ã€ŠGIG: God In Goldã€‹


 PART ONE, PROLOGUE

    PART ONE, PROLOGUE: "DAZE"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    The most turbulent winds are that of youth.

    In hindsight, I was stupid to worry about anything back then. The problems of children, ordinarily small, are matters of the utmost personal importance. Your problems win out over any other, no matter how unreasonable they might be.

    Stressing over tests when there are people starving, agonizing over love when there are wars to be fought. To a more well informed adult, a child is merely self-absorbed. It''s not something that you could be faulted for though. All kids are selfish, accepting this is just part of growing up.

    Yes, that''s how it should be.

    To reminisce about those days, to go back to them once more, such would be impossible. To consider all the people who stood at my side, to step forward for all those I left behind, there''s no point anymore. Up to this point, down to the very last second, I''ve done so far too many times.

    Ah.

    It''s foggy, but I can still see it. The high points, which left me giddy like a child. The low points, which felt like I was at the bottom of the sea. All of it weaved together, and at the end you find the person I''d like to be remembered as. Or rather, I better not be forgotten.

    "...One last time," I murmured, "While I can still see it."

    Yes, it''ll be fine this way.

    Very well, it can''t be helped. One last time, I shall become the idea that all look upon so fervently. The highest of the high. The very idea of perfection. In my greatest moment, I will become the pinnacle of all creation. All shall look upon me and lament their own imperfection.

    Hear and obey, insects. The Golden King tells his story!

    <hr>

    -S0001-

    <hr>

    Change started in my last year of middle school.

    "Fu..." I exhaled, showcasing my irritation.

    This was a natural response because it was hot. Abnormally so, even. Summers weren''t supposed to get hot, but the artificial island had drifted out of cold waters that year. It hadn''t regulated its temperature well, hence where the problem got out of hand.

    Chirping power lines sounded, granted such a right by the sun''s intense heat. I sometimes had difficulty telling it apart from the fervent mating calls of cicadas. Both were inconsequential noises though; they didn''t matter.

    The park bench I sat on was hot. You could cook an egg on its surface if desperate enough. I''d heard of somebody who''d tested such a theory, though they currently suffered from an intense case of food poisoning.

    As for why I sat here, the reason was simple: I''d been challenged. Heat served as my anti-thesis, born from inexperience with the subject. Calling me out in this weather was unforgivable. Summer bouts over territory were uncommon, as few liked fighting beneath the hot sun. This was especially true of myself; I preferred the cold. Unfortunately, not everyone shared this preference.

    With my left hand, I swished the contents of my crumpled water bottle. Under the heat they had turned lukewarm, a point which made me sigh. The mere idea of drinking such swill made me sick to my stomach. This was normal, without question, normal.

    With my right hand I fingered my cell phone''s touchscreen. A quick skim of my texts showed that I hadn''t missed anything important. As nothing was supposed to happen in summer, this was also normal. Yes, that was certainly the case.

    It was not these actions that set this day apart, but rather the fact that I was doing them. I, who could only be classified as special, had been relegated to such peasantry. This was not something I could easily accept.

    Without a change in expression, my irritation reached its summit. With a flick of my wrist, I tossed my water bottle at a nearby garbage bin. The plastic vessel crackled with a golden electricity, flying forward with the twinkling ferocity of a shooting star. It hit the target dead on¡ª

    "Ah." I frowned.

    ¡ªExcept, not quite.

    The bottle exploded against empty space, scattering melted plastic and water onto the pavement. It was an abrupt show of power from one other than myself. How foolish.

    "So you''re the Golden King, huh?" A voice called.

    "Yes."

    It was a curt response. I had nothing more or less to say, as the mere confirmation of my title stated enough. It was obvious, wasn''t it? I, the Golden King. I, the strongest.

    "The rumors weren''t lying, your pressure is absurd." She snickered.

    Despite hearing those words, they didn''t quite reach me. I''d been in a foul mood to begin with, and the damp school uniform sticking to my skin didn''t make me feel any better. To me, the fight had already started. Because I was strong, I didn''t need to exchange words. As this person was an ant, I could easily crush them.

    I pried myself off the bench, my gaze shifting to the voice''s source: an unfamiliar person.

    Long red hair billowed down from her head and settled at her waist. Her slender frame, ordinarily a sign of weakness to many, came across as the epitome of confidence in this scenario alone. Her uniform, both black and red, belonged to the illustrious Kawagusa General Academy.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    This person owned no territory, so I had nothing to gain from victory. Even so, I''d been challenged. It was a King''s duty to respond to those below him, no matter how foolish they might be. After all, one who could defeat me was certainly worthy of the throne I''d leave behind.

    I stepped forward, aurum stars and electricity twinkling amidst the heat haze. This was the regalia that heralded my ability''s activation, and it was the means by which I''d earned my title.

    "You seem pissed." The girl smiled.

    Ignoring that person''s playful demeanor, I decided to end the battle. I waved my arm.

    "¡ªBow."

    Once more, the horizon was painted gold.

    <hr>

    -S0002-

    <hr>

    A long time has passed since then.

    That person was... how to put it, I guess they were bright. It was hard to overshadow that kind of person, who lived life to the fullest. I couldn''t understand that reckless mentality, which was probably why I found her so fascinating. It was strange.

    To this day I don''t know much about her. Her likes, her dislikes. Her dreams, her fears. She was an anomaly for someone like me, whose pride lay in what could be done rather than what had been done. That girl brought out the best in some and the worst in others. In my case, I wasn''t sure if it was the former or the latter.

    Akane Akasaka was her name.

    Akane, a full year older than me, was an enigma that I couldn''t grasp. She disappeared from my life just as quickly as she''d entered. Her goodbye, a simple "later," made it seem as if she was merely stepping out for a bit. Such was one trait of hers that I absolutely couldn''t stand. As she walked a path I looked down on, I couldn''t chase her shadow.

    Even so, that person wouldn''t leave my head.

    <hr>

    -S0003-

    <hr>

    Sounds of a television interview drifted in from the living room.

    "What do you have to say about the current state of Tanegashima?" The first one was a reporter.

    "At this time, we have received word that Tanegashima has fallen to a swarm of Demons. We have designated it as Night Parade #734, and it has an estimated mortality rating of around eighty percent." The second one, given their rigid posture, seemed to be important.

    "As you know, Tanegashima is relatively close to Niflheim''s current drift coordinates. The city''s core, Nidhogg, hasn''t made any attempts to distance us from this threat. Does this mean that Niflheim is not at risk of swarm from #734?" The reporter asked.

    "We are currently unsure why Nidhogg refuses to take evasive measures. At this time, we are within the thousand mile swarm radius. With that in mind, be advised that the island may go into lockdown within the next few months."

    The contents of the interview drifted to my ears, though I cared for little of it.

    I yawned, slipping my shoes on. Usually I''d sit down to do so, but today I was feeling more energetic than usual. With a bit of effort, my boots slid on over my socks and my feet suddenly felt less comfortable. New footwear was always like this before breaking it in.

    After patting my gray winter jacket down, I grabbed my school bag. It wasn''t very heavy yet, but that''s always how things were at the start of a school year. I slung the bag over my shoulder and then nodded, satisfied.

    As I turned towards the front door though¡ª

    "Yo, Satou..."

