The Seed of Change

by Remus973

Tokyo, 2039. 10 years had passed since Lost Christmas happened. The nation of Japan is now under occupied rule. There is resistance, but they need more power. It comes in the form of Shu Ouma, a young boy with a desire to change. To be better. He becomes a Kamen Rider to make a difference for himself and everything and everyone connected to him. Rated T for some language.

17. Phase 15

Hello and welcome back. I am so thankful for your patience. As a reward, here is the next installment. The festival was underway, but thugs and Inves almost ruined the party. Thankfully, new riders came to the scene and gave it everything they had to save the school. The festival came to a climax that left an impression of optimism. But all that was down the toilet as soon as Keido returned and became the new leader of Japan. Tokyo is now isolated from the world. How will it all turn out?

Phase 15 – Election: The Haze of Fear.

Every student in the school assembled in main auditorium for a school assembly. The dominant tone was fear and uncertainty. When the students of the school learned about how the area they were in was now isolated from the rest of the world, many of them did not understand it at first. The more they learned, the deeper the terror went. Arisa was trying her hardest to maintain order. However, she would not see nor admit it, but this was the beginning of her loss of control.

"Cut the crap!"

One of the first to shout out their fear and frustration was Sudou.

"We're sick and tired of you dancing around the issue!"

Arisa was standing on the auditorium stage, speaking to her constituency through a microphone.

"I am not. I'm only saying we shouldn't take any more action until we have more information. We should hear from the Kouhouins any time now. I only ask for your patience."

Sudou continued his complaining.

"COME ON! Wake up to reality already! As far as the rest of the world is concerned, we're already dead. GHQ is gonna wipe us out with the virus and those Inves monsters that already tried to kill us before."

This made some students nervous and scared.

"They're gonna kill us! WE'RE PRETTY MUCH DEAD!"

One of the girl students heard this and made her cry. Her friend consoled her while trying to dial back the panic.

"Stop saying things like that. We don't know what's really going on."

Arisa spoke again.

"She's right. I am asking you all to stay calm. Please wait until you've been handed the microphone to talk."

The spare microphone was passed to Nanba.

"You've admitted a while ago that the situation is this. We don't know what's happening outside of the walls. Someone has to step up and directly inspect the loop seven wall."

The rest of the students cheered at Nanba's suggestion. He spoke what a lot of them were thinking. They needed action to do something about the fact that they were all trapped inside of Tokyo with the Inves, and that no one was coming to help them. Arisa stood as she saw her constituency being lured into mob rule.

xxxxxx

In the student council meeting room, Shu and the rest of his friends were watching the assembly through Funell's projector eyes. They were all concerned at how the assembly would turn ugly and out of control. Tsugumi saw this and spoke very bluntly.

"Why is she even doing this? Why is the president letting all those idiots speak?"

Souta spoke in Arisa's defense.

"She just trying to be a good president. She's being democratic and letting everyone speak. What's wrong with that?"

"If this was peacetime, no problem..."

Daryl contributed to Tsugumi's point of view.

"But we're in a state of war. Her integrity just makes her a target for assassination. Character, mind you, but I wouldn't rule out an actual one if things get worse."

Hare looked at Shu as he was in thought.

"Shu. Something wrong?"

"I was just thinking..."

"About what?"

"How Gai would handle all this."

At the assembly one of the female students, who was absolutely scared out of her mind, stepped up to the stage.

"Please, you have to do something. I just wanna see my Mom and Dad."

Shu then stood up and walked from the table. Inori asked,

"Shu, what are you doing?"

"I think my job."

Shu walked to the auditorium where the assembly was taking place.

xxxxxx

Nanba continued voicing his opinion.

"This is what we're all asking of you. Make a decision about our course of action. You don't expect us to wait for your grandfather to make a move? We expect more from our president. Or have you begun to realize your limits as a leader?"

That last comment made Arisa blush a bit due to the last comment that made her feel that her authority was being questioned in a snarky and underhanded way. Sudou yelled out,

"What's the matter, madam president?! Can't do anything without grandpa holding your hand?"

Arisa wanted to refute, but could not do without sounding like she would sink to Sudou's level by doing so. A number of the male students joined with Sudou they complained loudly. More would be tempted to join until Shu made it to the assembly. He saw Nanba with the microphone. He asked many of the students to step aside for him to move, and each of them did so willingly. Shu grabbed the microphone from Nanba's hand, and spoke to calm the crowd.

"I know how all of you here feel."

Everyone who was yelling stopped when they heard Shu's voice. The crowd turned to see where Shu was. Nanba looked around and saw that he was clearly being upstaged.

"Each and every one of you here feel scared and uncertain at how things are going to be from now on. But...I don't think that this is how we should act. If we keep on acting this way, we won't find a solution. There will be a solution. The main thing to do until we have a solution is we do not panic. That's all we have to do."

Shu's friends saw how he calmed down the students as they were ready to act out on their fear. Arisa relaxed on stage. However, Nanba continued to speak out his voice by grabbing the microphone from Shu's hand.

"When will this so-called 'solution' arrive, Mr. Ouma? Can you attest to that?"

"Not directly, but..."

"Then you cannot know what it is we can do from here on in."

"Well do you have a solution?"

"I do. Pursuant to article 32, section 3 of the student council charter, I am officially calling for a no confidence resolution. I am officially calling for a new student body president!"

Everyone talked amongst themselves about the election that was suddenly demanded. Arisa had no choice but to comply to the charter, but stood in shock to see her authority slowly slipping away from her. Nanba spoke to Shu with a smirk on his face.

"Your response, Mr. Ouma?"

Nanba pointed the microphone to Shu as he stood dumbfounded about what he caused. He only said one thing.

"Oh."

xxxxxx

During the rest of the day, the student council did their duties of distributing the vaccine to the student body to ward off the virus. Hare did the announcements over the P.A., instructing the students on where to receive their weekly dose.

"Every student whose turn to receive their vaccination, report to the council room."

Arisa was taking count of the students taking their vaccination of the virus and checking them off while Ayase was present to distribute them.

"There you go. A whole week's worth."

She said as she smiled and placing her hands on her waist. While Arisa was feeling concerned at the fact that her positon of power was being challenged at a critical time.

xxxxxx

Meanwhile, the rest of the council were sorting and making inventory of the vaccine packets that were in the school's possession. Yahiro started talking about the tense situation that happened at the assembly.

"Looks like the dam's finally burst."

Souta was confused at what Yahiro was talking about.

"What d'ya mean, Yahiro?"

"Check out the school's unofficial website."

Yahiro held his holo-tablet at Souta.

"The internet's back up?"

Everyone else gathered to see Yahiro's holo-tablet to see if the internet was back up.

"Well, not entirely. The only thing we have running right now is the school network. Outside is still off-limits."

Yahiro scrolled through the comments section to find a lot of hate and distrust towards the school's current head of state. Just like any other comment section on the internet. Kanon was the first to say what was everyone's mind as they read what the students were typing.

"Everyone's really going for the president, huh?"

Souta defended Arisa's actions.

"She's really working for everyone, and they're all just spitting at her face like she's a good-for-nothing."

"What I did probably didn't help her a bit."

