Caged Robin Kanon58
Summary: The world ended, Leon Aurenche made a safe facility to lockdown the remaining survivors who knows Shadowverse. Hiro not part of the list slips inside and was found by Maura who had been imprison for so long in Genesis company. AU
Prince of Shadows - Lucia
Idol of End Times - Alice
Object of Desires - Maura
Genius of Geniuses - Kai
Average Player - Mimori
The Unwanted Newbie - Hiro
That Dude - Kazuki
Crosscraft User - Shiori
Before you get angry universe of Champions Battle, Shadowverse Flame and Shadowverse anime is merge in my fanfics. inshort expect all characters in one world as crossover. FANFIC IS FANFIC.
Note: I always want Hiro and the gang as Seven Shadows instead of the Seven Shadows at Shadowverse flame version. I also want Maura to experience school life cuz he got home study for 10years with Leon. And I want to ship Hiro to Shiori eversince episode 42 interaction. They look good together and the normal Lucia route. Thats all my reason this fanfic exist lol.
**ENGLISH SUCKS BUT BARE WITH IT, JUST ENJOY THE PLOT**
Episode 1 First Day of School
INTRO SCENE
Outer POV
Ashes falling like a silent rain...
The gate to the ARC opens.
"It opened...!" Ryuugasaki Shigefumi with a 11 years old Hiro out in Nekome skirts where the world is now in ruins.
Broken buildings, ash snow, pale grey sky and the symbol of morning star.
The Tree of Woe is the only glowing light. While this estrange box like facility is built by Genesis Company is the only thing not in ruins. In fact it is a fortress created to protect the last of humanity.
"Hiro! Hurry and jump in!" Grandpa pushes little Hiro's back behind as he wanted him to hurry up his ass to the closing gate after it opens a bit.
Someone must have pushed the buttons inside by accident that after it opens it quickly goes back to closing phase.
"But Grandpa! What about you?!" Little Hiro with a small sling bag that contains an important item, it has a smartphone inside and a photo of his family picture. These are the only things they were able to retrieve when their homes were ruined by the explosions when Tree of Woe had awakened.
The snow ashes becoming thicker, Shigefumi hushes him. "Leave me be! The important thing is...You get to safety...!" Pushing Hiro more to get nearer to the gate before it closes to a rate where he can barely fit.
"But...!"
Hiro is worried about his grandpa if he left him behind. But Shigefumi shakes his shoulder with a firm last will. "Listen to me Hiro! I will find your parents...Until then stay here at the facility..." Hiro can feel the sorrow and determination of his grand father. "Grandpa..." he knew this moment he has to be by his own.
Trying not to show weakness, Shigefumi wipes his pending tears and smacks Hiro's back.
"Hurry before it closes!"
"Wah!"
The impact is strong he got inside the closing gates, Hiro cries. "No! I don't want to leave you grandpa!"
Shigefumi yells back. "If I die, I die! But you still have a future...Make Eiji and Asagi, your mom and dad be proud of your Shadowverse!"
Ryuugasaki Hiro can only scream back as the gates last ajar he seen his smiling grandfather.
"Grandpa I love you..! Survive for me as well...!"
The ARC's gate closes.
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PRESENT TIME
RING!
Hiro opens his eyes from the school bell ring generating through the speaker. Finding himself at bed in their facility dorm. Seeing the 6 beds were already empty except him.
Hiro realize what was wrong with that. That is not how it was supposed to be moving forwards from the day he entered this place.
Hiro jerks up into sitting position panicking to undress his pajamas.
"Waaah! Am late!"
Hiro recall its the first day of their 3rd year at Shadowverse University, meaning they are graduating students soon. Therefore Hiro shouldn't be missing out!
"Shit! Shit!"
After changing clothes into a uniform, Hiro eagerly waiting for the automatic door to slide open.
"Hurrry...hurry...!"
It opens then Hiro hurried running to the hallway to find his designated classroom at full speed.
This place is known for it's lockdown for obvious reasons. The Empty Shadows threat lurks on every corner of the building if it does have an opening.
You can say for certain it is like locked inside a space shipped prison for everyone.
"Hahh, hahh, hahh...!"
This is Hiro's new life and environment inside the ARC Genesis company built high tech fortress evacuation center for teens and younger. No adult made it here. The only adults here are the teachers, the Shadow Knights, the Market people and the higher ups.
As Hiro crosses paths he gaze to the ceiling to look at the holographic blue sky. While the school premises more look like spaceship based system.
"It's barely time..! This is b-bad!"
There is also some animals roaming around called DigiFriends. While the real animals are totally separated from them in to the other building of ARC. Most likely is because some of them are food and some of them can be pets but they couldn't afford the kids getting any virus from having a cat or dogs...By any means they can only have DigiFriends as their pets and companion if ever they are interested.
Anyhow...
Hiro is living a futuristic life.
Who on earth is he...?
["I'm Ryuugasaki Hiro, 14yrs old! This is the first day of our school inside the premises of Genesis ARC facility."]
["3 years ago the world ended. Now the remaining survivors from teen to children were
collected by Leon Aurenche to safety. Here we undergo harsh training to hone our skills in Shadowverse so that eventually when the graduation day comes...Genesis company will choose the strongest 7 to be called the Seven Shadows."]
["The Seven Shadows will embark on a mission to destroy the Tree of Woe is what they tell us..."]
Hiro yells from where he running a standing point.
"Wait don't close the door!" Hiro is almost there, he already reached and entered the school area. Hiro can see from afar Ms. Andrea Rondo-sensei who made a short eye contact towards him. Seems like the sliding door is about to close.
Doors at their Shadowverse university facility area automatically closes whenever it is time for class. Students are forced to study Shadowverse with some other normal subjects for survival.
"Unfortunately its too late Ryuugasaki Hiro-san."
The classroom door shuts.
"UWWWAH!" Hiro over speeds by running too fast he forgot to stop his footing. "OW!" Hiro ended up his face smacking at the door. It was cold made of steel metal. Rubbing face. "Aww darn!"
The door slides opens when Hiro heard an ID tap inside. There she is, Andrea-sensei the designated homeroom teacher for Seventh Flame. She always wear eyebags and a depressed tiring response.
"Late is late. Please go to the principal's office after class."
Well she ain't in the wrong. Hiro woke up very late. Hiro wonder why nobody woke him up though. Hiro of course can only accept the fate of being punished of tardiness. "Y-yes..."
After hearing Hiro's submission, professor Andrea unlocks the door for everyone to see that indeed the only who got late for first day of school is Ryuugasaki Hiro the trespasser.
Hence they call him the Unwanted Newbie.
'How embarrassing!' Hiro felt ashamed of himself but he forced a crack up silly dumb head smile as Andrea-sensei heavily sighs and says nothing more.
Everyone eyed Hiro with mixed emotions, Hiro reflected with a grin. Some felt sorry, some of course laughs because they think he deserves it, but most were bluntly didn't give a shit about his situation.
The Seventh Flame classroom, they are the last room in the class ranking. 'Could Andrea-sensei be depressing just because of that...?' Hiro sometimes would like to know how his teacher always so gloomy.
"Question Teacher." Out of nowhere, a hand raised attention from everyone at the classroom. Hiro's eyes followed the familiar voice, the one who owns it was...
Yonazuki Lucia, Hiro's dorm bed neighborhood and he considers him as his rival due to 3 years ago this kid sold him to the guards when he trespassed. Although no ill intent. Lucia usually showcase himself as a silent cool person who doesn't meld with other people's problem.
And yet he actually cared about what is going to happen to Hiro onwards by raising his hand to question this discriminatory treatment towards Hiro which Hiro himself is hell aware of that people is ganging up against him.
"Why is Hiro always getting punished?"
Maura Abelard whose seating at the last corner of the classroom seating arrangement, he had been staring at the window day dreaming as his chin rest at his palm and elbow at the desk.
"Ara~ Why~?" Maura turn his head to stare at Lucia's back with his polite smile. "Are you interested to see me get punished~?" Definitely it sounds like a dare and demand for answer.
Lucia words always muses Maura that he would most of the time harasses him.
The reason why Maura felt offended of Lucia's questioning because Maura himself sometimes not present to class or sometimes walks in late never get punished. Maura reacted to it knowing Lucia is talking about him.