    The hoarse voice carrying through the Shibuya household was dabbed with a tinge of unhappiness. I slowly turned my head towards the source of this voice and, after doing so, sighed. I knew exactly who this person was.

    Disheveled brown hair and amber-colored eyes greeted me. Those belonged to a girl of the same age as myself, one that stood at the top of the nearby stairs. She looked to have a cold, what with the snot dripping from her nose and the blanket wrapped around her body.

    This was my notoriously unlucky twin, Shizuka.

    "Yes?" I asked.

    "I want something carbonated."

    And so, things turned out like this. I''d expected a request, though I''d hoped it to be for medicine or fruit. Unfortunately, my baseless faith was met with no reward.

    "Impossible, sorry."

    "Impo¡ª oi, can''t you go buy something then?"

    I shook my head. Honestly, how foolish.

    "I need to go look at my score on the placement test, Shizuka."

    "Can''t you miss today or something?"

    "You''re already doing it in my stead."

    "That hurts, okay?"

    My sister frowned. I knew it was rude, but my sister was prone to asking for unreasonable things. It was a habit that wouldn''t go away unless addressed. Shizuka was my most important person. As such, it was only natural that I steer her towards a better future.

    "And to think, I even did your hair when you asked." Shizuka grumbled.

    I frowned. "Don''t say it like that. You make it seem like more than it was."

    "So boring."

    "Sorry for being boring. I''m trying not to be too bland, though it seems it''s a difficult ratio to properly balance. As I thought, should I dip into another character archetype?" I paused for a moment. "No, it''s fine. I should develop what I have before giving up on anything¡ª"

    "I take it back, you''re just annoying!"

    "Really?" My focus shifted to the front door. "Then that''s fine."

    Shizuka quickly lifted a hand. "W-wait, at least pick up something sweet on your way back!"

    I gave a playful salute. "I''ll consider it."

    With that, I left for school.

 PART ONE, CHAPTER ONE

    PART ONE, CHAPTER ONE: "100% PURE GOLD"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    A light snowfall blanketed the area, as per usual.

    My gait as I walked down the street showcased my nonchalance. No other students went in this direction, but that was to be expected. Kawagusa General Academy was fairly far from where I lived, but that''s why I chose it. It meant I needn''t worry about running into an old face. Taking the train to school every morning was a small price to pay for such.

    Lowering a hand, I felt around in my pocket for my cell phone. When I found it, I pulled it out and quickly checked the time. It was nearly seven in the morning. Schedules were odd today, but there was probably time to spare. To begin with, I was already early.

    As I put my cell phone away, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye.

    That was... probably a girl. She wore a beige windbreaker.

    The girl looked up at something, likely the nearby tree covered in a thin glaze of snow. I wondered how someone could be so fixated on a tree. Upon closer inspection, however, I found my answer. A cat sat on a branch more than a meter above the girl''s head.

    Always a cat, is it?

    I observed the scene before me through narrowed eyes. The girl, who sported a head of long golden hair, impatiently tapped her foot. I wasn''t sure what to think in the face of this strange person. Was she trying to get the cat down?

    How curious.

    As I considered this, the situation''s oddity dawned on me. What special sort of cat gets stuck in a tree, especially in this day and age? What''s more, it was a fairly small tree! I naturally felt the need to help. Don''t misunderstand though, obviously I''d help a beautiful girl. Case in point, this girl was very beautiful. She also looked slightly familiar.

    Her aloof countenance displayed confusion regarding what to do, but that was fairly cute. It made sense that she wouldn''t climb the tree. She was wearing a knee-length skirt, so why would she?

    My gaze further narrowed. "Honestly though, she looks very familiar."

    It made sense if given even a modicum of real thought. This girl was definitely beautiful, perhaps someone of importance. Assuming such to be the case, obviously I''d remember seeing her, even if just vaguely. Yes, it all made sense.

    Seeing only one way to go forward with this encounter, I decided to approach. Perhaps hearing the sound of my footsteps, the girl shifted her golden gaze to me. There was a moment''s pause on both sides. Feeling no point to this tension, I decided to cut through it.

    "Do you need some help?" I asked.

    "Hm?" Her voice wasn''t particularly high or low.

    She didn''t look foreign, which limited the possible explanations for such eye-catching golden hair. This, of course, assumed that she was human. Counter to the previous point was the Kawagusa General Academy uniform beneath her unzipped jacket.

    The girl''s eyes narrowed, but her confused look lingered.

    "Is that a yes? Perhaps a no?" I continued.

    "No, I don''t need help."

    Her response was quick and concise, but it didn''t seem rude. On the contrary, her intonation was practiced and business-like. She seemed experienced in the time-lost art of face-to-face conversation, a skill that most needed to polish in this era of advancing technology. Still, mostly given my nature, I wasn''t one to talk.

    "It seemed as if you''d been here for a while." I paused. "I merely assumed..."

    "How long have you been watching?" She frowned.

    I blinked wildly, unsure if I''d done something I wrong. Could it be? This early into the conversation, and I''ve already messed up? No, let''s not be hasty. I might be misunderstanding. I cleared my throat, then continued as if I hadn''t noticed her change in expression.

    "Not too long, I think?"

    The girl sighed. "I could easily retrieve Nekogami¡ª"

    "Nekogami?" My brow furrowed.

    "I refer to it as such because I don''t know its real name."

    She hurriedly defended herself. Embarrassment didn''t register on her face, but I noticed her shoulders tremble a bit. Was she sensitive about her poor naming sense? How unexpected, especially given the girl''s sharp gaze and cool demeanor.

    "Why not call it a cat?" I tilted my head.

    "Would you prefer being referred to by species?"

    "At the very least, I wouldn''t hate it." A pause. "I think."

    A loud meow drew our focus back to the cat.

    "As I was saying," she steered us back on topic, "I could easily retrieve Nekogami, but¡ª"

    "But?"

    "But," the girl continued, a large frown spreading across her face, "That would mean harming a tree that''s done nothing wrong. I''ll refrain from stating my thoughts on force that can only cause harm, but you should have a good idea."

    I frowned at her last point.

    How did she intend to get the cat down? What scary method of cat retrieval did she have in mind, I wonder? Was she the type to brute force a problem into submission? I understood that mentality, it was definitely very effective. Or rather, it was a mentality I''d worked on getting out of.

    Before that, what is this person saying?

    "Harm?" I snickered. "You know, it''s just a tree."

    "Wrong," The girl quickly and decisively responded, her voice saturated with conviction. "It''s not just a tree, for it lives like both you and I."

    "I already know that. You''re barking up the wrong tree." A beat passed, during which I received no response. "No, perhaps it was supposed to be meowing? As I thought, worthless pleasantries are hard."

    "Once more, wrong." Her tone was solemn.

    The girl didn''t acknowledge my joke at all. She scanned me up and down with those golden eyes. First my face, and then my unzipped winter jacket alongside the uniform that lay beneath. I averted my gaze, feeling my face grow hot.

    "The same uniform as me, it seems. You''re attending Kawagusa General Academy?" She asked.

    I nodded. "Ah, er, yes."

    "Such shameless conduct."

    The girl curtly responded with such. I couldn''t understand the point being made, and I doubted anyone else in my situation would. Before I could seek clarification, she pointed a finger at me.

    "I am ashamed to be attending the same school as you," she stated.

    So it''s like this.

