MPK: The new character hails from AnotherNamelessHero on Fanfiction! Hope you are well! Thanks for donating him to the story! (EDITED)
"Good Morning Niika-chan!"
"Hey Takashiro-chan!"
After greeting all the people who had said hi, Niika reached the classroom. Arata had already headed inside, so there was no one to shield her from the various hyperactive students. She wonders why she has become quite popular over the last few days, hoping her new skirt was not to blame. The brunette was still getting used to normal high school life, but it was getting difficult being bombarded by students asking "Where did you get that skirt?!" or "You're so pretty! Can you go out with me, please?!". Seeing so many people in one place is hard enough to get used to, but the interactions brought it over the top. The girl is overwhelmed.
"Good morning, Midori no me." At the back of the room near the doorway is Takuto, putting away his bag. Seeing the redhead's face reminds her of the moments they shared just the day before. "Did you sleep well?"
"G-Good morning, T-Tsunashi Takuto." She tries to hide her blushing cheeks behind her bag as she slides it into the lockers below. "I did. T-Thanks for asking."
"You're welcome." Takuto smiles politely. Watanabe Kanako watches them from her seat against the window, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
"Um...Thank you again...for getting me home safely last night. If it wasn't for you, my brother would've gotten worried." Niika closes the locker door.
Takuto waves his hands in front of him, "It was nothing. Anytime." He rubs the back of his neck, "...Maybe I could do it again sometime."
Niika looks over to him, "Do what again?"
"...Walk you home?"
"Ooh!" Kanako exclaims to herself, "He walked you home, Niika-chan?! You clever girl!"
"I'm not so sure about that..." Niika replies shyly.
"It's up to you! No worries!" Takuto puts his hands up in surrender. "If you ever feel, you know, like you need someone around...I can walk with you. And we can talk some more."
Niika finds the proposal intriguing. "I'll think about it." She starts to walk away but turns back around and asks. "Something is bothering me though."
"What is it?" He tilts his head to the side.
"How did you know where I lived?" A red tint shows up on Takuto's face.
"Etto...I...may have...followed you home the day before."
"Eh?" Niika blinks.
"Ooh! And he's already stalking you! Niika, I'm so jealous!" Kanako hugs herself, wrapped up in her own little world.
"It's not like that!" Takuto says, "I was just wondering if you knew where you were going. I thought you'd get lost after you ran away crying that day. So I followed you just in case. And you are kinda new and all..."
"But you got here the same time that I did!" Niika yells in his face.
"Hey, what's all the yelling about? Don't tell me this guy is giving you trouble, Niika-chan." Arata stands at his sister's side, "Then we might have a problem here." Takuto gulps as the shorter-haired brunette cracks his knuckles.
"N-No Onii-sama. Everything's fine! I'm just a little frustrated." Niika gives Takuto a look and he takes the hint. He scurries to his seat to escape Arata's potential wrath.
"Oh. Okay. Just making sure." Arata still shoots the redhead a sideways glare, holding a strong aura of intimidation. Takuto wallows in his seat in fear.
"And foiled by the sexy older brother!" Kanako cries at the sight of him, "Why hello! Good morning Mr Sexy Without My Glasses!" She waves Arata down. "That doesn't sound right. Maybe, Mr Sexy Blue Eyes. Yes, that's the one." She points at the black frames. "Why are you still wearing those anyway?"
"I'm still waiting on my contacts." Arata lies, then returns his attention to Niika. "Niika, can I borrow your notes for English class? I need to copy them real quick. I sort of left mine at home."
"Uh, sure. Just give me a second..." Niika searches for them but realizes she doesn't have them with her. "Ahh! I must have left it on the front desk of the office this morning! I'll be right back!" Niika sprints out before anyone can stop her. She doesn't get very far though, accidentally bumping into someone just after making it through the doorway. Before she can fall back, someone slings an arm around her waist and pulls her back to her feet. "I-I'm so sorry!" Niika immediately shouts. She is going to apologize more until she finds a pair of male emerald eyes and white hair. "White?" The long-haired brunette mutters quietly.
"Takashiro Niika-chan?" The white-haired boy, who she's never met seems to know her.
"How do you know my name?"
"Ah ha! I was right! A pretty name for a pretty girl!" He celebrates with a fist. "Here! Your English notebook, Miss. The secretary told me to give this to you since you were in my new homeroom."
"T-Thank you." She can only reply, flustered. "After meeting someone like you, I know I'm going to have a great first day! You're almost like a lucky charm, Niika-chan!" The eager beaver steps forward and Niika instinctively steps backward overwhelmed, until her back hits a wall. The boy's face gets extremely close to hers, the only thing separating them is Niika's notebook. "You'll wish me luck today, won't you?"
