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 enjoyed making this chapter and I just hope you did too. And to be fair I wanna say in advance my fav characters in FLAME is Mikado and Light. I also like Ren and Hina but I havent decided to drop their scene. And still plz understand am a Maura simp. You can expect more and more Maura lawl.
**ENGLISH SUCKS BUT BARE WITH IT, JUST ENJOY THE PLOT**
Episode 4 - Trapping Desire
Outer POV
The area where Maura came from is one of the sensitive spot inside the ARC facility.
Lucia remembered even though they can roam around the school facility there are some called the facility sensitive core. That you are not suppose to hang out near the area to avoid scratching the defense system that is placed all over the ARC. Lucia remember to the school rules, if anyone accidentally broke one of the sensitive core spot in any area of the ARC may lead to a system breach.
'Even if Maura is mischievous, I doubt he would dare to mess with the core spot...'
And perfect timing a bit later on this incident occurred.
BRiinzzgghh!
Alarm goes and everyone is distraught, dorms suddenly locks and the shutters in the windows for defense goes down.
The whole ARC facility is engulfed in darkness.
One of the camera shows a light.
Eyes widen, The Secretary of ARC Marguerite speaks the forgotten name.
"Is that...Tenryuu Light?!"
Carefully Marguerite follow the strange somewhat invisible figure until it unwraps itself.
More surprised. "Its Dragonir...!"
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At the Sensitive Core Area...
"Halt!" 2 Shadow Knights happen to be near the area when Marguerite ordered them to capture the missing student and his Digi friend if its even possible...
Zwei one of the main known Shadow Knights interrogates the suspect Tenryu Light. "...Where have you been hiding? Surrender yourself now or we'll stun gun you!"
Tenryu Light wearing a dirty cape same as Dragonir that seems to have an ability to temporarily hide themselves in the presence of system defense and camera.
Light with his unchanging innocent voice. "I was told Shadowverse is my destiny..." he uplifts his own spirit being determined to do so by doing a soft glare at the two Shadow Knights. "But this is a prison. I refuse to believe this is correct...!"
Moving one of his arm he tells his partner. "Dragonir, please block them all!"
Zwei and Drei ready to Shadowverse, Dragonir suddenly shines. "Of course Light~!"
Blinded. "Waaaah!"
The two escaped.
...
Meanwhile outside the sensitive core, at the Shadowverse school outside park, Shirogane Mikado just casually strolling as he looks up to the holographic sky.
"Woow the sky is indeed red."
Funf one of the main Shadow Knights spotted Mikado doing his own thing and this is unforgivable act. "Hey you, why aren't at your dorm?"
Mikado shrugs with the laziest explanation. "I didn't make it in time."
Funf annoyed with such unnerving reaction from Mikado whose smiling thinking this is funny.
"Then why are you here? Wait inside the building!" Mikado whines. "For what? I can't enter. So I decided to stroll...Why? Is it bad~?"
Sechs another Shadow Knight approached the two as he warned. "Young boy, you don't know what's going on! Be obedient!"
Mikado being a brat of his time. "Ahaha! You don't know me do you? I'm Shirogane Mikado. I'm the standing chairman if Wolfram Zerga is not around. If anything else you should be telling me what is going on. Maybe I can help~?"
Sechs is pissed. "You will be punished for this. Now come with us, we had to put you somewhere-"
Mikado interrupts by tease. "Somewhere safe? I don't need that. I wanna see an Empty Shadows~!"
Funf spilling the beans out of irritation. "There is no Empty Shadows!"
Mikado genuinely curious now. "...Then why is the Security Breach happen? Doesn't because someone destroyed it?"
But the two Shadow Knights had enough of his boldness and points a stun gun. "Shut up!"
Sechs evil smirks. "Just stun gun the brat Funf."
Funf evil grins. "You are right Sechs, why am wasting time?"
Mikado trying to hide his fear of getting hit by that already knowing painful electricity, he sweat drops. "Aaah~ You going to harm me? Why don't we settle by Shadowverse-"
Suddenly Garuel appears itself beside Mikado.
"Garu! Garu!"
Mikado did not summon him at all. "H-huh, Garuel?"
Garuel is trying to say something. "Garu! Garu! Garuuu!" Then a screen pops out of Garuel's forehead.
BLINK!
Wolfram Zerga on the monitor.
["Stop bullying the Shadow Knights Mikado."]
Shadow Knights had to pay respect instantly. "Zerga-sama!"
Mikado reveals his anger issues as he look so angry against Wolfram. "Tsk. Why do you have to butt in?"
Wolfram smiles at Mikado since he already know how to conquer the boy.
["I thought I told you to be just an observer. What are you doing?"]
Sech dared to ask. "Zerga-sama! What is the meaning of this?"
Wolfram gives an apologetic look to the Shadow Knights. ["Right, I forgot to inform you Shadow Knights. Aside from Leon Aurenche's property...I also have mine. He is my underling, chairman in command if am not around, Shirogane Mikado."]
Funf and Sech said in union. "We only follow Leon-sama's orders!"
Wolfram closes his eyes to express his sincere apologies. ["Sechs, Funf, Am not here to take away whatever Leon Aurenche ordered you guys. Am just here to say not to harm my chairman in command. I do apologize for his daring attitude."]
Mikado silently made an angry fists but he stay quiet.
["Mikado. Just behave and do what they asks you for now."]
Mikado huffs at that with a pissed off smile. "I would like to if you tell me the truth."
Wolfram shakes his head already disapproving.
["You do know the truth, stop playing around and abide for now..."]
Mikado knew he had to follow somehow, so he switched emotions to his usual good boy face. "Fine~ Suit yourself Wolfram-sama~"
The monitor disappears with Garuel landing on Mikado's right shoulder. "So yeah you heard, no need to put me to sleep or pin me to ground. I will surrender~" Shirogane Mikado surrender himself.
The two Shadow Knights looks at each other and agreed.
"Come with us and wait till everything is safe and clear."
