their own plans on what they were going to do.

'I guess 'that' already became yesterday's news...'

It seemed that nobody cared about the missing persons case that sensei warned us about at the end. From what I saw in the morning news a few days ago, an estimated fifteen people were missing around Tokyo. There were rumors of kidnapping and I even saw some police around patrolling in Shinjuku and Shibuya because of this. It was a rather serious case. Luckily there were no reports of missing students from our school or any other schools around the area. Because of that, the missing person's case wasn't a news of horror, but was a good gossip material among some students. I heard the guys from the occult club were having a ball with this incident.

Me on the other hand, was on the side that had no interest about the incident. I knew for a fact that this was a thing that would bring nothing but trouble.

Warning or not, thanks to sensei's short homeroom everyone was ecstatic and bolted out the door right after sensei left.

But not all of them...

"Sure, go out and have some fun. That is, AFTER you finish your cleaning duty."

A long silver haired girl stood in front of one of the exit. The solemn sentences from her mouth seemed like it rang through the whole classroom. The cold stone gaze the girl was shooting out her eyes, stopped those who tried to run for the door. Although it was only one, no one dared to go past her. She was our class authority. The Kendo champion of our school, and the undisputed fist of order. If Saya sensei was the carrot, she was the whip.

Haira Taiyosuki, our class prez, and also the president of the school council. On top of having beautiful looks, her grades and physique were top notch, and acted just to all the students in our school. Everyone, from students to even teachers, had high regards for her. But once she sees anyone who tries to go against school rules, they'd know the full might of prez's 'other reputation'. Prez effortlessly moved around the classroom like a ghost. Quickly snatching students that was designated to today's cleaning duty. Some tried to run, but it was impossible, due to her standing close to the door like a gate keeper. The back door was already guarded by another female student that was unfortunately caught. Eagerly blocking students on cleaning duty, with flaming eyes saying, 'I'm screwed anyway, might as well take you all with me!'.

"Oh crap, I completely forgot.."

"You too."

"Wow, Haira. You don't miss anything, do you? It's almost scary how you pick these things off.."

Prez each handed the caught students a broom and a dustpan. Sending them back inside to clean up. Prez didn't just stand around, and started to clean the classroom with the other students. Even while cleaning, she managed to catch two more runners with no problem.

I'm telling you, god itself won't be able to run from her.

"Oof... My shoulders are killing me..."

When I tried to carry my backpack. The moment the straps pressed my shoulders, it felt like I was being electrocuted. I dropped my bag while turning both of my arms in circles, to try to relax my tensed muscles. It sort of worked, but it still hurt.

After lunchtime, I went straight to my classroom that was located on the fourth floor. But when I got there, nobody was in the classroom. For a second, I thought this was another nightmare. But then I remembered that the fifth period was science. Eitouku Gakuen had three buildings, and it just so happens the science room was in the third building, which was the farthest from here.

Not to mention, it had to be at the third floor, which is the tallest floor on the building!

The building I was in was huge, and I was already behind the clock. Combining that with my empty stomach, I was doomed from the start. I immediately ran as fast as I could. But at the end, to nobody's surprise, I was ten minutes late for class.

Not only was I embarrassed, when I opened the door and saw everyone's awkward gazes towards me. I had to be scolded by the strict, exercise mania, 80% muscle of a man. Aka, our science teacher. As if being late for class wasn't bad enough, the teacher made me carry a giant sized beaker that came up to my knees. I was completely shocked at the mere sight of the beaker's ridiculous size. It was impossible for a thing of that size to exist. When I asked the teacher, why on earth would he have something like that, he simply replied that he custom made it to challenge himself both in strength and intelligence. The golden question what I really wanted to ask him after hearing it, was his alcohol level when he decided to take the extra mile.

I hid my real thoughts and tried to compliment on the beaker to avoid carrying it. The teacher was happy to hear it. And as a reward, I had the honor to carry the damn thing in front of the class. Only boasting the teacher's idea even more.

Even now, I regret not telling the truth. At least it would've been fun.

"If he likes to exercise that much, why didn't he just be a P.E. teacher? And giant beakers... God, the giant beakers!"