Suddenly he is tapped on the shoulder by the classroom's blue-haired stalker. "Um, excuse me?" Sugata stares down the new kid with politeness. "You're trespassing in my circle of protection here." He points to his desk, positioned inches from the other side of the door. The two both look in the direction of Sugata's desk.
"S-Seriously? That's his only problem with this?" Niika mumbles.
"Also, I think you are making the girl uncomfortable. Can you refrain from close contact and go over there please?" When Sugata points to the other side of the classroom, the two sweatdrop.
Slam!
"Excuse you." On the other side of the doorway, Arata slams his fist on the door frame. With a meaner expression, he boxes the new kid between Sugata and himself. "That's my sister, so if you don't mind..." He grabs the back of the boy's collar and pushes him back a certain distance. "I'd like you to stay about this many feet away from her, okay? Do we understand each other here?" Arata seems to get bigger, while the new boy only seems to shrink.
He gulps, "Loud and clear! Sir!"
"Oh. And there's no need for the honorifics, just call me Arata." He tells him casually, but his expression is still the same.
"Whatever you say, Arata-kun..." The boy's tone becomes cheerful once again, "Then, you can call me Kazuma!"
"Kazuma-kun? You're already here?" The teacher finally appears, "I was just looking for you."
"Don't worry, Ma'am! I made it here safely! And in one piece too!" He salutes.
"Good. Now all I have to do is introduce you to the class and we can get started." The teacher then quiets the class and has the new boy come up front. "Everyone, we have a new student. Why don't you introduce yourself?"
"Fujimoto Kazuma-kun!" This new boy, Kazuma, finishes talking to the class, even making them laugh. He is seated next to Sugata in the back, to Sugata's delight and Kazuma's dismay, and class begins not even a moment later.
The English teacher starts writing stuff on the board, "Today we'll be learning how to give simple compliments. Now open your notebooks and copy these words." She then starts to write a couple of words. "Pretty. Beautiful. Adorable. Cute. Handsome. And Lovely." She says them aloud while writing them. A conversation ensues at the back, obviously instigated by Mrs Watanabe Kanako.
"Hey, Takuto..." Kanako starts, "What do you think of me being a high school wife?"
Takuto's red eyes roll. He seems slightly irritated, "Um I... I guess it works."
"It works? More specific, please?"
"What do you mean, specific..."
Kanako checks out her wedding ring, then stares out the window. "My husband is a man named Leon Watanabe. Do you know him?" She starts to explain unprovoked, "He's the head of the Grand Tonnerre Foundation. He'll be 65 this year. He doesn't leave Paris, so we're living separately now. You know what that means, don't you?" By now the conversation caught the attention of the entire class, including the teacher.
Kazuma sweatdrops, "Does she do this a lot?"
"So far, yep." Sugata answers.
"The thoughts that go through my head every night as I, a new bride, lay alone in my bed..." Takuto sweatdrops, "Do you understand, Takuto-kun?"
Keito, the class president decides to finally bud in. "Mrs Watanabe. Please be quiet during class." When Kanako shuts her mouth and obeys, Takuto mouths the words "Thank you." to Keito. She sighs mouthing, "Thank goodness", before continuing to work.
Lunch...
"Takuto, where's your lunch?" Ruri asks him. She, Wako, Takuto, and Niika sit together at Takuto's desk.
A rain cloud darkens over Takuto's head, "While I was swimming over here, all of my money for the month got eaten by the fishes..."
Wako puts her hand on her forehead, "You swam with money in your pocket too?"
"That's really reckless of you." Niika leans on the desk across from him boredly. Takuto's face plants into his.
Ruri slaps a bento in front of him and opens it, "Here, take some of mine then!"
Takuto's eyes light up, "Whoa! Croquettes!" His mouth waters as he bites into them before she can take it back.
"Why don't I make your food this month, then?" Ruri suggests, "Croquettes are my specialty!"
"So, you make good croquettes?" Chill suddenly runs down their spines as Kanako suddenly speaks from behind them.
"Kanako-chan...Are you really getting a haircut during the free period?" Wako asks her.
"Call me Mrs Watanabe, please. We're friends, but I do prefer to let it be known that I am married. Besides, there's nothing wrong with getting a little trim. I call it getting my hair "shaped to perfection!"." Wako sweatdrops.
Keito speaks up from in front of them, "Please refrain from having your hair cut in the classroom."
Kanako smirks confidently, "Stick still up there, huh dear leader?" A boy with black hair comes over with a broom and dustpan to sweep up leftover hair. "What's wrong? We're not leaving a mess."
The blond girl doing her hair sighs, "Please don't move, Mistress. It's almost done."
"Takuto-kun." She calls his name on purpose, "So I heard, you're having money problems? Then how would you like to come over to my place after school?"