It is meant to be a dare, Lucia turns his head to eye Maura behind and stated out his frank thoughts. "I'm just wondering why when you are late you don't get detention."
Maura shortly laughs, he was getting in the mood. "Haha~" Maura humbles himself into a sweet insult. "Its because I'm not a human being but an object of desires~ did you not hear the rumors, dear Prince of Shadowverse~?"
Hiro on the other hand appreciates it and decided to make them stop before they get angry at each other. "Lucia it's ok! I'll be fine."
Lucia frowns at him. "Hiro..."
Ryuugasaki Hiro kept his smile as he rubs the back of his head feeling embarrass about how this is all onto about the issue of punishment.
"...Thank you though!"
Deciding to make the atmosphere lighter, Hiro happily greets the whole classroom. "Good morning Maura and everyone!"
Maura simply smiles and entertained Hiro's naïve greeting. "Good day to you as well Ryuugasaki Hiro~"
Ms. Andrea Rondo sighs again as it always felt tiresome to her to meld herself with student affairs. "Alright please take seats. As for you Hiro-san as punishment please clean the hallway for the meantime. Get back in after this first homeroom ends."
Hiro salutes. "Yes mam!"
Therefore Ryuugasaki Hiro grabs the mop and bucket as he starts cleaning the hallway. Some students whose class hasn't started yet passes by the said hallway and whispers.
"Hey look its the unwanted newbie." A guy said. "Why is he here? He isn't even part of the rescue list." A female student says.
"What more he can't play Shadowverse, his phone isn't working!" Some mix voices.
"Looser!" Bullies. "Bwahahaha!" They all laugh at him.
Hiro keeps mopping as his hands grips tight to the handle as his expression turned stoic.
Hiro told himself to bare with it because he had a goal. 'I should remember why am here in the first place...' the flame that keeps him going till now. 'That's right...I force myself inside the day the world ended. To enter this safe zone, the Genesis Company Shadowverse Safe Facility. This place is called the ARC Fortress, the last hope of humanity and the last place people of the living can live in peace without getting attacked by the wandering Empty Shadows outside.'
In short they are somehow living in a caged prison. This place is generated with holographic sky in order for them not to go crazy. The fact they sometimes missed gazing above the skies, ARC has the ability to project night and day.
But did you know? Its not like there are no windows around here. In fact the windows here are similar to submarine.
Some parts of the windows are similar to like a hallway glass aquarium.
Basically inside this ARC is like a mini civilization lives within.
Leon Aurenche made a list of possible future heroes of the world ever since the Tree of Woe destroyed everything into ruins.
Only kids and teens were immune but the adults perish. Some adults survive but they cannot play Shadowverse.
Shadowverse is the tool to fight the Empty Shadows.
Wolfram Zerga is the Vice President who take care of defense outside this ARC.
The Shadow Knights are the graduated students whose job is now to protect the whole facility. Some Shadow Knights are serve as bodyguards or maids if they are not that good with Shadowverse to defend the gates.
DING-DONG- DING-DONG
Lunch Time: Location - Facility pantry
Kazuki the first friend Hiro made sat besides him to eat together. "Sup Hiro~!"
With Hiro's cheerful noisy personality, Hiro gave him the same vibes. "Oooh Kazuki! Good morning!"
Kazuki chuckles as he slightly glance at the far away windows with limited vision where you can see the depressing color outside is all grey...all monochrome after the Tree of Woe destroyed everything.
"You can tell it's morning? There is barely change in the lighting outside to even tell if the sun rise up ya know~?"
Hiro is feeling playful. "Guts!"
Next Mimori approaches Hiro and Kazuki'z table with her food tray ready to join them for lunch. "Good morning Hiro-kun! Kazuki-kun!"
Hiro of course greets back. "To you as well Mimori!"
As Mimori sits in, they ate their foods. Along the way, almost half done with their meals... Mimori opens up a conversation that she eagerly wants to share. "You know guys what I feel recently about our situation...?"
Kazuki and Hiro were clueless, rather they didn't actually think deep about it. "The what?"
Mimori shares her worries as she pokes her food. "Like we are imprisoned here for the sake of protection from outside. It truly amaze me that we became room mates." She is actually glad about it. "I just wanted to say am glad the 8 of us are the room mates!"
Kazuki though disagrees. "Really ya know~? You think were a good combination?"
Mimori perks curiosity at Kazuki's unusual disagreement. "Why Kazuki-kun you don't want me and Hiro-kun as your room mate?" Kazuki defends himself. "I'm not talking about you guys! Am obviously referring to ya know~ the least likeable people."
Hiro thinks he kinda know who are those Kazuki reffering to. Since Mimori, Kazuki and Hiro are trinity bullied in a sense and it made them close friends.
"Ahh..."
Kazuki confesses his least like people as their room mates. "That Kai, Maura and Lucia."
Mimori surprised. "Eh? You don't like Lucia-kun?"
Kazuki finishes his food and puts his arms at his back as he rest his back at the chair's back support. "He's too boring. Like he only has reactions when he talks to his sister. Such a siscon ya know~"
Kazuki put more unhappy expression when he starts talking about Kai. "Then Kai is...Erm ya know, he is just full of himself. I hate his arrogance and self importance. When he opens his mouth its like a bickering chicken!"
Kazuki now embrace himself feeling chills as he talk about the forbidden name. "Lastly that Maura...He always smiles but you can never tell whatever he is thinking. He is creeping me out ya know...!"
Speaking of Maura.
'Why do I feel like I seen him turning off my alarm...?'
Hiro tries to recover his memory before he got late.
HIRO'S MEMORY:
Lucia tugs Hiro at bed. "Hiro, wake up. Its time for school." But Hiro is a slave of his own bed. "Hmm Lucia...You go first..."
Lucia worried frowns at him. "Are you sure...?"
Hiro totally head in air. "Yyeaah..."
Lucia gives up and he grab his school bag. "Ok...Don't blame if you got late. I already woke you up."
The door slides open and closes.
"Bye Lucia...Zzz..."
Next Hiro hears a giggle.
"Hehe~" Hiro knows who to belongs to. "Maura..?"
Hiro with blurry vision saw a glimpse of Maura approaching him and grabbing his alarm clock and turns it off.
"You won't be needing this noisy thing~"
Hiro is too sleepy he forgot to address that. Before he knew he fell asleep again.
HIRO'S MEMORY ENDED.
'Ah...!' Hiro internally gawks upon knowing now why he was late. 'Maura that jerk played a prank on me...?!' Hiro couldn't believe it. 'Why does he dislike me so much...?'
Hiro can tell Maura is secretly bullying him. But then again Hiro who doesn't fret about small things truly makes him wonder why would Kazuki say those things about Lucia and Kai. He would understand Maura is avoided by everyone since Maura likes to mess with people when he got so bored.
"Really? I like everyone though. Everyone is behave compare to other groups." Hiro decided to keep it himself about what Maura did so Kazuki won't dislike Maura further.
Mimori who did not even notice Hiro is hiding something. "Hiro-kun is right, we should be thankful we didn't become room mates with our bullies. Or else I would have felt terrible everyday."
Mimori even helps Hiro. "I'm glad we don't have a bully in our team!"
Kazuki crosses his arms as he continues stating his opinion.
"Kai is a bully though ya know."
"Me bullying who?"
Behind him.
"Eeekk! Kai!"
Their hearts almost jump out of their bodies. Kai has been standing there listening. He fixes his glasses and it glints specifically to intimidate Kazuki upon saying those things behind his back.
"Shindo Kazuki, a low level player like you is not even worth of my time to be bullying you. For am the Genius of Geniuses has no extra space to even think about your very existence!" Kai finishes with a point to Kazuki who is wounded emotionally.
"Gaah! It hurts ya know!"
Hiro typical of him to try and changed the atmosphere by being friendy and no formalities.
"Hello Kai! Good morning!"
Kai looks away but he smiles feeling good about himself that Hiro greet him first like he want important and above all them. "Hmp, Morning to you Ryuugasaki Hiro-san." But to think he would add an insult. "As usual you dont have access to your smart phone. You truly are an irregular."
Hiro raised his eyebrows utterly not aware whiel Kazuki became grumpy and Mimori had sweatdrops with forced small smile.
"Me irregular?"
Kai sighs as he pulls out his beloved notebook where you can always find him scribbling. "It cannot be helped you want me to explain, of course you do~ very well."
