Chapter 6 — An Arizonian Yankee as Sensei of Schale?
"Here, let me lend a hand." A kid spoke up, looked like a doctor to me with the white and blue clothes. I let her grabbed the wounded off my back one by one. "Lay them down on the stretchers."
The injured were gently placed on stretchers that were prepared.
Lastly.
I lowered Kirino from behind my back. "Here, kid…" I mumbled, laying her down as gently. My hand moved on its own, brushing those bangs away from her face. She looked like hell warmed over.
Thankfully, it didn't burn.
"Mhrm…" A groan escaped her lips, pain etched on her face.
"You're going to be fine, hell, it's just a small bruise." I said. Probably. Could be.
The one kid who'd been helping inquired. "What's the problem with her?"
I glanced at her, trying to gauge what to say. I went with the truth. "Probably pain in the abdominal area. Possible bruising or fractured ribcage during a crash inside a tank."
Curious, she looked at me, perhaps questioning my knowledge or the exactness of my conclusion. "You knew?"
"Was there. Drove the tank." I replied, keeping it short. No need to sugar-coat it.
Well, I wasn't going to leave the injured on their own to fight.
I rushed away with the kids, leaving Yuuka, Chinatsu, and two winged individuals behind as our second line of defense. One had black wings, while the other had a single, small white wing - too tiny for flight, which struck me sad.
I laid out a plan: Take cover, wait for Yuuka's shield to recharge, then let her lead the charge to break enemy lines. Once she had their attention, the others would swoop in to overwhelm those raiders.
All before I retreated with the wounded carried on my back.
It was a simple plan.
Something I could leave them be while I carried these kids injured on my back.
When I arrived at the defense line Kirino and Chinatsu pointed me towards.
Pleasant friends Kirino got herself. Cold steel and itchy trigger fingers — a wall of firearms was not exactly a warm welcome.
It took some fast talking, but they let me through to the ambulance parked behind their makeshift fortress.
"Without any proper equipment or a favorable environment, I took to administer oral pain-killers until then. I couldn't perform an effective procedure to confirm."
She nodded a silent thanks for the help. In the end, when I turned to look at Kirino and those kids I carried back, sure besides the traffic police, the rest tried their hand to take a strike out of me.
I tried to at least keep it in mind that these kids are more impervious to bullets — which explained their reliance on firearms.
"Here." I pulled out a can of ointment from my coat pocket.
"Huh, are those…?" The kid was dealing with the wounded turn to me.
"For the bruising and bullet grazes."
Potent stuff, taught to me by a tribal herbalist to ease aches and shallow pain for a sensation of your skin being scorched. "Figured you need all te supplies you can get."
I had the urge to help people and was ready to go after my efforts, but there was something stopping me.
It led me to Kirino's unconscious form on the stretcher. Her face was pale, brow furrowed even in her state of unconsciousness.
Stepping closer, I looked down at her. My hand, more accustomed to holding weapons than offering comfort, moved almost of its own accord. Gently, I brushed a few stray strands of hair from her face. I wondered why my hand just did it, the gesture feeling awkward and foreign to me.
But. "See ya' around, kid." Quietly murmuring, I hoped she would be the sole listener if she were awake. Perhaps soon.
With a last glance at Kirino's face, memorizing it for reasons I couldn't quite explain, I turned to leave.
Maybe that'll shake my curiosity away.
I turned to leave, my job done. Spotting someone looking at me.
A person who appeared subtly distinct in these crowds, detectable by observant eyes.
"So, what're your name, oh, good Samaritan? Mister rough and tumble cowboy?" The girl I was talking to made some exaggerated gruff voice for dramatics as she spoke.
"… Thirteen. Don't wear it out."
My response was met with a raised eyebrow from the girl. The peculiarity of my name seemed to pique her interest even further, but I was thankful she never bother to pry any more.
The number had stayed with me for a long time; it molded to be my identity. Never once thought of changing it — besides cover names.
"Since we're on a name-by-name basis, Fubuki Nemugaki. Valkyrie Academy, I'm part of the Community Safety Bureau." She introduced herself in a lazy, almost tired tone about her. "Just remember." She said, added with a slight stretch of her arms.
"I'll keep that in mind…"
"Hold on. You got the wrong girl if you expect me to swoop in and help you cross the road or carry your groceries because I'm with the Community Safety Bureau like Kirino."
I watched on at her words. That was certainly something a resident would like to hear. Amused, real amused by her.
"I feel safe already." I noted dryly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. Not that I truly felt reassured by her words—far from it. There was irony from her line of work she chose and I the few seconds she let it known to me.
It's better to have an ineffective police force than a corrupt one.
"I gotta say, you must either be the bravest or the dumbest person I came to meet that ran up to a tank surrounded by sukebans." Fubuki noted, her eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed me.
I couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle. "Eh, both accurately describes me. I'll take that a compliment." I shrugged. The memory of the tank's imposing silhouette, surrounded by the fierce sukebans, flashed through my mind.
We both chuckled at her spot on description. Truth be told, my plans had been born floating along the sea below of liquor before I left the bar to enact it.
Given the way my brilliant ideas frequently materialize, it's not far-fetched.
Fubuki's hand extended towards me. A slightly squashed donut nestled in her palm that came from a box she's holding. "Here." she offered, her tone softening slightly. "For saving my partner. Two times, even if the second one sounded like your own fault."
"I—" I began, ready to refuse the offer.
Before I could finish my thought, we were interrupted by the rapid approach of footsteps. A Valkyrie student came running up to us. Almost in a panic. "Fubuki-senpai, you're needed at the front." She announced, her voice tinged with urgency.
Fubuki sighed, though the tired grin never left her face. "Alright then," she said, turning to the young student. "You go warm up my spot for me."
The Valkyrie student nodded eagerly. She swiftly left, blending into the student crowd amidst sandbags and obstacles.
I quipped. "Seems like you have your work cut out for you, traffic police."
"Oh, just take it." she responded, her voice tinged with a mix of exasperation and amusement. She shoved the donut close to my face, rising on her tiptoes to reach near my mouth.
Oh, what the hell.
I accepted the offering, taking a bite as she watched expectantly. "Good right?" she said, stepping away with a satisfied grin as she left. Left me with the sweetened bread.
Yeah… But too sweet for my tooth. I quietly enjoyed it still. It's rare to come across something like this.
While the attention on me waned, my eyes wandered down to a stack of nearby empty crates. An empty duffle bag nearby caught my attention, sparking an idea in my mind.
I slung the bag over my shoulder.
The place was a war-zone and here I am stooped down to pick up used shell casings scattered all around.
Even the pile of captured firearms from the raiders.