Takuto, who ate more of Ruri's food than he should have, gulps. "Please tell me you're talking about a part-time job."
"Of course! What else would I be talking about?" Kanako then smirks deviously, "Unless there was something else you wanted to do..."
"Nope. Nevermind." Takuto coughs, "So what's the job?"
"Well. It's just pool cleaning, but we could really use some extra hands around the place." Niika sucks on a small lollipop she got from one of her admirers, partially ignoring the conversation.
"Sweet!" She squeals to herself.
Ruri squeals after she does, "Wait, is your house the one I'm thinking of?!"
"Since it seems you all want to come, we'd be much obliged."
"Really!?"
"Shall we come too?" Arata and Sugata walk over joining the conversation.
"No way! Even Arata and Sugata's coming! Now you know you have to sign me up!" Ruri shouts fired up.
"It sounds like fun." Sugata smiles.
"You're all very welcome." Kanako eyes Niika, "Niika-chan. Did you hear me? You're coming too, aren't you? It would be no fun if you weren't there."
"W-Well," Niika stutters. "I-If everyone else is going, it should be okay."
Arata peers down at her worried, "Don't push yourself if you don't want to."
"I'm not. I want to go." She says with conviction. Ruri then tries to glomp her, but Niika leans forward just missing her grasp. "I mean it's better than just staying in the house all by myself..." Niika has a sudden brain spark. Scanning the classroom, she manages to find the new student coming into the classroom with his lunch in hand. The whitenette starts to sit at his desk with a sad look. "...But he shouldn't be all by himself, alone either..."
Kanako also notices Niika looking for Kazuma, "The new boy catching your eye? He is kinda cute. I'm starting to realize your tastes, Takashiro Niika." Niika looks confused, "If you want to invite him over too, all you have to do is say so. Don't be so shy!"
"I-I! I wasn't...I'm not-!"
"You who! New boy!" The blonde girl who was doing Kanako's hair sighs heavily as she moves again. She catches Kazuma's attention. "You're invited to come over to my house tomorrow! Besides you already know that you're invited to my house anytime." For a moment, Kazuma seems to scowl before answering her.
"H-Heh...I wouldn't want to intrude on a gathering of good friends!" He shouts back. His sad smile seems to tug at Niika's heart. She knew what it felt like to experience loneliness. It was the worst feeling in the world.
"K-Kazuma-kun." Niika walks over to his desk, nervously. "Y-You wouldn't be intruding. We're inviting you. But if you don't want to-"
"I do!" Kazuma quickly shouts, jumping up from his desk with a blush.
"Then say you'll join us?"
"Absolutely!" He calms himself after noticing he startled her. "I mean...if you put it that way...I'd be happy to join you." Niika smiles. Kazuma smiles back with a darker blush than before. She is happy feeling the boy's sadness has subsided.
Takuto stops chewing to look on with a small frown. "Watanabe-san, is your house really that great?"
Ruri gasps, "You don't know, Takuto-kun?! Docked at the eastern port-!"
The next day...
"Is this...a yacht!?"
"I-It's really a h-huge boat!"
"It's okay, Niika-chan. Just breathe." Arata coos to his sister as everyone arrives at the docks. "I was startled too when Ruri-chan told us. I never expected to see one this close either."
"So rich wives stay here, like a hotel?" Takuto asks. From just the ship's deck, the giant vessel has a great view of the beautiful ocean scenery. A clear blue sky and an azure sea.
"Not quite. This entire boat belongs to Mrs Watanabe." Ruri explains as they traverse aboard, "Her husband gave it to her when they got married. I've never seen a ship this grand!" The little yellow fox from the drama club, Vice, follows close behind the group, sneaking onboard.
"Welcome. Thank you for coming today." Kanako greets once everyone reaches the deck.
"We won't fail you, Ma'am!" Takuto says saluting to her.
Niika can't help but notice Kazuma's uneasiness, so she decides to stick close to him. "I'm sorry," She apologizes moving beside him. "I forgot to mention that we'd be helping Mrs Watanabe clean up around this place a little."
His emerald eyes look down at her, "Oh that's alright. I already knew anyway, your brother told me on the way. I can't help but still feel his glare on me through, you know." He sweatdrops, "Even though he says he's cool with me, I can't help but feel like he doesn't like me."
"Don't worry about him. Arata glares at everyone I talk with. He's just overprotective."
"I understand completely. My older sister used to be like that..." Kazuma trails off saddened, his eyes hazy.
"Kazuma-kun?" The whitenette shakes his head.
"Sorry. Just uh...remembering something. Excuse my rudeness." He bows, "Really, Niika-chan. Don't worry about me, I'm okay." He smiles.