"Yes~ yes."
They decided to put Mikado in a locker box since its one of the safest place to hide onto.
"This is narrow for me." Mikado tells them.
The Shadow Knights even with helmet masks, Mikado can tell they roll their eyes against him.
"It will be over soon if you behave."
Quickly they left him.
Truthfully Mikado is utterly pissed how he had to put down his pride to be treated this way. "I swear I hate everyone..." He shook his head, A figure crosses to his vision. Someone just passed by his locker window view. Alerted, Mikado jerks up his head and looks at the available vision he has in this locker coffin thing he got sealed on. "Wait...That figure...!" He knows that color hair shade and clothes except the dirty brown cape.
Mikado begins to bam his fist at the locked door. "Light! Light! Oi! Tenryu Light!"
It was silent, was it too late?
"Dammit! He probably couldn't hear me!"
Garuel whose been staying at Mikado's shoulders starts to roar. "Garu! Garu!"
That moment Tenryu Light stops at his tracks. "Mikado...?" Hearing Light's voice, Mikado gasps. Eventually Light spotted a very suspicious locker. As he peeked at the available holes, he saw a white haired boy inside with dark shades of strands. "Mikado is that you...?"
Finally Shirogane Mikado and Tenryu Light meets in the eyes.
"Light! You...You were alive! I knew it!" Mikado cried out in frustration.
Light who gives out a soft smile is also relieve. "Mikado, am glad to see you doing well." However Mikado was mad at him. "Doing well? For fuck sake Light you left me behind! You said were partners! How could you abandon me like this?!"
Light can only explain briefly. "I didn't abandon you Mikado. I left you because you are my partner, I wanted to entrust you some matters inside the ARC." Confused, Mikado was feeling stupid. "Entrust? Of what? You see, you have always been bad at communication unless you do your Shadowverse! Explain!"
Light who sucks at saying things. "Sorry if I was not clear. Me and Dragonir is trying to save everyone from this ARC. Therefore I cannot come back."
Mikado slams his fist at the locker's door.
BAM!
"That didn't answer my question!"
Light looks down. "Right sorry, the one I thought to entrust you is to find the Vessel of Nexus and its protector."
Perks an interest. "Vessel of Nexus and protector...?"
Light tells Mikado what he is up to. "Wolfram told me, Leon Aurenche have already chosen the sacrifice to become the Vessel of Nexus then he also had been finding the possible someone to protect it."
Mikado highly insulted how people toying him around. "Nobody told me a damn thing! What the hell are you and Wolfram leaving me in the dark?! I'll make you guys pay!"
Light made a sad smile as he stared right into Mikado's tearful angry eyes. "I will accept any punishment from you Mikado. You are my rival as well. But not right now, we are running out of time. I must go. Dragonir is holding the Shadow Knights off my trail...Yet of course Dragonir cannot lasts that long."
Mikado sobs. "Light...You are very unfair...I hate you."
Light can only plead. "I know Mikado. However please help me find the sacrifice. The existence of that person is a threat to humanity as per Wolfram. That person must disappear..."
Mikado rolled his eyes. "You must be joking to ask me to kill someone?"
Light corrects it. "I didn't say you have to kill. That person must be either locked up or I guess be converted to our side."
Mikado wipes his tears that thankfully didn't really fall off yet. Switching to serious mode.
"Any idea who it is?"
Light tells Mikado the possible suspects.
"Wolfram has multiple suspect. No.1 theory is Ryuugasaki Hiro because his phone is locked. Perhaps Maura Abelard whose Leon Aurenche's property. Or even Hina Sinclair who dreams to become a villain for beauty trope then lastly Yonazuki Lucia, because he acts very suspicious. Those are the potential sacrifices, but then again according to the research only female vessels are accepted by Nexus. There is also something called the Guardian of Nexus it's protector, and those guardians are mostly male. We need to find the two suspect. But who knows? Maybe there is a plot twist."
However Light is running out of time. "I believe in your judgement Mikado. You were the attending chairman of Shadowverse University after all. Your father must be proud how you have changed to have a heart."
Mikado knew Light will ditch him, so he panics.
"Wait! Don't leave yet! Light! This is not even...!"
Too late, Light turns his back against the locker Mikado is still locked in.
"See you again Mikado."
The voice of Dragonir can be heard.
"Light lets get going!"
"I'm on my way Dragonir!"
Hearing their disappearing footsteps, Shirogane Mikado kneels down sulking.
"Stupid...Tenryu Light..."
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EVENTS BEFORE THE SYSTEM BREACH
Kazuki's POV
This is the ARC Fortress created by Shadowverse CEO Leon Aurenche. It is a safe place for the last hope of humanity ya know!
All adults and elders where abandon outside. While teenagers, pre teens were saved.
As for the small children...Since only few of them is highly intelligent to comprehend Shadowverse aspects, most of them is also left behind with the adults and elderly...
Some are lucky like the youngest in the facility is Kurobane Alice. Because she is talented and intelligent ya know.
Now you do get the gist how the system work? That's how unfair and unjust it is ya know!
Therefore since the very beginning I want to escape this place. I do not wanna stay here for any longer...
My siblings needs me! I wonder if they are still alive? No, I'm sure they are! I refuse to believe that they will go down easily... I'm sure mom and dad is taking care of them!
Yeah probably they even made a Minnie restaurant to feed other survivors...
Hopefully so...
Which is why for the past 3 years I have been saving.
I pulled my emergency bag underneath my bed and restocked some stuffs inside it.
I do this every chance whenever nobody stays at the dorm. Before it expires I will eat them or share them to some of our classmates, so far nobody questioned how I get extra lunches. I just put a lie that I have good stars!
Although it is hard to hide it since most of the time Maura stays at his bed doing nothing but read some books or play with those noisy jiggling chains. Its a puzzle chain he says.
And even till today, I still don't feel comfortable here. It is fun yes, however the fact am safe and knowing how harsh the weather outside...Thinking how my family starving or shivering in cold...It really bothers me with such guilt.