Souta defended Shu and his actions as well.

"Don't be so down, dude."

Inori chimed in.

"Souta is right. You did what you thought was your job."

"See man? Inori believes you didn't do anything wrong."

"But to see her recalled like that at a time like this..."

"It's really all on Nanba's head."

All listened to what Yahiro was saying about Hirohide Nanba.

"This is what I've learned about Nanba before the second Lost Christmas happened. He has parents that serve in the provisional government. Mid-Level, so they got some power."

Shu and the rest of his friends were surprised to hear information like that.

"They're not political dynasty or anything like that, but from what I both heard and learned from that one time I talked with Nanba, both his mom and dad were of the few government officials that kept their jobs after the first Lost Christmas happened."

Shu was shocked to hear this. What he remembered in the aftermath of the first Lost Christmas was mostly how he coped with his father's death. But he had some faint recollections about a lot of government officials and even minsters leaving from their positions in office in shame and disgrace. The rest he learned from his history lessons.

"Needless to say, he comes from people who know how to make any situation into an advantage that can and will be exploited for personal gain."

"So Arisa is dealing with either a giant douche or a turd sandwich."

Everyone was confused as to what Shu was talking about.

"Okay, so I'm the only here that watches South Park."

"It doesn't really matter."

Said Tsugumi.

"She doesn't have what it takes to be a leader anyways."

Souta took offense to what Tsugumi said.

"How can you say that? She's one of us. We have to stand by her."

"Why? We just happened to be together. There's no special reason or anything."

"Well yeah there is. Most of here are Kamen Riders, and that means you too."

This got Tsugumi mad.

"Well, I didn't want to be one! Ayase dragged me into that!"

"Well maybe she did that for a good reason!"

"Guys, don't fight here."

Said Kanon, but to no avail.

"You're a part of this team, a part of keeping this school and everyone here safe. You have to own up to that!"

"Whatever!"

Tsugumi stomped away from everyone else. Kanon tried to stop her.

"Tsugumi, wait."

xxxxxx

Nanba had his little squad to crunch the numbers of how many supporters he has. Sudou asked him,

"Why don't we get rid of the uppity bitch?"

"We can't go there. She has her Rider squad."

"Shit, I forgot about them."

"I wouldn't worry too much. We simply need to find the ones who are just as dissatisfied as the rest of the student body. Inui seems like a good candidate. Tamadate is easy enough to persuade."

"I'll say. Guy's gotta be stupid enough to be anyone's loyal dog."

"All we need left is the princess of the battlefield, and we should have enough to counter whatever opposition she will use against us."

"Inori Yuzuriha. I wonder if she..."

"Watch it. She might act like a doll posing as an idol, but she can fight like soldier. So keep it in your pants."

Sudou scoffed at that last remark. Nanba reasoned with him.

"What I have here in this pocket is not gonna be enough. We need a trump card."

Nanba carried in his left breast pocket of his school jacket was a gun.

xxxxxx

(Afternoon)

Daryl was walking around the school, getting some air. He needed some to escape from all the fear and silent panic that made the atmosphere of the school suffocating. He spotted Tsugumi sitting by herself.

'What's she doing?'

Daryl approached her.

"Hey."

Tsugumi turned around to see Daryl standing behind her.

"Hey."

"What brings you out here?"

"Just wanted to be by myself."

"You're usually with Ouma and the rest of your friends."

"They're not really my friends. Just people who I just happen to be stuck with."

"I feel the same way."

"Didn't you chose to be with those guys?"

"Yeah, but I have a couple of reasons why."

Tsugumi decided to listen to Daryl.

"GHQ orchestrated the murder of my father during the coup that happened when the second Lost Christmas happened. In his final moments, he told me that he loved me. I've... waited for so long for him to recognize me as his own son. I've never felt that sad in my life. After that, I saw my commanding officer blown to pieces by Keido. Which made sadder because he was the reason why I changed into a better person. The kind of person that made my father love me."

Tsugumi looked at Daryl with empathy. An emotion that she seldom felt before.

"I never knew my parents. I've been alone as far as I can remember."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"What's your second reason."

"I have friend that's working for the GHQ, but not by choice. You'd do the same for your Funeral Parlor friends, right?"

"Maybe..."

A brief silence.

"Hey Daryl, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

"When your father was alive, did you ever feel... lonely?"

Daryl chuckled a bit.

"More times than I can count. Even when he was alive, I've always felt lonely, even with my family. My dad was almost always on assignment from the military. My mom would fool around behind his back. I'd notice a few times. She would explain them away, but in the back of my mind, I knew what she was doing."

Tsugumi looked at Daryl in a new light that she would never thought possible. Daryl the butcher actually looked human.

"They would argue big time, and I would sit in my room, listening to them from upstairs. Combined with the fact that I was no good at making friends, I was lonely. So much so that it made into what I used to be before all this happened."

Daryl pointed of the ruined city of Tokyo to emphasize his point.

"What about you?"

Tsugumi blushed a bit before answering her question.

"Of course I'm not. Come on. I've just gotten used to it. So I'm a little past getting lonesome."

"Why do I get the feeling that you're lying?"

"I'm not!"

"Fine... but just so you know..."

Daryl turned his head to face Tsugumi. She blushed at Daryl, who was making a face to expressed compassion and a yearning for a meaningful connection.

"You can be honest with me."

Tsugumi was taken aback at how Daryl was acting. He was being a compassionate person who be either a should to cry on or simply a listening ear. She didn't know how to act. The only thing that came to her were two words.

"Thank you."

She said in a soft voice. Both did not realize this, but a connection was made. Where it may lead, they did not know. However, for one moment, Daryl and Tsugumi found comfort and solace in each other. Until it was interrupted by someone that had no stealth skills whatsoever.

"You can stop spying on us, Shu!"

Shu was hiding behind a tree when Tsugumi made him.

"Sorry!"

Shu awkwardly shut his mouth as forgot for a moment that he was hiding because he did not want to interrupt the both of them. Daryl was irritated by Shu's actions.

"Damn it, Ouma!"

"Sorry! It's just... Ayase was asking about you, everyone else was worried about you. I looked for you just to talk. I was even looking for Daryl because someone skipped out on their duties again."

"I had something better to do."

"You mean nothing."

"Exactly. That's what makes it better than what you were doing."

Tsugumi chuckled for a bit to see the two riders arguing like little brats.

"Oh well. Since you're here, I've actually got something to show you."

Tsugumi held in her hands a rod-like item. Nearly everyone gathered at a nearby bench to see the item Tsugumi gave to Shu.

"Genomic Resonance Gauge?"

"I found it while when we were attacked by those thugs the other day. What this thing does is that it detects and estimates the strength of a person's void. From what I can tell, the higher the output, the more butt the void kicks."

Yahiro was fascinated.

"Wow. Sounds pretty useful."

Shu activated the device and pointed it at Hare. It read 1833, although the last digit kept on flipping between 1 to 3. Hare was nervous when it started beeping. So much so, she flipped her hands in front of her face.

"What? What is it? It's not low, is it?"

"Calm down, Hare. It just means your void is just that good."

"Oh thank goodness."