From rifles to submachine-guns, whose frame looked both American and European origins. Some I have no clue or idea when or wherever factory it came out from along with any live rounds left.
Anything helps, I reasoned. Besides, I could fetch a good price with this haul.
Probably not much, since firearms around here are as ubiquitous as fresh water and food, I mused.
But there's still a price for them, regardless.
I noticed students cast curious glances my way, but none moved to stop me.
What I was doing was likely the least of their concerns.
…
Somewhere else…
The four representatives reached their destination, their mission accomplished.
As jubilant crowds began celebrations and some set about cleaning up, binding the unconscious sukebans, a small group remained focused on a different matter.
The four, along with the local Valkyrie forces' impromptu leader, found themselves preoccupied with a peculiar presence still among them.
"So, that's our savior right there?" one of them remarked, eyeing the figure curiously.
Another chimed in, puzzled. "I never quite understood how they'd manage to shoot down a helicopter, not without a working tank."
"Maybe he's hiding a rocket launcher under that coat," Fubuki speculated, their tone definitely not a slight serious.
While Yuuka could share some information about their enigmatic benefactor with her counterparts, but only to a certain extent.
"From what I witnessed when I was heading towards the last location of the tanks, a shot came out that rendered the air-vehicle to crash. It could be he or Kirino fired their last shot from inside the tank before they somehow managed to escape."
What a bold-faced lie it was.
Technically, Thirteen took down a chopper, but Yuuka kept the details of the weapon's potential hidden from the rest of the group. However, she won't keep it a secret for long once her president finds out about it.
"Another matter our guest, I would like to add a point while I was separated from the rest of the group. Kirino, I, and a small detachment of Valkyrie and Gehenna students with us were first to discover a point of interest."
The tension veered its head as all four turned their attention to Chinatsu.
"To start, he's name is Thirteen. Well, what he told to Kirino and I." Chinatsu continued, her eyes narrowing as she recalled the details from her earlier encounter with the man. She had refused to believe a single one. "An adult from out of the city. A rancher he claims who inherited a bar from a relative of sorts."
Chinatsu continued as the rest of the group nodded.
"We found him in the middle of a room drinking himself into a stupor." She added. "That would have been the end of the story if it weren't for the considerably large group of sukebans on the floor that surrounded him."
The implication was definitely there. An extensive expertise in combat and skilled enough to execute them. That's downright obvious even.
The contrast between the image of a drunk rancher to a bartender and a skilled fighter was jarring.
Fubuki, her brow furrowed in confusion, slowly piped up. "That's… a rather strange skill to have for what; Taking care of animals?"
Chinatsu nodded, acknowledging the oddity of the situation. "Of course; I didn't believe any of it. Once the a peculiar detail that a prefect member raised to me. Besides the plan to separate the reinforcements using the tear gas — to somehow taking control of a tank."
At this revelation, surprise rippled through the group. Eyes widened and hushed whispers broke out. The idea of a supposed rancher commandeering a tank seemed to stretch the bounds of credibility.
The presence of Thirteen had grown even more mysterious, casting more intrigue over the group. As they continued to observe Thirteen from afar.
They watch as the man conversed with a few students. Seems like he's making an impression with a group of students nearby. His demeanor seemed to put the surrounding people at ease, creating an unexpected contrast to his earlier feats.
One student appeared charmed, their laughter ringing out in response to something Thirteen had said.
Chinatsu then continued. "What made me reconsider this man's words, were the fact that he has yet to shoot a weapon, the best what I and others' have witnessed was his bag of whiskey bottles. When we commence this plan of his."
"I almost thought luck might be stuck to his side. This puts it to a new perspective." Fubuki added. The man is sure responsible with the sukebans who flinched their arms and dropped their weapons during the second wave. "Kind of terrifying, really."
"Chinatsu-san, care to support your assessment?" Yuuka's turn to voice her curiosity about this. Someone risking in front of fire without a halo? Now that is just deathly stupid, unless experienced. Then it's even more evidence.
Chinatsu remained silent. Nearby, a group of prefect members was carefully carrying a sukeban on a stretcher, allowing the gathered crowd to catch a glimpse of the bruise that had formed prominently on the girl's forehead. It was a clear mark, one that couldn't be overlooked, its shape telling a story of recent violence.
"Everyone inside that bar before Kirino and I entered possessed anywhere less than three bruises towards the head. The weapons left behind, as I concluded to belong from the sukebans were stacked towards the wall near their unconscious body laid."
Once the crowd had their fill of the scene, Chinatsu gave a small nod, allowing the prefect members to continue with their task. The stretcher was lifted once more, and the sukeban was taken away.
Fubuki, who didn't seem very amused, pointed out. "Err… Hate to break your little theory, but that sounds too much… I mean, someone without a halo just charging ahead of gunfire sounds like an idiot." One that Chinatsu just had to adjust her glasses back.
She produced an empty bottle of liquor from her large satchel to the Valkyrie student.
"Thanks, but I'm barely close at the drinking age."
Chinatsu's eyes narrowed, emitting an intimidating aura. "When Thirteen concocted his plan, he devised the use of molotov cocktails to force the crew inside the tank to leave by setting the engine on fire. Apparently, that plan fell through as he threatened the crew to leave with the engine intact as the earlier clash between the two tanks. What I pieced together is that he has used these glass containers as a weapon and the bag we sent him out was filled with these filled bottles.
"With bottles?" Suzumi raised a brow at Chinatsu. "He fought a large group of sukebans with nothing but a bag of bottles?"
As if on cue, a Valkyrie student nearby interrupted the conversation, her voice rising above the murmurs of the crowd. "Everyone, please be careful when you walk ahead down the road to clean up after the sukebans. There are shards of glass everywhere!" she called out as she hurried past, her warning punctuating the oddity of the situation.
Following close behind, another Valkyrie student added her own complaint, her face scrunched in distaste. "Smells horrible down the road…" she muttered under her breath, her words just loud enough to reach the group.
"Technically, it was a bag full." Chinatsu said.
"You mean he…" Just a couple of empty bottles as weapons… and left without a scratch on him. Suzumi's voice lapsed into a pause.
"Adults are horrifying."
"I'm reporting this in to the GSC." As she quickly took out her phone, Suzumi looked away.
"Alright Alright, I get it." Fubuki stammered under the watchful gaze from Chinatsu.
For the rest, they continued to watch the person as he moves around to stockade of weapons they gained after the battle.
He crouched down to inspect some of them — pulled to retrieve the magazine out; then pulled back the charging handle and deftly caught the ejected bullet in his hand and looked closer before smoothly reinserting it into the magazine and picks up the use casings and hulls on the ground to a pouch.