    Was this the character archetype she practiced? While certainly overdone, I could sense the appeal in it. Of course, I myself held no fondness for this archetype. It was similar to my own, I think, but a tad more rigid.

    "Er, I''m not sure I follow." I frowned.

    "You should shower trees with respect. After all, you in particular share much with them."

    "I see, I see. In what sense?"

    "It has fairly dark bark." The girl pointed at the adjacent tree. After a second''s pause, she then turned her finger in my direction. "You have black hair and amber eyes. You should already see the fault in your previous statement, yes?"

    "Hold on, you were obviously stumped there. Furthermore, how does black hair relate to tree bark? Are you joking? Am I perhaps being bullied? How interesting, I''ve never been on the receiving end. I wonder, do I give off that kind of impression? That''s no good at all."

    She was visibly perplexed. "I... stand by my point."

    "That''s fine, that''s only natural. I see, is it my appearance that determines what people I get to interact with? Is there some form of social synthesis that I don''t understand? I should ask if Shizuka has a social recipe book... no, what am I even talking about?"

    I quickly ceased my rambling. People on the island were generally odd, but this girl struck me as that special kind of odd. If I were to quote a drama, I''d never seen someone get so heated over a discussion about nothing at all. It was a surreal experience.

    "What''s your name?" The girl asked. "I''ll make sure to remember it."

    "How abrupt."

    She crossed her arms. "I have to remember the names of people such as yourself."

    My, what a strange turn of events. I rolled my eyes, letting loose a small sigh. If the girl noticed, she didn''t say anything about it. Instead, she stepped forward and, in a gross invasion of personal space, prodded my chest with her index finger. Her gaze narrowed, as if she''d already grown tired of this exchange.

    "Do not dodge the question." She said.

    "Satou Shibuya," I stated. After a pause, I brushed her hand aside. A frown registered on my face, after which I took a small step back. "By the by, don''t touch me."

    "Shibuya, then."

    The girl''s tone was odd. It seemed like she realized something, though only after hearing my name. I was immediately overcome with a feeling of mild irritation. After all, I was the type who disliked being out of the loop.

    No, we''re getting off topic again. Not good, not good.

    I cleared my throat. "Regarding that cat..."

    My gaze turned to the tree. It was natural that I steer the main topic back to the cat. It was, after all, the reason for our conversation. It would be weirder not to bring us back to square one given how derailed we''d gotten.

    After a moment, the girl spoke. "I will get it."

    "I could get it." I responded.

    "No, I''ll climb the tree."

    "Oh, I see. Very well."

    Now it was the girl''s turn to tilt her head. "You don''t seem convinced."

    "You''re wearing a skirt, so I assumed¡ª"

    "Oh."

    The girl glanced down at her skirt, then snapped her fingers. Clearly she''d forgotten about her choice in attire, which I found a bit funny. She likely didn''t wear skirts in her free time. Nevertheless, I''d expected a development like this given the way she carried herself.

    "In any case, I''ll do it."

    She waved dismissively. "Nonsense, I can handle it."

    "You''re making this needlessly difficult."

    "Needlessly difficult?"

    I sighed. "Mind you, I can repeat things too."

    The girl frowned, her brow twitching. She clearly wanted to comment, but instead crossed her arms and refrained. Obviously she held no appreciation for my quip, but her composure was impeccable. "What would you do, Shibuya? I''d like to hear your thoughts."

    She might''ve been taunting me with that last statement, I think. Such a prospect would be dangerous! Almost catastrophically so, especially given my dark history. I was (apparently) difficult to handle on a bad day, whatever that meant.

    "Behold, inse¡ª" I paused. "Or rather, watch."

    After moving beneath the tree, I glanced up at the cat a meter or so above my head. In all honesty, it seemed less terrified and more unamused that we were talking in its general vicinity. I think it truly was relaxing on that branch.

    It''s unfortunate, but you''ll be coming down from there.

    I lifted both arms, locking eyes with the cat. Aurum stars twinkled at my fingertips, but I made sure to hold back. If we thought of myself as a superhero, this universally coveted ability would easily give away my identity.

    "Come," I commanded.

    Needless to say, the result was obvious.

    The cat hopped into my arms without a moment''s hesitation. This was score one for the exalted Satou Shibuya. No, perhaps the correct phrasing would be "Score one for Shibuya"? I wasn''t entirely sure, but such couldn''t be helped.

    Let''s put that aside for now.

    I glanced down at the small animal pressed against my chest. It sported black fur and yellow eyes, which quivered with unease. It was probably a neighborhood cat. The terror on its face showed that it hadn''t come to me out of trust, but out of fear for what I''d do if disobeyed.

    The girl''s stance slackened, as if her tension had evaporated into thin air. She lightly shook her head, dispersing the thin laying of snow that had gathered on top. Her widened eyes quickly regained their sharpness, after which she cleared her throat.

    "I''m curious, how did you do that?" She asked.

    "It was the natural conclusion." I spoke in a matter-of-fact sort of way.

    After a moment spent prodding the disgruntled cat''s nose, I reluctantly released it. The chubby animal quickly scampered off, leaving a trail of disorderly paw prints in the snow. It couldn''t stomach me, having deemed my presence unhealthy for both mind and body.

    The girl frowned. "So I wasn''t needed after all."

    Despite mirroring that statement''s sentiment, I didn''t do so out loud. After all, such would be rude. Or at least, that''s the impression I got. I hadn''t warmed up to simple conversations like this yet, so I couldn''t understand all of their nuances.

    "Don''t say such sad things." I responded.

    If I hadn''t seen the girl by the tree, I would''ve ignored the cat stuck (citation needed) in its confines. Furthermore, if it had been a person less attractive, I wouldn''t have approached. Granted, that wouldn''t have mattered. Cats are smart. No, that''s the wrong word.

    Cats are crafty. They''ll typically solve their own problems.

    The girl turned and started off in another direction, prompting me to quirk a brow. I called out to her before she could get too far. It seemed there was something important that she was forgetting. Or rather, it was common courtesy. How could she have forgotten?

    "I never got your name."

    I stated this calmly, my eyes focused on her sleek back. It wasn''t like I wanted to know. Rather, I''d introduced myself. It was only natural for her to do the same, hm? At the time, I justified my logic like that. In retrospect though, I simply wanted to know her name. That''s all there was to it.

    The girl turned her head, her expression teeming self-confidence. If I''d been a simpler person, I might''ve fallen for her from that alone. Make no mistake though, I don''t think she won me over. Still, that look had definitely captivated me for a few moments.

    She placed a hand on her hip. "You''re on the way to check your test results, yes?"

    What could I do but nod?

    "Then you''ll know my name soon enough." She responded. The girl smiled, narrowing her gaze. A sort of spark was well apparent in those aurum-colored eyes. "After all¡ª"

    "After all?"

    "I will have the highest score."

    I blinked. It was good to have faith in your own abilities. That''s confidence, right? Or was it arrogance. Regardless, this girl had ambition. I didn''t dislike that. Or rather, it was a trait I held profound fondness for.

    Without another word, the girl took her leave.

    As we attended the same school, I''d have ordinarily followed her. That, unfortunately, would mean walking in the same general direction. I didn''t follow because, after such a heart-racing departure, following her to the train station would be awkward.

    I''ll let her have the satisfaction of saying a cool line and leaving.

