The next few chapters are gonna be an interlude, so they'll be shorter than the others. I was thinking of rewriting several drafts, and it might take a while for me to publish the newer chapters after these ones. So don't think much of it.

Dropping down onto his knees like a puppet whose strings had been cut off, all he could do was clench his fist against the sudden pain that is in his limbs. If Kihara Amata wants him to beg for mercy, he'll cut him off into tiny pieces first.

But the thing is, he won't.

The whole project was about him, and he can't have the whole thing running without him. But that does not mean he'll be gentle against him.

"Should I put a more tangible reminder here?" Kihara Amata's fingers wrapped themselves around his neck, squeezing.

It'd cut off the air supply if he still required it. As it stands now, the only purpose was to humiliate him. "Answer me."

"N-no, sir."

"Tch, look at me when I'm talking to you." Amata tuts, unimpressed by the speed of his response nor his tone.

His hands edge higher to grasp his jaw and yank it up. "Look at me. Do you want me to chain you up?"

"No, sir."

"Then do as I fucking say!" The boy winches from the loud voice. He was released from the grasp soon after, air flowing freely in his lungs was something that he was not very keen on stopping.

He can only glare as the blond haired man went back into the door that he had emerged from, opening and closing automatically with a low thud of irons clashing. Oh how much he wishes he could skin the guy alive.

His gaze snapped back to his front when the gate opened once more. Sobs and cries and groans come out of it. Seven more coming in. They were horrified. He wanted to puke.

There were lots of reds, and lots and lots of screaming. His ears went deaf briefly. He didn't remember when this became a part of the tests. It was always just him and him alone. This thing is just too much.

He bit his lips and prepared for the next to come.

"Take 4." A woman's voice from above.

It was his que to get up, and he did just that. He couldn't comprehend the meaning of this. A savage, that's what he's become. But just like them, he was given no choice.

The project was to go without a fail, lest he risked his own life and his only family. So he went on with it with no thought other than to keep it that way.

Even if it requires doing the most horrendous of things.

Shirai Kuroko was very thrilled.

Although her parents had been discussing it with her numerous times, they had ended up cancelling it. They no longer consider moving out of the city. She didn't get why they would wanna do that, when the place was described by the world to be the best place to live in.

She didn't think much about it, as the feeling of absolute delight was completely overwhelming even for the young girl. She was staring out the window with a bright grin, it hasn't even been a week but she already missed the place so much.

Even better! She had also noticed several changes done to the place already! They were rebuilding several of the vacant plots. She could remember there being a shop of some sort. Maybe it fell off during the earthquake?

She wished for the best to whomever owns the place, and that they had insurance for the place. Who knows, maybe there'll be some leftovers? They could use that to buy ice creams!

Her mouth waters a bit at the prospect of the cold, yummy delicacies. She plans on getting some of them when she gets home.

The car stopped right in front of the school gate. Her driver bids her goodbye as she gets out, rushing over into the school entrance. She was quick to change her shoes, maybe a little too quick, as the back ends are now crooked and bent.

She didn't give it much thought, most of the people here have theirs much worse anyways. She tightens her grip on the strap of her bag, jogging in the quiet corridor, up the stairs and passing several more rooms.

Her class was downstairs, she was supposed to go there, as there were about half an hour left before her class starts. But she couldn't wait any longer to tell her friends and senpais about the vacation she went to with her parents. What use is a vacation if not for having fun and bragging about it to others?

She slowed down and held onto the door handle, her unbridled excitement shown with a massive grin. She pushes the sliding door open with a loud bang.

"Senpai!" She shouts, coming in headfirst straight onto a familiar desk that is… empty?

She stopped dead on her tracks with a confused face. That has never happened before. He was usually early, having been raised by an Anti-Skill captain, that was already a must. So then where is he?

She noticed the looks her upperclassmens are giving her. She spotted a blond hair among them, one that she recognized. She approached her.

"Ne, ne, where is he?" She says, back to the way she was. She can't help but jump a bit, the uncontained energy releasing itself.

Her blond haired upperclassmen gave Kuroko a cheery smile of her own. "I don't know. This is a first, so I can't exactly tell." She shrugged. "Maybe his car broke down? Or maybe he got sick. We'll see later."

