Lake looked through the boards plastered on the hallway walls. Various colorful papers were pinned to the boards. Club activities usually began during the first week of the semester. However, since Lake was late, the majority of the recruiting had been done. As he scanned through them, he realized he wasn't interested in a lot of the club and activities offered after class. Basketball held too many practices. Lake had basic knowledge of tea but he wouldn't join the Tea Ceremony Club. He never had tried archery but then again he might kill someone accidentally. Art club was not his forte. Soccer, like basketball, held too many practices and too much running.
Which came down to five options. Baseball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, and cuisine club. Lake knew that Baseball was extremely popular in Japan. He also knew no one from class 2-D played in the baseball club. He contemplated whether it would be a wise decision in joining a club with no one he was acquainted with.
Lake, however, knew that Satsuki Shinohara was in both Volleyball and the Cuisine club. Tennis and Swimming were interesting enough but he'd rather avoid overwhelming physical activity. Baseball could be very physically demanding depending on the position he chose. He would choose the least important position. The cuisine club, well let's say the Black Room only gave the blandest food. So he could not trust his taste buds to produce savory dishes.
"Baseball it is." Lake snatched the paper from the board and looked at the contact information provided. He had to pretend to be an ordinary student. If he didn't join any clubs it would be odd considering he was an outcast. Any method to lay low and gather intel on his class was in his best interests.
Another week had passed and Lake had regretted joining the baseball club. In his ignorance, he believed he could choose his position. However, the baseball coach made him run around to test his stamina and speed. Lake didn't go all out. Even when he was going through the motions he was still significantly better than his counterparts.
Sweat trickled down his back as he took a swig of water. He sincerely regretted choosing baseball. But it was too late to back out. The sun was beating down on him as he continued to drink water and wet his hair. He could only reminisce for a little while longer before the baseball manager called out for the next workouts.
Swinging a bat wasn't all that difficult. Simple hand eye coordination and anticipation was all he needed. His coach then tested him in pitching. Well let's say the catcher was not appreciative of his strong pitches. After that it was even more testing and even more running. He had the same workouts for the past week. Lake insisted on a backup role but the manager wouldn't listen to him.
After all the workouts were done the manager and coaches were busy conversing before revealing that he would be a pitcher. With his second designated spot being in the outfield if he were to tire out his pitching arm. The incumbent pitcher was not all that pleased. Lake continued his protests. He believed he would best serve as a backup but his protests fell onto deaf ears.
As practice finished he went to change and quickly went to grab something to eat at Keyaki Mall. Keyaki mall was bustling with students. Every cafe and store had customers filtering in and out. Lake looked around interested in trying something new.
Lake was slowly getting accustomed to the food. However he decided to go with his usual dinner. Gyūdon had become his comfort food. It was a simple and humble dish but he loved the flavors.
"Don't you get tired of the same food everyday?" Lake was interrupted from enjoying his pleasure food. Kikyo Kushida waltzed and sat in the chair across from him. Her face beamed with happiness. The joyful aura Kushida emitted was rather unsettling.
"It's the first dish I tasted in Japan. Why try something else and run the risk of not enjoying it?" Lake responded as he cleaned his lips with a napkin.
"A normal person would get tired of eating the same thing for dinner everyday. " Kushida smiled innocently. Lake did not know if it was an innocent jab or more of a prodding insult. Most of all, how did she know he ate Gyūdon everyday for dinner?
"I'm not normal?" Lake crossed his arms. Realizing this conversation was going to be longer than expected.
"Not in the slightest. Those who pretend to be normal are the ones that have the most to hide." For a moment Lake could see a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"What isn't normal about me?" As he finished his question, Kushida tilted her head examining him.
"For one, a normal person doesn't ask what isn't normal about them. If they truly believed they were normal they would brush the comment away." Kushida pointed her finger at Lake.