"But~"
"Sorry to interrupt." Sugata comes over, holding a couple of brooms for them. "But we're going to start now." They take them and go to work.
"Mistress, a call from the master. He's inquiring when you'll return to Paris." The blond girl who cut Kanako's hair yesterday, Simone, tells her.
Kanako sighs, "Is that what he said? It seems he's impatient. I guess he's getting lonely. Tell him I'll talk to him later."
"Forgive me for asking," Sugata stops sweeping for a moment, "But, you don't answer your husband yourself?"
"Nope. He isn't good at Japanese, and I'm hopeless at French."
"Wow, a language barrier." Arata wipes his forehead, "I'm sure that makes your marriage interesting."
"Well Sexy Blue Eyes, I'm a young lady with sex appeal so the perv just likes me for my body." Arata chokes. "But he happens to be one of the richest men in the world. Globally speaking, we aren't a particularly unnatural pair. We're a couple bound by the unbreakable chains of greed."
"I've never heard anyone just say they have "sex appeal" like that..." Wako murmurs.
"Nor have I ever heard anyone be so honest about such toxic intentions."
"Does that turn you on, Arata-kun?" Arata chooses not to give Kanako a response.
"Okay, everyone! Let's get to work!" Kanako's black-haired male assistant, Takashi, shouts as he joins the group. Stepping down inside the pool, they find it is as filthy as expected. But something is actively moving somewhere in the back.
"There's something in there!" Wako and Ruri shout hiding behind the boys. Niika doesn't move, staring in the direction with curiosity. A large green animal with sharp teeth pops out.
"What is that? It's so huge~!" Before Niika can take a step closer, Arata screams lifting his little sister away like a sandbag.
"Niika no! You don't know what it's capable of!"
"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. The pool is Baron Allibert's home. You should be fine, though. The Baron's friendly."
Takuto turns to her with a fearful face, "This gator...is friendly? Are you sure?"
"How could you casually forget to mention to them something so important?" Kazuma puts a hand on his hip while addressing the greenette.
Kanako shrugs, "Think of it as a little surprise." Everyone sweatdrops. The gang finally ignores the creature and all begin to focus on scrubbing the pool floor. After moments of silence, it's Takuto who breaks it.
"What's the lady doing up there now?"
"Probably trading stocks." Ruri replies, "Each time Mrs Watanabe taps a key, the budget of a small country changes hands."
Sugata chuckles slightly, "Really? What's a girl like her doing on an island like this?"
"Sticking her nose into who knows what." Kazuma seems to scoff, "All because she's the type that gets bored easily."
"Huh?" Takuto turns to Kazuma, "Ne, Fujimoto-kun. You seem to know quite a bit about Mrs Watanabe. Have you two met before?"
"...Yes. I once knew her pretty well. She's been on the island for some time now."
"Really? So she's like a childhood friend?"
"I wouldn't say that at all." His response is sharp, making Takuto shiver.
"I thought you were a transfer student." Arata rests his cheek on the top of his broompole. "You mean you're native to the island?"
Kazuma doesn't stop sweeping, "Born and raised."
"Is that so?" Wako mutters, "Then I can't believe we've never met before."
"Or have we?" Sugata asks with amusement.
"I know of you. The two of you are pretty popular in the area." Kazuma says, "As for me, you probably haven't seen me much since I live in the outskirts, near the countryside. The only time I'm in town is to run errands for my father's shop."
"A rural boy, how interesting."
"I'm more urban than you would think."
Takuto stands closer to him, "Why weren't you at school the first couple of days?"
"I was sick. And all of you can just call me, Kazuma." He says nonchalantly. "I feel like we'll all be seeing each other more often." Out of nowhere, Vice jumps off Wako's shoulder and pounces off toward where "Baron Allibert" is. Frightened by the large reptile, Vice quickly shuffles out of the pool and scurries near Kanako's seat. She suddenly screams in horror.
"Takashi! Kill this rat!" The greenette spills her drink, climbing on her chair. Simone shoos it away, and Vice runs back into the pool, pouncing on Niika's head. The little fox clings on to her for dear life.
"Eek!" Unprepared for the fox's arrival, she shrieks. "This little guy-"
"Niika watch out!" Without remorse, Takashi reels back his broom for a powerful swing. If he lands the gesture, not only will he harm Vice, but certainly whack Niika square in the forehead. She flinches, flinging her arms up in a defensive pose waiting for the broom's impact. When it does come, the brunette looks up in fear. Both Kazuma and Takuto have blocked Takashi's broom with their own.
"That's enough of that. Let the fox be." Takuto tells him.
"If wanting to kill it tempted you enough to almost hit a girl in the face, you need to reevaluate yourself." Kazuma adds.