The point where my embarrassment hit the peak, was when the teacher actually used the beaker, while I was holding it. The beaker was heavy as it was big. Adding liquids and materials on that certainly didn't help. Some of the students giggled, as my face turned red and my legs shaking like it was made in rubber, while I tried my best not to drop the beaker that was heavier then a 7 year old.

My whole face was hot, like I was being boiled in water. It was so embarrassing that I wished I'd just wither away with the wind, but what came after blew my embarrassment away. The teacher became mad at the students that laughed. Saying that they didn't have the right to make fun of. From the drawers, he pulled out six beakers that was exactly the same as the one I was holding, and then made the six students that laughed, to lift the beakers alongside me. Not only that, he filled the six beakers with water, justifying that it's only an experiment on muscle endurance.

I would've been touched, if it wasn't so obvious that he was mad because he thought the students made fun of his beakers, not me. But it was the result that counts. Being able to drag down six losers with me, was the most satisfying experience that I had all day.

After class, the teacher gave me and six others a pain relief patch to help ease the pain. The thought was nice, but there was absolutely no way a patch would do anything, when I had to lift a beaker that weighed at least 18 kilograms, for a whole hour.

Of course, besides the cool feeling, it didn't do anything. And I had to suffer from back pain for the last three periods. Now my back was all numb, that it was hard to feel anything except tingling pain. Three hours of continuous back pain was more painful then I imagined.

All because, some teacher didn't feel like exercising with normal sporting equipment!

"I just hope nobody makes this a thing. Like calling me 'Beaker man'. Or 'The Beaker Brothers'... Oh, god! Please don't let it be Beaker Brothers!"

I was freaking out, if someone would really call me in that ridiculous nickname.

[Master, I don't think they will make names out of you, just because you carried a big beaker. Even if master happens to be called Beaker Brothers. It wouldn't be that weird of a nickname. In fact, I don't think it's that bad.]

In my hand, Amateratsu was kind enough to encourage me. It was really sweet of her to care about me. But the latter part, was just no. I downright refuse to admit, about 'Beaker Brothers' being an 'ok' nickname.

"Are you kidding?! That kind of nickname is a sure way to get yourself laughed at! Giant beakers are weird enough. You think it's a good idea being named after that?!"

[We, Well if you put it like that, it does sound a little bit weird. The reason I said that it wasn't weird, was because the Great Nature's high beast units use school equipment that weights over a ton, all the time.]

"Oh... Really? But aren't they like, really smart? I wouldn't be able to concentrate for a second if I used those things, let alone lift one."

[This may be hard to understand, master. But the Great Nature's high beasts are blessed with strength that comes from the grand plains of 'Zoo'. They are unlike any other high beasts from other nations. Their unique habitat makes them incredibly strong, so lifting a ton isn't much of a problem for them.]

"Is that so?"

[Yes. That's why their motto is 'Obtaining brawn and brains at the same time'.]

I nodded continuously while listening to Amateratsu's new facts about Cray. I keep forgetting that she's an alien from a far away planet, that operates on logic different that of earth. Besides some topics about earth, I knew absolutely nothing about the Cray she was talking about.

But I got to say, it IS interesting. Listening to her talking about Cray, was like listening to a really cool fairy tale. A world where science and magic coexists. Knights, dragons, gods, robots, talking animals, demons, all kinds of races existing on a single planet. My imagination went completely wild. For the last three periods, all I could listen to was Amateratsu's stories of Cray.

Despite her looking like a fragile flower, she was quite a hero herself. Being part of a great war called 'The war of creation'. And after the war ended, she became the CEO of a giant corporation, which was the now Oracle Think Tank. I felt so small while hearing her almost to impossible achievements. So much so that I kinda wanted to believe she was exaggerating.

Time flew when I was talking with her. But it was a real pain when I had to take her out of my pocket, in order for me to talk to her. I was almost caught several times by the students and the teachers. Amateratsu said there was a way to talk telepathically, but we both had no idea how to do it.

The only, and also biggest downside of talking to Amateratsu, was not being able to hear a single thing from class. As a first year student studying for the finals, this was quite dangerous.

'I hope today's class was just a reminder for the finals...'

"Itou. Why are you still here when you're not even on cleaning duty? You're in the way, so go home."