Kai flips the pages as he talks about it's contents.
"Let's look back during the time you got here."
The excitement in Kai's eyes. "3 years ago~!" He proudly tells the story as if he is Sherlock Holmes. "When the World Ended..."
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Outer POV
FLASH BACK: Age range 11 years old...
A flying helicopter with speaker announces while the world is being covered by black snow ashes.
[["Surrender your children to the ARC facility. You will never see them again. Those who refuses to keep safe their children, it shall be your regret to waste their lives to be devoured by the Empty Shadows~"]]
The survivors were adults, kids and elderly all look up above the grey sky.
[["Those who are not on the list, please understand we need potential heroes to master Shadowverse."]]
Some were determined to survive while some were in despair as they heard the news.
[["Today is the last day to enroll the chosen ones. Please don't miss the deadline."]]
Shindo Kazuki with his family...
"Kazuki go with them." Kazuki's father said.
Kazuki lowered his head avoiding eye contact. "I...I understand." This is actually against his will.
His mom starts to cry in the background while his 8 little siblings brothers and sisters are cheering him up to do what is right.
"Bye big brother! we will miss you! We will protect mom and dad..!" His little siblings says in unity.
Kazuki though, it was hard for him to say anything else nor be cheerful about this.
'Why me..?' He told himself. 'Why it has to be me and not my siblings...?' Finally eye contact to his parents who gave him a farewell look.
Kazuki understood very well that they have no choice but to give him away to Genesis company while his family will continue to suffer outside the skirts of ruined Nekomecho. "Become one of the Seven Shadows. Aim for the top!" Kazuki's father says in tears. "You are our pride and heir. It may not be the restaurant anymore...but do your best in Shadowverse."
Kazuki had teary eyes. "Dad...Mom..everyone..I love you all-"
Suddenly a Shadow Knight approached him from behind with firm orders. "Shindo Kazuki you are the last on the list. You finally came."
Behind the Shadow Knight is the ARC's gate.
Against his will, Kazuki still took a step forward.
"See ya...Ya know..." He says those last words to his family as he followed the Shadow Knights.
At the gates...
Kazuki enters and the Shadow Knight press the button.
The gate about to close.
Kazuki couldn't handle it anymore, he roared. "...I REALLY DONT WANT TO COME YA KNOW!" He runs to the same button and press it hard. "HEY! DONT PRESS THE BUTTON!"
The gate of ARC once more opens.
Kazuki runs. "RUN MY DEAR LEGS!" He was going to jump. "HURRY AND CATCH HIM!"
Kazuki jumps and then some Shadow Knights chased him...Unaware on the other side of the ARC gate is Ryuugasaki Hiro being pushed inside by his grandfather.
And thus Hiro manages to get inside.
BAM!
The gate locks.
Hiro's heart beats fast as he tries to calm himself. "I...I made it inside...the Genesis Safe facility! The Arc...!" He covers his mouth. He realize he spoke out loud his thoughts.
Then he mentally talks to himself. 'But this also means...I would never see Grandpa again...' Hiro whispers. "Gramps...If I became one of the Seven Shadows will you be still alive...?"
Noticing himself being down the situation, Hiro shakes his head and gives his face a slap in cheeks. "No, no! I must not waver...!" Convincing self that everything will be fine. "My goal here is to survive. So I can live in behalf of my family!"
Taking a deep breath.
Inhale and exhales.
"Hahh..."
Ryuugasaki Hiro alerted his eyes to scan the whole facility.
The ARC's structure is giving a futuristic spaceship vibes.
Hiro now notice its hard to find a place to hide, most are just metal walls...as if its intended to be a fortress as what the rumors says.
'Where do I go now...?'
Slowly but surely, Hiro grips to his sling bag and takes small steps.
Tap, tap, tap.
His hand unconsciously touch the wall.
PRESS.
'Eh-'
The wall made a movement and it eat him. "Waaaah!"
Falling to the secret door, Hiro stumbles in a room. "Ow...!" Rubbing his ass. "I fall again! Really?"
Suddenly a small terrified squeak emerges in his ears.
"Iiihh...!"
Hiro looks up, before him is a green haired hobo whose hair all over the place uncombed and length is by his waist line. Wearing torn jacket and pants as if the kid is a stray kitten.
The fear in little Maura's gesture are speaking outl oud.
Even though Maura doesn't say anything, it translated to Hiro.
(W-who are you, W-where did you come from?)
Thats what traced on Hobo Maura's face.
(W-why are you here...?)
Hiro stood up and unsure how to response. He look at the room and it seem to be a private room. To find this almost naked malnourish kid looking so un groomed.
"E-eh?"
Maura and his eyes still close, body shivering as if Hiro is a threat to his safe space.
It shouts as... (You are not in the list right...? After all kids cannot enter without a gauntlet brace at their w-wrist.)
Hiro raised his hand in defense. "I-I'm not a bad person!" He bows and put his hands together in one-gai-shimasu pose. "Please don't tell anyone!"
Maura made a small uncertain sound in his barely moving lips. "Uhhh..."
Hiro tries to change the fear of the hobo kid into friendly approach. "I'm Hiro! What about you?"
Maura mutters. "...Thing."
Hiro blinks. "Eh?" He thinks he misheard it.
Doing a one step foot. "I'm asking your name...Let's be friends!" Hiro's bright smile made little Maura totally scared.
"Uhhn...hhhh!" Thus he exits the room making Hiro screams. "W-wait!"
He already knew the moment he let that kid go he will be discovered.
'Oh shoot, Am going to get reported!'
Hiro's heart thumps so loud. "T-they are not going to kill me right...?"
He can only pray.
The next thing Hiro did is exit the room. He decided to find his way out of the maze. 'All the hallway looks the same...' suddenly his spine shivered from toe to head. Hiro just now felt himself. "Oh crap I feel like peeing...!"
Trying not to leak, fortunately Hiro seems to have reach the wall maze since a girl with hair all over the place similar to the Hobo kid he saw earlier except the hair is white. She is wearing a pink pale daster. She look fresh out from hospital.
Hiro ignoring those, he called out. "Excuse me psst..!"
Yonazuki Shiori startled. "Y-yes?"
In her eyes Hiro is not suspicious since she barely talk to anyone nor try to associate with anyone. Therefore Shiori cannot tell the difference if she seen Hiro before or not.
Hiro approaches Shiori. "Where is the toilet?" Shiori blinks, she eyed Hiro's wrist and did not see a Shadowverse gauntlet. It was peculiar to her but she kept it to herself. "...Uhh to the other corner."
As Shiori points, Hiro energetically gives his gratitude. "Thank you!"
Shiori blushes and ended up raising her voice. "W-wait up!"
Hiro thought he was found out. 'Eekk! Did she realize?'
Shiori actually saw a photo fell out of Hiro's bag. It's Hiro's family picture and she know how important is that. Picking it up and shyly yet bravely handed Hiro the photo.
"Y-you forgot this...!"
Hiro shock his belt bag zipper is wide open. Must have been when he got to that weird private room, it probably loosen.
"Oh my photo...!" Getting it back, Hiro smiles brightly and Shiori had never got herself talk like this to a guy before aside from her brother. "Thank you again, you saved my life!"
Shiori smiles softly with red cheeks. "Y-you are welcome."
Hiro reveals his name. "I'm Hiro, you are...?" Yonazuki Shiori is actually not good with people but Hiro made her share her identity. "S-Shiori."
But Hiro felt his body once more, he must pee. "Iiikk! Sorry! I must really go to the restroom! See you around Shiori!" Hiro waves and goes towards the route where the male restroom belongs.
"O-ok!" Shiori waves back until she was alone. Now she think of it, when Hiro's belt bag was half open. Aside from the family photo she saw something else. "Wait...He has a cellphone but he doesn't have a Shadowverse gauntlet wrist?"
While her big brother Lucia observing from far away during the whole interaction Shiori made with Hiro.
"Hmm..."
A few minutes later...
Hiro got out of the restroom. His next goal is to find a place he can hide so he can start living in secret.
But then the moment he went to turn around a voice called him.
"Hey you."
Hiro froze. 'Ah oh...'
The mysterious voice tells him. "That's not the assembly hall. Its this way." Turning around, a short silvered haired fresh from fairytales. That's how handsome the boy was, looking like a prince with a stoic face.