I swear, I will get out of here.
Just like Tenryu Light. That guy was really nice ya know and kinda pure in a sense. With bit of an airhead and too trusting but he was really easy to talk with.
A bit strange.
Before he had disappear I was able to ask him something he has been busy on.
Light guy told me the following...
["Me and Dragonir found an exit. However we still need to check before we share to others. I'm sure am not the only one who desire to get out of this ARC to be with our families whose suffering outside."]
I beg him to share it to me first before others and this guy...He made a promise.
["Im bound of promises. Therefore I promise you Kazuki-san, if ever I get out and couldn't return inside the ARC to tell the exit we found. I will make sure to find your family and tell them about your situation."]
I was looking forward to it.
However when we needed Light and Dragonir the most they suddenly vanished.
Nobody knows if they were able to get out or did they die doing so?
Rumors says the off limits places in ARC contains dangerous traps or weapons.
So far nobody had seen it except maybe the Shadow Knights.
I know they are doing it to protect us but...I do not like how we are force to stay here.
I guess that's how deciding to save the world works.
"What is that bag Shindo Kazuki?"
BADUMP~!
My soul screamed, my heart alarmed and my whole body frozen on spot.
SHIT...!
GULPS.
My forehead went cold even though I always had my yellow bandana covering it.
Crap, I have been discovered by the worst possible person to be seen...!
As I turn around Ijuuin Kai is staring at me with a unreadable face.
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Outside POV
"K-Kai..." Shindo Kazuki nervously smiles.
Kai without waste of time already addressed the matter. "That bag...Are you perhaps...!"
Kazuki shielded his stuffs ready to fight. "S-shut up! Sell me you want! But I will never let it go! I will escape this place and be with my family..!"
To his surprise Kai just said with a sigh. "I'm surprised and envious."
"Huh?" Dumbfounded, Ijuuin Kai made it loud and clear. "I don't have the guts' to defy this place. Perhaps escaping is the right thing, or otherwise is escaping is a doomed fate?"
More like Kai was speaking his thoughts for himself, wildly confuse yet hopeful...
Kazuki was... "Kai? Does this means..."
Kai drops his own worries. "Since you wish to escape and it seems like this has been your dirty little secret, I as well is guilty of a dark secret." Now that is another unexpected thing from Kai.
"Eh?"
Kazuki couldn't just drop now that he knew Kai feels differently than how he was supposed to be based on his personality trait, Kazuki needed to confirm if Kai was his ally. "Kai what do you mean? You know am not that smart, you better tell me what ya know about this place if you knew something!"
Kai is about to tell Kazuki some clues.
"This Arc...Its-"
Suddenly behind appears the God of Curses itself.
"Arara~ Care for me to join?"
With horrified expression from both, Maura Abelard is smiling like a clown who spot two naughty children.
That's how terrifying he appeared.
"M..Maura?!"
Kazuki quickly hides his bag regardless if its too late. "Since when...?!"
Kai meanwhile cold sweats were visible enough to make the sadist giggles.
"Heehee~ Do not worry I just arrive~ To find you guys almost confessing your feelings to each other. Go on and continue~ I wanna see the despair of rejection."
Kai's facial expression changed to confused looks while Kazuki is buying the white lie crap Maura just said. "Whaaat?! Don't misunderstand me and Kai is not in that kind of relationship!" Maura obviously peeks an interest in another way round. "So what's with the bag~? Are the two of you planning to flee from here to live happily ever after~?"
Kazuki stuttering. "W-what bag? I-I don't know what are you t-talking about!"
Maura twerks to the two, his meanest pose as Kai and Kazuki swallows their hopes and dreams.
"If I were you~ tell the beans before I throw those beans to an ogre." Kai couldn't contain it anymore and he blocks Kazuki's path in an act of defending. "If someone has to tell us something that has to be you Maura Abelard...!" Maura amused. "Hm~? Having a back bone is not bad, but do you wish to get cursed again?"
Kai is eager to get the data in a gamble question he dared against the Havencraft user. "You know something right? About the secret of this facility."
Maura fanboys. "Secret? I love secrets! If you know some then, prey tell me~!" Kai did some research and he needed more so he tells what he already knows. "The incident last year with Tenryu Light. You know something we do not know! Or else...Kazuki and I will not desire to be a puppet of this facility anymore!"
Maura then zoomed his face to Kai, showing his scary purple eyes as he stopped smiling.
"Ahh~ So you saw it?"
BADUMP!
Kai shut his mouth and went pale. Kazuki who had zero ideas what's with the two.
Maura thankfully backs down and reverts back to his Neko face act. "I knew I wasn't hallucinating when I saw you Ijuuin Kai. You saw me that night~" nodding to self.
Kazuki had enough of being left out of topic.
"Guys? Would you care to share what is going on? I don't think am following ya know!"
Maura blocks the doorway as he cross his arms and rest his back to the available door corner pillar. "Listen, the outside world is in peril. So for you...Shindo Kazuki. Forget about your family. Perhaps for these 3 years they are all probably dead anyway-"
"MY FAMILY IS NOT DEAD!" Is Kazuki's outburst. "You cannot stop me! E-even if its you M-Maura! I will get out and be with my family...!"
Maura is not even affected by such passion. "Aahh~ Love, truly overcomes all logic." Because he knew despair awaits for those whose hopeful. "You don't know what suffering and despair you'll get from outside~"
Kazuki pissed and stubborn. "So be it! You like seeing people in despair right? Then let me be in despair! But am sure...My family does not go down easily...! They are alive and waiting for me!"
Maura raised an eyebrow. "Waiting for you~? Didn't tell surrendered you here? You are contradicting yourself."
But the door opens with the noisy happy red haired room mate. "I'm back!" It is Ryuugasaki Hiro. "Oh wazzup? You guys having some gathering? I wanna join!"
Kai afraid this will go out of hands. "Hiro-san! This is-" before Kai can make up a white lie, Maura did them a favor by lying hard.