Shu then pointed it to Daryl next. The device read a perfect 1500. Then to Inori, whose reading was over what the device could read. Ayase, a 1741. Yahiro, a 1363, and then Souta, an 863. Ayase used the device to measure's Shu's void, but was strangely absent.

"That's weird. You definitely have a void, but it doesn't give a reading."

"Can't be like Inori's. Hers was over the limit. Give it back."

Ayase did so, and then proceeded to measure Tsugumi's void. Her reading was 1481. Ayase asked Shu.

"Come to think of it, did you ever extract Tsugumi's void?"

"I never got to draw it out. Same thing for Daryl"

All stared at the both of them. This was creeping both Daryl and Tsugumi out.

"Uh Daryl, what's happening?"

"Something lame and stupid, I think."

The Girls grabbed Tsugumi while the guys grabbed Daryl. The boys had a harder time due to Daryl being stronger than the two of them even with their rider strength. Inori joined with Yahiro and Souta. Her strength balanced out everything.

"Seriously?"

"Okay Shu. We're ready."

"Hurry up, dude. This guy won't stop struggling."

A bright circle glowed on Daryl's chest area. Hare just then had an idea.

"Hey Shu. Why don't you extract their voids at the same time?"

"Great idea."

This made Tsugumi yelp.

"Think of what we're facing. We need to know everyone's voids."

"But, aren't we kamen riders or something?"

"What she said."

Yahiro gave Daryl a counterpoint.

"We need a back-up plan just in case."

Hare told Daryl and Tsugumi,

"Don't worry. You guys won't feel a thing...mostly."

Daryl and Tsugumi simultaneously said,

"Mostly?!"

Tsugumi's chest area began to glow as well. Shu felt both his arms tingling with power.

"Woah. Hare, you were right."

Almost everyone was amazed at Shu's abilities.

'So my abilities outside my rider powers are growing...'

Shu proceeded to extract both Daryl's and Tsugumi's void. Kanon held Tsugumi's head to face Shu while Inori did the same for Daryl.

"Please stand still for this."

"Hold it!"

"Don't worry, guys. This'll only tickle for a little bit."

Both Daryl and Tsugumi yelled in fear. It was so loud.

xxxxxx

Shu and the rest of his friends were going back to the school with Tsugumi and Daryl feeling groggy when their voids were pulled from their bodies. Shu then remembered something.

"Hey guys. I need to stop somewhere."

Yahiro asked,

"Where?"

"The auditorium room where I was going to host this comedy movie marathon, but I left it alone because we were looking for Tsugumi. I'll catch up later."

Everyone moved on except Inori. She wanted to join Shu because she was really interested. She wanted to sit through Shu's festival attraction but was unable to due to her performance. She tapped Shu's left shoulder.

"Inori?"

"Can I come with you?"

"Sure."

She walked with him. Before they were near the auditorium, Inori talked with Shu for a bit.

"Hey."

"Yeah?"

"You're not what you used to be."

"I never noticed. I just do what comes to me naturally."

"Somehow I doubt that."

Shu chuckled for a bit because Inori was ultimately right.

"Yeah, that's true. I remember what I used to be. I'm glad that I could be this open. My friends understand me, the girl that I've liked for so long is now my girlfriend, and if it wasn't for this situation that we're in, I would say that this is my ideal school life. But right now, I have responsibilities that I have to live to. But, I don't mind. The payoff is worth it. Beside, I'm not the only one who's changed as of late."

Inori gave a confused look.

"Since when did you take an interest in what I liked?"

"I just thought..."

"You don't have to explain yourself, Inori. If you see something you like, then like it. Don't apologize."

Inori smiled at Shu's advice.

"Thank you. And yes, I did like that show about the girl slaying vampires while being funny in a smart way. It was really good."

"That's Buffy in a nutshell."

Both laughed for a bit and smiled. Shu remarked,

"You know, come to think of it, it's been a while since we talked like this."

"We have been busy."

"You're right about that. But I'm glad to have you as a friend. You've really changed my life, and I'm always gonna be grateful about that."

Both of them eventually made to the auditorium, but was strangely empty. The only thing there was the projector showing the play again sign of the video file. Shu was perplexed.

"Where is everyone?"

"They all walked away."

Shu turned around to see Arisa, with an angry look on her face. This made Inori apprehensive and on the defensive.

"Walked away? But why?"

"Because of your movie! What were you thinking, showing a horror movie at a time like this?"

Shu was shocked to hear this.

"Wait, what?!"

Shu ran to the projector. He scrolled through the video files on the touchscreen on the top to see which film was playing while he was helping his friends locate Tsugumi. He found the film, and confirmed that was a horror movie. Shu was dumbfounded as to how this could have happened.

"Seriously, Arisa. I have no idea how this could happen. I had a completely different movie in place. Nothing condescending, but..."

"It doesn't matter. What matters is the students. They came out of here more scared than they were before. You've actually made them more paranoid than they were before."

Shu was now confused.

"Okay... but still, I didn't mean for this to happen."

"IT DOESN'T MATTER! What matters is now they're going to blame me! They're going to think that I did this to scare everyone to vote for them. Nanba is going to take this incident and turn it into an opportunity to discredit me and take my position as student body president! All my efforts for this school will be wasted!"

Shu and Inori were stunned to see Arisa like this. Going on a rant while panic-stricken.

'I think the paranoia is coming from her.'

Shu attempted to get Arisa back to her senses.

"Arisa, it's too soon to throw in the towel. I'm still sorry if what I did at the assembly earlier didn't go as planned, but one setback doesn't mean it's the end of the world. You still have time to turn things around. So don't..."

As Shu got closer to Arisa, she grabbed his arm and drew Shu's right ear closer to her face, and whispered in an angry, and threatening low voice,

"The next time you want to help me, don't. You're only good at killing monsters. So don't even try to make things better. You're an absolute f***ing screw-up, and you're lucky I don't expose you or your two friends from Funeral Parlor."

Arisa walked away as Shu stood surprised at what had just happened while Inori stood with a mildly angry look on her face about the way Arisa treated Shu.

xxxxxx

(Four hours before midnight, Tennozu High)

Ayase was in the track field, doing the high jump. She gathered the materials from the sheds where they kept the athletic equipment. Tsugumi was looking for Ayase due to the curfew was fast approaching. She saw her doing the high jump. Tsugumi walked closer to Ayase and saw her with a smile on her face.

"Enjoying yourself, Aya?"

Ayase saw Tsugumi with a coy look on her face. For once, it did not bother her.

"More than ever. I know we're in a state of emergency, and everyone is feeling scared and unsure at what 's going to happen tomorrow, but I don't care! I have my legs back! I missed doing things with them. Like running around, and practicing my martial arts move."

Ayase got off the big mat, and did some pretty impressive kicks. She fell a couple times however, and it made Tsugumi laugh.

"Laugh all you want. I don't care. I'm just happy to get off that chair and just move period."

"I know. You really like it. That's great. I always knew that you were, like half the fighter everyone else wished they were when we were fighting with..."

Tsugumi paused when she was going to mention Gai's name. She noticed the sad look on Ayase's face.

"And you were only..."

Tsugumi almost implied that due to Ayase, previously being a handicapped person, was less than capable. Almost calling her half a person. Still, Ayase knew what Tsugumi meant, and lets it go.