Hiro sweat drops. "Uh, yeah t-thank you." He hoped he made the proper response.
Yonazuki Lucia smiles as he approaches Hiro. "Come with me, I'll take you to the assembly hall. They just announce it is about time to officially lock the whole ARC for us to live in." Hiro mentally panicking. 'I-I have to follow along! Or else he might...!'
So he did pretend. "I-is that so? Ahaha! That's wonderful!"
Lucia then proceed to walk. "Let's go."
Hiro anxiously followed. "Y-yeah..."
As they walk through hallways.
Tap, tap, tap.
The place is huge and too much space, so every step they make echoes. The fact it is quiet too is adding an eerie atmosphere aside from awkwardness and fear Hiro feeling right now by following Lucia. Hoping he had fooled the cool kid.
However Lucia had other intentions, he opens a conversation as Hiro steeply follows behind him. "What is your name? I didn't think I have seen you before. New face?"
Hiro cracks up. "H-huh! W-what are you saying? I mean there's a lot of other kids! You wont remember me r-right?" He was a bad liar.
"That makes sense." Since Lucia didn't question further, Hiro thinks Lucia believes him. Lucia even gave his name. "I'm Yonazuki Lucia."
Hiro grips tight to his belt bag. "Err uhh yeah! Ryuugasaki Hiro! Nice to meet you Lucia!"
Lucia stops halfway. "Hiro huh..."
Hiro stops as well wondering if they have arrived the destination.
The next words came out from Lucia's mouth made Hiro's eyes widen.
"You are a trespasser right?"
"Eh?"
Lucia pushes a button at the wall, it was an alarm.
"Bye bye Trespassers."
Hiro couldn't stop him.
"Wait Lucia don't!"
Shadow Knights appeared and apprehended Hiro, Hiro got smack and lost consciousness.
His last vision he see Lucia smiles proudly and whispers. "That's what you get for approaching my little sister..."
Hiro's vision fade in black.
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((GASP...!))
Hiro jerks up and a new voice calls out to him.
"Oh you got jailed too?"
The place is dark, but when his head looks out for where the voice coming from. Ryuugasaki Hiro finally can see he was thrown into bars.
At his front there is a semi tanned boy with yellow head bandana at his forehead.
"W-who are you?" Hiro gulps.
The other fellow prisoner sounds energetic like he was though "I'm Shindo Kazuki! I tried to escape the facility so I got grounded~ heehee!" He even sounds proud of that.
Hiro now gains to perk interest. To think...
"Escape? You mean outside?" Why would a child listed to be save doesn't want to be save?
"Yeeeep." Hiro tried to reason with Kazuki's actions. "But outside is ruins! Thats why my grandpa told me to sneak here!"
Kazuki confesses his distaste from everything that has transpired and decided by adults without his consent. "My siblings weren't on the rescue list. Am the only one...so...I rather go with them." Kazuki looks down and he remembers his family have not eaten for a day before he was surrendered to Genesis Company. "But...well my family sold me to go here and I just happen to ya know~ escape. Then here's the result!" In the end he was caught and got punished to be lock here for the mean time...
"Then what about ya?"
Hiro looks at himself, reflecting and reminding why he was here. "Me? Uhhh I'm Ryuugasaki Hiro. I'm not part of the rescue list..."
Kazuki surprised he grabs the bars. "Eeh!? Trespasser?! Amazing!" His eyes were screaming awesomeness. "How the heck you got inside? The ARC defense is solid!"
Hiro scratches the back of his head, it feels nice someone like Kazuki didn't react negatively from his trespassing unlike others he had cross path. "My Grandpa done something which I don't know how he manage to make the gate opens. I entered with his instructions..."
Kazuki baffled. "Wait...so you left your grandfather out there?"
Hiro defends himself. "Do...do I have a choice?"
Kazuki made a sad face and admits their own powerlessness. "...Same."
Hiro questioned this. "Am a criminal now?"
Kazuki crosses his arms, Hiro can see he is not bothered about his imprisonment. "I will get out soon, but I have no idea about you Hiro~ ya know, you werent on the list to begin with."
Hiro went cold sweat. "I'm not going to be killed right?"
Kazuki horrified by Hiro's assumption and maybe Hiro is right. "Kill?! If they will kill you, they will kill me too! Shit! Were doomed ya know!"
Hiro grabs the bars to see more clearly of Kazuki's side. "No way Kazuki, you are part of the list to be protected why would they kill you?"
Kazuki scans his cell. "Now you mention...Maybe they wont kill us. The whole point is to save humanity's last hope. The youth~!"
Suddenly a Shadow Knight went in.
"You two."
Hiro and Kazuki gulps down and went stiff.
"Y-yes?"
The Shadow Knight unlocks the cell and warned.
"Do anything funny we will hit you even if you both are kids." Then a few instructions were made. "Hurry and get out. Make funny move you will be punished. Inside this ARC Leon-sama's law is absolute."
Hiro and Kazuki eyed each other and had mutual contact to behave and follow for now. "For the mean time, Vice President Wolfram wish to speak with the two of you."
Hiro and Kazuki glared at the Shadow Knight being too strict and hostile.
"Behave."
...
As the Shadow Knights leads them to another long hallway of eternity.
Reaching the destination is dark.
"Where...?" Kazuki and Hiro both blinded by the lights opening, a spot lights went on revealing the crowd.
"Eh? Eh? What?"
All of the children of earth were assembled and only Kazuki and Hiro are in the center of attention.
"Eeeeh its everyone! How embarrassing!" Kazuki hides behind Hiro's back.
Then a clap emerges.
"Bravo~ Bravo~" A staircase where the angel descends playing as a god.
A blonde haired man whom Hiro had seen before but not sure how he knew the face.
Leon Aurenche walks down the stair as he reaches Hiro and Kazuki's front.
The whole crowd went silent but you can still hear a few minimal whispering of gossips.
"I applause you are able to sneak inside dear boy even though you weren't chosen."
Kazuki panics more. "Its the Leon dude...!" The Shadow Knight hissed at Kazuki."Its Leon-sama for you!" Kazuki hid more behind Hiro for protection. "Eeek! I'm sorry...!"
Hiro bold and glare straight at Leon's smug as they meet eye to eye contact.
"Are you going to throw me out...?"
Leon chuckles. "Aha~Throw you out? Why would we waste time risking opening the gate just to throw you out because you werent part of the list~ Opening the gate may accidentally give the Empty Shadows opportunity to get in and destroy humanity's last hope."
Leon narrowed his eyes as his smile smirks up. "Therefore since you are now at my custody~ prove your worth to belong here."
Leon points at Hiro who took a step back while Kazuki remains to treat him as a shield.
"You the unwanted one."
Leon Aurenche smiles. "Boy what is your name~?"
Hiro did not bat an eye. "Ryuugasaki Hiro."
Leon's eye widen. "...!" He grabs Hiro's shoulder as if he found a lost item. "You are Eiji's son?!" He needed to confirm.
Hiro not liking how Leon is close. "Y-You know my father..?"
Leon pats his shoulder. The atmosphere became friendly. "Your father is my bestfriend. But after the explosion he went missing." He is talking to himself. "I see...I see...so you survive."
Hiro furrowed his eyebrows upon hearing those stuff from Leon. "...Is that why am not on the list?" Leon genuinely innocent. "I did not know he had a son till now. If I knew you would be absolutely be part of the rescue list." Hiro not sure what is Leon trying to say, he can feel death glares from the Shadow Knights for talking so casually towards their boss. "Ok...so am belong now?"
Leon scans the whole stadium and the kids were whispering to each other the fear and disappointment is lurking if he let Hiro in so easily.
So he sighs. "I would love to however rules are rules and I must abide."
Hiro curious. "What should I do to belong here then...?" He made a promise with his grandfather to stay here till the right time he grows up.
Leon Aurenche challenges him. "Simple, play Shadowverse and become the top 7 heroes to save this world against the Tree of Woe." It was a daring smile from the adult. "Do you accept~?"
Hiro questioned it. "If I dont, what happens to me?"
Leon simply stated facts. "You will be just lock there for the rest of your life. Since you are also a possible suspect of being possesses by an Empty Shadow even if you are the son of my beloved bestfriend." Hiro thrilled. "I'll do it!" He vows in front of everyone his will and passion. The burning fire he extends to all. "For the sake of my dad, mom and grandpa I shall be one of the 7 heroes that destroys the Tree of Woe...!"