    The girl quickly shrunk into the distance, leaving small footprints in the snow. Her long golden hair fluttered on the chilly winds. It was a rather pretty character trait, albeit preternatural in nature. I held few non-human prejudices though, so I could appreciate it.

    Honestly, youth is such a hassle.

    After several minutes of loitering, I entered a nearby caf¨¦ to pass the time.

    <hr>-S0004-

    <hr>

    The oh-so-mighty Satou Shibuya ordered a cup of too-sweet coffee.

    About an hour later, I''d exited the caf¨¦. I quickly walked on over to the train station. As per usual, I used my card to pay for the expenses and then hopped onto the train. It wasn''t nearly as cramped as it would''ve been had I gone earlier.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    There was no reason to worry about being late today. I assumed the entrance ceremony wasn''t going on until later in the day, but I might''ve been wrong. Or rather, the chance was extraordinarily high. I don''t know why, but I had a bad feeling about that.

    Honestly? I could have gone and bought my sister the carbonated drink she wanted in the time I spent nursing my coffee in that caf¨¦, but that''d be a foolish thing to do. Well, not foolish. After all, Shizuka was my most important person.

    "I''ll pick something up on my way home. Nothing carbonated though."

    I sat down in an empty seat and waited for the train to reach its destination.

    The ride itself took about twenty minutes, which showed just how far Kawagusa General Academy was from my neighbourhood. It honestly wasn''t all that unpleasant a ride. I got to watch the distant sea through a window, and that was fairly nice. The view would probably lose its charm after the fifth or sixth trip, but for now it was still beautiful.

    When the train grinded to a halt at my destination, I got up and disembarked. I stood in the station for a couple of moments, just stretching. When that was finished¡ª

    "Ah."

    I sighed. It hit me all too late that I''d forgotten my bag on the train. Who knew, maybe it''d get turned into the area''s lost and found. It might even still be on the train when I came back for a return trip.

    "That''s unlikely though."

    With an irritated sigh, I made my way out of the station and started down the street.

    The area was a lot more bustling and vibrant than my neighbourhood. For instance, you could actually hear absent-minded chatter going on in the background. What''s more, people wearing uniforms like my own wandered about the area. It was only a few though, so that was nice.

    As it would turn out, I wasn''t directionally challenged. Or rather than not being directionally challenged, I guess you could say that it was honestly too simple to mess up. I knew that if I kept walking straight, I''d definitely reach the school.

    "However, I wish I didn''t have to walk." I murmured.

    Make no mistake. It wasn''t as if I couldn''t be bothered to walk. The distance between the station and the school was genuinely quite large. The fact that I only had to go in a straight line was nice, but that doesn''t really get rid of the distance itself.

    When I finally cleared the last hill, I saw my school in the distance: the snow-topped Kawagusa General Academy. I heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing the massive building. That meant that one, I wasn''t lost, and two, I was essentially at my destination.

    With a nod I decided to jog the rest of the way.

    I came to a halt upon reaching the gates and slowly exhaled. I then caught my breath. As it would turn out, jogging was a foolish idea when nothing at all required and/or benefited from it. This was especially the case in cold weather. Still, I hadn''t broken a sweat, so there was no harm done. Gazing in, I could see that students wearing familiar uniforms seemed to loiter around the area.

    My first guess was that the results hadn''t been posted yet. As a result, I felt foolish at having left so early. Actually, had it really been that early? Maybe this school just has a terrible sense of timing. Granted, I''m not one to be talking if I didn''t know.

    I walked over to a nearby bench and, after clearing off a blanket of snow, sat down. While I was still unhappy at having lost my bag, there hadn''t been anything too important inside. With that said, it was the least of my concerns. This was where the real battle started.

    The 1st Holy Friendship War is afoot.

    "First, survey the battlefield." I murmured.

    My end goal was to be a productive member of society, but I had a bunch of smaller goals set up in order to get me there. Among them were getting a job and an idol girlfriend (no exceptions to this), but also among them was just making friends. This meant the kind who weren''t delinquents.

    I panned my gaze from left to right, taking in those present. Circles had already started to form and I needed to insert myself into one. This was where I encountered my first problem. After all, deciding my target was more difficult than initially expected.

    My gaze focused on a particularly loud group of students, all who seemed at least somewhat attractive. Now I don''t think they''re out of my league. Or rather, it''d be more realistic to state that I was out of everyone''s league. It was more that, well¡ª

    "The normal percentage for that one is pretty high."

    I shifted my gaze. It was far too high a hurdle for the current me, so I decided to target a different circle. This time I glanced over at a similarly rowdy group, but in a different way. They looked familiar, kind of like¡ª

    "Ignore the potential bad apples."

    Let''s see, this next group is¡ª

    "My, is that you? Satou? Satou Shibuya?"

    There shouldn''t be anyone in the area who knows my name, such were my initial thoughts. In retrospect, that wasn''t entirely true. There was that golden-haired girl, but this voice certainly hadn''t belonged to her. This voice was clearly male. What''s more, its tone was far too friendly.

    I slowly turned my head towards the source of the voice. There I found another student.

    They were a bit taller than me and had a more slender build. I could recognize that pale skin and dyed green hair anywhere. This was an old comrade. I''d associated with this person throughout all of middle school, and part of elementary school. Don''t misunderstand though, someone of such low calibur couldn''t possibly be my friend.

    We were like two people who worked in the same department... no, perhaps that''s a bad analogy.

    "Do I know you?" I lied. Clearly it wasn''t convincing enough.

    "As I thought, it is you."

    My just-conceived patron deity, as of now unnamed, was laughing at me from the afterlife. How corny, yes? It was mildly unpleasant, but I knew I had to act fast. I slowly averted my gaze.

    "I''m sorry, I really don''t know you."

    "Gekkouhara. Genjou Gekkouhara, remember?" the boy asked, pointing at his own face. "Or rather, there''s no way you wouldn''t remember. Are you trying to play dumb? Ah, no wait, you don''t have to try so hard... no, maybe you should. After all, that''s one of your best traits."

    "Treasure your life." I cracked my neck.

    Now that I think about it, Genjou did prefer living life on the edge.

    "You know how we took down Kokorobuki Middle School, right?" Genjou spoke. "I heard they got a stronger leader after the old one graduated, but we could obviously still take them. If you were to ask me who the new leader is though, it''s probably... hm..."

    "Ah?" I tilted my head. "Isn''t it that red-haired vampire¡ª"

    "My, it is you!" He spoke.

    Oh, shoot. At that point, the cat was out of the bag.

    Genjou wasn''t your typical delinquent. Despite sometimes acting upbeat, he was genuinely cold-blooded. Honestly, it was off-putting to see him without a knife. That''s a scary thought in and of itself. Not for myself, mind you. Why would I be afraid of such an insect?

    For the record, Genjou was one of the bigger names in my old circle. My round table, if you would. He was one of my more reliable Knights. Obviously that was all a thing of the past. I''d graduated from a bad apple into what would soon become a functional member of society.

    "But to think that you''d come here too." He murmured.

    "Is it really that odd?"

    Genjou nodded. He placed a hand on my shoulder. "As I thought, was it Akane''s influence? Also, what''s with that black hair dye? I won''t say that I dislike it, but it might give someone the wrong impression of you. Someone like you doesn''t fit the light novel protagonist archetype."