Prez waved her hand, telling me to step aside while she tried to mop beneath my seat. With her in charge, the whole classroom was spotless. Floors and windows sparkling, seats and equipment organized, it was to be expected from her.

"You're also not in cleaning duty, prez. Didn't you have other things to do?"

As the student council president, prez had a lot on her plate. Every time I see her, she was always doing some kind of work. Even things that she doesn't have to do. If anyone needed some help, she jumped right in to solve the situation. Doing everything by the clock, and yet prez didn't look remotely exhausted. It was like she was born to be the student council president.

"...How many times do I have to tell you? Call me. By my. Name."

"Oh, sorry pre, I mean, Haira..."

My body froze up when she glared at me. When prez can be kind to people, she can be equally scary sometimes, to the point of being ruthless. I knew full well what would happen when someone messes with her.

Back to the naming problem, it wasn't like I didn't know her name, or was trying to make fun of her. Haira wasn't a bad name at all, but I just felt more comfortable by calling her prez. It is my fault calling her that, and it's clear that she has a problem with that. She always points out at me whenever I call her prez. I didn't want to make her mad, so I tried really hard to set my mind to call her right. But calling her prez six out of ten times, at this point it was almost a reflex to me.

"That's for me to worry about. Or what, do you WANT to clean up as well?"

"Nuh uh! I'm gonna do it when I HAVE to, ok?"

I turned my head and avoided eye contact, in case she really made me do it. I was already exhausted for the day, I didn't need more work on top of that.

"Well that's one way to say no. Then get going. And don't be late for school tomorrow. Got it?"

Prez looked at me and sighed while shaking her head, like a mother pathetically looking at her child who was in trouble. After telling me the second time to go home, she got back to mopping the floor. I know it wasn't my business, but I felt sorry for refusing to help out.

I promised myself to help her out later, while carrying my bag to get out of the classroom. My body shook the moment I carried my backpack. The straps pressing my aching shoulders hurt more than I thought. When I stepped out to the hallway, I dropped my bag at the floor to try to ease my shoulders. After some quick arm swinging, it felt a lot better than before.

I'm sure I'll past out the moment I lie down in my bed. I don't think I'll be able to talk to Amateratsu. After eating dinner, I'm going to wash up as fast as I can, run to my room and sleep like a baby.

[Master, would you like me to give you a massage?]

I looked down, and Amateratsu was stretching her fingers like she was readying herself. I couldn't understand what Amateratsu was trying to do. According to her, it looks like she wants to help me ease my shoulders. It was sweet of her, but what I don't get is how will she do that, when she has no physical form whatsoever?

"A massage? That would be good, but aren't you like, a card? Is it even possible for you?"

I was half confused, and half curious if a card could actually give someone a massage. Amaterasu tilted her head while looking at me all confused, just like when we first met. But then she clapped her hands and realized that I didn't know half of what she knew.

[Oh. You probably won't know this, master.]

"Well, it's kinda obvious at this point isn't it?"

[Well master, you could actually]

"Ay, Itou! Why are you standing alone in the hallway?"

I sighed the moment I heard that voice. The high tension voice that I've heard so much that I'm sick to death of. And wouldn't you know it, a familiar arm landed on top of my shoulder.

"Argh!... Watch it!"

"Oh, come on. That was just a love tap! You need to apply some pressure in order to heal faster! I mean, I think."

"Oh yeah? Well how about I apply some pressure to your head, Chihiri?!"

I pinched the hand that was on my shoulder. Right next to me was the owner of the arm. A deep brown eyed girl, with short light brown hair. And at the side of her hair, was a hairpin with a red circle and a blue X.

"Ow! Ow! I'm sorry! I give!"

She screamed in pain by her hand being pinched. Hearing her apologize, I let her go. She immediately blew the back of her hand to cool it off, while looking like she was about to cry. I didn't feel sorry. Compared to my shoulder, a light pinch to the hand was nothing.

[E, Eh?...]

Amateratsu was all confused, while looking back and forth to me and the girl. I couldn't blame her. The girl in front of me was the first person she saw, that was overly friendly to me.

In my case, I wish I could take at least a one day break away from her.

"Jeez... That hurt, you know?"