"How bold..." Kirisame Kagura at the background side comments.
"Niisan..." Yonazuki Shiori beside Lucia. "Its ok Shiori, were going to be fine. I will protect you." Yonazuki Lucia comforts Shiori.
"Hmp, best huh. I should be the top." Ijuuin Kai rolling his eyes. "Woow how flashy~" Kurobane Alice at the very top floor of the crowd away from people's cat view.
"Hiro..." Kazuki whose behind Hiro finding him so cool.
"He so brave..." Amamiya Mimori whose looking like an NPC within the crowds.
The main characters are assembling bit by bit.
Leon laughs and perfectly loving Hiro's braveness. "Wonderful~! Wonderful~! I like that! That should be the response~!" Leon faces the crowd with arms wide open. "Now young ones~!" The spotlights focuses now on Leon. "This finalize the count of rescue. 100 children within mix of preteens plus Hiro here the extra so it becomes 101. Like this brave warrior Ryuugasaki Hiro, do you have the resolve to say outloud you will live, learn, grow and hone your skills here on Shadowverse for the sake of saving the world?!"
He orders the Shadow Knights to give everyone their very own costumed smartphones for Shadowverse. "If so, raise all your designated smartphones and activate it!"
Leon roars. "Say the magical phrase~!"
All of the kids and teens roars back.
"BATTLE SHADOWVERSE!"
Everyone's smartphone activates and various gasps of amazement can be heard. It was an awesome climax experience for them.
Meanwhile Leon looks down at Hiro. "Do you have your own smartphone?" Since he obviously did not prepare a phone for the unlisted kid.
Hiro grabs something from his belt bag, Leon's eyes flickered huge interest. "Eh? Uh yeah. But this is my dad's smart phone..."
Leon recognizes it. "Hoohhh? Eiji's phone?" He smiles. "Then you use it. He gave it to you now right?" Hiro not sure why Leon is acting so sweet to him. "O-ok." Kinda freaky. "How do I turn this on?"
Leon instructs him. "Say the words they said just now."
Hiro nods. "Alright!" He is ready. "Battle Shadowverse!"
Kroo-kroo.
"Eh?"
Nothing happend.
The children in the ARC gossips about Hiro.
"His smartphone didn't turn on?" Girls and Boys. "Is that what happens when not included at the list?" They were embarrass for him as they slowly turned into laughter. "Waaa embarrassing." Some were now planning to make fun of him. "He really is not welcome here! Pitiful!"
Hiro went red. "Eh? Eh! Why is it not working? Did I broke it during the fall...?!"
Leon is calm and he offered his hand. "Let me see?"
Hiro trusted him a bit as he handed it to Leon's. "C-careful!"
Leon taps on some parts. "Hmm..." It still did not lit up.
Hiro worried he screw up. "So did I broke it?"
Leon assures him it was not his fault. "No, in fact its bullet proof." Further reveal how his phone is built. "Eiji customize this for sure. Its sturdy and absolutely not broken."
Hiro not understanding. "Then why it doesn't work?"
Leon can only say for certain. "For now...you may stay to study. Maybe it will turn on by its own. It seems to be locked itself."
It was strange for Hiro. "Locked...? Why would dad do that...?"
Leon actually knows something at this point but he avoided to touch the subject too much. "Who knows? The important thing you are safe here now young one."
Hiro is thankfully naive. "Thanks Leon!"
Kazuki calls him out behind. "Um Hiro you should address him with 'sama'...!" Hiro frowns at Kazuki not to fret it. "Eeeehhh...I don't like formalities!"
Leon laughs at Hiro and he finds him adorable. "Ahaha~ You sound like Eiji. I will allow you to say what you will but prove your destiny to Shadowverse."
Hiro repeats back Leon's words. "My destiny to Shadowverse..."
Before Leon turns back to his CEO mode. "Very well everyone I must bid adieu. Please follow the instructions from the Shadow Knights. Everyone will have their own groupings based on your rankings. For the meantime you may sleep with whoever you like until the designated groups are built."
Leon walks away and disappears.
"Best of luck~!"
The Shadow Knights then steps forward with microphones announcing.
["The dorms are not yet establish. For the meantime everyone please gather to the main hall gym site and sleep there for a while till were done renovating the dorms and we will eventually assign your rankings and room mates."]
Everyone followed since they don't have a choice. Hiro falls in line but he lost sight of Kazuki as it gets more crowded.
["Sleeping bags are counted for everyone even including the the trespasser."]
Hiro rolled his eyes. "Do they really have to specify that?!"
As Hiro follows the line eventually they reached the gym room and its quite big.
The Shadow Knights are everyone as they continue to guide them. [["Tomorrow morning food will be handed one by one and after that please prepare for the Shadowverse Ranking Entrance Exam."]]
Hiro stares at the cramped crowd. 'These are all the rescued kids in list except me...'
Disheartened a little bit due to the fact he does not really belong here.
Hiro smacks his own cheeks. "Hang in there me! This is for Grandpa-"
When he faced front, the silver white haired kid whose pale as the snow and red eyes like a vampire.
Hiro remember this dude's name, how can he forget? He friggin have him caught.
Pointing finger. "Ah! LUCIA!"
Lucia simply gives him. "Hi."
As if nothing happened.
Hiro fumes. "Don't hi me! You sold me!"
Lucia closed his eyes with cool explanation for his actions. "I was just making sure my sister is safe. Now you no longer a trespasser, welcome to the ARC and nice meeting you Hiro." Although he did act sorry about it but not too obvious.
Hiro then spots Shiori who also recognize him as Hiro remembers her too. "Its you! I see this cute girl is your sister! You look like twins!"
That compliment of Hiro for Shiori made Lucia smiled and proud. "I know Shiori is the cute-test."
Hiro notice Lucia and Shiori is carrying a bed bag. Looks like they haven't decided to settle where to lay it down.
Hiro wants to sleep beside someone who doesn't mind a trespasser like him but before he can offer the Yonazuki siblings to join him Kazuki's voice calls him from afar.
"Hiiirooo! Over here!" Hiro snaps his head and quickly spots a waving hand. "Oh Kazuki!"
Lucia excused themselves. "Very well, me and my sister will go over to a spot we like. See you around Hiro."
Hiro wants to talk to the siblings more but Kazuki is waiting for him. "Ok! See you two as well Lucia! Shiori!"
Shiori shyly nods and whispers. "G-good night..."
Hiro now went to run on where Kazuki already at his bed bag.
Shindo Kazuki taps the empty spot beside him. Everyone is of course at the floor minding their own business to settle on sleeping.
Its crowded as mention but being with Kazuki right now makes Hiro ignore all the other noises.
"Hey Hiro, sleep here beside me ya know!"
"Thank you!"
Hiro settle his bed bag next to Kazuki. They couldn't sleep yet since lights weren't off yet. Some actually zippers up their bags to focus on rest while some of course trying to get to know each other.
Just like him and Kazuki.
"So this is everyone huh..." Kazuki scratches his head. "They said we are 100 count." He grins at Hiro his new friend. "Ah but you are the 101 since you weren't part of list ya know~"
There was no ill intention from Kazuki's honest opinions.
Hiro on the other hand noticed one crucial thing. "So its true no adults here except the facilities." His head been scanning the place and his eyes roaming around he did not see a single adult from the rescue list. Except of course those who are about to become teenager soon.
Kazuki cross his arms thinking out loud. "They said it will take a while for us to get our rooms. So I look forward to be neighbors with you here at this spot!"
Hiro reflecting same hospitality towards Kazuki. "Same here Kazuki! Glad met you or otherwise I will be out of place."
The lights one by one turning off, Hiro and Kazuki looks above. The lights are now gone this can allow them to lay down and stare at the ceiling for a bit before tiredness tells them to sleep.
"Very well, they are turning the lights off. We should get to sleep." Kazuki pats his bag and lays down.
Hiro whose not ready to lay down. "Kazuki you sleeping already?"
Kazuki yawns. "I'm pretty worn out after running too much for trying to escape."
Hiro smiles softly. "I see this will be the first night of independency."
Kazuki then got curious. "Come to think of it, what happen to your family? Why did you bother to join here? By going here means you wont see them anymore ya know."