"I know what you mean."

"Now your fully recovered, and kicking ass. Hard to believe."

"Guess we should wipe out our doubts on Sagara. For the most part, he's on our side. Much more than the new recruit, so to speak."

"You mean Souta, right? I get it. I mean, he's good in a monster fight, but he's the kind to let it go to his head..."

"I was talking about Daryl."

Tsugumi paused as soon as Ayase mentioned his name in a semi-ominous tone.

"I've noticed. I can see that you're enjoying the time you spend with him, and he feels the same way."

"He is?"

Tsugumi said with a hint of glee in her voice. But then returns to her regular voice.

"I mean... why are you bringing this up anyways, Aya?"

"Because he used to side for the enemy."

"But the GHQ is now his enemy."

"That doesn't mean he's an ally. Don't forget who he used to be. Daryl the Butcher. He once purified an entire town while playing a song that had lyrics that honestly said 'nowhere to run.'"

"He's not like that anymore, Aya!"

"He's Daryl the Butcher! He has made human shish kebab with an Endlave's pike!"

"But..."

"DARYL THE BUCHER! ACTUALLY THREW PEOPLE TO THE AIR AND SHOoTS THEM DEAD TO LITERALLY RAIN BLOOD WITH HIS ENDLAVE!"

"HE'S NOT LIKE THAT ANYMORE! HE'S BETTER!"

A stilted silence formed between the two of them.

"He's not."

Ayase walked past Tsugumi, but not before saying one more thing.

"People like him do not change. Sooner or later, he will not just break you, but will stab you in the back in the vilest, twisted way. It won't be your fault because he will kill you to make sure you won't be able to take responsibility. It will be my fault instead because I had a chance to save you from him, but I didn't. It will be on me, Tsugumi. It will be my fault for failing to save you."

Ayase briskly walked to the auditorium where the girls were sleeping for the night. Tsugumi recollected the reports of Daryl's service in the GHQ and remembered the atrocities he had committed for the organization. She also saw the Daryl that was on her side, that was willing to be her friend. Who knows? Maybe more. Tsugumi was conflicted on how to feel. Unbeknownst to her, Daryl was at the track field, looking for her. He overheard the conversation, mainly the part where Ayase was listing the slaughters to his name. How he did everything in his power to earn the title of Daryl the Butcher.

'Please believe in me, Tsugumi. I'm honest when I say I'm not that monster anymore.'

xxxxxx

(Two hours before midnight, GHQ Headquarters)

Keido had just returned to base by helicopter. Segai waited for him as both of them walked to where the organization was controlling the wall that separated Tokyo from the rest of the world.

"Report."

"We've just deployed the clean-up crew based of the specifications and strategy you've outlined for us. We're only waiting for your order to commence the purification."

"What is the status of the new model Endlaves?"

"The new ghost units are completed. They've been positioned as our new main force. What makes these models different is not only the armor, which can withstand any special attacks from the riders, but can also penetrate their armor as well. Shall I give the order?"

"At midnight, we will commence the cleanse."

xxxxxx

(Tennozu High)

As the day was over, Shu was on the roof, still reeling in from the embarrassing act that somehow, he screwed up from playing the wrong video file. He intended to show a series of comedy films to the student body to make them feel less threatened and frightened by what was happening within the city. Instead, by some accident, it played a horror film. He remembered how angry Arisa was at him. He would not forget that for one moment, in a whispered voice, he saw another side to Arisa that he would never imagine existing.

(flashback)

"The next time you want to help me, don't. You're only good at killing monsters. So don't even try to make things better. You're an absolute f***ing screw-up, and you're lucky I don't expose you or your two friends from Funeral Parlor."

(end)

'To hear Arisa saying stuff like that... Makes me wonder how long that was going on...'

Shu wanted to be by himself. He was quiet when he was walking away from the auditorium where the boys were. Shu had to go through the gym, where the girls were sleeping. Once he did, all he wanted to do was to stare at the stars, hoping it would make him sleep again. However, he did not know that someone was following him all that time. Shu was by himself for a few minutes until a bright white light appeared behind him. Shu knew this to be Sagara. He smiled as he stood in front of Shu.

"Yo. How you've been?"

Shu smiled at Sagara. Sagara joined Shu staring at the stars before speaking about what he wanted to say.

"I remember."

"Remember what?"

"Everything."

"Like..."

"Oshima."

Sagara stared at Shu to see Shu smiling at him. He believed that Shu's memories of him were good ones. Sagara sighed in relief that he did not left a bad impression of him when Shu was younger.

"I'm glad. I can only imagine you must've seen to make you suppress those memories because you couldn't take what had happened."

"Seeing my sister turn into an unrecognizable beast would do that. I just can't forget... seeing her turn into something inhuman. I saw her last moments. She was begging me to help her. And I couldn't."

Sagara saw a sad look on his face.

"Don't beat yourself up for it. You were a kid. You didn't know this, but Me, and your Mom and Dad. We saw what was happening to her. We saw the infection taking place."

"How did Mana become the first person to have the virus?"

"From what your dad was willing to tell me, Mana was there when the meteor landed. That's all I knew. Rather, that was all he could tell me. He was a little emotional when he told me. I decided not to pry anymore because of that."

"You and my dad were close, weren't you?"

"He was a good man, and a cherished friend. He gave my work of teleportation a chance when no one else would."

"That's great."

"So was he. Anyways, I came here to check up on you."

"I knew how you appeared in front of my friends and gave them their rider powers. That really got me out of a tight spot."

"I could stay for too long. In case, you forgot, I'm still on the run from GHQ. And before you say anything, I was just as shocked as you were to see Keido still alive."

"How did he survive, anyways?"

"Who knows? He sold his soul to the devil a long time ago. Maybe some of that infamous luck must've rubbed off of him."

Both of them laughed while they were being stared by a mysterious stalker.

"Luckily, I got a reprieve. I even got to gather some information in that time. It's not perfect, but..."

"What do you got?"

"They're gonna start something. I saw some of their logs that one of their employees has access to your school intranet."

"Meaning..."

"I heard that Arisa Kouhouin is facing a recall election... I looked into the school's comment section for a bit."

"Ah. Wait, so that means that... someone from GHQ is going to causing chaos at my school by giving false rumors? Who would do..."

It dawned on Shu as to who would do something like that.

"Now you're getting it."

"That man should be called a joker instead of a hunter. Either way, whatever the GHQ tells to the world, it's all lies. Lies to get us to shut up."

"It won't be easy. Getting everyone to see the truth. Fear clouds the mind. It turns into anger, which will turn..."

"...Into hate."

"Being a Kamen Rider is not easy. You knew that accepting that title. This is one of many times that will test the limits of not just your body, but also your mind and spirit. You also have to be smart in not only on how you can fight the enemy, but also subvert their ambitions and influence. All in the name of defending the innocent from their inhumane view of the world. In these times, you have to know what it is you have to sacrifice for the greater good that you believe in. In this case, it's the truth."

"But how can I get people to realize the truth if they're not willing to listen?"

"Some things in this life are louder than words. You just need the wisdom to know what is."