"I hardly believe that logic. Perhaps people interpret the comment differently. Who wouldn't feel offended if they were called "not normal" Lake began to eat his Gyūdon dish again. He knew those were bad manners but all the running had made him hungry.
"Hmm." Kushida placed a finger on her cheek striking a thinking posture.
"You don't have any friends. For the past two weeks you've been attending classes but hardly push yourself in making friends. All you do is point the obvious or chime into the class discussion here and there" Kushida continued her original thoughts.
That comment was unexpected. If anything, the comments made him raise his guard. Kushida was not only eye candy, she was very observant of the people surrounding her. She was testing him trying to pry any information she could from him. Would he fall for her innocent looks? Or could she casually flirt with him and get information. How would he react to her compliments? Lake realized Kushida was very cunning. An expert manipulator.
"I appreciate your observation." Lake closes the lid of his meal. He would not be interrogated any further. He would finish his food in his dorm in peace.
Now he knew why it was difficult for Kiyotaka to get expelled. There were other potential powers and minds at play. There were other geniuses hiding in the campus. Geniuses in their own right.
"Leaving so soon? I was hoping to continue our conversation." Kushida asked pleadingly. If it was any other male student they would have fallen for her tricks. But Lake persevered and packed his dinner into a bag ready to leave.
"Sorry, I am a bit tired from club activities." Lake lied. Although baseball practice was surprisingly lengthier today, he was used to even worse. His routine at the Black Room was fifteen miles every morning and afternoon. Not including his weight training and swimming routine. During the weekends those miles and physical routine expanded.
"You are in a club?" Kushida began eyeing the extra duffel bag that Lake held in his other arm.
"It's better than doing nothing after class." Lake shrugged his shoulders. He didn't exactly understand how these random interactions wouldn't alert him. These conversations were obviously to gain intel on him.
"Which club?" Kushida continued.
"Baseball, I joined a week ago." Lake answered her question.
"Oh, well sorry for taking time away from your day" Kushida bowed her head apologetically. Although they both knew it was an act.
Kushida quickly left as she exited the mall. Her short figure became a smaller and smaller silhouette. Lake waited until she was fully out of view before he made his way out of the mall. The sun was setting and the view was breathtaking. However, Lake could never reminisce in peace.
"You seem popular Lake-Senpai" Lake inwardly sighed realizing he wouldn't be able to enjoy the rest of his day in peace.
As he turned around he remembered the beautiful girl in front of him. The lustrous blonde hair that cascaded down to her hip and the most striking blue eyes gave it away.
"How can I help you today Tsubasa-san?" Lake turned around and noticed her leaning against the outside wall.
"You have been avoiding me, Lake-Senpai" She stopped leaning from the wall and approached him.
"I have been kind of busy." Lake lifted his duffle bag demonstrating to her he was in club activities. Although the main reason he avoided her was because he didn't exactly know how much she knew about him.
"Fair enough. How is it going with finding a partner for the special exam?" She asked. Lake wasn't worried about finding a partner. If anything he wasn't opposed to taking the penalty and risking getting expelled.
"I am not really looking for a partner." Lake responded as he began walking towards the dorms.
"Oh, is the Black Room's perfect experiment that confident?" Nanase met his walking pace, not letting him leave.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Lake felt a cold chill emanate from his back. Tsukishiro had an awfully loose tongue.
"Don't worry the people that do know won't let out your little secret. If anything it's become a competition. Who will be the one to expel Ayanokoji?" Nanase mused as she continued to match Lake's pace.
"Acting director Tsukishuro did say that the Black Room would always be inferior to the White Room. Some people believe that you're a fraud." Nanase continued to jab at Lake hoping for a reaction.
"Huh? I thought the acting director spoke highly of me." Lake questioned innocently. He soon realized as much as they were supposed to be on the "same team" they were not.
"Just a simple lie to see how you would react." Nanase responded before speeding her pace and blocked Lake's path.
Lake stopped in his tracks realizing the girl in front of him would not let him go further.