Hiro's smile became sadder. "It was my grandpa's wish..." Before Kazuki could comfort him, Hiro switched gears to positivity aura. "Also my parents went missing after the explosion. So I doubt they are alive...or maybe they are!"
It did not last long, Hiro knows Ryuugasaki Shigefumi must be dying outside the cold weather.
"I'm pretty worried about my gramps..." Kazuki also felt sad and worried. "Same...Im worried about my parents and siblings. Especially the little ones."
Kazuki laughs it off. "Guess we have to aim to be one of the Seven Shadows!
Hiro almost forgot that "Seven Shadow...Yes..."
Kazuki tells Hiro it's story. "Rumors says if you become on of the Seven Shadows you will gain freedom to explore inside and out ya know~" but he was not so confident with his playing skills. "But judging our situation right now this looks exactly as what it is. A large evacuation center where everyone of us sleeps in one gym."
Even though its lights off some kids are still awake and is also chit chatting.
Then a girl's voice spoke behind Hiro.
"U-um excuse me..."
Hiro and Kazuki looks at the girl, she has brown long hair and looks pretty average. They won't even notice her probably if she never joined to interrupt their moment. "Hm?"
She introduces herself. "M-my name is Amamiya Mimori. C-can I ask something?"
Hiro surprised beside him is a girl. "Eh? Sure!"
Mimori at her bed bag fidgets. "I-I don't know anyone here so I have been hearing you both getting to know each other. S-since I sleep beside you guys, c-can I also be your friend?"
Hiro and Kazuki grins wider at each other as they settles to be approachable.
"Sure! I'm Ryuugasaki Hiro, call me Hiro!"
"I'm Shindo Kazuki, same thing just call me Kazuki. Nice meeting you Mimori!"
Mimori had small teary eyes as she smiles dearly upon her approach is a success.
"Y-yes!"
...
The Next Day...
Shadow Knights begins the entrance exam, that is playing versus on Shadowverse. Since Hiro is excluded all he had to do is answer the paper exam instead.
People thought he would fail but he is able to answer the test sheets.
'Glad before father disappeared he teaches me some Shadowverse! Although I never played one before!'
Rankings are decided by:
Grand Master rank
AA+ rank
AB rank
A rank
B rank
C rank
D rank
Newbie
The Class Rooms were:
Seventh Flame
Sixth Magic
Third Feather
Fifth Sword
Fourth Wind
Second Blood
First Reaper
Hiro got designated to Seventh Flame classroom.
...
1 year later...
As always everyone assembles to the gym.
Hiro whose standing beside Lucia whose expressionless above all anything at this point.
"Oh Lucia there you are! Finally after a year we don't need to sleep at that crowded place anymore! And Hi Shiori!"
Shiori smiles as she still feels shy. "H-hello Hiro-san..." with small blushes.
Lucia also smiled at Hiro, he kinda like Hiro in general so he doesn't mind him disturbing his peace time.
"Yeah."
Hiro is very audible with his worries mix with excitement. "I wonder who will be our roommates?"
Lucia whose barely interested on that part. "Who knows? I heard they are going to assign whose going to be room mates based on ranking stats."
Shiori chimes in as she is also comfortable talking to Hiro just like her brother does. "Niisan is AA+ then am A rank. Are we going to get separated?"
Lucia is exposing his siscon side and Hiro barely notice it. "If they dare to separate us might as well leave this place."
Hiro cheers up the Yonazuki siblings. "Its going to be okay I think!" Specifically looking at Shiori whose getting a bit anxiety. "Don't worry about it Shiori, I'm sure you and your brother will always be together...!"
Shiori's eyes glints, her heart just fluttered on Hiro's encouraging words. "Hiro-san..."
Lucia suddenly shush them. "Wait Hiro, they are announcing now."
The Shadow Knights gathered and rankings were announced.
They got called one by one and given card keys.
Everyone separate ways.
...
Hiro reaches his designated room. Hiro gulps at the door, it look bigger in his eyes. 'I wonder who will be my room mates?!' As his heart beats in anticipation and excitement.
"Hiro?" All his nervous disappeared when he sees... "L-Lucia! SHIORI!" Approaching his way.
"Ah." Lucia looks at his card key and compared it to Hiro's card key, he understood that moment. "I see you are my room mate. I'm glad."
Hiro dumbfounded for a second before he smiles up. "...Me too!"
Lucia taps at the door censor. "Lets unlock." Hiro nods behind.
The automatic door opens.
Hiro, Lucia and Shiori steps in.
A huge glass window surprisingly reveals the direction to the Tree of Woe.
In Hiro, Lucia and Shiori's eyes they thought the glass is so clean that maybe there is no window at all.
Yet there are white curtains. The white curtains flaps around. They feel the wind, apparently the AC is already opened and it was in the highest volume that it makes the curtain move a bit.
There stood a peculiar individual wearing a tribal off shoulder. Maura whose at the corner of the room staring at the window gazing at the Tree of Woe.
Slowly he turns the moment he hears footsteps.
"Welcome my future roommates~"
Shiori hides behind Lucia while Hiro's jaw drops.
Maura looks very weird in a beautiful way. Hiro have never seen such outfit before. Meanwhile Lucia speaks up. "I have never seen your face during the entrance exam." He was feeling hostile to Maura since he looks like he wasn't from this world.
Maura giggles shortly in amusement as he replied back to Lucia. "Matters not, you'll see me everyday and now~"
Hiro jumps into the conversation. "I'm Ryuugasaki Hiro! Nice to meet you!"
Since Hiro greets Maura, Lucia decided to drop his name as well to follow along. "Yonazuki Lucia and my little sister Yonazuki Shiori." With hidden intentions. "And yours?"
Maura chuckles as he sweetly says his name. "Maura. Name is Maura Abelard~ nice meeting you two finally."
Hiro reacted though. "Finally...?" What does he mean?
Lucia stared at Maura as Maura's eyes closed but you can tell he is also checking out Lucia's.
Though Hiro changed the topic. "I wonder where are the rest? There are eight beds in total. But only the four of us is here!" He asks Lucia. "How do they even rank us to be roommates?"
Lucia the most responsible to entertain Hiro's curiosity as Maura had that smiling cat pasted at his appearance. "Hiro you don't have a ranking yet while am rank AA+. If you with no ranking compare to mine are roommates. Meaning they are ranking us by 1-10 instead of 10-10."
Lucia looks again at Maura. "May I know your ranking?"
Maura can tell Lucia is doubting if he is a student here or is he another trespasser like Hiro did before then.
So Maura feeling playful says. "Oh my~ you wanna know what's underneath my clothes?"
Lucia frowns. "That's not what we asked though."
Maura crosses his arms with teasing words to taunt them. "Two boys ganging up on me. Who wants to go first~?"
Hiro thankfully understood it wrong. "Shadowverse tag battle?! I want that! Lets do it!"
Lucia sweat drops. "I don't think he meant Shadowverse Hiro-" Maura interjects. "I was referring to Shadowverse indeed~ Whatever did you think it was dear prince?"
Maura smirks.
Lucia is freak out but remained emotionless outside. "Prince?"
"Oh yeah I see what you mean! Lucia has pretty face like a prince! I do agree!" Hiro happily agrees making Lucia blush.
"W-what are you even saying Hiro?" Sometimes Hiro says embarrassing things you don't tell to another guy.
Maura pleased by Lucia's reaction and simply think Hiro is being dense is also a good thing.
"Hehehe~ Fine, fine. I'll only expose myself once."
Maura evil smirks, Lucia and Hiro felt alert.
"Eh?"
Maura puts a hand inside his skirt pockets in a teasingly manner. "You two better not blink~" Lucia thought Maura is going to strip while Hiro froze on spot.
That very moment Maura lifts his Shadowverse phone and the phone screen shows his ranking.
Lucia and Hiro says in union shock.
"G-Grand Master!?"
A huge disbelief.
After all nobody is a Grand Master ranker. Even the teacher's rank in Shadowverse is not that high.
Maura thinks he accomplish something today by making Hiro and Lucia gawk in his supremacy.
"Ufufu~"
Maura stop his boasting before he get carried away. "Alright~ thats enough for peaking inside me. You better keep this to your memories." Maura didn't want to ruin his relationship yet with them.
As Maura hides his phone back to his skirt pocket. Shiori at the back made an ackward sound to pull her brother and Hiro back to reality.