Shu was in thought as to how to get the students to realize that they were being lied to by the GHQ. He could not stop what was going to happen. He did not want to be responsible for starting the fire sooner than the enemy wanted to. Sagara placed his hand on Shu's left shoulder.

"How's about we watch a movie? Your pick. Last time I checked, you like them."

Shu nodded in agreement to his offer. The stalker ran before the two of them could notice. Shu and Sagara made their way to the same auditorium where Shu held his attraction during the student festival. Shu played the animated film he wanted to play. During the opening credits, Sagara spoke to Shu.

"I've got a confession to make. I messed around with the movie selection in the afternoon."

"Wait, what? Why?"

"Did you remember what that horror film was about?"

"A classic setup that was actually a complex ritual sacrifice meant to appease ancient gods."

"Pretty sums up your current situation."

Shu gave Sagara a look that criticized his train of thought.

"You could've made it directly to me instead of further terrifying the rest of the students here."

"My bad. I thought you would be here to see it."

Shu sighed in exasperation and just continued to see the film with Sagara. Little did they both know that the person that was stalking them was Yahiro. As Yahiro saw Shu enjoying the film with Sagara, a hint of jealously manifested within him. He stood there the entre time during the film playing. When it came to the end of the first act, Shu was already asleep.

(Inside Out Soundtrack – Free-Skating)

Sagara looked at Shu sleeping on his shoulder. It reminded him of simpler days, when he was a young college kid with a talent for science, and Shu the son of a professor that believed in him.

'Whatever we intended to do with our research, we didn't want this. Your mom and dad didn't want you to grow up in these times. Now you're forced to take back your home because of our screw-up. In the end, we've failed you. Forgive us. If you can'

One of the film's characters spoke that resonated with Sagara's silent anguish.

"Don't you worry. I'm gonna make sure that tomorrow is another great day. I promise."

(end on its own)

xxxxxx

(Midnight)

The alarms near the wall went off as the citizens that were there to protest noticed. The red lights were and a voice through the P.A was heard.

"Attention. This is an announcement from the acting Japanese government. As of midnight tonight, we are minimizing the area of the quarantine zone. Any and all attempts to pass the red line will be subject of purification. No exceptions. Comply at once."

The Endlaves readied their arsenal and aimed at the citizens. The people were now feeling fear and were terrified at the Endlaves aiming their weapons at an unarmed populace. The Endlaves then fired their machine guns at the civilians, leaving many corpses while the rest ran for their lives. Rowan saw the slaughter through his station and was feeling a fair amount of guilt.

xxxxxx

Meanwhile, Haruka was overseeing the pods that were controlling the ghost unit Endlaves. There was a reason why the Endlaves guarding the wall were call the ghost unit. The pods had no human pilots inside of them. The new model Endlaves were nothing more than A.I. following orders. Like a machine would.

xxxxxx

Sagara placed a blanket over Shu as the film ended. He then heard faint rumblings.

'Guess that's my cue.'

Sagara looked at Shu before he teleported away.

'Remember what I told you, Shu. I know you got what it takes.'

Sagara teleported away as the rumblings became louder. So loud that it woke up Shu. He looked around to see where was Sagara, but deduced that he was already gone. Shu ran to the roof to see what was going on, and it shocked him. Alarms were going off as the walls now became mobile and started to close in. The walls were so strong that they bulldozed not just the corpses of the victims but the buildings as well. Everything was being decimated as blockade further and further confined the people of Tokyo.

xxxxxx

Back at the school, Nanba's group were awake past their curfew to discuss at how they were going to manipulate their target riders to join their side. They heard what had happened. The school message boards were online and the few students who were awake were writing about what was happening at the wall.

"I just heard all this noise. What just happened?"

"Something happened at Koenji. It all went down there."

The message board's posts were all essentially telling the same thing. A massacre had happened, killing dozens of people who were just trying to get any help from the outside. Nanba read the posts as he was scrolling down.

"The situation is getting worse."

"Nanba."

One of his flunkies called him to see Arisa arriving, and in her nightgown with a thin, hood-less parka to complement it. She woke up due to the rumblings and alarms from the distance.

"It's a little late to be up and about."

"Don't you know what's happening outside? There was a large massacre in Koenji."

"We can't confirm that."

"Can't cofir... Look outside. Hell, LOOK AT THIS!"

Nanba took the holo-tablet and gave it to Arisa. She scrolled through the posts.

"Unsubstantiated rumors, at best."

"You still wanna sit around doing nothing?"

Arisa was hit with doubt.

xxxxxx

(GHQ)

Segai had his phone out, typing. Rowan was with him.

"Tell me McConners, do you know what was the cause for the fall of the mighty Grecian city-states? What brought them to the brink?"

"I do not, sir. I majored in physics, not history."

"Demagogy. I'm lifting the signal jam. Let's give the masses something fun to discuss."

Segai sent a message through his phone.

"Now we sit back, relax, and watch history repeat itself."

In his thoughts, Rowan finally had an attribute to perfectly describe Makoto Segai.

'Sadist.'

xxxxxx

The next morning, all the students were speaking in hushed tones about what had happened last night. A majority of them were outright terrified at what was going to happen next. Out of the blue, a new post was published on the school's message board, and it was read like a lifeline. Everyone read it and instantly wanted to share what they knew.

"This is from a solid source."

"It's from somebody who got outside."

Nanba heard what the post said from Sudou, and summarized.

"If you hand over a member of Funeral Parlor, you can get outside?"

"That's what it says."

Both of them had a devious look.

xxxxxx

Shu was walking around the school to process the events of last night. Then stopped to see a piece of paper that read

Student Body Meeting Today

There will be a vote of no-confidence in the student body president Arisa Kouhouin and an election of our next president.

Election will be held at 13:00 p.m.

Assemble at 12:00 p.m.

Ballots will be vocal.

Shu didn't know what to do. He thought he would keep the peace by making everyone feel safe because of his effort to keep the students safe. However, this was different. The school need more than a defender to keep them safe. It needed a leader who would guide them through times of war and peace. Shu remembered what Sagara told him last night.

"This is one of many times that will test the limits of not just your body, but also your mind and spirit. You also have to be smart in not only on how you can fight the enemy, but also subvert their ambitions and influence. All in the name of defending the innocent from their inhumane view of the world."

Shu had no idea what to do in this situation. This was not something he could fight against. Not yet. Hare found Shu as she was looking for him.

"Hey, Shu."

Shu looked up to see his girlfriend.

"Hey."

"What's the matter?"

"This."

Shu pointed to the paper on the wall. Hare made the connection.

"It's probably due to..."

"Koenji."

"You saw it?"

"I wasn't there personally, but yeah. Last night."

"Do you think GHQ really killed people there?"

"I wouldn't put it past them."

Hare clenched a little bit due to Shu's dark tone in nervousness. Shu noticed this, and hugged her gently.

"I won't let anything happen to you, our friends, or anyone else here. I will fight for us. That's a promise."

Hare dug her head on the right side into Shu's chest just a little deep. She just wanted to feel safe for one moment.

"I'm happy to hear that. Worse comes to worst, I'll heal you up with my void."

She chuckled for a bit while enjoying her boyfriend's warmth.