"Have you lost your mind!?" Arata pulls his sister away, "You almost gave my sister a concussion!"
Takashi growls, "All of you, please move!" He flings his broom at Takuto like a sword. Takuto blocks every shot. "I was given...an order!" At a certain point, Kazuma takes over for Takuto. Rather than defending, Kazuma attacks viciously not giving the black-haired boy an inch to counter. When Takashi hesitates due to losing his pace, Kazuma takes advantage and forcibly knocks Takashi's broom out of his hands and into the air. He pokes his broom in the boy's face.
"When you hesitate, you lose." His green eyes flash an emotion that no one can quite read. "You should know that by now." Takashi growls.
Kanako suddenly claps, "Beautiful! You both have some guts! Hey! Why don't you two have a match? To see who's the better fencer!"
"Only if it's part of the job." Takuto smiles uncomfortably at her, "Kazuma-kun?"
The whitenette folds his arm, "I usually don't fight unless provoked..."
"Fine. Then you're saying you can't beat me-!"
"-Now I'm provoked."
A COUPLE MINUTES LATER...
Wako scowls, "Hey, hold on. Aren't they supposed to wear guards for this?"
"They'll be fine." Kanako states. "It's only in good fun."
"Have you two ever fenced before?" Sugata asks, "You both don't have to do this if you don't want..."
Kazuma smirks, "If we answer that, wouldn't that spoil the surprise of the winner?"
"Anything can happen." Takuto says, "How much for this fight?"
"Whichever of you win, I'll double your pay. The loser will have to kiss me through the glass…Minus the glass, and as much as I want."
"Double pay? Heh. Too good to pass up!" Takuto squats into a fighting position. "Ready to lose, Kazuma-kun?"
"Oh no. I'm going to enjoy practically pushing you into Watanabe-san's arms. Try not to get scared when she has her way with you." Kazuma says doing the same.
"And Go!"
Everyone, including Takashi, watches Takuto and Kazuma engage in the battle called fencing, on a concrete circle in the middle of the pool. If one of them were to slip and fall off the edge, or on the concrete itself, they could get seriously injured. The group can't help but worry.
"Who do you think will win?" Ruri asks peeking out from behind Wako.
Sugata stands next to Niika, who's holding Vice in her hands. He gives the nervous girl a comforting pat. "They equally seem confident. They both show promise."
"No. He's right. The match is already decided." They all glance at Takashi.
"What do you mean?"
"After all," Takashi frowns. "That guy...Kazuma I mean. He's already a top contender for the vice president spot in the club this year."
"VICE PRESIDENT?!" Most of them shout. "OF THE FENCING CLUB?!"
"But he just got here?!" Arata says it more like a question.
"Apparently, he was club president at his middle school. His reputation precedes him."
"AH ah! HA!" Both boys almost trip on the pool's edge a couple of times making Niika's heart jump each time. Takuto seems to be mostly on the defensive and Kazuma on the offensive, but both get their chances to swing at each other. Kazuma definitely holds back, not wanting to fight in the first place. Takuto was the same, and having trouble holding his own anyway.
"This is no good. Neither of them is really trying. I'm bored." Kanako suddenly says then leaves without another word.
"Halt!" Sugata shouts. The boys freeze, then retract their weapons away from each other.
"Geez." Arata complains, "She was the one who wanted them to do it...She's really fickle, isn't she?"
The battle ends and Niika's panic is relieved. Takuto and Kazuma seem to have enjoyed their little fight, even though their expressions a few minutes earlier seemed solemn. The group just gets back to work and soon after, the pool is clean, completely rid of the dirt and grime. Now dark, the pool is filled, and they all get paid. Kanako still gives Takuto and Kazuma bonuses like she promised.
"Whoa! Look at all this cash!" Kazuma exclaims, his demeanor back to a cheery one.
"Who knew she'd spend this much green on us?" Arata says while counting his.
"I'll have enough for lunch money for half the year! Plus snacks!" Dollar signs were in Takuto's ruby-red eyes.
"Is that all? Then take a few more hundreds." Kanako flings more hundred dollar bills in his face.
"-I'll never go hungry on this island again!"
"Not a bad payday."
"Says the rich guy." Wako kneads Sugata in the arm.
Niika watches Takashi, who was in a corner sweeping the deck. She approaches him, a little hesitant because of earlier. "...Um, Takashi-kun?" He gives her side eye before continuing to sweep. When he doesn't answer, the brunette tries talking again. "Ano..."
"Did you want something?" He asks rudely without looking up.
"U-Uh, w-were you really going to hit me with the broom earlier?" Takashi sighs.
"I was ordered by the mistress to kill that thing. I was simply following through, even if there would have been collateral damage."
Niika frowns, "I'm collateral damage?"