Kuroko pouted, her eyebrows furrowed. "Well I'll visit again at lunch then. Do tell me what your teacher said if he didn't get here later." She states, losing most, if not all of her energy all of a sudden.

"Okay!" The blond girl replies, waving the little girl off, careful not to let her beret fall.

Kuroko couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, but there was something off putting about the class. She didn't want to speculate anything, as it might go off over the line. She pushed the thought aside and just made her way to her class.

…

It was rather quiet today. Even the crowded corridor feels very lonely. Like something had happened that sapped every bit of life from everyone. Just what happened?

Even Uiharu was slightly quieter than she usually was. She wasn't much of a talker, but the air she's giving off is a lot more repulsive than it had ever been. She was welcoming of Kuroko's presence though, that much didn't change from her, at least.

The two younger girls walked up stairs, back into the class they always went for. The twin tailed girl was expecting an extra face, but that empty desk fails to fulfil that expectation.

The joint desks were now no longer by the window, but where the blond's desk was at. The two were greeted and called to join in.

"No, he didn't come." Frenda says with a disappointed huff. She picked up her rolled eggs with her chopsticks. "Even our homeroom teacher was replaced." She stated before biting into the food.

"I thought they're supposed to stick around until we graduate? So how come?" Uiharu asked with a surprised look. All of the older childrens merely shrug.

"You guys wanna know what's weirder though?" Said the shapely boy, garnering the attention from the group. "Sakazuki is also missing."

"Who's that?"

"The most insufferable kid in the class." Replied the short haired girl. She shuddered. "As annoying as he was, we can't refute the fact that they were the only ones who answered the quizzes with lighting speed and accuracy, even if it's just to show off. With him and Hirano gone… God, I hate physics."

Kuroko didn't really say anything. Keeping her thoughts to herself and her food to her tummy. They were all speaking of some serious matters, to them at least, leaving no room for her usual energy-filled rant.

Her white haired senpai was her exclusive outlet when it comes to that stuff. Unlike some others, he just stayed quiet and took it, not showing much reaction to it, but still did putting in an input of his own.

But it's not like she could vent to anyone else, right? Well, she didn't speak much to other people. They usually find her rather annoying and boisterous. They find her high pitched voice annoying. They didn't outright shun her, more so just try to limit their interactions as much as possible.

And those who try to tolerate her or even try to befriend her don't have the endurance to keep up with her. The topics she usually spoke of jumped from place to place, it was a near impossibility to register anything at all. This leaves her with all the talking, and eventually giving up from either bored or just couldn't handle the headache.

The boy however, was different. He could do all that just fine. In fact, it was as if it was a normal thing for him!

Kuroko sighed. It hasn't even been a day and she already missed his presence.

So she waited for lunch to end. Waited for the last period to end. Waited until the day ends. Sleeps, wakes up, prepares and heads off to school, again, waited for the drive to end.

Just as yesterday, she rushed into the entrance with boiling hot energy, slamming the sliding door open, eyes glued to a desk at the far end of the class.

And again, just like yesterday, it was vacant. Tomorrow was the same. And again. And again.

So she gave up.

And went straight banging at his door. She had to bribe her way in, the person at the receptionist refused to let her in until the colour green persuaded her in small bundles.

Her tiny hands banging on the wooden door, eliciting small knocks even though she puts in her entire weight in it. Her barely a decade old body was no match for the sturdy door.

Maybe they were out? She thought. For some reason, when she knelt down and tried to look past the gap beneath the door, she could only see the dark hallway. There were lights pouring in from the windows, but that was it. All the lights were off.

She could also see no footwears in there. Maybe they were out for real? A possibility. She had already told her driver to not wait and to come back before 6pm, so she might as well wait for them to come back, or until the time passes.

She would press her back on the door, leaning on it. Changing from standing to sitting on it. Her mind was her only form of entertainment through the duration of the wait. And through all that, no one came. Several older people were looking at her in curious and strange stares.

But none approached her, just as no one approached the door.

No one came.

He didn't come to school the next Monday either. And the next week as well. She was alone in the midst of her peers.