"Yeah, I'm truly sorry. Boo freaking hoo. Where were you? You're not in cleaning duty today, but you looked like one, when you ran out right after sensei left."

"I was chatting with my online friends. I wanted to meet them at Akihabara, but everyone said they're busy. Oooooohh! I really wanted to meet them in real life!"

Thank god. I thought she was doing something productive and normal. But it's Chihiri, so that's highly unlikely.

The girl next to me was Chihiri Kinoshita. At first glance, people think of her as an upbeat girl with a good heart. That's true.

Being in the same classroom as me, she's the mood maker that entertains everyone in class. Getting along with everyone, especially the guys by having a man like personality herself. This is... sort of true. Her face and body was a girl, but her insides was completely, a dude.

Chihiri was like a shadow that I can't run away from. Me and Chihiri's relationship was more persistent than inevitable death. Why am I thinking this?

When Chihiri doesn't talk, she's a very pretty girl that seems faultless in every way. But when she starts talking, you'll know that she's basically a perverted guy, and has no femininity whatsoever. She goes the extra mile by wearing nothing but men's clothes. I've never seen her in feminine clothes, not even once. Even the school uniform that she's wearing was the same as mine.

Not only that, she's a heavy otaku that's obsessed with games, anime and etc. She's damn proud of it, that she doesn't hide anything. She also likes doing meaningless, sometimes impossible challenges at random, and always dragged me along with her. From the first time when we met in fourth grade, I've been with Chihiri for six years. Being with someone like Chihiri for six years, is like riding a crazy roller coaster ride straight out of crazy land.

But leaving that aside, Chihiri was one of my few close friends. Like my parents, she also knew about my ability, and didn't treat me like a monster. She helped me stand up. Live a normal life, when I didn't even believe in myself that I could. Chihiri shaping me who I am right now, wasn't an understatement. In fact, the third voice that I heard in the nightmare, was Chihiri's voice. She was that important to me. And thanks to her, I overcome my fears yet again.

I say that I'm sick of her. But honestly, I'm just grateful for her that she's still friends with me to this very day.

"Uh, Chihiri? I'm kinda tired right now, so I'll see you tomorr..."

"Come on! You and I are going to the card shop!"

Chihiri declared out loud. Obviously not listening to what I just said. Ignoring my will to go home, she firmly grabbed my left hand and tried to drag me. I constantly slapped her hand that was grabbing mine, and barely got her off me.

"Again?! This is the third time we went to a card shop, this week alone! Besides, didn't you already finish your deck? Don't tell me you're going to challenge kids that barely started the game. For god sake, the last time you did that, one of the kids cried their eyes out!"

"W, Well, there WAS a bit of trouble here and there, but it's not like I only go for newbies! And besides, today's the day new boosters are coming out! My Angel Feathers are craving for newcomers!"

[A, Angel Feathers?!]

Amateratsu just got excited for some reason. I guess she doesn't know that Chihiri isn't a pioneer.

Changing the subject, someone needs to do something about Chihiri. Whenever she comes across something vanguard related, her blood gets boiling and she goes full on nuts. The reason that I HAD to start vanguard all over again, was because of this vanguard junkie over here. For all the money she used in vanguard cards, Chihiri was a VVIP customer of all the card shops in Tokyo. I don't exactly know how much she used, but it was enough that every card shop owners should treat her like a queen.

"You're gonna regret spending money like this. Think of your mom for... Oh. I guess that's not a problem for her, and you is it."

As the daughter of a huge company, no way it was.

"Mind you that I only use money that I earned, ok? I'll try to forget that you just doubted me, and generously forgive you! Come on! If you tag along, the generous Chihiri- sama will gladly buy you some too!"

"...You're buying? Well, I guess I could go if that's the case... Wait. What's the catch?

I squinted my eyes on Chihiri to see if she's plotting something. The last time I took her offer, I was forced to go to a winter cosplay event with her. If wearing clothes that weren't suited for warmth in freaking winter wasn't bad enough, it was... a male and female couple theme. Long story short, someone had to be the female, and Chihiri didn't feel like it.

"Come on. You think I'm gonna pull your leg again? It's just a friendly offer, that's all. Itou. Itou? Look at me. Does these eyes look like I'm deceiving you?"