"Shindo Kazuki and Ijuuin Kai are planning to elope~"
"We...WHAT?!" Kai and Kazuki thunder shocked.
However Kai did realize. 'Eh? Maura-san didn't told Hiro-san about...What is he up to by hiding it?' Kai suspiciously looks at Maura all knowingly.
Hiro who does not know that word. "Eh? Elope? What's that?"
Maura chuckles. "Ahh~ Right you lack the vocabulary. Elope means...Hmm...lets say they were so in love they wanna live their lives together forever by abandoning everything~!"
Hiro buying whatever Maura says so. "R-really?! I didn't know you guys are in that kind of relationship! No wonder you two bicker a lot to each other..."
Kazuki snaps with visible red blushing cheeks. "WHAT THE HELL HIRO! DO I LOOK LIKE THAT?!"
Hiro totally not getting what made Kazuki felt offended. "Eeeeeh? Then what is it then?"
Next of the worst is that Kurobane Alice enters the dorm. "Yahoo niisan and neechans! Alice is baaaack!"
Maura casually greets. "Welcome back Kurobane Alice~"
Hiro wanting to share the good news. "Alice! Listen up! Kai and Kazuki are apparently going to elope according to Maura!"
Alice who already knew its a prank but decided to pretend to buy it. "Whaaaat?! Kai niichan and Kazukiniichan are lovers~!? Alice is very shock~"
Both Alice and Maura evil grins.
Kai already stressed enough. "Huh? Were not! Will you drop that horrible gag Maura-san! This is a serious matter!"
Alice still buys the gag. "Omg scoop is here!" Kai panicking now with pink cheeks of embarrassment. "No! You are wrong Alice-san!"
Hiro now understood the term late and made it worst when he even repeated. "What!? Elope means Lovers?! I didn't knew that!" Kai scolding Hiro. "Hiro-san stop believing every single thing from these two jokers...!"
Lucia and Shiori arrives the room hearing all those raising voice. Yonazuki Lucia coldly asks of them. "What's with the ruckus? Are you guys fighting?" Hiro breaking the ice as he twinkles by seeing the siblings back before crew few. "Lucia! Shiori!"
Maura enjoying how things unfolds with a flustered Kai and Kazuki. "The party is coming one by one~"
Kazuki lift a fist to try and threat. "Maura you better clear this misunderstanding ya know! Its not funny...!" Maura just yawns at Kazuki's bullshit. "Hm? So you want to be reported~?" He knew Kazuki did not have that kind of gutts to do so. Kazuki folds his ears like a scared dog. "T-that's..." Maura can obviously report his desire to escape the place even without saying so.
Alice who helps the situation. "Were not fighting Lucia-niichan, but apparently Kai-nii and Kazuki-nii has something fishy going on~"
Lucia doubts it. "And that is...?"
BbbrrriNGGZZZ!
Perfect timing the emergency alarm rings.
"What was that sound?!" Everyone looks up the ceiling as the lights flickering. Maura gasps, he who knows what signs are these. "This is..." They hear the speaker for the last time before it shuts down.
["Everyone stay inside your dorms! This is not a drill! A security breach happened! Stay inside your dorms now...!"]
The door opens with a frantic Mimori rushing in, she is the last of the roomies. "T-this is bad guys!"
Alice happens to be at the front door. "Mimori neechan what happen outside?"
Mimori shuts the door and holds Alice shoulders. "We all need to stay inside the dorms now!" Alice whining. "Eeeh! But Alice wanna know what happen!" Lucia whose taking this seriously. "A security breach...? For real?"
Mimori nods as she catches her breath. "I was with Makabe Subaru-kun when the holographic sky turn red. Then they said stay inside the dorms before its too late. Subaru-kun said it may perhaps be a Empty Shadow invading the ARC."
Kazuki whose scared of that. "Ya freakin serious?!"
Lucia noticed Maura just cross his arms and just smiling, he had to point out. "You seem calm."
Maura teases back. "You are calm as well~"
Shiori clutching to Lucia's arms.
"Niisan...I'm scared..."
Lucia had to smile to assure Shiori and her anxiety.
"It's alright Shiori, I will protect you."
BRIIIIINNZZZGGG!
Another loud noise broke their ears and this is a different kind of sound.
Hiro and the rest covers their ears, Hiro yelling to hear his own voice. "W-what was that?! Owww its so noisy!"
Kai screams. "Its the alarm!"
Before everyone can react the whole ARC went Black out.
The ARC facility is engulfed in darkness
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PRESENT TIME...
"I-It's so dark I cannot see anything holy shit!" Is Kazuki panicking.
Kai also felt his heart alarmed as he realize his vision is dark. "W-where is the window?"
Lucia whose calm and detached from the situation. "The windows have been covered by the defense system." But he is hugging Shiori close to his arms. Shiori is silent but she was anxious.
Hearing this Hiro is now also alarmed on the situation. "What! Its totally dark then! We are trapped?!"
They hear some footsteps it was Maura whose behind them, he was the closest to the window. "Its not dark, turn on your cellphones." Turning on his cellphone, Maura pointed his smartphone flashlight in their faces. Everyone squint at the sudden light but this had made their nerves and heartbeat less scared.
Alice heavily sighs as she pointed. "F-finally small lights are available...At least till our phones dies down battery..." how this may not last long.
Mimori whose at the door is the number one concerned of all. "Is everyone alright?"
Everyone nodded and some of them smile to let Mimori know they are all fine.
Then the topic goes on, Lucia click his tongue getting upset with the news Mimori have announced earlier. "What the heck happen. Security breach...Empty Shadows..."
Shiori noticing her brother making a dark face "Niisan...?"
Mimori tapping on the ID scanner but failed.
"Guys...The door is locked."
Maura who barely did an effort explains them. "Even the shutters in the window, no way to open unless you shatter the glass window~" Kazuki narrowing his eyes with the obvious answer. "There's nothing here that can shatter the bullet proof windows anyway ya know..."