    "Oh?" I brushed Genjou''s hand aside. He didn''t seem to mind. "What archetype do I fit into?"

    Genjou seemed to consider my words for a few moments, his expression turning cold and serious. He was the type of person to give the wrong kinds of things his full effort.

    "If I had to say, it''d be..."

    Finding myself interested, I leaned in. "Hm?"

    "A manga''s delicate heroine?"

    A heavy sigh escaped my lips. If it wasn''t immediately obvious, this was the kind of person I couldn''t handle. I didn''t quite understand why, but it was an unchangeable fact. Disregarding that though, I was certainly unhappy. I decided to take my leave before I did something unbefitting of productive human being. I turned left, an arbitrary directional choice.

    "Sorry, I have to go¡ª"

    "Ah, hold on!" His hand shot out.

    It had been abrupt and without warning. Genjou had grabbed my wrist. Whatever face I''d made prior quickly twisted into a disgusted scowl. I couldn''t help it, this was the natural reaction.

    My free hand tightened into a fist, golden sparks dancing through the air around it. My bloodlust oozed forth, but only for a moment. It was condescending, like the desire to kill a fly. My body twisted, ready to slam the full extent of its horizon-shaking power into that person.

    Genjou''s expression brightened for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. Seeing that nauseating snake-eyed face was already too much; I couldn''t contain my revulsion. All the muscles in my body came to life, releasing a faintly visible golden glow. I slowly turned my head, frigid breath escaping from between my lips.

    "Genjou¡ª"

    "Do you require something from Shibuya?" A familiar voice interrupted.

    The surprise was enough to make me remember where I was. This was becoming too much for my heart. I closed my eyes and slowly turned my head towards the source of this voice. With my breath held and my bearings hastily collected, I mentally chanted to myself:

    Don''t be someone I know.

    With this, I opened my eyes. Golden hair, golden eyes, a sort of fairy-like beauty, it was definitely the girl I''d met earlier. I slowly exhaled, returning to a calmer state of mind. I had a feeling that the situation was about to take an unpleasant turn.

    Genjou calmly turned his gaze towards the girl. "Ara, you know this person?"

    The girl, in response, turned her gaze towards Genjou. "Are you perhaps bullying Shibuya?"

    I glanced towards Genjou, and then towards the girl. It wasn''t as though I was being bullied, but I certainly didn''t want anything to do with Genjou. After all, such a pitiful existence couldn''t be called worthy of my presence. On the other hand, I didn''t technically know this girl in gold. I had met her, but I didn''t really know her.

    The answer was obvious.

    "I am being bullied." I adjusted my tie.

    "Wh¡ª" Genjou squinted. "Saturn, the hell are you saying?"

    "As I thought, you''re too soft to handle your own problems."

    Though she murmured this, the girl didn''t seem entirely displeased.

    The girl took a step forward and swatted Genjou''s outstretched hand aside. Genjou clearly wasn''t enthused about this, but it didn''t seem like he would get violent. Genjou was brutal, but not foolish. He was the type of person who knew when to pull back. It was quite a valuable trait.

    Genjou''s yellow eyes narrowed. Those serpentine pupils focused on me, much to my dismay. A small sigh exited his mouth, after which he produced a happy smirk. That smirk was something I had seen often, but still hadn''t gotten used to.

    "My, I seem to have gotten the wrong person." He said.

    I nodded. "It would seem so."

    Genjou bowed his head, turned, and walked off.

    You were in the wrong place at the wrong time, Genjou Gekkouhara. Filthy snake, become the catalyst that marks the dawn of my beautiful high school life.

    "Such a crude individual."

    That girl''s words lingered on my mind for several moments. It was clear that she spoke of Genjou, but I felt as if those words had somehow been directed at me. It''s true that such a thing was unlikely, but I still felt that way. Such was my own conclusion. This was only natural. From a problem solving perspective, I was (objectively) the more crude person.

    "Thank you for the help." I murmured, dusting my sleeve off.

    She shook her head. "I was merely returning the favor from earlier."

    "In any case, thank you..." I paused for a second. "What was your name again?"

    "You''ll soon see. I think it''s time to view the results for the placement test."

    What a mischievous girl. It wasn''t as though she was wrong. I could easily see what was likely a teacher plastering papers onto a nearby signboard. From the crowd that quickly gathered, I naturally assumed that person was putting up the placement test results.

    The girl turned and made her way towards the billboard, her gait oozing confidence. I followed.

    She said she''d be at the top of the list, and I''d give her the benefit of doubt. She seemed like the kind of person who could do it. On my end, I had merely crammed a night in advance. Perhaps it was irresponsible, but I hadn''t cared at the time. I was regretting my decision now.

    On the day of the test, I''d been too tired to think straight.

    I''d answered to the best of my abilities but, past a certain point, my brain had gone on auto-pilot. When I came to, tests were being collected. It was unfortunate, but I didn''t expect any good news. My basic understanding of probability meant that I''d probably scored somewhere around 25%. This meant I''d be placed somewhere in third class.

    When I reached the signboard, I glanced over at the list titled "Placement Test Results" and nodded. That girl would probably be there, but I figured I''d start further down the list and then work my way up. There was no reason in particular for this, I simply wanted to get into the right mindset. I couldn''t be faulted for that, yes?

    Let''s see, let''s see.

    "Ah? Genjou is here..." I narrowed my gaze.

    Ninety-one percent, is it? That snake was apparently smarter than I expected. That score was first class, I think. Genjou was numbered at seventeen though, so apparently people had done better. It was probably because his time was listed as thirty minutes.

    "Did he cheat?" I murmured.

    I shook my head and then continued up the list. A bit above Genjou, at number fifteen, was a person named Junko Shiranui. They''d scored ninety-two percent, but the time it had taken them to complete the test was listed as ten minutes. Honestly, how amusing.

    When I finally reached the top three, I squinted. Number three was someone called Kozue Kotobuki. Their score was ninety-eight percent, but they''d finished in nine minutes. Funny, isn''t it? In my opinion, some people were too good at taking tests. In any case, let''s not get sidetracked.

    Number two was listed as "Yoshida Yamashina." Their score was ninety-nine percent, but that wasn''t what struck me as odd.

    "Completed in six minutes..." I murmured. Not bad, not bad at all.

    Now for number one. With a score of one-hundred percent and a completion time of exactly five minutes, it seems we have some sort of genius here. Honestly, some people require a life outside of studying. Regardless, I''m not one to judge. In any case, that person''s name was¡ª

    "Satou Shibuya." I read aloud.

    That''s odd, I swear I''ve heard that name before¡ª

    "No, it seems that''s my name."

    No change in expression registered on my face, the shock enough to delay my reaction. It was only after I heard a voice behind me that I snapped out of my daze.

    "Shibuya."

    I slowly turned my head towards the source of the voice, but I already knew who it was. Golden hair, golden eyes, and a fairly disappointed facial expression greeted me.

    "In the end, I never got your name." I spoke.

    "Yoshida Yamashina."

    "I see, I see."

    "...It seems that you''ve bested me."

    There was a tinge of defeat present in Yamashina''s tone. She accepted her so-called loss with dignity. Hearing this, I felt a small amount of guilt take root in my chest.

    "No, I didn''t do anything noteworthy." I responded.

    Her face instantly tightened. Did she think I was looking down on her? Back then, that very well might''ve been the case. I was about to clear things up but, amidst the surrounding chatter, that girl''s quiet whisper made its way to my ears.