"Hey, I just had an idea. Wouldn't you think it would be best if you were in charge?"

"Of what?"

Hare broke off the hug.

"Student body president."

Shu scoffed at the idea, but not in a mean way.

"I don't think so. I'm a fighter, at best."

"I remember a time when you weren't always a fighter. You have changed Shu. Why stop now?"

"I just don't I have what it takes to be a leader."

"Yes you do. Stop selling yourself short, Shu. If you really wanted to, you could be a king."

Shu was taken aback by Hare's suggestion that he could be a king to the students. Granted, his void abilities were called 'The King's Power.' However, he imagined that name was for dramatic effect. Not to be taken literally. However, their tender moment was interrupted by both Tsugumi and Daryl.

"And you would be ever loving Queen!"

"Just like Arthur and Guinevere. And we all know what happened after that."

Shu remembered one movie about King Arthur that he saw when he was 13, and instantly associated that film with happened to Mana when she was infected by the virus. This brought back uncomfortable memories that he wished he could forget.

"You two didn't have to be obnoxious about it."

Both of them gave big grins.

"Anyways, you're both back to your usual selves."

"Well Ouma, I'm not one for grudges."

"Right."

Shu said sarcastically. Just then, all of them heard loud voices from outside.

"Get her! She's with them!"

Shu said,

"What the hell was that?"

Hare said,

"I think it came from outside."

All four of them saw what was happening. Two boys were harassing a girl and treating her like an escaped prisoner.

"Hold her!"

"NO!"

"You're with Funeral Parlor, right?! Don't lie!"

"Please let me go!"

"It says that members of Funeral Parlor have tattoos on their backs."

"Strip her!"

The girl screamed in fear at what was going to happen to her. Souta, Kanon, and Arisa were nearby when this was happening.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Let her go!"

"What's the meaning of this?"

"Stay out of this!"

"She's a member of Funeral Parlor."

Souta tackled the one on the right, getting him to back off, and punched the one on the left a few times. Arisa and Kanon went to the girl to console her. Souta stood between the boys and the girl they harassed.

"She's a member of Funeral Parlor."

"Sure, and I'm the queen of England. Just back off, jag-offs!"

Shu, Hare, Tsugumi, and Daryl saw what was happening.

"Why were they doing that?"

Yahiro ran looking for Shu. He found him and alerted him.

"Shu, we got a problem. There's this post on the message board you've got to see."

All four of them huddled to read the post on Yahiro's holo-tablet. All of them could not believe what they read.

"Seriously?"

Shu asked. Yahiro replied,

"It says that all those who turn in members of Funeral Parlor will be granted asylum, and will be escorted outside the wall."

Daryl was in disbelief.

"No way. This has to be a prank. An ugly one, based on what we're seeing."

"This is Segai."

Everyone paused as soon as Shu said that name.

"As in..."

"The guy you went to turn me in. He's also the one who told me about how the Inves were actually human beings who were in stage five of the virus infection."

Hare gasped as she remembered what Shu was like when he was confronted with that fact.

"But why would he...?"

"He's a monster in human skin. Plain and simple."

Daryl asked,

"How did you even know that this is him?"

"Sagara visited me last night. He came to warn us that this was going to happen."

Tsugumi asked,

"Well, can you call him and get him to speak to everyone here about that?"

"He's on the run from GHQ. They're hunting him down for his research in teleportation technology."

Hare asked,

"Well, he can teleport anywhere he wants, so why is running then?"

Daryl replied,

"GHQ is an international conglomerate. They got offices in every major city in the world. Some of them have Anti-Bodies military bases. They even built that wall to appease the international community."

Yahiro added,

"As such, they hold sway. They would tell the world that Sagara is a dangerous terrorist allied with Funeral Parlor, and the world would believe them. Guy would have to be on the move almost every single minute."

"Daryl's right. We're on our own for the moment. We have to get the students to see that whatever the GHQ says to us is a complete lie. Daryl, Tsugumi, go find Ayase. Me and Hare will find Inori. We meet at the student body council room and talk about the next step. Yahiro, will you tell the rest?"

"You got it Shu."

"Move."

All of them nodded at the same time and went in opposite directions. Daryl and Tsugumi went off to find Ayase. Hare and Shu, to find Inori. Yahiro, to gather the rest of the student council for an emergency meeting. Yahiro was thinking,

'I wonder if Segai is acting on his orders? Well either way, this is an opportunity I can't afford to miss.'

xxxxxx

Inori was surrounded by guys who had crazed looks on their faces. Driven by fear and desperation, they creeped closer to Inori.

"We just want to see what's on your back."

"There's nothing on my back. Please, don't do..."

"YOU'RE LYING!"

Shu and Hare were nearby when they were running to find Inori. Both of them heard the yell.

"Shu, I heard something."

"Me too. I'll look at the top."

"Got it."

Shu ran inside the building and up the stairs. By the time he would reach the middle, He found Inori.

"Inori!"

Shu looked at what was behind her. It was three unconscious students.

"They're not...?"

"I merely knocked them out to defend myself. They wanted to see what was on my back. Why did they, though?"

"There's an online rumor going around about Funeral Parlor. We're all meeting back at the student council room."

"Okay."

xxxxxx

Daryl and Tsugumi ran to the old building where the A.V. club would meet. Daryl spotted Ayase from afar, surrounded by guys in a bad way. Some of them had bandanas to act as rope to tie her up if needed.

"Tsugumi! I found her."

Four guys, led by both Nanba and Sudou, all circled around Ayase. Ayase reached for her lockseed, but didn't take it out.

'As much as I want to, I can't use my rider powers to fight against these boys. Even if they are a bunch of punks...'

Nanba spoke.

"I always had a funny feeling about you. Your class, what is it?"

"Just don't mess with me, and I won't hurt you."

Sudou moved in on her.

"Thought so."

He grabbed Ayase by both arms, but she grabbed his arm and judo flipped him away.

"You goddamned bitch!"

Ayase shouted,

"WHO ELSE WANTS SOME!?"

Two of them charged right towards her, but Ayase countered with a front snap kick to the first one and a side kick to the next one. Another one charged her from behind, but counter once more with a backwards kick. The last one almost got her, but was stopped when Tsugumi drop kicked him with both feet to his right side.

"Thought you needed my help."

Nanba was angered by this. He shouted orders.

"Get up and take them down!"

"Barking orders while your men still on the ground. You're just screaming 'I'm a blue-balled coward.'"

Nanba turned around to see Daryl (aka Takumi to him) standing behind him. Sudou and the rest of Nanba's group stood up and surrounded both girls.

"Ah, Takumi. I've been meaning to talk to you for quite some time."

"Really?"

"You see, I have a proposition for you. I would like for you to join my side."

"Your side?"

"Yes. Arisa Kouhouin is clearly unfit for a position of power. She's only competent if she was older figures to tell her what to do. She has no capacity nor capability to make decisive decisions on her own."

"And you can?"

"I desire to. I only wish to see the rest of the students safe outside the wall. But we cannot do so without the power to do so. You have that power. The strength to make the path we hope to pave. You don't have to consign yourself to a failed leader. You have a choice, Takumi."

"Spare me that bullcrap you think is gonna get me over to your side."