Hiro whose more occupied on the time that is flowing while they are stuck here with all questions in their head. "How long are we gonna be in this state?"
Lucia who interrogates the Forestcraft user. "Amamiya-san you were outside, aside from spending time with Makabe Subaru guy anything else happend?"
Mimori trying to recall the events. "Umm...Like I said the blue holographic sky turned red. Then the voice of Secretary Marguerite-san echoed through the speakers and said to stay at the dorms. You guys heard it too right?"
Kai affirms. "Yes we did but still it doesn't explain the system breach."
Lucia had a wild guess as he murmurs. "Its the sensitive core."
Hiro heard it and says out loud. "Eh? Sensitive what..?"
Lucia giving Hiro a serious look. "Hiro, remember during last year you almost stepped inside the sensitive core spot of the ARC?" Hiro energetically recalls. "Hmm...Ah yeah! I remember! What about it?"
Lucia scanned their faces as he tells them. "If some student accidentally cause damage that sensitive core spots...That will weakened the ARC's barrier protection. This was explained in our booklets."
Kazuki trying to comprehend. "So you mean some dude messed with the sensitive core whether he or she knew it was bad or just complete accident?"
Lucia lowered his gaze. "I saw someone went there earlier."
Hiro anticipating. "Eeeh? So Lucia knows whose the culprit?"
Lucia suddenly points to one of them.
"Yeah...It was Maura."
All shocked for obvious reasons.
"Eeeh!?"
Maura snorts. "Oh wow the accusation is deep cut than my lessons~ Just because I was passing by the spot where the sensitive core is does not mean I did something~" A tension raised when Lucia frankly accusing Maura already. "Well, you better explain why is this happening when you did happen to be the last person who cross by that side of ARC?"
Maura cannot believe this he let a unnecessary mocking smile. "You are truly blaming me for this~?"
Hiro whose not a bit liking how Lucia can just assumed Maura did it. "Wait up Lucia! Lets say Maura did pass by the sensitive core but it doesn't mean Maura would do something like that!"
Lucia raised an eyebrow, he knew Hiro is smart but there would be some small details he would still miss. "How can you be sure? We don't even truly know his origins."
Hiro tries to reason with Lucia of course. "I mean...errr Its not like you saw yourself Maura destroying the core right?" To keep peace. Lucia is taken back. "That's..." Hiro is right, its not like he actually saw Maura did it. Maura just happen to be coming from that route.
Hiro giving positivity. "See! He just pass by the core but you didn't saw Maura touched it or anything! So it might be a coincidence!" Kai who already knew Maura's secret decided to help Hiro on defending. "I agree, I don't think Maura-san will do that."
Maura is impressed at this point. "How surprising you are defending me Ijuuin Kai~? What's with the change of heart?" Kai just wants to be clear. "You told me and Kazuki how dangerous outside. A person who warns someone about outside will have no reason to destroy the protective barrier."
Hiro remembering the one from seconds ago. "Wait, you guys still didn't explain why you guys were gonna elope?"
Kazuki angry at that. "That wasn't true! The truth is..."More like guilty.
"Kazuki-kun...?" Mimori can sense Kazuki's tension. Shindo Kazuki couldn't keep quiet about it, he knew how eventually he has to tell them how he really feels. "Guys, ya know...I was...Planning to escape this place."
All gasps with various reactions. "What...?!"
Mimori hope she was wrong upon that statement. "So does that mean Kazuki-kun you destroyed the ARC's core?" Kazuki interjects. "Hell know! I didn't even know about it till now ya know!"
Lucia now suspicious of Kazuki. "Its in the booklet, if you have plans to escape you would have read it." Kazuki rubs his head. "I did read but why would I destroy the barrier when I can just pass through the main gate like 3 years ago?" Kai sighs about it. "That's not a very refine idea of escaping..."
Kazuki now pleading to everyone except Kai and Maura who knows he is innocent.
"I swear I didn't destroy anything!"
Kai helps him like he did to Maura. "Kazuki-san is not capable of destroying. He was packing his stuffs when the system breach happend. Its obviously not him."
Kazuki feeling touched. "Kai you are being nice dude today! Thank you!" He clings to Kai and Kai secretly blushes. "I j-just didn't want for us to turn on each other when we are trap in one place." Although still being a Tsundere...
Shiori who wants to help on making things less tensed, she shared her brightful thoughts. "They say when people are not in good terms and is trapped for too long there will be bloodshed."
Everyone's face went pale and even Lucia couldn't hold it in. "Shiori don't say that, they will panic."
Shiori with innocent face. "Why?"
Kazuki shivers on Shiori's words. "That sounds scary ya know...!"
Hiro the only one whose optimistic. "Calm down guys! I'm sure the Shadow Knights or Marguerite woman is doing something right now for this to be over soon! Lets just wait for now!"
Lucia eyed the speaker where usually the announcement partakes is now silent. "There is no announcement after the drill..."
Hiro still putting his energy. "Then instead of waiting lets sleep to keep our strength! Grandpa told me if you move and talk too much you get hungry fast!"
Everyone went stiff. "Ah."
Hiro clueless what he said wrong. "Everyone?"
Mimori sweat drops. "Hiro-kun...We don't have food here."
Kai already knew the future. "Were going to starve aren't we...?"
Maura is annoyed. "Ryuugasaki Hiro...Why do you have to run your mouth about that crucial part..." Hiro defends. "Wait! Its not like we will be trapped more than 24hrs right?" Maura yawns. "Who knows, until now...None of the smartphones in Shadowverse Bulletin board has even written any protocol instructions while waiting for things to fix itself~"
Alice finally spoke after listening and watching everyone. "Others were also trap inside their dorms right?" Glancing up to Mimori whose memory barely on set to survive.
Mimori fidgets feeling useless. "I was running and...I'm not sure if everyone made it back to their dorms." She is still feeling strange recently of anything had happen around her lately. Kazuki who shut his mouth as he secretly landed his eyes to his emergency bag. There is food inside but he is not ready to share just yet since 24hrs had not passed. 'It will be best to save it later...' Kazuki tells himself. So for the meantime he just kept quiet.