Chihiri held her hands like a nun praying, and looked at me while making sad googly eyes like a whimpering puppy. Sure Chihiri acted all innocent, but it's kinda hard to believe when she's flashing several ten thousand yen in her hands, like a overly evil businessman. I wasn't a mind reader of any sort, but other than her overly cartoony impression, it didn't look like she was plotting something. I guess it's because I was with her for a long time, that I sort of know what she's thinking. Not proud of it though...

Vanguard did have the image of a card game for children, but many adults and teenagers enjoyed the game too. In fact, vanguard's popularity was quite big around the world. There was many TV shows that was vanguard related, and also a huge national and international tournament that opened every season. Heck, there was even famous idols promoting the card game.

I keep saying 'children's card game', but I'm found guilty because I really like the game. Like Chihiri and many other players, I also look forward for new booster packs to come out.

"Oh, all right. I'll go with you."

"Umwhahahahaha! I knew you would say yes!~ You're not gonna regret it!"

Chihiri laughed maniacally like a criminal overmind. Uh... I just want to flick my finger on her all confident forehead. But I need to hold that thought. After all, I'm aiming for the booster packs, that she's gonna pay. It's not too late to act after she buys it!

'Yeah, keep laughing. The more you laugh, the more stronger my finger will be!'

[Oh, this is truly a remarkable day! Getting to see two pioneers in a single day! How exciting!]

Meanwhile, Amateratsu squealed like a fangirl, by thinking Chihiri's the pioneer of the Angel Feather clan. But as we all know. She was only a 'player' using an Angel Feather deck. And also, she didn't have any psyqualia abilities like I do. I hesitated to tell her. Because it'll break her expectations like a baseball thrown to a window.

"All right! We have our destination! Let's set forth to Akihabara!"

"Whoopee... I mean, Whoopee~"

"Umwhahahahaha!"

"Shut up, and go home you two!"

"Owowowowow!"

"T, Time out! Time out pre, I mean, Hai, owow!"

Prez angrily opened the classroom door and pulled each of our ears. We forgot that we were standing right outside the classroom. Not knowing that we were shouting right next to the lion's den.

The long summer day was coming to a close. A warm summer breeze blew through the city of Tokyo. The blue skies were turning into a warm orange color, and the busy streets of Tokyo was preparing for their night time change.

On one of the tall buildings rooftop. A certain 'thing' was looking down and observed the hundreds of people who were walking the streets. 'It' looked through thousands of people all day, but wasn't able to find a 'target' that fit the bill.

"C-C-Current time. 18 ho-hours. 43 minu-u-utes. Sight on Ps-s-syqualia us-s-ser. Z-Z-Z-Zero."

The thing's body was like a snake. Extremely long and bigger than any snakes that ever existed on earth. It's body was covered in dark colored plates, which made it tough and hard to see if it hid in the shadows.

"W-W-Wise to s-save spiritual e-energ-gy."

"Wh, What the hell?!"

The building's security guard was shocked when finding a giant creature right in front of his eyes. The middle aged security guard didn't know what to do. His body froze up like confronting a tiger. But his instincts knew. The thing in front of him, was ten times more dangerous.

"H.. Hic..."

The guard covered his mouth with his hand. He needed to stay quiet if he wanted to live. The guard was in tears, but managed to slowly walk back to the door that he entered in.

Swoop-

Splat!

Without the man's realization. The thing's tail cut the security guard's head clean off in a single sweep. The man's head rolled to the side of the building. His face still twitching due to rigor mortis. The decapitated body of the guard swung right to left for a few seconds, when finally dropping to the concrete floor. Soaking it with red blood.

"D-Disturb-b-bance... Te-e-erminated..."

The thing kept on observing the streets. But no matter how long it searched. It seemed like it was impossible to find what it was looking for in this huge city.

Until now.

"T-T-Target. F-F-Found. Psy-y-yqualia confirmed... P-P-Positive."

The thing's mechanical eye widened, as it laid it's eyes on the long awaited target. The thing swiftly moved to alert the 'others' as quickly as possible. The memory of the target's sight and location filled the thing's head.

Two high school students walking into a store with glass doors.

One with brown hair. And the other, white.