    "I won''t accept this."

 PART ONE, CHAPTER TWO

    PART ONE, CHAPTER TWO: "PLATINUM GIRL"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    It was seven months before the school year started.

    "Yo, Gekkouhara."

    "Oh my."

    I glanced over at the person who''d called my name. I could place the voice as having come from almost directly behind me, so naturally turning my neck to get a good look at them would leave me pretty sore later... no, maybe not?

    Well, it''s all about the intimidation factor.

    That voice had come from a girl who didn''t look any older than myself. She had long, brown hair and a pair of amber-colored eyes. I knew this person. This was the sister of someone important to me. The rhythmic tapping of my foot sounded, making it seem as if I''d forgotten her name. In response, the girl glared at me through cold eyes.

    I wonder, is she mad?

    "My, you''re..." I paused for a moment, quirking my right brow. "Shizuku?"

    "Shizuka," she crossed her arms, "and don''t act familiar with me."

    "How about Shizu?"

    "Shibuya," corrected Shizu.

    "How boring."

    She sent a sour glance in my direction. I smiled.

    Shizu was one of the funnier people to bother... no, that''s not entirely true. Once things had gotten a bit out of hand. That time, we had to make an anonymous call to the Fire Department. Such was the only way to put out the aftermath of her fit. How to put it, she had a volatile ability just like her brother.

    Well, I won''t say it wasn''t a fun experience.

    "So what did you want?" I asked. "Are you gonna ask me on a date? No way, what ever shall I do? If I say yes, Satoratorio might drop another skyscraper on me. The island might tip, you know? Still, it might be worth it for someone as beautiful as you, Shizu. I wonder, should I accept?"

    Her expression contorted with disgust. That overwhelming pride was something that sister shared with brother, though the former only showcased it for those she disliked. Nevertheless, Shizu spoke. "I''m looking for my precious little brother."

    "My, you two are the exact same." I chuckled.

    Now she sneered. "Die."

    Huh, I was wrong? No, that can''t be the case.

    Whenever the two were together, separating them became an impossible feat. Their closeness was almost unhealthy compared to most other siblings. I''d assumed it was an abnormal interest, though apparently this wasn''t the case. Such left me even more interested in the nature of their clinginess.

    "He hasn''t come down here since that one incident," I stated.

    "Incident?" She asked.

    "You didn''t hear? Weird."

    Shizu tilted her head. "Huh, what happened?"

    I explained how Satonka had come to our special base. He stated that he was done with living a life of delinquency, that he had bigger fish to fry. He''d also said something about becoming immensely wealthy and dating an idol, though I left those two things out. Those two were scarily overprotective of each other, after all.

    This was no doubt AkaneAkasaka''s influence. It''s good that she disappeared.

    "It''s not supposed to be like this. Is it Akasaka''s fault?" Shizu sighed. Now she clicked her tongue. "As I thought, I should have annihilated her when I had the chance. At this rate¡ª"

    I snickered. "It should be fine. He hasn''t given it much thought, so it''ll work out. You should know better than anyone else, Shizu, that Satoto is kind of an idiot. Is that the right word?"

    "Say it again." Fire burned in her eyes.

    "Relax, you know what I mean. Besides, Shizu, this is how it was supposed to be from the start. It''s why that two-faced mother of yours sent you to this island, isn''t it? I wonder, I wonder. What could be the problem? This is the best possible outcome."

    The girl quietly chewed her lip. She digested my words with irritation clear on her face, but she didn''t refute my points. This was because I was correct, a fact that neither of us wanted to accept, but that''s how it was. All I could do was pray she came to terms with it.

    "Hey, Shizu."

    "Shibuya," she corrected.

    Still¡ª

    "What high school is Sasatou going to?"

    It wouldn''t hurt to play with him a bit.

    <hr>-S0006-

    <hr>

    "I won''t accept this."

    I couldn''t stop thinking about that golden girl.

    Honestly, what did she mean by that? Could I be faulted in this scenario? I couldn''t really accept it either, though it wasn''t as if I could do anything. While I could apologize, it felt weird doing so for someone who''d so quickly gotten the wrong idea. I had my pride, and I chose to stand by it.

    Next there was the issue of my score. I''d certainly been listed as the top scoring first year, but that felt... off. I could tell a teacher that my score felt wrong, but that''d probably be fairly embarrassing to explain. No, where would I even start?

    Hello, Teacher?

    Yes, Shibuya? Responded my attractive but suspiciously single female teacher.

    I don''t remember most of my placement test.

    No matter how I spun it, the scenario came across as increasingly suspicious. Weren''t there some awful punishments for cheating in this school? No way, would I be forced to wear a degrading sign around my neck or something? I wouldn''t be able to handle the humiliation! Oh, the humanity!

    I sighed. "Youth is such a hassle."

    "Eh? Something wrong?"

    Unrelated... not entirely, but Shizuka walked next to me. Now much healthier, her previously unruly hair was tied up in a pair of long tails. It was the so-called twintails style of yore, I suppose. A bit childish, but I could recognize the appeal. Shizuka would find popularity at this school too.

    Now then, now then.

    A day had passed since I checked my placement test score. We first years went to the gymnasium to hear a speech from a second year, though I didn''t really pay much attention because of a certain someone who was glaring daggers in my back. What was her name?

    Yoshino Yamasawa? Yamasawa then?

    Yes, Yamasawa had stared me down fairly hard. It was incredibly awkward, though it probably wasn''t worth worrying about. All I had to do was avoid her, and things would probably go smoothly. Ah, but I digress.

    After the assembly, we were allowed to head home (because it was a shortened day) and, as such, I took the liberty of checking Shizuka''s test scores for her. I hadn''t told her about my placement in first class, but on her end of things¡ª

    "To think that I got third class." Shizuka sighed.

    "It''s because you were late for the exam."

    She frowned. "It wasn''t even my fault!"

    My sister had answered the latter fifty of the one hundred questions. She''d scored exactly fifty percent on her placement exam. To put things into perspective, Shizuka wasn''t like me. She was a lot smarter, though her luck left something to be desired. What a terrible fate!

    "I understand that, make no mistake. The fact that you got shoved out of the train at the wrong stop just strikes me as mildly amusing. Now, don''t take offense to that though. Had I been there, I''d have atomized anyone in my precious sister''s proximity." I nodded.

    "I could get mad, but I won''t. Behold, Satou! This is what it means to be an adult!" Shizuka smiled, holding her arms out at her sides. "Honestly though, I should have left at the same time as you. Nobody seems to get anywhere near you when we ride on trains. I wonder why?"

    "So I''m not crazy?!"

    I wasn''t sure either! It was something I genuinely couldn''t understand! I was perhaps the most unassuming-looking in existence person when I desired such, so why was it that nobody wanted to occupy the same space as me? Am I perhaps surrounded by pudgy black cats?

    No, maybe I smell bad?!

    "Shizuka," I leaned in, "How do I smell?"

    "Kind of fruity. Like a pure maiden, I guess? Nice touch."

    "Treasure your life, sister dearest."

    "Yo, you''re scaring me!"

    We messed around in the snow for a short while. It was only afterwards that I patted my bulky winter jacket down and returned to my normal persona. My sister, left with mussed up hair, didn''t bother to complain. There was be no point, I''d start messing with her again. Instead, she adjusted her leather jacket and changed the subject.