…

Time passed on by.

Still no signs of him. Kuroko didn't know where he'd gone, she couldn't care less anymore after a few months. She still felt sad that he disappeared without any notice. He could've at least given her a parting gift to remember him by.

Things went back to normal after a while. Her blond haired upperclassmen was a lot easier to talk to now that she doesn't focus too much on the albino. Her relationship with Uiharu has gotten better as well. The two really do have a lot in common.

The 2nd grade wasn't all too hard compared to the previous class. She was still a Level 1, unfortunately.

She was rather disappointed with the amount of chocolate she got back in February. To think that all of them are from her seniors. Uiharu also got the same amount as hers. If we're talking about friendship chocolate, that is. She got a confession, to which she was too embarrassed to give an answer to.

It's always gonna be the doe-eyed girls, isn't it?

Up until now, no answer was given to the boy. He gave up several weeks in.

"Hooooo~, you little heartbreaker! How come you didn't tell me this before?"

The girl shrinks into her chair. Even then, she still slurps her milkshake beneath the table, all the while glaring at Kuroko. It only made her look like a kitten. She couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"It was too good to be kept a secret, sorry." Kuroko replies apologetically towards the blushing girl.

The girl, Kuroko, has taken a more mature mantle in her life, the guidance and advice of her parents and seniors, she takes in her stride. Becoming more self-assured and confident, or at least her attempts to be there. She got less clingy and hyperactive in her behaviour.

Although, she still needs to work on her responses. As she sometimes would blurt out things before she's ready to say them. Understandably, she is still a small child. But all things considered, she's coming along quite well.

"Cute little kouhai!" The blond girl points at her. "Tell me more about this boy."

"He's… I don't know, he moved in right after February 8th." Kuroko tapped her finger right on her chin, glancing every few seconds at the blushing Uiharu. "As for his looks… meh, he's alright. He's pretty short, I suppose."

"How short? Was it like her?" She replies, gesturing to her senior's classmates who were still waiting in line for her crepes.

The girl was known as the short girl. It was rumoured that she hasn't grown a single bloody inch since kindergarten. She can easily be mistaken for a child much younger than her own age.

Surprisingly, the short girl's height reached up Uiharu's nose. Kuroko was a full head taller than her.

"No, he's just slightly above her… I think?"

"Wow… what a turn off." Immediately she leaned to Uiharu. "No wonder you blue ball him. Nice job!" She exclaims, giving her a thumbs up.

"I… didn't mean to." Uiharu murmurs.

Though, her reply was unheard by the two, as a new addition to the group has finally joined them in their table.

The short girl was asking the rest what she had missed. Not much, the blond states. Even though the nosy girl was very adamant earlier about finding out, she at least still has the decency to keep the secret remain a secret, even if it's just among the three.

In the end, there were lots of giggles and laughs amongst them. Joking and venting their frustrations with each other. Just like how friends usually interact.

She was glad to have met them.

Blue.

He remembered when he first saw this. He would jump and cry, rushing for them, trying to bury himself deep into it. They were so close, yet he could not even touch a single strand of them.

They kept coming like a glimmer of hope. And just like every time, they were simply far out of his reach. He could wish to do so much as just smell its scent. But just wishing doesn't immediately mean that it will become a reality.

He sneers at the thought. He recalls someone, Kuroko if he was right, used to beg him to make her wishes into a reality. And somehow it happened. A Prince, he was. A Prince of misfortune that is.

So he sat in this vast space of the unbound, staring deep into the blue. They were beautiful as always. Warm, they were, soothing in its entirety.

A hard knock on the side of his head.

He woke up from the slumber and his eyes were met with cold, grey floorings. He let out a deep exhale. His numb palm of his hand pushed against the floor, forcing himself up as he muttered curses.

He caresses the side of his head. There was a slight scratch on them. He gave a side eye towards them. The two sneer at each other.

His eyes that would usually display boredom were turned into a constant glare. His lips, a permanent scowl.

"Get up." Kihara Amata told him. "They're already waiting for you. Don't disappoint them, Accelerator."

He clicked his tongue. Another day, another cunts to impress.

He gets up.

New Chapter Next Week!