"That's how the mistress sees it. Don't take it too seriously though." She blinks, "I'll do anything for the mistress, even if it means I'll have to sacrifice my own innocence to do it." Niika is confused by his words.
"Regardless, you could brush up on some manners." Kazuma stands next to her. "Even if your master tells you to jump, you can have the courtesy to make sure no one else is in your way when you do."
"-Ngh!" Takashi suddenly shakes with rage. "You might become my superior at the club. But don't you ever tell me how to serve my Mistress!"
"Then you should learn to do it the right way." There's suddenly a dark glint in Kazuma's eye. "Or you'll end up humiliating her, and yourself." Takashi only growls in response with a gripped fist.
Kazuma grabs Niika's hand, "Let's go, Niika-chan." And pulls her away.
Niika sits on the ledge of her room's balcony, staring at the dark blue sea below. It is all so calm and serene, especially with the wind lightly blowing. Feeling the need to get closer, she jumps off the balcony like a few nights before and begins to run. She stops at the edge of the cliff, where she had once jumped to save Takuto from drowning. Sitting down, she watches the moon's reflection over the water. A hand grazes the crescent-shaped scar on her neck. '...How did I get this scar...again?' Niika sighs. She pulls out a small flute she brought with her from her jacket pocket. Old and battered, but it was one of her only treasures left from her childhood. She plays the song Fish Girl had once taught her, called Monochrome. The notes leave the flute, music filling the night air.
SOMEWHERE...
"Open the Cybercasket!" A member of the Glittering Crux shouts, "Apprivoise!"
'Sakana-chan. I'm here...I've met Galactic Pretty Boy. So, what do I do now?' Playing the chorus once again, Niika suddenly hears the song's words match in real-time...
Mau yuki wa hoshi no kakera
tentai ni te wo nobashite
ikikau negai kanjiteiru ne
subete wa ima MONOKUROOMU no naka...
Startled, Niika blows the wrong note and drops the flute at her feet. She clutches her shirt, chest aching in pain. Time around her had stopped. Her instincts know exactly what has to happen next. 'But seriously, why does this process have to be so painful?' She asks knowing she won't receive an answer. Her emerald eyes close and reopen with a bright green glow.
"...The door to another dimension has been opened..."
After a light emits into the sky from her mark and lets loose an unintentional scream. Soon, she ends up in Zero Time. Still woozy, Takuto stands next to her on the ground. "Niika-chan? Are you alright?"
"Almost..." She holds her head and Takuto supports her from behind.
"It's dangerous right now." He says eyeing the new cybody, "You should probably stay back."
In her bubble above, Wako is in disbelief. "No way! Kazuma-kun!?"
Suddenly another bubble lowers itself in front of the two. Reaching the round, Kazuma's bubble pops as soon as he touches the ground. "Fujimoto-kun?! Y-You're here now too!?"
"Kazuma-kun..." Niika mumbles sort of out of it.
"She doesn't look so well." He says with his back turned, "I'm not sure why she's able to be here."
"We could ask you the same thing!" Takuto shouts.
"Now's not the time for games." Kazuma's voice reaches a darker tone. "I won't watch from the shadows anymore."
"What?!"
"Then I challenge you!" The pilot of the foreign cybody shouts in a familiar voice.
"That voice, is it Takashi-kun?!"
Kazuma stares down the huge cybody. Right then emotions form in Kazuma's eyes that neither had seen from him before. Hatred and disgust. "At night? If you don't pay me, I won't be kind to you."
"B*stard!" Takashi shouts back.
"Right back at you!" Kazuma shoots out a hand towards Takuto and Niika, "Get out of my way." A gust of wind suddenly pushes them backward into the air. Takuto pulls Niika close so they are in a single bubble together.
The sudden movement makes Niika's head hurt worse. "Ugh!"
"How rude!" Takuto exclaims. Holding the girl still is all he can do to comfort her. "What is he thinking? Does he know about the Crux too?"
The Crux's Adult Bank division head, The President, floats forward. "Ara ara. Have you really reappeared, Phantom?"
"Phantom?!" Takuto and Wako repeat.
"Don't act surprised. Ultimately it was you all who brought me out of retirement." Kazuma spits out, his voice resounding through the space. "...Ginga Bishonen. I've seen the way he fights and I don't like it. And I'm not sure how the girl is involved, but I don't like that either!" The concern that appears in his expression is quickly replaced with disgust.
The green-haired masked girl smirks, "And what are you going to do about it?"
While eyebrows furrowed, the whitenette's chest shows glowing. "Get back to taking your cybodies down!" He yells in a deeper voice than recognized before. A uniquely upside-down uppercase letter "A" cybody mark appears. The dark violet aura lights up filling his eyes.