    "Speaking of scores, how did you do?" Shizuka asked, fixing her hair then her scarf.

    "Not too well, I think." I lied.

    "I take it you got third class too? Well, it makes sense. All you did was cram a day before the placement exam, so naturally you''d get a bad score."

    I frowned. "How rude."

    "It''d be nice if we were in the same class," she paused, "or not. If I really think about it, you''d get in the way of making friends. No offense, but your presence is kind of overwhelming. You give off some serious bully vibes."

    "Hmph." I crossed my arms, glancing off to the side. "Sorry for having an overwhelming presence, sister dearest. Go acquire some friends, but I won''t allow any boys. You''re absent-minded, one might take advantage of you... is what I''d like to say, but you''d probably suplex them first."

    "What kind of super amazon do you think I am?!" Shizuka crossed her arms as well. "Er, um, I''m the older one of us, okay? I should be the one telling you not to do stuff. I''m in the prime of my youth, so it''s only natural that I have some fun! No, even before that, maybe I want to have some male friends!"

    "Odd. Even knowing I''ll atomize them?"

    Shizuka stepped away. "Yo, that''s super scary!"

    Anyway, we''d left bright and early in the morning.

    Both of us had gotten on the train because, had waited another half-hour or so, we suspected it would be flooded with other students. Well, the main reason I''d gotten up this early was to pick my seat first. The other reason was because I didn''t want to run into Yamasawa.

    Shizuka and I had walked down the hill overlooking the academy. Honestly, I felt pretty bad for anyone who rode a bike to school. Such wasn''t my problem though.

    <hr>-S0007-

    <hr>

    We arrived without any complications.

    Things were fairly quiet when we entered the school. This was to be expected though; we came early, like I''d stated. I glanced off to the side and down the hallway, and was immediately blown away by the building''s size. After all, I couldn''t even see the end of the hallway.

    "Which classroom are you in anyway?" Shizuka asked.

    "Uh," I averted my gaze.

    Classrooms in this school were represented by a number and a letter, with the number denoting the floor and the letter determining the actual classroom. First-class students were on the third floor, second-class students were on the second, and third-class students were on the first. This was only the first year building, hence why I found myself awestruck.

    I pointed in an arbitrary direction. This time it was right. "I have to go that way."

    "We''re splitting up then."

    "We''ll talk later."

    "Where do you want to meet up next?"

    "After school?"

    Shizuka shook her head. "How about lunch?"

    That made sense. After some deliberation, we decided on a meeting point, then we were done. The two of us walked off in separate directions. I stood by the staircase leading to the second floor until the sound of Shizuka''s footsteps faded into the distance.

    This wasn''t something I could keep up. I was positive Shizuka would figure out my score eventually... no, was there even a need to hide it? Probably not.

    Perhaps I could convince the school that they''d mixed up our scores. If they made us take a retest, I''m sure Shizuka would easily get a perfect score. She was, after all, the smartest person I knew. No, even of the people I didn''t know, Shizuka was probably among the smartest.

    As I considered this idea, I made my way up the winding staircase and to the second floor. After arriving, I immediately turned my focused towards the adjacent third floor staircase.

    "It definitely has to be a mistake." I scratched my chin. "How on earth would I score one-hundred percent in five minutes? I feel as if I sat there longer than five minutes. Could it be that I''m actually a genius? That''d be the logical conclusion, wouldn''t it?"

    "It''s pretty weird to be talking to yourself, huh?"

    An unfamiliar voice. I slowly turned my head towards the source. I wondered, who was the person that took time out of their day to address me? Certainly they had good eyes, especially if they chose one such as myself. Such good taste couldn''t go unnoticed.

    "Let''s see, let''s see..." I squinted. "Hm?"

    A girl with a healthy tan stepped forward, fast on the heels of whatever trend she''d been chasing at the time. I think it''d been some tokusatsu drama, primarily because of the seven variously-colored badges pinned to her school bag. Her stride was practiced, precise, dare I say perfect.

    Time seemed to slow as my brain kicked into overdrive, taking in every detail of the fast approaching(?!) person. The girl''s black-gold blazer, buttoned tightly against her bosom, and the loose carmine tie around her neck. The too-short red plaid skirt, and the spandex shorts visible beneath.

    While not necessarily short, her height couldn''t compare to my above average 180 cm. Her wild platinum blonde hair, reaching nearly to her lower back, bounced with every wide step she took. Her strangely compelling smile was accentuated by the twinkle in her pale blue eyes.

    "Eh?" The girl came to a halt directly in front of me. "You''re..."

    I quickly ceased my all-too-detailed analysis. "Ah, er..."

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    She tilted her head. "Souta... Shibuchi?"

    "Satou Shibuya, actually."

    You could at least remember my name. It''s certainly not as if I scored one-hundred percent... or wait, it seems I did! It was the score that Satou Shibuya received, so obviously one should remember it. Or rather, it''d be stranger not to remember it. Who did this person think they were?

    The girl dismissively waved her hand, but this action was enough to bring me back to reality. I cleared my throat, which served as a catharsis for the bad habits that were starting to resurface. I didn''t want to say anything rude, so this was for the best.

    "I have to admit," she scratched her chin, "You look pretty plain. Boring, even."

    My reaction was abrupt. Curiosity overwhelmed my common sense. I stepped in closer, locking eyes with her. She seemed fairly confused at first, but took the act in stride. What great adaptability this person possessed. Was this the legendary trendy gal archetype? What a powerful weapon.

    "You wouldn''t be interested in pursuing a career as an idol, would you?" I asked.

    The girl chuckled. "What? Why would I¡ª"

    "No, never mind. In any case, what about my appearance jumps out as plain? Better yet, what doesn''t jump out at you? I haven''t perfected my senses in regards to fashion. Is it my face?"

    "No... that''s kind of tough, you know?" She scratched her head. "Your hair covers your face. I mean, I could probably gauge what I can see, but it''d be an incomplete analysis! That''d feel kind of, I dunno, cheap?"

    "I permit it, go ahead."

    "Okay, got it!" She placed a hand on my shoulder.

    This was a fairly strange conversation to have with someone I''d just met. Having had a moment to cool down, I acknowledged how strong I''d come on. Even so, that girl hadn''t commented on it past her initial quip. Could it be that she hadn''t noticed? Or maybe this wasn''t weird for her? Either way, it worked out in my favour.

    "Also, don''t touch me." I swatted her hand aside.

    The girl didn''t seem to mind this. "I can''t see your eyes, so whatever! The way you hold your bag, too cool! Your expression, again, whatever! Your hairstyle is a bit wilder than I''d expect from a top scorer too. The hair color, I guess it''s fine. Don''t quote me on that."

    "You can''t give the hair a definitive pass?"

    "I mean, that black hair does seem pretty out of place. I don''t think the style suits you either. What is it... right, the general purpose protagonist design! No, maybe the gloomy reverse harem candidate that gets paired with a side character in the end?" She bounced up and down.

    "Could it be that you''re overreacting?"

    "Nah, it''s super weird." Now she spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. "Totally out of place."

    Her words caused me to flinch. Shizuka! My coolest sister in all the galaxy! I trusted your guidance. I trusted you to handle my hair! You were my shining light! You dare betray my faith in you?! This is an unforgiveable act of defiance!