Many remained undecided about their stance on the person. He lent a hand till the fighting died down.
As the discussion drew to a close, the individuals exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to make of the situation. The person had helped them, but the question remained: what did he stand to gain from it?
Perhaps it would be smart as Hasumi also followed suit with her own phone, followed by Chinatsu, to report on the matter of their findings to their respective club.
"Hey, kid. Yuuka, right? I think I said that right? Like the banana…" Thirteen's voice cut through the ambient chatter, drawing Yuuka's attention.
She turned, her eyes meeting those of the enigmatic adult. "Huh?" Yuuka's response was tinged with surprise and confusion.
Thirteen gestured casually. "Just wanted to say my thanks back there. I would have been fine red paste if you hadn't showed up. I owe you one for that."
Yuuka stood motionless, her mouth slightly agape as she processed his unexpected gratitude. After a moment, she regained her composure, offering a silent nod in acknowledgment.
The brief exchange was soon interrupted as Yuuka, Chinatsu, Hasumi, Suzumi, and the four representatives from the larger academies received orders on their phones. The instructions to reach Schale's Tower.
"Schale huh?" Thirteen's voice carried a note of curiosity, causing the four to turn their attention towards him.
He had been surrounded by a gathering of students, their phones held in hand as they clamored for pictures with or of the mysterious Thirteen. Despite the attention, he seemed unaffected, his focus now squarely on the group discussing Schale.
His eyes narrowed as he posed his next question. "Think I could tag along?"
The group exchanged glances, their expressions a blend of wariness and uncertainty. After a moment of tense silence, one of them spoke up, their tone cautious and probing. "And what business would you be intended there?"
Thirteen's response came with a casual shrug, his demeanor nonchalant despite the gravity of recent events. Or unbeknown to him — or not at all, his growing reputation for himself. "Eh, I just need to talk to the boss there… Personal business You know how it is."
Chinatsu's brow furrowed slightly, her internal monologue at odds with Thirteen's assumption. No, I don't, she thought, her curiosity about this enigmatic figure only growing.
Despite their hesitation, Thirteen remained unfazed and continued speaking, his voice becoming more persuasive. "Anyway, if you would be kind to point the way, you could have another pair of hands to help."
The four representatives hesitated, unsure whether to let the mysterious individual join them.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, condensed in a few brief glances, made a decision that was reached. Without a word, they came to an agreement.
It was Chinatsu who ultimately broke the silence, her voice steady as she voiced their collective decision, granting Thirteen permission to join their journey to Schale's Tower.
"Then we accept your offer, however, you must stay behind us, make no noise or go off on your own. I am already clear of your capabilities, although, we musn't take our chances when we arrive."
"Much appreciated, just remember to don't shoot me in the back. I just got done carrying people with 'em."
The aftermath of the battle somewhere close unfolded in an almost comical scene, as the captured sukeban's — one who claimed to be one of the group who commandeered a tank — desperate warning echoed through the gathered crowd.
"I'm telling you, he's a demon!" Her voice cracked with genuine fear.
The proclamation sparked an immediate cascade of speculation among the students, their heads tilting together in conspiratorial clusters. One student ventured forth with calculated interest, "So, he's from Gahenna?"
Yet the Sukeban's warnings were left on the literal pavement as the speculations were not filled with the same fear she was in.
"He could be a former student or…" Another voice chimed in, leaving the possibility dangling tantalizingly incomplete. The speculation spread like ripples in a pond, each student adding their own interpretation to the mysterious figure's identity.
"He could be the new Sensei…"
"Ehh… A sensei for Gehenna only… If he's a demon then he could be a troublemaker too… Still it's unfair they get him…"
The sukeban's frustration mounted as her warnings fell on increasingly deaf ears. "No! Shut up and listen… He's not normal. There is something wrong with him! He's not normal." Her voice took on a desperate edge, tears of frustration beginning to form in her eyes.
Yet her pleas only served to fuel the students' growing excitement. "So lucky…" The envious whisper of a Valkyrie student cut through the chatter, inadvertently encouraging more speculation.
"Hey wait, maybe he's also our Sensei too!" The exclamation brought up turned heads to the student who raised the suggestion. "Huh? What makes you say that?"
"I saw a badge hiding under his coat. Maybe he's also Valkyrie's Sensei!"
Such a wonderful revelation sent a wave of excitement through the group.
"That would be cool…" The possibility seemed to entrance them further, their minds already constructing scenarios of what such an arrangement might mean.
Meanwhile, the sukeban could only watch in despair as her warnings transformed into fodder for schoolgirl fantasies. "Idiots… All of you… Idiots." Her tears fell freely now, a mixture of frustration and genuine fear, as the students around her continued their latest gossip about their potential new teacher.
The nearby Valkyrie students exchanged knowing glances, their shoulders rising in synchronized shrugs. The unspoken consensus was clear - they'd written off the sukeban's warnings as the ramblings of someone who'd hit their head the hardest.
So this is Schale… Like what those kids told me, I could ask for help. Alright, time to find my answers.
As the Thirteen followed, the rest of the group stepped into the vast lobby of Schale Tower, empty of life.
His voice cut through the silence. "Empty… I was expecting people to still be here."
Hasumi was quick to offer an explanation. "We're far beyond any official Valkyrie police lines." She stated matter-of-factly, her eyes scanning the deserted area. "Well, until they can fix their logistics in such a short time." The implications of her words were clear — they were on their own, at least for now.
Suzumi, picking up on Hasumi's train of thought, added with a hint of concern, "So, there won't be any reinforcement for us till then."
Cautiously, they began to explore the vast space, their senses on high alert for any sign of life or potential danger. The soft hum of the building's systems provided an eerie backdrop to their search.
As they moved deeper into the lobby, the group split up to cover more ground efficiently. Hasumi headed towards the reception desk, looking for any clues that might have been left behind by their sole target their looking for.
…
Great… so much for finding the head honcho here… Schale… next is the GSC. Guess that's my next stop then soon.
I was hoping to find someone here to ask questions to. So that part was a bust.
I watched the four moved in deeper into the building.
Just as I was about to follow them, I stumbled upon a staircase going down, marked as the "Crafting Chamber".
Now, I don't need to be some rocket scientist, but I know that if the word "crafting" and "chamber" are in the same sentence, there has to be raw material there.
If it has, then there is sufficient space in my bag for them, eagerly waiting.
Don't mind if I do.
So, I ditched the group and went down to the basement. Hopefully, there's something down there I could take.
I descended deeper into the building until my progress was halted by a door to the chambers. A door protected by a keycard reader stood guard, denying me entry further.