"So what do you want from me?" Lake asked as he tossed his bags to the ground. He could sense the person that was hiding behind the shadows.
The sky had turned dark and the dimming sunset was beginning to fade on the coast. The only lighting they had was the lamp posts that illuminated the way to their dorms. If you wanted to hurt someone, it was best to do it in the dark. Without any students or potential witnesses nearby. Funny enough, Lake had decided to take the least traveled route to the dorm to avoid the eyes of other students. After all, the conversation he and Nanase were conversing on was a delicate subject.
"Well I want to expel Ayanokoji and there is someone else that is interested in also doing so." Nanase continued. He could hear footsteps on the hard concrete walking behind him inching closer.
"So you're Lake. You seem like a little punk to me." Lake turned around and was surprised to see a first year student who was rather physically imposing. Considering he was a first year student, his body looked overly developed compared to the average high school student. The student in front of him was just a bit taller than Lake. His hair was silver blonde and rather spiky. His icy blue eyes stared at him from head to toe as if analyzing his next victim.
"Housen-kun, you have to be more approachable." Nanase scolded as if the violent aura he emitted wasn't the real issue.
"Housen?" Lake scrunched his face in confusion. Tsukishiro hadn't given Lake a file on him. He was an unknown. Lake was beginning to realize that Tsukishiro was leaving blanks when it came to intel on other students.
"That's right. You see, Nanase doesn't believe I can take this Ayanokoji punk alone. She said we should team up with you. I have no idea why, you seem easy to crush." Housen interlinked his fingers before cracking them.
"I don't know what you two are going on about. So I am going to head back to the dorms." Lake picked up both of his bags and slung them over his shoulders.
Before he could keep walking he was quickly blocked by Housen. Lake attempted to walk around him but was unable to do so. Housen's large hand grabbed onto his shoulder. Housen's grip tightened the more Lake tried to escape.
Lake grabbed his wrist and quickly applied pressure to the wrist bones. Housen quickly withdrew his hand feeling just a hint of pain. He was rather surprised he could apply that much pressure. Housen also figured out Lake didn't fully intend to hurt him. It was a warning.
"Maybe you're not so weak after all." Housen looked at Nanase who was also impressed that Lake was able to fend off Housen with no issue at all.
"I'm a baseball pitcher, my grip strength is above average." Lake mused as he picked up his school and duffel bag. He walked around the two first years not bothering to hear more of their conversation.
Lake's fading silhouette slowly disappeared. Nanase and Housen got to experience just a bit of Lake 's capabilities.
"He's no punk after all. Where do these freaks come from?" Housen asked Nanase as he still held his wrist massaging the aching pain.
Housen was used to constant fighting and violence. He had become numb to pain to a certain degree. He could take punches and keep going. But for once he actually felt a twinge of pain just from Lake applying a little pressure to his wrist.
"They are supposedly prepared from a young age to be superior in all aspects." Nanase explained. She only had brief information on the White and Black Room. But from the little information she had, she knew Ayanokoji and Lake were monsters in their own right.
The next day Kiyotaka lounged in the classroom waiting for the first period to commence. He noticed the new student was always thirty minutes early to the classroom. It wasn't occasionally, it was everyday. Lake kept his routine flawlessly. Even Kiyotaka was a bit impressed.
He unpacked his bag the same way. Always unpacking his tablet then his pens and papers. He neatly arranged them side by side on his desk before sitting down. As he sat down in his seat, his posture was upright and rigid. Kiyotaka also noticed that he never slouched.
"You have interest in the new student?" Horikita looked in the same direction, his gaze focused on the new student.
"Not particularly" Kiyotaka responded apathetically. He wasn't really interested in him nor worried. If anything, the issue that bothered him the most was that he had no information on him. How could he assess risk or danger without knowing the individual?
"From what I have gathered he's a simple student. Goes to class and club activities then goes straight back to his dorm." Horikita looked at Kiyotaka trying to grasp what he was thinking of.