"Uuum...Niisan? Hiro-san..?"
The door suddenly opens up. Another nosiy voice same energy as Hiro, calls out on Hiro's attention.
"Hiro ya know my man~!" Hiro turns to find Shindo Kazuki and Amamiya Mimori with their access cards. "Ah! Kazuki! Mimori!" This means... "You guys are my roommates? This is awesome!"
Mimori whose usually ignored by most players is truly grateful. She had pinkish cheeks as she politely expresses her excitement. "I'm so glad am assigned with you two!" She tries not to be boyish but to be more feminine.
Mimori eyed behind Hiro and sees Lucia with his lil sister Shiori then Maura whose smiling at the corner. 'Eh..? Is that a tattoo tribe..?' Something about Maura's tattoo stands out too much.
Then a voice disrupts their happy triangle.
"You guys are in the way excuse me." A blue haired boy in clear eye glasses had been standing behind the door Kazuki and Mimori had been blocking this whole time.
Kazuki gives way. "Woah! Sorry didn't see ya!"
Ijuuin Kai huffs. "Hmp." Fixing his glasses, as he arrogantly eyed each one of them and starts to count. "One, two, three..."
Kazuki finding him a weirdo. "What are you counting?"
With no ounce of respect, Kai gave Kazuki a strong explanation. "Isn't obvious? The count of the room with eight beds. I'm making sure were are complete." Then Kai also sees Maura, he finds his appearance weird and he didn't like the fake smile Maura displays.
Pointing at their backs where Maura stood a bit far from the rest. "You there at the window, you are the last?"
Hiro stated. "Um, Maura is the first to arrive. You were the last."
Kai destroyed instantly. "Noway! You guys are punctual?! I will remember this...!"
Hiro nervously laughs at Kai's somewhat annoying behavior. "Eerr you do not have to..."
Mimori steps in to change topic as she can feel the room getting a bit heat up when Kai run his mouth. "I'm Amamiya Mimori. Nice to meet you all!"
Lucia nods as Shiori shyly blushes to shut her eyes. She feels scared of people since she isn't used to being with others except her brother. So Lucia saved Shiori some trouble by introducing them both. "Lucia and my little sister Shiori. She is a bit shy, she just came out of hospital after the incident happen 3 years ago."
Everyone's eyes widen at that discovery.
Mimori sincerely asks. "Eh? So Shiori-chan almost got hit by an Empty Shadow?" Lucia made sure that was not the reason. "No, she was sick and confined at the hospital before the pandemic exploded."
Lucia smiles at Shiori to boost her confidence. "Shiori will be happy if you can be friends with her."
Since she got her brother's support, Shiori then moves a bit to reveal herself and bows to them. Putting her utmost bravery. "Y-Yonazuki Shiori! N-nice to meet you!" But she stutters.
Its nothing to Kazuki and the rest. "Shindo Kazuki at your service~"
Maura behind did acknowledge her effort.
"Call me Maura~"
Meanwhile Hiro looks at Kai and says. "I'm Hiro and you are?"
Kai simply feels important, as if he had been waiting for someone to raise his curtains. "Glad you ask~!" Then he proclaims.
"Am Ijuuin Kai, the genius of geniuses! Remember that in your dictionaries~!"
DOT. DOT. DOT.
An imaginary crow passes above their heads.
"Huh?"
They all mentally concluded how Kai is...Hard to get along.
Kai did not even realize he embarrassed his reputation to them already, he snaps to be bothered by something else now that he knows their name. "Wait up! we are only seven here. Who is late?"
Maura chuckles and everyone eyed him as he pinpoints. "Ahah~ Ijuuin Kai, it seems like your glasses are not even working well for you."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Maura tells him. "You did not see the little girl who followed you behind in a dark cloak?"
Kai slowly turns. "Cloak?"
Behind him is indeed a small grim reaper, their heart jumps since they did not notice this individual entered the room.
"Aaaah!" All screamed.
Kazuki panics the most. "G-Grim Reaper!"
Kai did not like how someone can pass at his back like that. "E-Ehhh! This is illegal!"
Hiro quickly recovers from surprise mode, he approaches the cloak kid. Since the individual's height is smaller than the rest of them, Hiro approaches in a somewhat big brother mode voice. "May we know your name?"
The girl says darkly. "Ecilia."
To Mimori it kinda rings a bell. "Eci...lia...?"
Hiro celebrates. "I see! So Ecilia is the 8th member of our dorm, we are all assembled right?" He look at the following, Kazuki helps him count. "Let's count! Lucia, Shiori, you Hiro, Mimori, Kai, Maura and Ecilia. Yeeep we are totally eight ya know~!"
Everyone look at eachother before Mimori reminds them.
"Since we are complete lets unpack our belongings!"
Everyone agrees.
So they proceed to go each at their chosen bed and placed their belongings at each drawer designated to the bed's side.
Lucia busy helping Shiori unpack. Mimori is first to finish unpacking. Kazuki busy on his own stuffs, Kai beside him diligently organizing his things. Maura didn't have to unpack anymore since he arrive first, his stuffs are already displayed and hidden in his drawers.
While Hiro has nothing.
Hiro unzips his belt bag and takes out what he was able to bring with him.
"Family photo?" Mimori whose walking towards Hiro out of friendly curiosity. "Hiro-kun you don't have other stuff with you?"
Hiro scratches the back of his head. "Ah yeaaah. Unfortunately no. I only have my family photo and my dad's phone." He reveals his own smartphone the one everyone knows is not working.
Mimori didn't knew it was not Hiro's.
"Your dad's phone...?"
Hiro with hopes. "Yep. He told me to keep it for it will protect me. And it did! If I didn't show my phone to that Leon guy, I would be imprisoned!"
Kai listening obviously with his sharp ears. "Interesting you have a Shadowverse phone through your dad. I will keep on my notes."
Kazuki whose bed beside him commented. "Why do you keep memo of everything?"
Mimori gave Hiro a sad smile before her eyes catches Maura's display at his drawer. "Hm?" So she got to his bed. "Maura-kun what's that?"
Maura had a hankerchief at his hand and wiping the head of a strange French bread shape toy. "A Chehoma, my friend."
Mimori looks closer at it and it reminds her of a dildo. But she obviously can't say that. "It looks...Um..cute..?" Maura had a flower background the moment Mimori praised his cursed toys from Leon.
"Yes it is very cute. Such a friendly shape isnt?"
Kazuki elbows Hiro at his side gently to whisper. "Hiro, I don't like this Maura dude...He kinda creepy..." Hiro actually think Maura is indeed mysterious. "Shh Kazuki! He might hear you." He can feel Maura's stare at them when they talk about him a bit.
As for Lucia he handed Shiori her stuff toy. "Here Shiori." It was a snow bear.
Shiori already at bed ready to lay down. "E-eh? You kept my teddy bear...?" It wasn't at her bag so this is unexpected that her brother is able to save the item.
Lucia pats the bear's head. "Of course, I know Shiori loves this teddy bear. Its the last gift from our mom and dad."
Shiori almost tearful eyes hugs Lucia right infront of the others. "Thank you Niisan...!" Lucia hugs back too. "Everything for you Shiori."
Not in the slightest shy about it.
Mimori then notice before Maura's bed, the mysterious grim reaper is the bed side by Maura.
So far only the little girl has not open her big bag.
Kai whose next to Ecilia's bed. "Ecilia-san are you seriously going to sleep with cloak on?"
The girl is silent. "..."
Kazuki whose next at Kai's bed interfered. "Oi, oi, don't force a lady." Kai shot Kazuki a look. "I'm not talking to you."
Mimori trying to make a conversation. "Woah is that your bag...? That seems too big." She was getting too close.
Kai whose also pestering enough. "What is this? Did you pack a lot of stuffs? Does that mean you were prepared during the pandemic event?"
"Shut up."
The little girl warns.
Hiro also stops him. "Kai I don't think she is in the mood."
Ecilia ignores them and grabs her bag.
"Ah she starts unpacking." Mimori narrates.
Then her eyes saw Ecilia's clothes. "Eh...? Those clothes...I recognize..."
Ecilia looks at her and their eyes met.
Mimori overwhelmed. "W-w-waaah!"
All wonder. "Eh? Mimori?"
Mimori trembles in swear. "A-Are you possibly K-Kurobane Alice?!"