Upon closer inspection of the lock, I discovered its interface was far too sophisticated for my pip-boy's outdated connection to handle. So hacking through it is out of the option. The realization led me to a more direct solution.
After confirming I was alone, I didn't hesitate. My fist connected with the sensor's metal frame in one strike. Despite its robust metal body, the plating surrendered easily, pieces of bent metal clattering to the ground and revealing the intricate circuitry within.
To be honest, I really had no time for this.
I hastily collected the modern electronic components, cramming them into my duffle bag. Besides, All I need is STRENGTH.
With a little effort, I pried open the sliding door until the lock mechanism broke, allowing me to enter.
When I finally got inside, I looked around what was supposed to be the Crafting Chamber, only to find my setup for disappointment.
The sight before me stood in stark contrast to the workshop I had expected in my head.
No hallmarks of the sight of workbenches lined the walls, no racks, no tables of such tools caught my sight.
The fundamental materials were absent - not a single ingot of metal to be found, nor any stacks of timber waiting for me or my bag.
But there is something here alright, but not the kind I'd hoped to find.
There were computer terminals hummed quietly on the tables, their screens casting a soft glow across scattered books and accumulated debris. Piles of what appeared to be even more books on shelves and other miscellaneous items — junk really were strewn all over.
In the far back were the imposing server towers lined the walls, their presence suggesting this was more of a data center than a traditional crafting facility.
But what caught my attention more was the centerpiece of the room: a massive fuck-off stone slab hovering above a sophisticated display platform.
That rock… Monolith or something. I don't like the feeling I get from it. Probably can't sell it, no matter how silver my tongue could convince people to.
I kept my eye on it while I looked around the room. But I just can't stop staring at it.
Wait… Is it whispering?
…
The mysterious figure, face obscured behind an intricately crafted mask. One careful look showed a painted fox that moved with a predator's gaze into the crafting chamber.
Painted in such colors in vibrancy with the primary being red — one would note of danger.
The sack she carried swayed with her movement along with her long tail, its contents producing mysterious rustling sounds before she released it on the floor with an echoing clack.
Through the eye slits of her mask, keen eyes surveyed the desolate space. The fox's painted features caught what little light penetrated the gloom, lending an otherworldly quality to her presence as she tilted her head in contemplation. "Hm… There's nothing interesting here," she mused, her voice carrying notes of disappointment and intrigue in equal measure.
The woman's masked visage turned slowly, methodically, as if attempting to settle around her surrounding that shrouded the chamber.
Her attention eventually settled on the room's sole point of interest - a peculiar half of a monolith, its purpose as enigmatic as its observer. The fox mask's painted shadows seemed to shift as she studied the structure, lending an air of ancient wisdom to her scrutiny.
"I don't see what's the whole big deal about this place? What is even here to destroy?…" She said.
"Me either. I was expecting something to turn a profit with." However, whatever grace or air of sophistication that previously surrounded her shattered the moment the voice reached her. In response, she flapped her hands around like a surprised bird as she turned back with her rifle hastily aimed at the shadows.
Where a man quietly sounded at the far back of the room.
The mysterious woman found herself perplexed by her own lack of awareness. There was something unsettling about the way his presence had eluded her typically sharp senses until this moment.
The second his voice was raised.
Now hold on that face…
Something about it felt familiar. The woman was sure she recognized it, that voice, that face. A realization that made her heart race beneath her composed facade. Through slits of the mask, her eyes traced the figure, each feature as if a reminder of the scene she watched him.
It was him! The man from before! Such chaos, he wrecked.
She was fortunate that the mask was present not to reveal the redness slowly appearing on her face.
Her fingers trembled imperceptibly as hard as she maintained her stance, caught between the urge to step forward to this man that has caught her attention already and the instinct to remain still.
"Are you alright?" And such a wonderful voice… The surprise of recognition coursed through her veins like warm honey to her ears.
Such fate must be smiling down at her. To be given such an opportunity!
…
What the hell did I get myself into?
Alright, I wasn't expecting her to tremble already. But it works.
"You having your rifle aimed at me won't change anything. So how about you drop it. About those bombs you're carrying… Would be a waste to use them here. Nothing worth seeing in flames. But I do like you're taste in plastique. Real quality explosives." I said. Well, as much as I can after seeing the sack she's carrying.
Thank God for those implants that I could sneak a peek inside.
"I tip my hat for you. I like people who know their explosives." I said with a hand tipped the brim of my hat to her.
Not that I was going to let her off lightly. "But if you're still so inclined to point that stick at me… Don't miss. There won't be a second try." I let off a small reminder for her. It was just the two of us here. I was at point blank range for her — meaning the gap between us was small.
All in due time, if she pulls the trigger with a fifty to a fifty chance, one of us will walk into this room — now who would it be?
But she lowered her rifle. Almost willingly, I notice. No hesitation in her arms or hands.
Thank God, I was more appreciating her answer because whatever I did worked. Last I need is a fight right now. Though I noticed, my words had a definite effect on her.
Too much, in fact.
I watch her started trembling. Swear on my life, something was wrong with this girl.
After she finally gained some composure and spoke like nothing happened the last few seconds.
"W-well, what a surprise. Hehehee." She chuckled… All too long for my liking. Felt all strange and off about her.
"A surprise indeed." I murmured an echo.
"Drawn here as well?" She said, ask with a small tilt of her head to the side.
I shrugged. "For different reasons that's for sure."
"Regardless, I see this as a union of ours like a thread."
A thread?
"I don't follow."
"In due time you will." I heard her say. I sure do wish I won't. "I was fortunate to witness a marvel of your work firsthand. Your display of power is just… Breathtaking. Just the destruction you left, the impact you cause. Now to bear witness to the man responsible for the destruction. Finally!"
"…" Now it's coming all clear to me. She gets off from this.
I'm telling you, for all the people I meet in my life, the most threatening aren't the ones who know their stuff professionally; the people who are cold and calculating in their actions aren't, but it's the ones who genuinely love the things they do.
In her case, explosions and some devotion or addiction the thrill from it. She's a clear dangerous cocktail, that one. I just unknowingly sat by and let it be served to me.
"All of this was fascinating… Fate… Signs. But to be honest, I'm really interested in knowing your name." I said. Last time people spoke in cryptic, I just tend to ignore them as much as I needed to. I won't waste my head figuring out some fancy gibberish of words I have little clue.
Then she did something strange.
Her entire body quivered momentarily, as if a sudden gust of wind had swept through the room with her legs trembling reminded me of how a floater squirms before it dies.Heh, funny.