Alice genuinely trying to know more so she can think on ths situation "What will happen to those who got lockdown outside the dorms?"
Lucia calculates. "If system breach really happened, and if what that Makabe Subaru guy said is true that a possible Empty Shadow made it inside...Then those students who encounters the Empty Shadows are most likely..."
With his red eyes, Lucia made everyone shiver by the word.
"Devoured."
Even Shiori is terrified. "De..voured?"
Kai fixing his glasses with the little light they have. "Maura-san, I think this is the best time you share what you knew about the ARC."
Maura shrugs. "I'm not a story teller~"
Kai getting frustrated with Maura's games. "This is life threatening, its emergency! Please tell us!"
Hiro going in between to avoid further shouting. "Maura what are Kazuki and Kai saying? Do you have an idea what is going on?" Maura sighs as he nochantly started. "...Do you guys remember the missing student Tenryu Light?" Hiro can never forget. "Light? Yeah he was the nicest guy! But...He did went missing. I thought he manage to escape?"
Maura continues. "Wolfram Zerga one day have approached Tenryu Light and said 'Shadowverse is your destiny'..." Everyone gasps. "Wolfram Zerga..The Vice president of this ARC!" Maura started to walk in circles and every time he walks they follow him with their smart phone light as if he was given a spotlight to narrate.
"Yes~ Then ever since Tenryu Light put his utmost effort to evolve his Shadowverse stats. As everyone know he is pretty good, although still has some flaws but he was a nice player."
Revealing piercing purple eyes that gives everyone a goosebumps. "Until one day he started saying things like he wants to free the students who wants to go out."
Hiro purely shock. "I didn't knew that was happening? Why am hearing this now?"
Maura shake his head, having enough of Hiro's stupidity. "Its because you Ryuugasaki Hiro is so busy on studying Shadowverse yourself. You and your obsession with Shadowverse made you care less from rumors, gossips or whatever happens you don't just care~" Hiro laughs and scratches the back of his head with lil shame. "Ahaha...I'm not gonna lie...I don't care much about other stuffs..."
Mimori on the contrary. "But Maura-kun, we never heard this either about Light-kun. Where did you got this story?"
Maura boasts himself as he spread his arms in the dark, as if a stage play is on the go. "Am an Object of Desire~ Did you all think they can only desire my body? Of course I will desire for secrets. I love secrets the most~ They are delicious."
Yonazuki Lucia arch an eyebrow disturbed. "What kind of service are you referring to be able to make the higher ups spill the beans?"
Maura devilishly smirks at the prince. "Whatever I do is classified information. Unless you are willing to surrender yourself to me Yonazuki Lucia~?"
Lucia resorted to violent spat.
"I hate you."
Maura retorts back being silly.
"Don't worry~ I love you."
Shiori who couldn't sense the death glare between the two. "Eeh? Maura-san likes my brother?"
Mimori nervously smiles. "S-Shiori-chan...I think that was sarcasm..." Ryuugasaki Hiro once more jumps in the center. "Stoooop!"
Lucia snapping back to reality. "Hiro?" Hiro knew Lucia and Maura were about to fight. "Lets not fight! At times like this we should work all together!"
Alice whose chill just casually ask for continuation. "So what happen to Tenryu Light Maurachi?"
Maura drops the smug against Lucia and reverts back to his default smile. "I just know those but not everything. If you will ask my opinion...Whether Tenryu Light is dead or he did really made it outside...Or perhaps he is imprisoned somewhere here at the ARC~"
Kai thinking out of the box as he heard everything Maura has to share. "For me it sounds like Wolfram Zerga has something to do with Light's disappearance if we will base on the story you just said."
Maura laughs. "Ahahah~ Also if I knew what really happen to Tenryu Light, I wouldn't be following the rules anymore~"
Hiro curios. "What rules?"
Maura says with certainty. "To stay here."
Kurobane Alice gain some delightful ideas of whatever entertains her. "Alice loves the mystery! But seriously we should turn off the phones to save battery. Lets open it again once we woke up! I suggest we sleep for now...!"
Mimori can feel the tension is gone since Hiro and Alice trying their best to make everyone calm down. "I think Alice-chan is right...We should rest to clear our minds...And to be less anxious."
Shiori who cuddles to her brother's arms. "Niisan please stay close to me."bLucia gaining clarity of what he must focus than be annoyed with Maura and his harassments towards him. "Don't worry, I'll sleep next beside you for this one."
The Yonazuki siblings looks at each other like with caring love. "Thank you Niisan."
Hiro announces as everyone goes to their designated beds.
"Ok Goodnight everyone! Hope morning comes!"
All of their smartphones were turned off to save battery.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hiro's POV
When I opened my eyes, in my vision is...
Tenryu Light.
A memory I have of him when he introduced himself in front of the whole class.
"I'm the transfer student to this Seventh Flame class. I wish to be in you guys assistance from now on."
Light is a boy that appears to be cool, but is somewhat fitzy and out of touch. He may be slow to understand certain things, completely ignoring when others speak to him with ulterior motives. Yet he is honest, compassionate and kind-hearted, he always keeps his promises no matter the cost and never ignores someone in distress. He always has a positive and collected attitude in the face of adversity, rarely losing his cool.
Despite initially knowing nothing about Shadowverse, Light quickly develops a strong attachment to the game, seeing it as a way to connect with others.
That was the rumor about him. But moving forward we will be classmates!
Various people greeted him of course.
"Were happy to have you here Light!"
Even though a lot approached the new guy, he for some reason taken steps to go at my sit. People barely associate with me actually, sp this is surprising. With such natural friendly nature. "Hello am Tenryu Light, may I know your name?" Of course it is refreshing not to be called by any names, rather feeling welcomed. I exclaimed my excitement. "Ryuugasaki Hiro! Hiro is fine, Light!"