Nanba gasped nervously.

"I know the type of person you are. You have no strength to call your own. You hide behind goons and thugs who will only obey if you give them what you want while you scheme and trick those you label beneath you. You're weak in every way imaginable. So spare me your stupid little 'offer.' I have too much self-respect to be at your beck and call."

Daryl gave Nanba the middle finger to solidify his no. Nanba was furious. In his anger, he pulled his gun and pointed it at Tsugumi.

"Drop whatever you have, or else I'll shoot her. I'm not afraid to do that."

Daryl sees the gun and Tsugumi. Inside of him was anxiety, panic, and thoughts of despair if he lost her. He turns his head down. In his mind, Daryl figured that he had only one option. He did not want to do it, but he possessed no desire to lose Tsugumi at all. Daryl had to bring back, if only for one moment, the butcher. Daryl raised his head with a menacing look on his face. The same face his father saw during that fateful hunting trip.

"Fine. Do what you want."

Everyone was taken aback by what Daryl had just said. Nanba first of all.

"You...You can't be serious."

Daryl was indifferent. Nanba cocked the gun.

"I'll do it. I swear I will!"

"No you won't."

Daryl walked closer to Nanba. Nanba aimed his gun at Daryl, but it was enough to phase the butcher.

"You never used a gun in your life. If you didn't have balls to shoot her..."

The barrel of the gun was pressed against his chest. Sudou saw that the strategy Nanba had in mind was not working at all. Luckily for Sudou, Nanba brought more than a gun with on the school campus. He also brought an electric Taser, which he trusted to Sudou. Stealthily as he could, Sudou broke from the circle surrounding the girls, and ran to the other side of the building and tase Daryl from behind.

"...then what makes you think you could shoot me?"

Nanba was terrified by what he saw. To him, this was a bloodthirsty psychopath with no humanity. An actual monster, right in front of his eyes. Sudou finally made it to the other side of the building and behind Daryl. He ran as fast and quiet as he could to get the jump on Daryl. Sudou did so, tasing him until Daryl was unconscious. Nanba and his group sighed in relief as the 'psychopath' was out of the picture.

"Nice save, Sudou."

"You know it."

Both of them turned to the girls, who were now at their mercy. Tsugumi was still focused on the fact that Daryl went back to being the butcher. She was still shocked to see Daryl go back to his old self so fast. Whatever doubts she shoved in the back of her head about Daryl suddenly came to the forefront. Just then, the school's P.A system was on with Arisa giving the announcement.

"Attention. We have moved up the assembly. The student body meeting will now take place in 10 minutes. This pertains to all classes. Please head to the gym at once."

Nanba gave the order.

"Tie them."

xxxxxx

Shu, with Hare and Inori, went looking for Daryl and Tsugumi. They then regrouped at the center of the school.

"Did you find them?"

"Not yet."

"What about you, Inori?"

"No."

"Well, we still have time before the..."

Shu heard the announcement taking place.

"Damn it. That's too soon."

"They're still some places we haven't looked yet."

"We don't have time. We have to tell Arisa what's happening."

"Inori's right. I'm sure they're fine. Let's regroup with the others."

xxxxxx

(Gym)

All the students in the school gathered. One topic was on their mind. The rumor that was going around that if someone apprehended a member of Funeral Parlor, then that person would be able to go outside the zone. Hare, Inori, and Shu spotted Kanon, Souta, and Yahiro on the side of the gym. Absent were Ayase, Daryl, and Tsugumi.

"Yahiro!"

"Shu."

"Have you seen..."

"I was going to ask you that."

"You mean..."

"We've been looking them."

"We can't find them."

"No luck, Souta?"

"None at all, Hare."

"Something's happened to them."

"Maybe so, Inori. On to another matter."

Yahiro stopped speaking as Arisa came to the stage. She seemed nervous.

"Good afternoon. As you may know, there's a rumor going around stating that..."

One student yelled out,

"WHERE ARE THEY?!"

"We cannot let rumors tear us apart. Help will come if we wait."

The students started clamoring when Arisa was essentially speaking the same speech again.

"The best we can do is to sit tight and weather this storm."

More yelled, calling out Arisa's repetitiveness.

"You've been saying that for weeks now!"

"Can you say anything else?"

Shu and his friends saw Arisa dying up there as the student body pretty much see her as ineffectual.

"She's losing them. They're not listening to her anymore."

Souta did not like what he was seeing.

"We gotta help her."

"But how?"

Hare looked at Shu.

"Shu?"

He had a look of worry and concern. He feared something happened to Ayase, Daryl, and Tsugumi. Nanba walked on stage to plant himself as a more competent leader than Arisa.

"This is the answer we really want to hear, Madame President. How can we avoid being slaughtered? We have to turn over Funeral Parlor, how many or few there are, to the GHQ."

"I told you this before. That is an unsubstantiated..."

"That just shows that you're not just useless as our leader, you're also clueless."

Sudou appeared on the stage as well.

"We just capture three of its members. They were hiding in our school all this time, and you didn't even notice."

As soon as Shu heard Sudou make that claim, Shu's worries were confirmed.

'He doesn't mean...?'

Nanba's group grabbed the girls by their elbows while their wrists were tied together and their mouths gagged. Daryl had his arms and legs taped together as well as his mouth gagged. Nanba took advantage of this momentum.

"As you can see, these people here wear our uniforms, but have any of you here even seen them before? I know I haven't."

"Me neither!"

Sudou replied. One of the students shouted,

"I heard that the terrorists have tattoos on their backs."

"They do? Well, let's find out."

Sudou nodded to the rest of the group. One of them had a pair of scissors to cuts Daryl's shirt. Daryl feared for Tsugumi.

"Let's check them out right here, right now!"

The students cheered in agreement. Arisa tried to quell the mob mentality that was materializing right now.

"Leave them alone."

"They're terrorists who got us here in the first place. So shut up!"

Sudou pushed Tsugumi, and it made her ready to kick his ass. However, that would never happen as Nanba pulled out his gun and pointed it at the back of her head.

"Be a good little girl and accept your punishment."

Two grunts walked closer to Tsugumi. Daryl was now officially angry. He struggled so hard to break the tape that was binding him, but it was no use. Ayase was approached by Nanba's grunts as well. The students started shouting and clamoring to striping them on stage. Shu and the rest of his friends stared in horror at how everyone in the room started acting like, for lack of a better word, sheep. Arisa attempted to make them stop, but no one was listening. Her voice was drowned out with the chaos of madness.

"This is bad."

"More than that. Ayase and Tsugumi are getting stripped and no one seems to care. Shu, we gotta transform..."

"Souta, you're not saying that we use our rider powers on them?"

"Well, what else are we supposed to do!?"

"Souta, we can't use our rider powers on the students. We'd be making things worse!"

"You gonna let Ayase and Tsugumi get hurt by those assholes, Yahiro?!"

Shu watched as he was seeing something familiar. He remembered when he first helped Funeral Parlor in Roppongi. How the soldiers were willing to exterminate helpless civilians, and no one was coming to help them. Back then, Shu was unable to because he was on a mission, but he promised himself that if something like this were to happen again, he would not hesitate to do something about it. He would not stand still and watch. In his mind, he said,

'No more.'

