AN: Right, before we begin, for those who don't understand what happens below, go ahead and read Book Club by megamatt09. It should give you an idea of how this works.


The screen flickered on… only to say PLEASE WAIT … Which confused everyone.

Seiichi then said "Oh, right! I forgot! To help you understand what's going on, anything you're curious about for this episode alone will be explained through a download to your brain, though it will be an explanation that will NOT contain any specifics. Mostly things about his old world's culture and technology."

'That makes sense,' Cid nodded, 'since that would work better, than having to explain everything whenever something new pops up.'

With that, the screen starts playing the first episode.


A clear river with a regular- if large- Japanese house is shown. Through the window on the side, we see [Akane Nishino] wake up to an alarm. She goes through her daily ablutions, with the bath scene being slightly erotically portrayed. She is dressed and prepares to leave the house, when memories flash through her mind's eye- clearly traumatic. Though she's quickly snapped out of it and driven off, ignoring the lurking truck.


Cid is annoyed that her house had no security of any kind- considering her father's riches, a security rotation makes sense. Since becoming "friends" with her, he did care a bit about her security, nevermind his wish to fight a former soldier being fulfilled.

"Man, this family is so stupid, I can see dozens of security flaws here, trespassing for the riches is easy!" He complained, Alpha and the others raising a brow at the wording.

"True… I could see… At least thirty measures…" Eta confirmed sleepily.

"Still… what's with her gaze?" Epsilon asked, "She looked similar to when we wake up from nightmares," Beta and Zeta nodded, it drove the feeling home a bit too much for comfort.

"Oh that? From what I recall, she was kidnapped as a kid because of her acting career by some pervert and got trauma from it, that's why she's driven home everyday, she hails from a rich family who has some enemies," he said lazily. Really, there were always some traumatised rich girls in these settings, he didn't really notice before because he thought she was an NPC.

"You mean like your family isn't, Minoru?" Seiichi teased as Cid briefly glared at him.

"Nice name, boss!" Delta complimented, Gamma nodding with some others praising.

"Oh thanks…" he said disinterestedly, when it's going to be unpaused?

"Cid," he turned to Alpha, "About this 'Akane', is she like the equivalent of a Duchess?" Alpha asked, trying to make sense of Cid's definition of "rich". He had commented on being "poor" in funding before, but she had assumed he was joking.

He just shrugged as the rest wondered if the girl was that important, Epsilon avoiding looking at her directly.


She explains her fame and coping mechanism- just acting. Why is she so good at it? She runs into [Minoru Kageno] and his ridiculous equipment at the shoe locker. Why does no one see it? Explains that she hates him for not paying attention to her at all . Huh, she is a vain one. He proceeds to irritate her further by misidentifying her thrice over- not a good look to get the bitches, but he can, so ain't no one complaining


Minoru groaned, especially, since Alpha and the others were glaring at him. He needed to placate them stat! "Why would I draw attention to myself as a mob?! Clearly she didn't get the message! Besides, I don't pay that much attention to NPC's!" Came the exasperated exclamation.

That calmed them down, though they still glared, but not at him.

Seiichi snickered… his partner-in-crime giggling alongside him… Huh, so she decided to show herself.

"Seems you're having fun," said the voice beside him, she had white skin and a somewhat longish hair in a braid, looking around her twenties or something, it was very reminiscent of a mix between a ghost and spirit, her arms and legs had some blue runes on them, wearing a simple, but long sleeveless white dress, shorts underneath and was floating. She had two bracelets in each arm and was barefoot, her eyes a clear green, she was at least taller than Cid.

Their guests not so much, Aethra wondered if the girls were jealous of the fact that Akane managed to go to school with Cid, the modern world itself or her apparent role, after all, Akane was gonna get kidnapped later, they should have an idea of the formula by now, considering they passed through similar…

Anyway, she turned to her partner, "Want some pizza?"

He nodded, playing on, at the very least they're going in for a surprise later.


Her past as an actress with a scandal rears its head in her thoughts. Explains her vanity and her dichotomy in thought and actions, and her mask. Also, [Minoru]'s workout routine. The school day goes on as normal. Owing to her career choice, [Akane] has makeup classes.


The Seven Shades have their eyes sparkling at their master- and love- dedicating himself to his workout. Seiichi can see why, after all, he was mad over getting stronger, and they've set that trait as acceptable in a partner (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

Minoru sweatdropped, since it wasn't that impressive, Beta and Eta noting the regime down for 'research'.