Light kinda feels like me. "Nice meeting you Hiro. Now..."
When he hits up his phone in my face. "Eh?" Light genuinely wants to do it with me. "Let's play Shadowverse." Itsuki our class president giggles at the seemingly innocent and cute attempt of Light to have me battle Shadowverse with me. "Light-kun...Unfortunately Hiro can't access his phone."
I guess not everyone cares about me not having access to my smartphone, Light did not knew at all. "Surprise me...? Hiro, how come your phone is not working? Do you need a repair?"
I feel funny now but I didn't want to be rude. "Eh? No, no! Its locked."
Light tilt his head. "Lock...?"
I have no choice but to be proud of what am exactly at this place. "You see I'm the rumored 101 student! You know? They call me Unwanted Newbie!" Light bows his head. "My apologies, I never heard of it."
Makabe Subaru joins in with our little conversation. "But Light weren't you in the opening ceremony during the counting of rescue list?" Light casually drops a bomb. "Yes I was, however I was busy talking to Wolfram."
We all exclaimed. "Wolfram? Isn't that dude...The Vice President?!"
Light did not think about it as a big deal. "Yes. He told me he choose me specifically to be on the rescued list. How...Shadowverse is my destiny." He drop his gaze at me. "And he told me that you, Hiro is one of the people I must battle."
I never felt so honored. "Me? Really?! I don't really care whose Wolfram but hearing him say that makes me blush!" I blushes indeed.
Subaru actually curious. "Why would Wolfram-sama would like you to battle Hiro-san who never played Shadowverse...? Sure Hiro knows Shadowverse by all the available data and watching us but...to ask Light to battle Hiro. Is something up?"
The next words from Light's mouth had me worked up. "I have no idea. But he mention about your parents."
I slams the table hard. "Wait! Hold on! Tell me about my parents! What about them?!" I was eager to find out.
Light keeping his cool. "Hm...He said Leon Aurenche is childhood bestfriends with your parents who work with them to build thid ARC facility."
I want another one. "Leon told me that already! What else did he said?"
Light looks clueless, I guess he was not thinking so deep as he trusted on sharing all the information he was told. "Hmm...I guess he mention your parents are probabbly alive."
Itsuki wonders. "Why and how he can say so?"
Me, Itsuki and Subaru listens to Light.
"During the rescue mission, Wolfram Zerga said they also counted the people who have died. In short the numbering of corpse found how your parents were not on the list, nor even their body is found. Therefore they are presume to be alive."
I sits back contemplating the things Light had said. An information coming from Wolfram Zerga...And if I align that with Leon's story...
"Mom...Dad...Dammit, if they were alive why won't they showed themselves?"
Makabe Subaru whose been listening behind Light added his opinion. "I watched some movies when I was younger. There is a saying if no corpse, the character is never dead. Its either they are lost or trapped on somewhere they couldnt return!"
That sounds real, I thinks. "Trap somewhere..."
Light changed the topic back at top. "It still saddens me we cannot battle Hiro. I hope your phone gets unlock so we can see our Shadowverse."
I knew I must not be weakened out, so like usual I give my brightest grin.
"Oh sure lets promise that! Show me your Shadowverse Light!"
As if a greeting yet a farewell, that was indeed the first and last interaction I did with Tenryu Light.
"I will Hiro."
Everything went dark.
Seemingly my breathing stop, I gasps for air as my vision opens again to a very dark place.
G A S P...!
...
Reality POV
Hiro startled how the moment he open his eyes from a bright dream he was greet by darkness.
His vision is dark even though he blink 3 times it is still dark.
Hiro jerks up from lying position into sitting as he clutch his heart with the rising terror that he cannot see anything.
"Hahh...hahh...!" Hiro hitch his breathing, oxygen feels very limited and he forgotten why he was here of how he cannot see anything?
'...Did I turned blind?' In the midst of heavily panic, hearing his own heart beat in his eardrums due to silence adding up more anxiety he feels.
It was then a worried voice calls Hiro out.
"Hiro...?"
Hiro snaps back to reality, quickly he recognize the voice. "L-Lucia?" Still its dark, however hearing Lucia's voice in the darkness made Hiro remember that he is not alone at all. "You are breathing rapidly, are you ok?" Hiro can hear some movement and some faint snore from others.
Relief washed Hiro's horrified face as he begins to think properly. 'Ah...Right...We were trapped inside our dorms during the system breach...!' Embarrass of his panicking a seconds ago, Hiro brush it off with his usual energy. "I-I'm fine. I just forgot its black out! Hehe!...So I thought for a second I was blind."
Thankfully its dark that Lucia won't see Hiro's face totally dumbfounded. Lucia made another movement, Hiro may not see him but his small gesture can be heard.
"Ok, let me turn on my phone."
Lucia's smartphone turns on providing little light in the darkness.
And this small light had made Hiro's heart calm.
Finally they see their faces. "Thanks Lucia..."
Lucia smiles back. "Feeling better...?"
Hiro still clutching his heart and recognize his own heart beat is going back to normal speed.
"Somehow...Yes..."
Lucia still worried about Hiro jolting up earlier. "Are you claustrophobic or something?" Hiro shakes his head with visible blushes. "Nno...Just...I was dreaming."
Oh right...Memories...
"Of what...?"
Hiro is now thinking why he did not got himself more involved. "The time I met Light before he disappeared...He mention my parents were alive said by Wolfram." Lucia narrowed his red eyes. "Wolfram...The Vice president of the ARC." Another voice chimes in. "Your parents are alive indeed~" the most flirtish one, oh yeah I know who.
Lucia pointed his phone light at Maura's direction. Hiro exclaimed cheerfully. "Maura! You are awake!" Only to catch what Maura told them. "Wait, did you just said...?"
Maura laying at his bed while facing them as he hugs his pillow. "Leon-sama told me, your parents are alive~" This is new information. "Huh? Then why did Leon told me he is clueless where they could be?!"