Gathering herself with visible effort, she brought a clenched fist to her lips, a gesture that spoke of both uncertainty and growing determination. Her voice, when it finally emerged, carried a slight stutter. "I-I relent. I would be more inclined to satisfy your lingering curiosity. It is to be expected of your future partner."
No, not really. Wait, future partner? Was my hearing right? I Narrowed my eyes at her. What did she say?
"I, Fox of Calamity… or as I have been bestowed upon this title by the masses. Or perhaps Kosaka Wakamo would you confine more with? I wouldn't mind with either. Just remember it in due time." I brushed off that previous thought and moved on to the Calamity part. Yeah, with bombs she carrying it fits.
Hah… A rebel without a cause… Fighting for nothing. Or just an adrenaline tripper. Calamity… Sew chaos… Or just for the hell of it, because she can. Well, that's one theory I got.
In summary, I am concerned about the explosives next to her, regardless of who she is or what she believed in.
"The name's Thirteen. A nomad, and a pretty good eye for valuables. If I don't mean to brag and all." I introduced myself.
"You know…" I said, well about to, when I noticed her ears fluttering at my words. Holy shit, I just noticed them.
I maintained a serious expression while looking at both of them flutter.
"You seem like an eccentric kid… When you're not planning to blow buildings up. How about you run along now?"
In the midst of their charged exchange, Yuuka's voice suddenly resonated through the space, causing both of them to turn toward the entrance. The interruption seemed to slice through the intimate atmosphere they had created, yet something in Wakamo's demeanor shifted rather than shattered.
"It seems like we're being interrupted. Even fate has a liking for tragic comedies as of late…" What the hell is a tragic comedy? Seems contradictory, don't you think?
Her sigh carried notes of disappointment that seemed to caress the air between them. With deliberate grace. She extended her arm downward, allowing her rifle to meet the floor with a soft thud. Each movement was measured, almost ceremonial, in its execution. Her body moved with what I could only describe as polished grace.
"What are you doing?"
I asked in question, confusion evident in my alcohol-addled mind as I tried to comprehend why surrender would be her response to impending discovery. All too strange for someone called with the title of Calamity to just surrender. I expected something else, something more from her. Not that I want to have another fight on my hands. Just expecting different in mind.
The situation seemed to spiral further from my understanding with each passing moment.
"Isn't it obvious, if you're not going, then I shall not as well. A duty of one's partner should be beside their counterpart."
Her muffled voice carried an undercurrent of devotion that seemed at odds with their precarious situation. Such resolve this kid really has. It was a declaration almost sounded to me.
Seriously, what the fuck is she on about? I'm still too drunk to understand almost all of it. To say "I'm lost" would be an understatement.
Finally! Just at the nick of time to pull me out of this demeaning silence of hell.
"Ah, it seems their's our interruption finally made themselves known." Wakamo said as she lightly raised her hands enough to signal her surrender.
Their arrival brought me a slight surprise when the four burst through the doorframe. Firearms all aimed at the two figures, us.
"Thirteen?" Suzumi's voice reached me as I sighed.
"Long story…" I muttered.
I was in a light daze, trying to make words coming to me any sense that when Yuuka and the others arrived; I fabricated a hasty story regarding Wakamo's identity, my words carefully measured to maintain a distance from the situation unfolding before me.
"That's the gist of it…" I ended. Some fuck off excuse story I made.
"I'd be more worried about the people you meet." Yuuka noted. Right, me meeting strange people — just goes with the shifting territory I go on — that was true. Wakamo was just another one of those that I shrug off, not knowing she's the intruder the four representative was sent to catch.
That was partially the truth. I did have my suspicions until the sack of explosives landed me my answer. I just wasn't planning on her detonating them if I made a sudden move.
Well, at the very least if Wakamo would actually press the button while both of us are down here — being the Fox of Calamity and all that, the risk was too high.
Well, at least that's what I nodded along with Yuuka's assessment. Anything to make them leave me the fastest.
I then turn to Hasumi, who accompanied Wakamo, the unusual person, out of the premises.
But just as the black-winged student began to lead her away, a curious detail caught my attention. Among the intricate design of her mask, where white orbs served as haunting eye holes, one briefly extinguished its glow. The momentary darkness was deliberate, unmistakable in its intent — a fleeting gesture that seemed to mock the very bonds that held her.
Did she wink at me?
Yuuka and Hasumi, for the most part didn't notice. Suzumi was busy inspecting the damages to the door — which I didn't take any credit for or I'll damn myself — Too busy or didn't care for at all.
They got their Calamity under handcuffs and key after all.
The sound of the two's departure grew fainter - boots against floor, the subtle clink of handcuffs, the whisper of fabric - but the significance of that wink lingered in the air like a perfume, too subtle for others to notice yet impossible for me to ignore.
It was a detail that would undoubtedly haunt my thoughts later, carrying implications that my drunken state couldn't most likely process alone.
"Well, thank you for stalling her. That at least deserve some merit." Yuuka said to me with a appreciating smile.
"Oh, don't thank me."
"…"
"Because I'm not even sure I'm lucid enough to follow what's going on." I said. There, I admit it.
"I'm sorry if I might insult you, but perhaps you also need medical attention."
Yuuka's voice filtered through the fog of my fatigue, her concern barely registering through the thick cotton wool that seemed to have replaced my thoughts.
"Oh no not at all. I'm fine. Just a bump in the head. I've had worse, really." The words came out slightly slurred. "But ah… Can't say, I found out the person who runs this place." This place is practically barren…
"Hah? Schale; you're looking for the… You must have been mistaken."
The confusion in Yuuka's voice raised my attention. Hm might need to remember that fact. Two different entities, slightly closed to each other. Might have mixed the two when I asked those kids hounding me back there.
"Mistake?" I said.
"Schale is not the government body of Kivotos, you must be looking for the GSC. I'm sure they would be happy to take your questions."
"Ah… I see." My response emerged as little more than a mumble.
"But we appreciate the help." Yuuka raised a slight fluster on her.
"Sure. Didn't do much, than wander off. Sure, no problem." The words tumbled out in a jumbled mess, fatigue making proper articulation seem like an insurmountable challenge.
"So, if this GSC…-" My brain struggled to form the complete thought, trailing off into silence.
"General Student Council." Yuuka supplied, filling the void left by my pause.
"Right. If they're the government around here… What are Schale?" The question, I said.
"To make a long story short… They're like a right hand of the GSC, you need help, you go to the GSC and they'll send Schale. Or you can go directly to Schale if it's not as important as the GSC would consider as important by them. A priority of sort."
"Like public service…"
"That's a close approximation. Yes."
The conversation lasted once Yuuka was called on by her friends.