Aethra caught a glimpse. She seemed interested in the workout.


As [Akane] does her makeup classes, the Moonlight Sonata plays out. The dusklight makes [Minoru]'s playing look beautiful (not counting future events). It's nightfall and [Akane] is one of the last to leave. [Minoru} is the same, though he's on the roof, looking cool. Akane is forced to walk home for the first time since her kidnapping. Someone's knocked out- that bodes well.


Already Shadow Garden can see that something's about to go down. And they know what their master will do. They know him too well now. Minoru is the same, though he's just irritated further by the driver's lack of spatial awareness.


Fade to [Akane] walking alone on a street, musing about her life. Cue her second kidnapping. Only this time, the last person she sees is [Minoru]. She later wakes up to the roof of an abandoned warehouse with a skylight. She's trussed up like a chicken and her kidnappers have Russell-Westbrook-on-the-Lakers level chemistry. [Minoru] confirms this, lets his weights fall, opens his heavy duffel bag and changes off-screen.


While the girls sound ready to move through the screen to save her, Minoru smiles. He knows what happened. Though he was very curious about her thoughts.

Seiichi was looking forward to this as well. That said, he really hates what is implied in this next part. The girls might just flip.

On the other hand, Aethra wonders if Minoru was waiting for a "rescue a classmate" kind of scenario, he seems the type. Also, yup, totally stereotypical gangster, she saw dozens of these.


Welp, the stereotypical gangster was a rapist as well… and he liked them young. Who knew? Turns out [Akane]'s previous kidnapper was also a stalker with the tendencies of our rape-happy gangster. They snap out of the attempted rape when [Minoru] breaks the silence he kept on purpose.


Surprisingly, Eta was the one to clench her fists first. Then again, while she may have low morals for experiments, she holds her ethics very highly for everything else. It would be interesting to let her loose on Nelson later. Seeing how things (and beings) work was something that made Eta excited and she was even willing to drug someone for that, however that was within the limits past which they would suffer.

She knew her lord was strong, therefore thought little of it, but someone like Akane? Having trauma for life? That was just disgusting, she wasn't that bad. If it was for that kind of thing, let it be a criminal who was better off dead. Alpha and Zeta had similar thoughts, while the others imagined themselves cutting him into pieces.

Still they kept their cool on seeing Minoru prepare for his cool entrance. Minoru was glaring harder at this information. He had little in terms of morals, but rape was not something he excused, it was just enraging.

He REALLY should've killed them back then, he knew what a rape victim was treated like. His aunt was one.

Seiichi breathed a sigh of relief. At least Minoru's presence calms them more. Aethra smiled.


He drops down. Breaking the glass in the process. He then introduces himself as the Stylish Thug Slayer. Things happen and he proceeds to fight, with [Minoru] extolling the potential and virtues of the crowbar. As he is doing so, the non-rape-happy gangster is revealed as ex-military, dishonorably discharged due to bloodlust, as all blood-crazy things should be. And he recognizes [Minoru] as the Balaclava Berserker. Cue his brutalization- the gangster's that is.


The girls were relieved, but Alpha was curious. "Why did you not use the gun yourself? It would've been better to use the enemy's weapon against them- one of your biggest teachings."

Cid sighed "Just because I'm merciless, doesn't mean I can use something that I don't know how to use. I learnt about ranged weapons after this incident. It was a gap in my knowledge that I still regret to this day," he seemed despondent for a second.

Seiichi sighed. He figured that was how he learnt that he needed to learn how to avoid a nuke, of all things!

"Maybe it was more of a, 'crap, I'll be going to jail if I actually kill someone and won't be able to beat people u-I mean defend the city' kind of situation? Like he always half beats them to death and only resorted to killing in this universe. So the nuke thing would be something he can't counter using his normal methods." Aethra projected to Seiichi… not wanting to expose Minoru more than he already is.

Seiichi contemplated that. It could make sense he thought but Minoru isn't that kinda person- he faced reality for real that night and ran into the good kinda lunacy while trying to beat it.


After his face is brutalized, [Akane] is freed, though her terror lets her not see anything, and she can only hear her saviour say one line- Be careful going home next time. She opens her eyes again, but he's gone by then.


Here, the Shades completely get his vision. Finally!


[Minoru] thinks he needs more power as he unmasks himself. The aftermath and then the morning interactions repeat… Except he got the name right this time! Yay! [Akane] sees through his mask though, and wonders why he wears one. She also wonders what's hidden behind it.