Maura wiping his eyes, evidence that he also just woke up. "I don't know all the details...Leon-sama said if your phone is lock and if it unlocks that means Ryuugasaki Eiji's phone is turned on~"
Hiro pulled out his locked smartphone and stared at it. "My dad's phone?"
Maura nods. "Remember Leon-sama have check your smartphone during the counting~?"
Hiro nods back. "Yeah I did. And he did told me its locked."
Maura points at Hiro's cellphone. "Exactly~ So your phone would never unlock if your parents are dead. Leon-sama said the lock was done for a reason...So if that suddenly unlocks, the theory your parents are indeed alive will be the truth."
Lucia furrowed his eyebrows against Maura with hostile. "You knew Hiro was looking for his parents, why you didn't told him before?"
Maura rolls on his bed then stretches his arms and legs, purposely avoiding eye contact with Lucia.
"Duhh~ Am not responsible to say so. Also I didn't knew it was true till I heard you guys talk about Tenryu Light saying his parents are alive as what Wolfram Zerga mentioned to him."
Suddenly their attention taken when a small abrupt yet painful coughing can be heard.
"*coughs! Coughs*!"
They look around.
"Whose coughing?"
Until the phone light spots Shiori who is now also awake but she seems suffering, Lucia runs to Shiori's side.
"Shiori!"
Shiori covering her pained expression and mouth to avoid hurting her throat more. "Nii...san..(coughs!) S-sorry, the lack of air making my throat itch."
Lucia felt weak as he knows the source why all of sudden its harder to breath in the dark. "The air is weak...I do have a fan here, let me get it. Anything else you feel?" Shiori apologizes for being a burden. "(Coughs! Coughs) I'm hungry...I'm sorry for the inconvenience guys..." Lucia is sorry for his own lack of emergency equipment. "Food...We don't have food here. Only water at least..."
Another voice shouts. "We have!"
It was...
"Kazuki you are awake?"
Kazuki turns on his smartphone providing more light, grinning ear to ear. "Yep. I was hearing you guys." Shiori bows her head feeling so weak. "Sorry." Kazuki pulls something beneath his bed, a big bag. They saw that suspicious bag yesterday... "Its fine! So anyway for food, I have stock."
Hiro remember its the bag Kazuki saving up for his escape plan. "But Kazuki, those food are for your escape bag right?"
Kazuki pats the bag as he seemingly made his decision final. "Well...This is emergency. Besides I can restock again once were out here ya know~" Lucia express his gratitude. "Thank you Kazuki. We owe you." Hiro is happy as well that they are all working together instead of fighting on times of crisis. "Kazuki you really are that dude...!"
Then again they hear the smallest voice.
Its the girls.
"Hmm...Is it already morning...?" And of course another female voice.
"Alice-chan yes its already morning according to the clock." Its Alice and Mimori. Alice yawns as she wonders forgetting the fact how events of yesterday turned out. "Then why is it so dark...?"
Mimori turns on her phone to provide light on sleepy Alice, but the one who answered her question is the Genius of Geniuses. "Remember we got trapped inside the dorm because of some system breach?" Alice rubs her eyes. "Kai niichan's voice...? Ah...Alice remember now were stuck indeed."
Hiro who was having anxiety attack earlier is now replaced with hope and energy. He told himself they should not cower down.
"Its alright everyone! Kazuki have us covered with food aside from the water we have left! We can still survive!" Kazuki though not liking this one bit. "When will they remove the shutters? At very least to save our sanity...I want to see the window ya know..."
Hearing Maura chuckles in the dark. "Indeed, this darkness if it keeps going we might despair and went nuts~"
Kazuki begs. "That's not a good joke, please let's not say this!"
Kai on the other hand looks up. "We should be thankful the ventilator still gives us oxygen. If it stops were going to die from suffocation." But it immediately switch into worried ones. "Although its not stronger than it does the usual..."
Lucia more focus on his little sister's. "Maybe that's why Shiori is having difficulties on breathing?"
Shiori who look like a dust tickled her nose and throat she keeps coughing. "(Coughs!) (Coughs!) Niisan..I'm sorry..."
Lucia patting Shiori's back. "Its ok Shiori. However why are you coughing?"
Shiori swallows down as she gain slighy of her composure. "I don't know. I suddenly feel unwell. Am hungry but...this bread, Kazuki-san made an effort to give me but I couldn't have the appetite to eat even though I just mention am hungry..."
Hiro had an idea what may have caused it. "Lucia I think Shiori maybe is tense because its dark! Like me! I had a panic attack when I open my eyes and I couldn't see anything! It was scary!" Smiling with hope against Shiori's anxiousness. "But Lucia gave me light! So you should rely to your brother! Just calm down..!"
Lucia soft smiles as he pats Shiori's head. "Shiori, Hiro is right. You do not need to fear, am here. I won't leave you no matter how dark it can get."
Shiori weak smile. "Niisan...Thank you for being so kind."
Kazuki having enough of their somewhat stiff relationship. "Why are you so formal? Its your brother! Of course he will take care of you! I was like Lucia when it comes to my little siblings too ya know!"
Mimori hoping to help as well. "That's right Shiori-chan, take a deep breath and calm down. Were all here, you are not alone."
Alice beaming her power room "Righty-right Shiori neechan~ Smile! Smile!"
Hiro pump up, he stood up and roared. "If you like Shiori lets have a party!"
Kai in doubt. "But Hiro-san we barely have light to do party?"
Hiro being stupid. "Oh, I forgot."
It was a comedy gag, so everyone laughs.
"Pff...Hahahaha!"
Everyone feeling a bit better even Maura whispers.
"Ryuugasaki Hiro~ your dumbness is entertaining."
Who of the Caged Robin's sanity goes down first at this closed room darkness...?
To Be Continued...
End Notes: So...I know this turned dark too sudden. But if you guys had been somehow reading my otherfanfics for Shadowverse, you already know am here for the drama! Stay tuneeeed.
**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**