I returned to look just looking around. But thrown off once, the whisperings crept back like tendrils of mist, seeping into the edges of my consciousness. In the stark emptiness of the moment, with no companion to distract my troubled mind, I found myself increasingly vulnerable to the monolith's call.
The stone's voices resonated louder this time. What disturbed me most wasn't just its otherworldly presence, but the sheer chaos of the voices. Like all were screaming for me.
It wasn't just me — It should not have. It was loud. The voices should have alerted somebody.
A sudden, sharp sensation pierced the side of my neck, reminiscent of a needle's sting. It was sudden, and the unexpected prick jolted me from my thoughts, my body tensing instinctively.
My hand moved with deliberate slowness, fingers ghosting over the skin where the sensation had bloomed. I probed the area gently, expecting to find a small wound or perhaps an insect's remains. Yet, as my fingertips explored my neck, they encountered nothing out of the ordinary. The skin was smooth, unbroken, showing no signs of the disturbance I had felt mere moments ago.
Puzzled, I discreetly scanned my surroundings, searching for any possible source of the phantom prick.
As quickly as it had come, the sensation faded, leaving behind only a lingering memory and a host of unanswered questions. I lowered my hand, forcing myself to appear nonchalant.
I turned around, seeking any sign of acknowledgment, anything to answer me that I wasn't alone in hearing these words.
Nobody flinched. Nobody paused. No one seemed to bother — hell, not a brief look at the voices. They were most busy with checking the sack of bombs or other damages done to the door.
I was alone in this. Just me to hear the voices.
As if drawn by an invisible force, my hand slowly reached out for it.
The voices were so loud that I couldn't understand what they were saying. There were too many calling out.
But one stood out.
"What do you see? Is this you? The real you? Which one is it? Who are you? How can you tell which do you call yourself your own."
A single voice stood out to me.
I tried to make sense of it, but the pieces of the puzzle just didn't fit together. In fact, I'm playing with missing pieces, actually.
So far… complicated.
"Thirteen?"
The sound of my assigned name jolted me back to reality.
Yuuka…
Recognition flickered through my mind as I blinked, the world coming back into focus. I turned to see Yuuka, her purple hair framing a face etched with mild concern.
"Huh? Ahem… yes?" I stammered, my voice slightly hoarse. I shifted in my seat, feeling the weight of reality settling back onto my shoulders as I fully returned to the present.
She nodded to me as she delivered her message.
"The GSC's vice president is asking for you. You can ask her anything. I'm sure she would be after your help."
Her words sent a small jolt through me. The vice president? My answers. Straightened myself up as I nodded, offering Yuuka a small smile of thanks.
"She'll be arriving soon, so we'll stay put and make sure nobody goes in and wrecks the place."
She also added."Are you okay? You spaced out a moment?"
Was I? Nobody noticed the voices coming from the stone, yet I was dazed? I was the odd one out?
"Right. Right." I mumbled back a response for her to leave, hopefully.
I gave one last look at the stone.
I see it all alright. But I can't understand the rest… Memories. I was certain. They're mine. Yet, some… I'm not sure if it is my own at all.
"For now, your work should be over. You can go back up and wait for the vice president to arrive."
The words hung in the air for a moment, signaling the end of our brief exchange. With a slight nod of acknowledgment, I went upside.
Now, the sun was setting, can't get enough of that sight. I concluded I was tired of it after the events from today.
From space station to a ship crashing from orbit to a shootout on the streets…
What a welcome this was.
Shit, this might actually say something more about me than the places I end up.
Still, might as well wait for this vice president.
A vending machine piqued my interest. I am parched after all the alcohol. After I went over to check, there was certainly a selection here.
But sadly, no Nuka Cola, I checked and the red and white logo wasn't on the display. Well, at least the title wasn't there. But the closest things on selection were these called carbonated drink called Ramune, or just regular soda.
Well, I can't complain.
But damn, do I miss a bottle of those radiated drinks…
…
Hm… Now where could Thirteen be…?
Wondered Trinity's Justice crew Suzumi as she went up the stairs. Her eyes glancing around the empty hall as trying to remember places around the building an outsider like Thirteen could fawn interest of.
Once finally back in the lobby area, her thoughts were interrupted by a voice.
"Piece of…!" A loud angered muttered as Suzumi followed to see a vending machine slid off from its wall and the person she's looking for.
Now crouched down on his knee while he put a slam on the side of the machine.
"Excuse me, mister Thirteen?"
Thirteen heard and stopped his property damage game and turned around. "Suzumi… Right?"
Said Suzumi nodded in correction.
"Er, wrong time to find me like this…" He said, noted while he stood back up. "So what can I do for you?"
Something out-of-place; Suzumi's eyes traced the vending machine being abused partially slid off the wall, its back face on, her gaze lingering on the unexpected dents marring the side of its surface being peppered.
Her curiosity piqued further as she noticed thin wires snaking out from behind the metal box, a strange sight compared to the rest,
"Is there a problem?" She inquired, her words stretched into a long drawl. Her mind raced, piecing together the puzzle of what transpired to Thirteen from the Vending Machine… Besides giving him a can or bottle he didn't want.
"Oh… That…" A rather suspicious pause… "Nothing much. This machine gave me…" Another moment of his hand showed her a red can of… "Tomato juice."
His next words tumbled out in a peculiar cadence towards the Trinity student. Frustration, sure, but a strange choice of words. "If I wanted to slurp something with tomato, I'd rather it be piping hot on a bowl with beans and some bread. Well, I don't mind if it's serve straight on the pan."
What? Suzumi wondered, momentarily thrown off, trying to make sense of the words chosen. Her eyes squared to see any hint of sarcasm lost within Thirteen. The dialect he used was also quite peculiar."You're saying…" she began, but let the sentence trail off, unsure how to respond at all to him.
"Eh, wanted to soda… But enough about that. You're giving me buyer's remorse. What is it do you need?" He said. Waved off with his hand for Suzumi to drop the subject.
Ah, so I was right…
Oh, right! She blinked as her hand reached into her blazer pocket.
She hands Thirteen her phone. "Vice President Rin will be calling for you shortly."
"Is that so…" He murmured as he took her phone.
A few minutes a call rang and Thirteen was quick to answer while Suzumi sat at a bench nearby. Like she was parting with her phone with a stranger.
Suzumi observed Thirteen intently, her eyes fixed on the phone pressed against his ear. She waited patiently as the muffled sounds of conversation drifted. The seconds ticked by and all Suzumi did was wait. Curious, sure.
Finally, Thirteen's arm lowered, the device slipping away from his face.
Suzumi's gaze shifted, landing on the vibrant red can now be extended towards her. The metallic sheen with a cutesy logo of a tomato.