Shu ran through the mob, got on stage, and shouted louder than the mob.

"STOOOOOP!"

All of the students shut up to see their defender with an angry look on his face.

"IS THIS WHAT YOU TO BE?! A BUNCH OF ANIMALS WHO'LL BE GLAD TO TEAR EACH OTHER APART?!"

Shu turned to Nanba's grunts.

"Take your hands off them now or I will make you!"

They did so with a certain fear he brings out in them. Nanba felt threatened by this.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I've got a confession to make. Those rumors you've all about me being part of Funeral Parlor. They were true."

All of the students gasped at this. When they heard about Shu Ouma actually being part of Funeral Parlor, they were all stunned to see Shu's attempts to dispel the rumor back then actually worked. Some of them even remembered his Gaim persona, and how he declared that he was with Funeral Parlor. Many felt angry towards Shu for basically lying to them even before the quarantine wall was established.

"However, the real enemy isn't Funeral Parlor, and I'm gonna prove it."

xxxxxx

A military Humvee approached the ghost unit Endlaves that were guarding the wall. When it stopped, the first to come out was Shu. All of them aimed their gun turrets at him.

"Hey! Hold on. I'm here on behalf of my school."

Ayase, Daryl, and Tsugumi came out the back doors, and with their hands behind their heads.

"Our high school is filled with lots of students who only want to get out through the wall. We're members of Funeral Parlor, and are willing to surrender ourselves if you let them go outside the wall and let them reunite with their families."

All was silent for a few seconds as the four walked towards the Endlaves. When they stepped on the red light, the Endlaves opened fire. After the smoke cleared, all of the were dead. Their corpses dropped to the ground all bloodied. All of this was being recorded through Funell's eyes.

xxxxxx

(Tennozu High)

All of the students who were watching this were shocked and scared at what had just happened. Members of Funeral Parlor were willing to surrender themselves for the good the students, and GHQ shot them down as if they were sheep to a slaughter. Nanba was the first to say,

"What—What the hell? They said they would let us if we..."

"Well, that just show how stupid you honestly are."

Ayase's voice was heard before the spotlight was on her. Then another one was on Tsugumi and Daryl.

"It was a trap. Made for fools like you."

"Just for the record, I'm not with Funeral Parlor. I was actually with the GHQ for a quite a long time."

Everyone in the room gasped as they learned this from Daryl, still known as Takumi to them.

"And I can personally attest to the fact that GHQ does not give a f*** about any of you here. Most probably, this was done for shits and giggles."

All of them gasped at what Daryl had said. A few of them were on the verge of tears. Nevertheless, all felt a collective guilt over their actions a while ago. The people who they were ready to feed to the wolves were the ones who risked their lives for them. Shu stepped through the crowd and walked up to the stage.

"By now, you should know the truth. We cannot trust the government with our lives."

xxxxxx

(Flashback)

In a classroom, Yahiro confronted Shu.

"Shu, what were you thinking? Exposing yourself like that? Leaving yourself at the mercy of everyone who were willing to torture three of your comrades?"

Daryl said in a sardonic tone,

"Oh that's nice. I actually count."

Yahiro stared at Daryl with an exasperated look. He did have something to say about Shu's decision to expose his ties to Funeral Parlor.

"Seriously Ouma, what he said. Do you even have a plan?"

"Actually yes."

Souta took a guess as to what that was.

"Sweet. So you're gonna go Gaim on the Endlaves, and tear down the wall?"

"Actually no. I'm planning to surrender myself to the GHQ. And I want Ayase, Daryl, and Tsugumi to go with me."

All had a shocked look on their faces and said simultaneously,

"What?!"

"At least that's what it's going to look like to everyone else."

Yahiro asked,

"Will you expand on that?"

"Any of here remember what Tsugumi's void can do?"

Everyone said at the same time,

"Oooooohhhh."

"Tsugumi, if you'll let me."

Tsugumi closed her eyes so Shu can extract her void. It looked like a futuristic magic wand, with a design that looks like something out of Sailor Moon.

"This is her void. What would you like to call it?"

"I think I'll call it... Replicating Hand-Scanner!"

Souta was impressed by what he was seeing.

"Woah. So what's it do?"

"It can recreate a hard light holographic copy of a person, and you can control it by remote."

Tsugumi activated her void, and created a copy of herself in front of everyone. They were all impressed. Inori said,

"This is great, Tsugumi. Are you planning to use it at the wall, Shu?"

"Yes I do. We still have that Humvee parked somewhere?"

Daryl answered,

"It's behind some sports sheds under a tarp. So no one can find it. No one has, so far."

"We can use the sewers to our advantage. Funell can drive the Humvee to where the Endlaves are guarding the wall. We can be there ahead of it, and stage the exchange. We can then broadcast the whole exchange live to the students so that way..."

Kanon put the pieces together.

"We can expose the rumor as the lie it is."

"Show the school what a bunch of lying bastards the GHQ honestly are."

Shu confirmed Yahiro's conclusions. Daryl was impressed by what Shu had in store.

"I gotta admit, Ouma. It's kind of cool. Kind of. But's also pretty risky."

"But why can't we transform and take them down?"

Souta asked.

"That's not gonna work. Not this time. This isn't like taking down Inves, Souta. We need to be able to do something different. Do things that the enemy won't expect us to do. We need the truth on our side. This is the best way to do it. We have to get everyone here to believe us. Believe in what we're doing."

xxxxxx

(Now)

Nanba stood as his standing was being eroded by Shu Ouma.

"I know how scared everyone here feels. But there is more to this situation than you understand. For now, know this. The government is not on our side. Not this one, at least. We have to come together and do more than survive."

Nanba was angered due to the situation growing out of his control.

"This is bullshit. You really expect me to believe what you're saying?"

"OPEN YOUR EYES!"

Nanba aimed his gun at Shu, but Daryl was quicker as he ran towards Nanba, and punched him in his face. This caused Nanba to drop his gun. Daryl grabbed it and quickly dismantled it in less than a minute. Daryl pinned Nanba to the ground for a moment before Shu told him to let Nanba go.

"Takumi, let him go."

"Fine."

Daryl walked to stand with Shu as he spoke to the student body.

"Whomever you chose to be our leader, I have only this to say: Dissent from the fear that drives us apart. Be above the destruction that drives to be lesser than ourselves. Be someone that will guide us out of this hellhole the GHQ has built to torment us."

All was silent for a moment. Then one voice shouted out.

"I nominate Shu Ouma as Student Body President!"

Shu was stunned to hear someone say that. Everyone liked the idea. Soon more were shouting out Shu's name for president of the school. Yahiro emerged from the crown and spoke to them.

"All right guys. Let's hear a round of applause for our new student body president!"

Everyone applauded as Shu was now the new student body president.

"Well Shu, looks like you're now our new leader. What do you say?"

Shu only had one word come out of his mouth.

"Oh."

Thank you for your patience. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I originally wanted to write some more for this chapter, but I'll save that for a short side chapter. I will be writing less because I have decided to study ahead for the new semester in August. I won't stop writing this story, but computer science is hard for me. Don't forget to review and spread the word about this story. It's what keeps me going. Later.