The Shades are sardonic as they chuckle. Just a fantasy-driven man who can somehow approach reality and fuck it over to suit to his needs without realizing it

Seiichi, reading their thoughts, laughs silently.

Aethra rolls her eyes.


Opening scene again, except [Minoru]'s been hit by Truck-kun. Cue sad trumpet noises. Cue credits to Moonlight Sonata. Next scene shows a child [Minoru] monologuing about his desires. His methods of achieving it. And the mental gymnastics required to gain his lunacy. He wants to test the credibility of natural limits. Is he Saitama?


Cue squealing at Minoru's cute child form from Beta, Gamma and Epsilon. Delta wants to protect him while Alpha just chuckled, Eta pondering his question about limits while Zeta deemed him decisive.

Aethra was fascinated by Truck-kun, how many had it reincarnated already? Seiichi projected the answer in her mind 'Way too many, Aethra… way too many.'


Red light leads to beautiful scenes of the Capital of the Midgar Kingdom. No Compromises- Rocky Balboa? Apparently the enemies are surrounded and Shadow Garden is as efficient as ever. [Nu], [664], [665], and [666] are shown. [Minoru]- now [Cid]- is confused, but rolls with it. [Minoru]'s reincarnation is fly off and Minoru's insane expression is revealed to the start of the opening theme


"Well then, what have we learned, class?" Seiichi asks.

Alpha ponders, genuinely considering everything, "... That Cid's a lunatic and apparently that universe has dangerous weapons?" She ignored his mock-protests. But honestly, she was somewhat glad they didn't have such weapons- especially the nuke. If he ever taught them about it, having it mass produced would be a disaster, even in Mitsugoshi.

"I wouldn't call Ci-Minoru-sama that , but it was certainly a new perspective," Beta answered, having already written down the whole thing.

"Master was certainly a good actor," Gamma deduced, his capacity to mix in perfectly was incredible. And he fooled all but Eta, which just made him all the more dangerous to his enemies.

Zeta snarked, "Yeah, good to know your crazy feats didn't originate here," Eta nodded.

"Next time, do give us more memories of this place," so she can better imagine herself as his classmate, Epsilon grinned. Delta blinked.

"Hey, so… can someone tell Delta who this is?" The lycanthrope grabbed a chuckling Aethra's dress, the rest instantly were alarmed, they hadn't noticed her at all.

Before they could ask, she beat them, "Let's just say I'm invested in your decisions, your future is at stake, after all. Also, I'm Aethra."

They nodded, Minoru deciding she was harmless based on her smile, then coughing, dead serious, "Now that's solved… who has the control?"

Chaos ensued as nobody found it for five minutes, Aethra giggled on finding it inside Delta's tail, "Sorry, I couldn't resist." The girls all deadpanned at her in response. She crouched on the ground, drawing circles as a stormcloud settled over her. Meanwhile, Alpha's facial features were blocked from recognition, to a slight clamour.

"Now for a better question- Who are our first additions?" Seiichi jumped in. That was a surprise, no one expected additions this early. Even if they did, why after the first episode? And why block Alpha's facial features?

A portal opened…


OK so I hope you like this chapter! NeutralMime really made natural reactions seem easy! I wouldn't even be able to do it as easily! Comment any changes you have for the next chapter. Seiichi and his brand of Insanity are off to the Races

Update March 1

(This is Neutral, so... while the Shades or Cid occasionally refer to him as "Minoru" on the chapter, his name IS still Cid, so want us to refer "Minoru" to past life and "Cid" to actual one? It's... confusing otherwise when I do the reactions. Tried to fix some individual reactions, if you don't mind Seiichi.)

(Seiichi here... Wow, this reminds me of our conversations. To clear up the air, this ties in to a small theory that I have. Basically seeing as he sees the world as a playground, it's entirely possible that Cid really sees himself as Minoru playing the role of Cid, thus he really thinks himself as Minoru. As an example *spoiler*, In Volume 4, he immediately referred to himself as Minoru- If he didn't do so, then that would mean he wouldn't care at all if Beta essentially figured out all his secrets. *end spoiler* Anyway, I planned on this name change because I think that Cid actually sees himself as Minoru, hence I call him Minoru. I thought you saw that as well, but maybe it wasn't that obvious? Also, I approve of the changes- far be it from me to disapprove of you doing what you did, it's as much your fic as it is mine- which is to say, it's OUR fic!)