"I don't drink these things." Thirteen said as he offered to her. "You can have it."
In a fluid motion, Suzumi reached for her phone and the can. While as Suzumi opened the drink, Thirteen lowered himself into the seat next to her. She watched him fiddle with the knobs and buttons of the strange device strapped to his wrist.
What a strange person. Suzumi remarked. The two quietly sat on a nearby bench while she sipped on her drink. She stole a few glimpses of him, nothing remarkable. The best she saw was just a tired face, always hidden under his hat, besides a few peeks here and there.
Everything about him so far has been nothing but questions. Suzumi certainly is filled with them.
Therefore, it came as a shock to her when Vice President Rin's arrival and broke the news.
"This guy. This adult is our sensei?"
Shock. Truly shocked. Well, not that shocked.
When I finally met this Rin and her other halo wearing-kinds.
What interests me more was the part she shared with me a proposition.
A very nice proposition.
…
Rin cleared her throat, her voice carrying a hint of discomfort as she addressed the group. "Indeed, we…" she began, pausing briefly to choose her words carefully. "arrived to unexpected circumstances and he was stranded wandering around the city unaccompanied with a guides." Her eyes flickered towards me, a silent understanding of what I was about to do.
She coughed again, this time more deliberately, as if to emphasize her next point. "Ahem, he tends to drift from places to places…" Rin's cold gaze hardened, fixating on me with an intensity that I almost got thrown off that she wasn't playing an act to save my rear from suspicion. "One I kindly reminded him not to when stepping off the station to wait for his guide."
I played along, feigning a flinch at her piercing stare. Though my reaction was mostly an act, a small part of it stemmed from genuine unease. Rin's ability to switch personas so seamlessly was both impressive and terrifying. I have to commend her. Must come with the job.
I nodded in response. Not too much nodding, enough to make a scene in front of the four representatives. To convince them.
The silence that followed was broken by a pointed-eared student with glasses. Her voice carried a mix of curiosity and skepticism as she asked, "A rancher as our Sensei?"
I turned to face her, my lips quirking into a half-smile. "Hey, this rancher just disabled two tanks and a whirly-bird. Don't make it sound like it's a bad thing to say. The least you can do after no thank you for saving your three friends here." I gestured towards the three stooges being the two with wings and the one with a purple hair. "Your brash assault on a enemy advance and an incoming reinforcement would have ended with tears without me and Kirino to cause disruptions." My tone was light, but there was an undercurrent of pride in my words.
I earned this. Me and Kirino; I which she was here with me. She deserved just as much for our efforts.
"Eh?" Chinatsu's quiet exclamation barely reached my ears. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she quickly added, "I apologize for my words…"
"Ah, don't be, just pulling your tail is all." I quickly said. "It's all good. I understand your worries. I don't look like someone from here after all. Heck, my uncle…"
Think of something… "Sends me these wild letters about the city… I was skeptical to some of 'em. But seems like he wasn't downplaying about the firefights on the streets." I said. Clear in my tone. Don't go overboard with my lie, or they'll start wondering and probing, but give them just enough to keep them satisfied.
However…
They still looked unsure. The shifting eyes to each other, I noted. An out-of-town drifter like me suddenly arrives here with no-name and suddenly now coming up to a seat high in this city. That was indeed going to arouse suspicion, no matter what.
This needs to be taken care of. A little [CHARISMA] could work.
Maybe I could start with these four? Hell, Rin already softens them up for me.
I cleared my throat and repeated my words, this time with a touch of more emphasis. A thought about a speech should be able to convince them otherwise tolerate me at the least. Either way, it works all the same with me to get this job. "I know you all have some reservations about me." With a slight rasp in my voice, I began speaking. The remnants of my past life lingered in my tone.
"I may not be the picture of pristine trustworthiness in a literal sense — or anything about me being pristine at all — to you four" To them, I'm a stranger. They have no clue about me, my history, my life. I prefer it to stay like that.
"But I tell you here and I want you to remember, I'm a good worker. I don't look like it, but I know a thing or two if you kids need my help. This was the job that was offered to me and the job I made my promise when I accepted to Rin here."
My eyes scanned the faces before me. They directed their attention towards me, showing their growing interest through their gaze. "I may not be always up to date with you city folks or how things work around here, but rest assured I aim to surprise people."
"After today," I said, my tone growing more serious, "I hoped my actions put you at ease, but if not, I hope to prove to you someday for my position here as… your teacher."
The four female representatives exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of uncertainty and curiosity. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, their postures began to relax. The oldest among them, or the tallest, Hasumi; The woman with black-hair and feathery wings gave a slight nod.
I showed a nod to her. "Thank you."
Despite the fatigue from that little ride I did with the tank, a faint smile lingered on my lips, gently easing the worn wrinkles on my face.
The four female representatives, who were initially cautious, warmed to me over time. The oldest, or the tallest among them, Hasumi. Her gaze that scrutinizes me earlier softened and the corners of her mouth lifted in a barely perceptible smile.
The rest followed suit with their own show of small appreciation with nods.
Why can I say I have a golden tongue, after all. That should stop some questions for a while until then.
Soon, the four representatives were called away to somewhere else, probably to watch over the transport of Wakamo to prison, leaving only Rin and me behind. Rin and I decided to go up to the second floor to keep an eye on the lobby and the people coming in. As we made our way up the stairs, the sound of voices chatting in the distance became louder.
The lobby now buzzed with the energy of people coming in, now that the place was safe from Wakamo.
I maintained steady eye contact as Rin commanded, "Stay here. We need to continue our discussion." Her tone carried an undercurrent of authority that filled the room.
"I'm all ears," I responded, settling into my stance.
She observed me with a thoughtful expression. Deep in her head. "Make no mistake, I do appreciate this help of yours, but taking you in is a large gamble."
"Because you don't have anything on me?" I cocked a brow, meeting her scrutinizing gaze.
Rin turned to me, her expression ever so unreadable.
Like hell am I going to tell her about the train ride. The space station, the apocalypse hell hole I came from, or the dystopian shit with robots alongside that. I'm not the biggest moron alive to add more scrutiny to myself by mentioning those.
I shifted my weight, choosing my words carefully. "The best I can do is that I woke up inside a cave… Sucking sand till I woke up. There was a boulder that blocked the way out and well, I got up to a desert after that."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "What are you? Justina's incarnate or are you trying to be?"
The unfamiliar name caught me off guard. "You mean Jesus?"
A short pause. I was confused and sure as hell she looked the same. "…" Rin's confused stare lingered behind her composed facade before she released a resigned sigh. "Never mind."