"How do you know that?" Kiyotaka perked up as he found the conversation rather interesting.
"Sudo told me. They usually go in the same direction when it comes to after school activities. They finish around the same time" Horikita concluded. She wanted to switch the conversation to more pressing issues.
"Fair enough. Now focusing on the main issue, finding a partner for Sudo." Ayanokoji glanced towards the tall red head. They needed to find him a capable first year student to pair with Sudo to ensure he wouldn't fail the special exam.
"Yes, did you receive the message from Ichinose? About the meet and greet for the first years?" Horikita inquired. Ayanokoji did indeed read that message. He was pondering on whether it was worthwhile to go.
"Yea, I do think it's a good idea to go. Meet some of the first years to see if there are any students that excel in academics." Kiyotaka realized he could also perhaps find a partner himself.
"It's a good idea to take Hirata don't you think?" Ayanokoji looked at perhaps the most popular student in his class. Hirata was busy talking away with the girls that surrounded him.
"He said he would focus more on the soccer club." Horikita responded by shaking her head dismissing his idea.
"We have time, it's not until tomorrow." Ayanokoji pointed out. Horikita nodded in response. She hoped she would be able to figure out a solution before the meeting.
The rest of Ayanokoji's classes flew by rather quickly and soon nightfall had befallen the campus. Kiyotaka had a secret meeting to attend. It was very constant that he would meet this person. She could blend in and people trusted her easily enough. Kei hadn't been much help, considering she was more involved with the girls from his class unlike the individual awaiting for him.
"Kushida I hope the intel is worthwhile. I'm sharing half my points with you every month after all." Ayanokoji walked into the light.
"Ayanokoji-kun you have such little faith in me." Kushida's "innocent" eyes and beautiful smile looked up at him.
"Enough with the charades. What do you have?" Kushida's smile quickly vanished from her face. Her eyes glazed over finally being able to act like her true self. To be completely honest, Ayanokoji preferred her this way.
"Well you will be disappointed with what I have to say." Kushida's voice was a pitch lower than her bubbly personality.
"I imagine so." Kiyotaka placed his hands in his pockets.
"He's just an ordinary student. Nothing sets him aside from everyone else except his looks. Quite a few of our classmates have crushes on him. But he only goes to class, participates in baseball and heads back to his dorm. I don't know why you wanted him investigated." Kushida looked at him hoping for an answer.
"That information is not useful to me. I got more information from Horikita in the morning. The only useful information you have given me is that some girls like him. Perhaps we can guide these girls to him and see what they can tell us ." Kushida's mood soured. Her face twisted in annoyance. She despised Horikita. Just Kiyotaka comparing them to each other caused her grief.
"Well if you can get your information from her why would you ask me to investigate him?" Kushida voiced menacingly.
"I believed you could provide more. Perhaps I was mistaken." Ayanokoji responded, pondering if Lake was an ordinary student after all. His sixth sense however told him differently.
"I can't shake the feeling he is not an ordinary student. I need you to enter his dorm room, find what you can. Create a copy of his key. After all, you were able to gain access to my dorm in the same manner." Ayanokoji confessed. He usually was not open about his thoughts. But it was best to be honest, at least partially so Kushida could help.
"You are worried." Kushida pointed out. She had never seen Ayanokoji so focused on an individual before.
"I'm never worried." Kiyotaka closed the gap between them, pressing closer to her. Their bodies barely touched. His eyes lacked emotion, his aura was that of extreme confidence. She could feel his breath on her face. For once, Kushida felt uncomfortable.
"Get me what I need." Kiyotaka slowly retreated from her personal space before turning away and waving goodbye.
Kushida could feel her legs shaking, she didn't know if it was from fear or from nervousness. He had been extremely close to her. Her cheeks felt warm and flushed. She could see his fading silhouette disappear in the distance under the night sky. She cursed him under her breath.
Apologies if there some grammatical errors. Hope you enjoy!