The silent grim reaper whose grumpy earlier now reveals a sly smile. "Ahh~ I got discovered. Guess there is no use to hide." She unveils herself.
"Jajan! Am eveyone's child idol~ Kurobane Alice~ waf! Waf!" Cute pose.
Kazuki reacts. "Eeeeeh! ALICE-CHAN IN FLESH!? NOWAY!" He was a fan.
Hiro whose clueless. "Who?"
Lucia whose beside his bed clarifies to him. "Kurobane Alice is the commercial girl for Shadowverse ads. I see she is also a player for real."
Kai holding his notebook ready to pry on everyone's data. "Player huh~ I would like to know everyone's rank."
Alice in her cute twintails shows her respect to all now that she no longer needs to hide her identity. "Nice to be roommates with you all, big brothers and sisters~!"
Mimori blushing hard. "S-same here!"
Kai at the background. "Are you guys ignoring my question?!"
Then the speaker in their room turns on.
They heard it.
[["Please go to sleep. For anyone not yet done unpacking hurry up before we check rooms whose not yet asleep for the day."]]
Kazuki really dislike the place. "Sheesh! How dictating!"
Kai actually scared of punishment. "L-Let's hurry and sleep before a Shadow Knight comes!" He hides at his bed very quick.
Kazuki grins. "Hehh! you afraid of Shadow Knights Kai~!"
Kai pretends asleep and that hurt Kazuki more.
"WHY ARE YOU IGNORING ME?!"
Lucia went to his bed as he helps Shiori getting ready to sleep. Hiro hops to his bed eyeing Lucia a nod.
Kazuki also went to his bed as he is still pissed with Kai whose literally pretending to sleep.
Mimori hops to her bed, her bed facing Maura's bed as beside Maura is Alice who gives her cute words. "Let's all sleep now brothers and sisters!"
Maura spokes. "Goodnight to everyone~"
Hiro replies. "Un! Goodnight Maura!"
Lucia covers Shiori's body with the warm sheets. "Lay on bed now Shiori, I don't want you to get lack of sleep."
Shiori hugs her snow bear tight. "Goodnight Niisan, I love you."
Lucia kisses Shiori's forehead. "I love you too Shiori."
Mimori giggles. "Hehe! It must be nice to be Lucia-kun's sister!"
Alice also played along. "Aaaw Alice feels jelly~ Alice want a kiss too!"
Kai scolds them. "Enough! We must sleep!"
Alice rolled her eyes as she did lay on bed. "Boriiing."
Then they hear Hiro talk to the picture at his drawer display. "Mom! Dad! Goodnight!"
Everyone felt it. "Hiro..." that Hiro is truly unlucky of them all.
As everyone went to sleep. The door opens, a Shadow Knight came but everyone pretend to be asleep.
For the first time they all slept at a real bed no more camping bag beds.
Ryuugasaki Hiro is smiling while sleeping.
[['That's how I met everyone.']]
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Hiro's POV
3 years later... (PRESENT TIMELINE)
Arrangement of bed:
Hiro, Lucia, Shiori, Mimori
Kazuki, Kai, Alice, Maura
My neighborhood bed is Yonazuki Lucia, people calls him the Prince of Shadowverse. During the Ranking exam he placed himself AA+ rank despite being new to the game. Even though Lucia is the one who caused me to get caught at my first sneak here, I forgive him. Like why can't I? He so handsome, cool and just...just cool!
Lucia is very popular to girls even though he barely talks to them. Lucia's attention is always at his beloved cute little sister. Kazuki calls him a siscon and for whatever reason Lucia hear this he doesn't get mad. He is proud of it...
But someday once my phone is alive I shall make him pay with Shadowverse! Of course he still deserves a punch after selling me to a Shadow Knight...Lucia seems to be fond of money, I wonder why...?
Next to Lucia is his little sister Yonazuki Shiori. Timid, shy and elegant, Shiori is quite a unique player. In all of the facility Shiori is the first Crosscraft User. Therefore people calld her the Cross-craft user. I can't understand how she manage to play such complicated deck, but she placed herself A rank.
Must be in the blood of Yonazuki siblings to be this amazing!
Next to Shiori is Amamiya Mimori. From the whole Shadowverse player, she is commonly known for being average player. Even though her ranking was B, she still far from earning people's respect. A bit like mine, she get called names. Apparently being average bothers her, so her nickname from majority is 'Average Player.'
Now my front neighboring hood is Shindo Kazuki. Kazuki is that dude! Feels like yesterday when we first met at jail time. Waaah, it was heart thrilling! Seriously funny how he is the reason why the ARC gate opens, which I was able to sneak in. If not for Kazuki's desire to escape the facility so he can be with his family specially his little siblings...I wouldn't be able to sneak in here!
By the way, Kazuki's ranking is C. People likes him a lot but not in a same level as Lucia. Everyone calls him THAT DUDE, maybe because he always add ya-know in every moment he opens his mouth.
Next to Kazuki's bed is Ijuuin Kai. He is one of the youngest same age as Shiori. Kai is a bit...umm...full of himself. But I truly believe he isn't a bad person! In fact his chatterbox and ranting are quite useful. He is the first person to know rumors about everyone and he had this strange theory that maybe this facility is built as a huge lab rat instead of safe zone.
Most of the time I don't understand Kai. He and Kazuki always argue, what more Kai ranking is AB rank. His Shadowverse time magic skills are hard to copy! It must takes a lot of braincell deductions to do so. Anyhow Kai is hard to approach but once you listen to his stories he will actually have care about you. But maybe he just really dislikes Kazuki, even when Kazuki talks to him a lot he still so mean as ever.
I almost forgot, Kai calls himself the Genius of Geniuses...I guess he spread this rumor himself.
Next to Kai is everyone's beloved Idol, Kurobane Alice. Alice is one of the late home coming to the facility due to her profile being an idol outside before the world ended. Thus people call her 'Idol of End times' since...she is the youngest idol and one of the luckiest one picked on the list to be rescued at this facility. Alice likes to play around than taking her Shadowverse seriously. So her ranking is only D. But as I watch Alice play, I know she can be higher than thst rank...I wonder when she will play seriously?
Last but not the least, next to Alice bed. The one at the corner of this room facing Mimori's bed. Maura Abelard whose playing puzzle chain right now. He always smiles and barely talks. Most of the time he will be at the corner smiling and observing everyone. I can't tell what Maura is thinking, but Maura had this mysterious aura surrounds him.
He speaks very politely but rumors said when he gets angry he is hella scary. I haven't seen Maura open his eyes...Am very curious how they look like, since there is a lot of rumors about Maura.
Maura's name is not shown during the entrance exam. But the moment we first met him, he is already sitting at his bed when the dorm regulations were build.
And guess what when he ask him to show his rank...
He is a Grand Master rank!
I was hyped wishing I can see him play or battle him once my phone is active!
But...Maura is rarely associating with us. Frankly not even Lucia saw him play. Its a real mystery how he got here, why is he a grand master rank and why does he barely eat.
There is one outstanding fact about Maura though...
Everytime there is a announcement, Maura gets called to go either at Leon Aurenche's office or Wolfram Zerga's office.
People call him 'Object of Desire' since they can see the favoritism and privillage Maura gates.
Its not like I didn't notice how Maura is treated differently, but I don't think Maura is smiling from the bottom of his heart.
One day I hope I can be genuinely friends to him.
With the 8 of us together as dorm roomies, and everyone's goal to be one of the chosen Seven Shadows.
I Ryuugasaki Hiro swear I will become the chosen one...!
Then I will save mom and dad if they are still alive...And get back to my gramps! If he is also still kicking.
This is our story as a Caged Robins in the ARC facility we study at Shadowverse University.. !
To Be Continued...
End Notes: To be clear there won't be a single OC in here. So any names that is not familiar to you is either a random character from Shadowverse Champion's Battle, Shadowverse Flame, Shadowverse anime. Because am too lazy to create an OC also I want all Shadowverse character to be welcomed here. So except some will be teachers or some will be...eliminated as the series goes darkeeeer. For now let us enjoy fluff like a running drama CD!
**IF I CANNOT FINISH THIS DON'T BLAME ME, IM DOING THIS TO SPREAD MORE LOVE TO MAURO UNTIL I GET TIRED OF THE ANIME**