I pressed on, filling the awkward silence. "Well, I do know the place is called Abydos. The place with desert and ruined infrastructures around. Then I met someone lost as well, but she quickly left me the next day after we took shelter from a sandstorm."
"Must have been a huge bump in the head for you to end up inside a cave…" Rin noted, her voice tinged with skepticism.
"Right…" I managed, keeping my expression neutral.
Her next question came sharp and precise. "This student… Did you catch her name per chance?"
"Eh, no. I never caught it properly… My head was still dazed to remember. But… I do know her hair was blue… Light blue? Something like those lines if that helps." The half-truth felt heavy on my tongue.
"I see… I won't inquire about this any further. Until you can remember more details." Her words carried a note of finality as we returned our gaze to the lobby below. Until I can remember her more. She's just some mystery person who was kind enough not to steal from me or not too bright to steal from me while I slept.
Whichever the case with her might be, I hoped it'd be the former.
"Thank you." Relief crept into my voice despite my efforts to contain it.
She extended her hand, and at this informal moment, I noticed details about Rin that her professional demeanor usually overshadowed.
Now that I have a chance to look at her more closely, she really looks good, not with her cold look all the time.
Her eyes, no longer sharp with scrutiny, now just this tired, dull glimmer. It's still there in those blue eyes of hers, the flame but dwindling.
She offered a handshake and we shake on it.
She seemed less the intimidating now and more like someone who, despite her position, carried herself with an understated beauty that needed no embellishment.
She always had this cold expression to her, plastered the entire time. Being the vice president of running this city does that to someone like her. I suppose you get to the point in your life being the person who helps run this city — you tend to shut yourself emotionally away from everyone. Can't show emotions when you're at this position and at this particular job — it becomes a weakness.
Still, I can't deny for someone called a "student" she comes across as close to a NCR regional administrator, but still looks decent and without a five 'o'clock shadow and poor posture.
But come on, she looked liked those elves from the comic books! Pointy eyes, the long flowing hair — granted, she's not the usual elf trappings of being blond — and not flat on the chest, Rin is really endowed. Like plucked from some of this picture books of magic and swords.
Don't get me started on the clothes she wore too… I did not want to go there.
As our hands parted, she resumed her professional bearing, but the glimpse of her more approachable side lingered in my eyes at least.
Rin straightened, her posture shifting to something more businesslike. "For now, if you truly are who you claim your capabilities, there is your first task I would hand over to you…"
A tablet? Pretty futuristic or pretty outdated. But a chest? Sure doesn't look like one to me.
The glint of metal caught my eye as Rin presented a tablet she'd been holding. The device's surface reflected the overhead lights.
"Perhaps you can try your hand to unlock this device. It's called a Shittim Chest." She paused, her words carrying deliberate weight. "Make sure to treat it with care. It's origins date far back long before any record of its creator or the inhabitance when this is produced. Just to let you know." Rin's explanation continued as I took the tablet, its screen displaying a password lock.
That's it? Is she playing with me right now? Some old tech from long ago? I cocked my brow at this strange device, not buying a single thing of it.
Her voice cut through my skepticism. "Only the president herself knew what the password was — we had nearly anyone with high position here attempt to unlock it with so far no success." A brief shadow crossed her features before she added, "if a miniscule chance you did bypass its security. Well, I will personally thank you. Until then, this was supposed to be handed to someone with your position. Though, doubt that it would be much useful to you in its current state."
So, a glorified paperweight for now.
The device felt heavier than its size suggested as I asked, "So, it's supposed to help how?"
Rin released a grumble sigh, frustration evident in her furrowed brow. "That is just the thing. This…" Her finger landed firmly on the glass screen, the gesture sharp with emphasis. "This links to the main Sanctum Tower. Which in it's current state is running on bear minimum capacity since the president disappeared. Without the full capabilities of the tower the GSC and in turn, SCHALE, is constraint without the Sanctum's ability."
"So you're putting your bets onto me to put this tower of yours in full power?" I cocked a brow, the weight of the responsibility settling in. "Well, thank you. I'll see to it when I have the time."
"Besides that is all I can share. The president kept it in the dark to anyone else, but told to Sensei, it would be a great help to them. However that would happen with it locked."
The conversation was interrupted by sudden chaos - screams erupted from the lobby as firearms clattered across the floor from fallen crates. Rin's response was another weary sigh.
"Stay here or…" She glanced toward the commotion, "Just close-by I'll have someone introduce you to your office later." As I was left alone, Rin went down to see the mess made, uttering her final words.
So far, not a lot of words I could describe today. I mean, hijacking a moving tank while under fire by multiple guns. Taking down a whirly-bird.
Not much to say, really.
When you live this long, you tend to just mellow that feeling of home all out. What happens, well, happens. The best someone like me to get out of this is a cushy job that pays now that I'm far from home.
Returning home is out of the question.
Best I can do is make myself scarce, learn the things this city has or does. Go full native if I have to. Besides, being homesick won't do anyone good in a situation like this.
Yeah, I could leave and go home whenever I want. Yeah, right…
I stood above watching people finally fill the lobby. The ones with halo and robots. What a strange sight this all is. The tablet was still in my hand.
I held it up to my eye-level to see more about it.
Nothing too unusual. The device's screen had gone dark, reflecting the space around me like a mirror. I was about to power it one once more until I notice a figure by the glass reflection standing at the end of the far hallway behind me.
It's looks human; and it doesn't have a halo…
I turned around.
A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry for the long delay, originally there were supposed to be 2 chapters posted today, but recent happenings at school rendered me to push it back further next month. So, first, Korean classes are going poorly, the professor is nice, but she gives strict instructions and will give you next to no grade if you make a mistake. Currently taking extra credit classes in the future due to storms hammering my country.
Also, there are currently two on their way after one just ravaged the northern provinces. Apparently, one is heading to the middle part of my country, while the one that just passed has a high chance of returning for a second serving of floods and storms to us by next week. Lol, the storm was not satisfied that it will return soon to finish the job.
But really, I am praying to the northern towns that are flooded because I heard that reconstruction will be on paused on affected areas due to the storm returning to possibly hit them again.
Currently, the capital city where I live is safe, except for power outages. I had to help fortify my neighborhood from the storm and got i sick for weeks so there's that. Currently recovering and thanks to our district mayor that classes are suspended, even online classes to rest due to unstable internet and power outages.
Also, Band Airi is doing things to me I didn't know possible. I normally use her original variant for the Ex skill, but now I have a thing for normal girls with no quirks. Holy shit, what is happening to me? Anyway, sorry for the long wait.
Also, I'm currently prepping documents for an internship held by the uni I'm attending by next and next month. So expect even slower updates or shorter chapters.