"As long as it isn't boring." The President places her hands on her hips. "We won't make this easy for you." She floats up and out of the way.
With a fire in his eyes, Kazuma screams out loud. "APPRIVOISE!" The light from his mark engulfs him and he quickly disappears. A huge violet energy circle opens up in the sky, then moves downward toward the ground. It reveals a cybody that looks similar to Tauburn, except it dawns a midnight black color scheme with silver trims and a helmet-like head. Metal plates cover all of the cybody's joints. Violet energy wheels develop on its boot-like feet. A cream-white orb appears in its chest, Kazuma in the center starting his transformation. "Ready for Battle!" A black formal vest appears on his chest over a white button-up, sleeves rolled to the shoulders. A violet tie loosely hangs from his neck, followed by black dress pants and cream-colored knee-high boots. A dark violet cloak flies out behind him, an opened white straitjacket appearing underneath it. "Galactic, Man of Mystery!" Black belts with silver buckles accent his joints and waist. A thin green tint glazes Kazuma's white hair as a cracked white mask hides most of his face. He tugs on his black gloves, "Rise, ALPHONSE!"
"That's...he's...what?!" Takuto utters, "This doesn't make sense at all!"
"He holds a mark too?" Niika asks conscious enough to have witnessed Kazuma's transformation.
"It seems so. He's Galactic Man of Mystery." Wako puts her hands against the bubble. "I thought that cybody disappeared with time. Most believed it was a myth, to begin with!"
"That's the spirit! Show me what you got, PHANTOM!" Takashi shouts from his cybody. "Don't fail me now, Tzadikt! Star Sword, Améthyste!" The cybody Tzadikt pulls out a red energy sword. "I'm ready!"
"-Appear, Caladbolg!" A long metal sword materializes in Alphonse's right hand. "Cross shield, Aegis!" A shield huge metal shield, matching the sword's appearance, materializes in its left.
Tzadikt kneels to his knees, in proper fencing form. "I'll be serious this time!" In response, Alphonse points his sword in his direction. The enemy cybody slides across the floor charging. Alphonse dodges the initial thrusts with ease. Tzadikt jumps up, giving the sword a wave. "Blade technique: Divine Blizzard!" It produces an offensive attack, sending flashes of energy in Alphonse's direction. Tzadikt attacks with the bolts moving almost at lightning speed, but Alphonse is able to block everything fast with its shield, Aegis.
"I abandoned that name years ago." Kazuma says, Alphonse slowly letting down the shield from its face. "Have some respect!" With every attack Tzadikt makes, Alphonse blocks and counters.
"How am I supposed to refer to you now?" Takashi's cybody takes another powerful swing. "Galatic Man of Mystery? A coward like you doesn't deserve such a name!" With a 360 turn, Tzadikt connects an attack with Alphonse's back, causing the cybody to spin out a little. "Go back to retirement! And stay out of our business!"
Kazuma twinges, "Aren't you honest..." His face grows dark. "You made this my business when you appeared in front of me again! You'll regret calling me washed up!" Seemingly angry, Kazuma makes Alphonse practically throw away its shield. "-I don't need this to finish you."
Above, the others grow nervous. Still surprised by Kazuma's cybody reveal, the presence of the boy in Zero Time makes them all uneasy. Especially Niika, who can't help but worry. "Why does he seem...darker than his normal self?" She asks as they continue to watch the fierce battle. Without his shield, Kazuma attacks Takashi relentlessly, not giving him room to breathe. Tzadikt seems to grow weaker, unable to keep up with Alphonse's pace. "Why does this seem so familiar?" The brunette thinks aloud before remembering. She recalls the fight from earlier in the day on Kanako's yacht. 'It was exactly what happened just now. So like before, if Takashi hesitates...' Without warning, Niika has a vision due to premonition.
"Final Oblivion!" Alphonse finds an opening where Takashi is blocking, right in the center of its chest. Kazuma takes the opportunity to knock Takashi's star sword out of his hands with his sword and aims at the cybody's core. The force of the attack resounds like a strong, crushing wind through the space of Zero Time.
"Kazuma wait~!" Niika can't get the words out in time. Once Alphonse strikes, the cybody blows up almost instantly in its face, with Takashi still inside.
"Takashi!" The President shouts. A blonde girl in a mask behind her does the same.
Everyone is left frozen by the sheer overuse of power, "...S-So much impact..."
Niika shakes her head, "Oh no! If Alphonse uses that much force, Takashi could be seriously hurt! Wouldn't he die?!"
"He won't." Takuto folds his arms, "Do you remember the metal units we saw when we were inside the abandoned mine? Sarina told me that the Crux uses machines, called Cybercaskets, that allow people to gain artificial marks when they pilot cybodies."
"Think of caskets as a kind of command center. They can control their cybodies in Zero Time yet still be sheltered in place safe and sound." Wako rationalizes for her, "If a pilot's cybody is destroyed while in the cybercasket, the cybody will be broken but no harm will come to the user. Only natural mark users, using their true cybodies, if defeated, they will die." The blonde clenches his fists. "Which is why...Kazuma can't lose!"
Understanding what they said, Niika returns to watching the fight. "But...there's so much force behind Alphonse's attacks. If Alphonse attacks Tzadikt directly at his core, wouldn't Takashi still get seriously hurt, even inside the casket? He's still inside!"
"...My thoughts exactly." Takuto frowns. "Kazuma...really isn't holding back at all."
"What did I tell you about hesitation?! Soon, I won't give a chance to recover!" Kazuma shouts from inside Alphonse.
"Worry about yourself!" Takashi tells him. Soon after, Alphonse gets its opportunity.
"Jackpot." Alphonse knocks Tzadikt's star sword out of its hands with Caladbolg and aims it at the cybody's core. "GALACTIC...FINAL OBLIVION!"
"Kazuma, wait~!" Niika squeals. Suddenly, she detaches from Takuto's bubble and flies toward the active fight in her own.
"Midori no me!"
"Niika-chan!"
"Don't do it!" Niika flies in front of Tzadikt's face, the area where Caladblog is about to pierce. "Not here!"
"-Ngh!" Panicked, Kazuma narrowly lowers his attack. The hellish blow lands on Tzadikt's torso, the cybody malfunctioning. Alphonse grabs Niika's bubble away before the enemy cybody can explode. Lowing her arms from a defensive position, Niika notices that the light from Tzadikt's eyes is gone before the blow takes effect. She concludes that thanks to her warning, Takashi had retreated before Kazuma could land the attack, and blew up partly due to his absence. Tzadikt shatters to pieces among the galactic flames. "That was close!"
The next thing everyone knew, Zero Time disappeared.
At lunch the next day...
"OH-AYA-HHO! Everyone!" Kazuma runs over to the group at Takuto's desk. His brighter demeanor seems to be back to normal.
The first ones to greet him are Sugata and Arata, "Good morning, Kazuma-kun."
"Why are you so energetic today? Just yesterday~"
"What do ya mean, Wako-chan!? This is how I always am!" Wako, Takuto, and Niika give each other a look but don't say anything. Ruri, Sugata, and Arata weren't there, so they hadn't witnessed Kazuma's shift in attitude in Zero Time.
The whitenette's stomach starts to growl. "Guess I'm hungry! Come on guys, let's get to the caf! Coming?"
"Of course." Sugata slings an arm around Kazuma's shoulder as the three boys exit the classroom. "Ne Kazuma, can you meet me after school today?" Remembering the bluenette similar dialogue from days before, Takuto and Niika sweatdrop.
"Look at them! Three sexy guys leaving together to do who knows what!" Ruri grabs Wako's hand, "Let's follow them!" Ruri leaves the classroom, dragging Wako before she can protest. This leaves the long-haired brunette girl and the redhead boy alone.
"...Takuto-kun, what's wrong with you?" His ruby eyes blink when Niika speaks up.
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine. Midori no me." Takuto rubs the back of his neck, dismissing her. Niika stares a little before lightly knocking him in the head. "T-t-t-t! W-What was that for?"
"...Being a Baka." Niika leans away from him putting a hand to her cheek. Takuto frowns. Spotting Takashi walking past the doorway, she abandons Takuto to catch him in the hall. "T-Takashi-kun!" He stops in place when he hears her, but doesn't turn around.
"What is it, Takashiro Niika-chan?"
"Nothing...I just wanted to check on you. After yesterday~" Takashi grips his fist. He bangs it on the wall beside him in frustration. Niika steps back in fear.
"I was...indeed humiliated." Takashi says, recalling the way his cybody was about to be crushed just before he ejected himself from the cybercasket. "I insulted a former colleague and underestimated his strength. I was blinded by my own cowardice to see that his real ability was in peak condition. But you saw it clearly." Although not in Zero Time, Takashi still feels the aftereffects of Alphonse's impact. He turns around with a deep bow. "Thank you. But don't speak of it again."
"Dai-kun!" Without hesitation, Takashi leaves for Simone, who had called him from the end of the hall without another word.
'A former...colleague?' Niika thinks to herself. 'Phantom...Galactic Man of Mystery?' She frowns, 'Fujimoto Kazuma-kun. H-How could he be willing to hit someone with so much force? Why was he in Zero Time to begin with? Sakana-chan, just who is this!?'
And so the adventure of life goes on.
MPK: Redone! Tell me what you think!