    "Any suggestions?" I frowned.

    The girl stepped in with a nod. "Of course!"

    I watched (or rather, felt) her grab me by the hair. Then, with her other hand, she grabbed my face. I saw war-like, irritating flashbacks to a childish old friend who touched everything to satisfy her curiousity. I wasn''t good with children, even as a child, and I especially wasn''t fond of being touched.

    "I thought I told you not to¡ª" Before I could finish, she jerked my face to the side.

    The girl easily dismissed my complaints. "It''s fine, it''s fine! Now then, let''s see, jaw structure is pretty good. Or rather, this is a really nice jaw structure! Yo, why''s your hair this soft? How do you get it like this? Your skin is super soft too. Hey, hey, how did you get it like this?"

    Bloodlust oozed forth. "Filthy insect, you dare¡ª"

    "Is it an ability? That''s super convenient!" She interrupted. "Do it for me sometime, okay?"

    "I refuse. Why should I¡ª" Now my face was jerked to the other side.

    This went on for quite some time. In the end, I was forced to put up with this girl''s brash treatment of my face. She continued jerking me around for several minutes, after which she released her grip and began to circle around me. It seemed she was enjoying herself.

    I, on the other hand, was not.

    It was after the tenth minute that I decided to put my foot down. I was not some child''s toy to be mussed about with. To show such disrespect towards me was tantamount to asking for a swift defeat. I stepped forward, distaste apparent in my gait.

    "I¡ª"

    "Okay, I got it!" She descended on me once more.

    My eyes quickly closed. I''d expected her to abruptly grab my face again, though that didn''t happen. The hair in front of my right eye was gently combed back by her fingers. When I opened my eyes, I found the girl pulling a black hairclip off of her own head.

    "Huh?" I frowned.

    "I thought about it! What is this person''sdeal, I wondered? No way, could it be that they''ve got an ugly face?" She clipped my hair into place. "That''s not the problem at all! The hair seems good, and so does the facial structure! Then what is it?"

    The girl retreated backwards and sized me up through a finger frame. She gave a satisfied nod. I could see this more clearly now, especially considering part of my vision was now unobscured. Or rather, I could see the entire area much better now. It was fairly pretty, I suppose. As pretty as a school could be.

    Nothing groundbreaking, really.

    "The problem," she grinned, "is that you''re too gloomy! If I can''t see your face, how am I supposed to know what you''re thinking? You could''ve been pissed this entire time, and I wouldn''t have noticed. I can''t do anything about the dye, but the style is enough for now. Besides¡ª"

    "Besides?" I tilted my head.

    She leaned in, smiling. "You''re a good looking guy, see?"

    What followed, of course, was dead silence. The two of us stared at each other, not breaking eye contact. She, staring up at me, and me, staring down at her. This went on for ten or so seconds, neither party giving an inch. In the end, I was the one who lost the staring contest.

    My face heated. "H-hmph, I''m not such a simple person. Or rather, I''m quite high maintenance. It would take more than simple compliments to sway my heart. I''m already used to others singing my praises. Something like this pales in comparison to compliments I''ve received in the past."

    "Eh? What are we talking about?" Confusion was apparent on her face.

    "Ah, w-well..." I averted my gaze.

    My conversational skills weren''t were too poor, but this was certainly difficult. It was like trying to hold a conversation at gunpoint. She wasn''t giving me anything to work with, and it certainly showed on my face. I needed to change the subject. Let''s see, for a topic¡ª

    I glanced at the girl again. "Your hair color is odd too."

    "...Hm, I don''t think so." She murmured. "Maybe to humans?"

    Non-human, is it? I''d figured as much.

    It was a bit late to be noting such, but it felt as if I''d met this person before. She was acting too familiarly. Was it part of her character? That was probably the case, but it seemed like there was more to it. There was a chance, however, that I was overthinking things.

    A-ah, but not for any particular reason.

    Let''s see, let''s see. While I certainly felt as though I''d seen her somewhere before, she also had a certain air about her. It was like how two swordsmen in manga could tell each other apart from a crowd with just killing intent, or like how two delinquents could¡ª

    "Would you mind if I asked your name?" My brow tightened.

    The girl smiled from ear to ear. It was far different from her warm, playful smile from earlier. No, this was a smile that showcased pride and, on some levels, ambition. It was the kind of smile I''d become all too familiar with in my middle school days, especially considering my crowd.

    "Ha?" She stepped forward.

    I took a step back. "Actually, nevermind¡ª"

    "Listen here, Souta!"

    Her arm immediately wrapped around my shoulders. In response, a scowl registered on my face. I couldn''t help it; such was ingrained in my character. The girl extended her free hand forward. I could almost visualize the scene she attempted to depict, and at the same time I... couldn''t. Or rather, why was she touching me again?

    How disrespectful!

    It was as I stewed in my distastethat she spoke.

    "For generations since Niflheim was built, each school''s delinquents have been at odds with each other! What if all were to be united under a single banner, huh? The Golden King tried it, and he got pretty far! Where is he now? Being a terrible person... or something!"

    "Or something, is it?" I reluctantly let that one go.

    "That''s why I''ll do it!"

    "Oh?" My skepticism was clear.

    The girl nodded. "Damn straight! And the name of myself, the person who will take on this endeavor, is Minako Minakami! Mi for short! How is it, Souta? This passion of mine, can you feel it?"

    Minako Minakami? Mi is out of the question, so that''d be... Minakami?

    What an interesting name for the wannabe conqueror of all delinquents. Not to mention that absurd amount of self-confidence. She knew what she wanted, but I doubted she knew how to obtain it. That was ambition. Perhaps a bit too much ambition. Still, I didn''t dislike that.

    In any case, it was time to make my escape.

    "Well," I slipped out from beneath Minakami''s arm, "In any future meetings between us, I''d like to request you keep physical contact to a minimum. Not for any particular reason, that''s just how it''s supposed to be. There''s an order to these things. Now then, if you''ll excuse me¡ª"

    "You should join me, see?" Minakami prodded me with her elbow.

    I frowned at her touch.

    There was no reason to join another group; I wasn''t interested in such petty offers. Or rather, nothing you offer me could ever satisfy me. Perhaps come back when you''ve got a few years on you, Minakami! Actually, that doesn''t fit very well.

    "I don''t think there''s much I could do," I stated. "I am, after all, your average student."

    The girl shook her head. "Not true! An average student wouldn''t grill someone they''ve just met. Besides, didn''t you call me an insect? It was super cool!"

    "In any case, there are certainly better options."

    There it is! Copied from his precious elder sister, it''s Satou Shibuya''s strongest technique! With its use, he easily steers a conversation back on track! It didn''t work on people who were incredibly persistent, but that could be workshopped later!

    Minakami calmly waved a hand. "I just, I feel something, see? Like you''re different. You''ve got this air about you, like you''re secretly the final boss! Could it be that I stumbled on something good? My luck''s been off the charts today!"

    What good intuition.

    "Plus, you look a bit familiar." She paused. "Actually, have we met before?"

    That was my limit. I glanced backwards, scanning the third floor staircase- the perfect escape route. It was at this point that the most vigorous back-pedaling I''d ever done came to fruition, the likes of which would surpass even the fastest of wild animals. Minakami turned around, but I was already halfway up the stairs when she started speaking.

    "Hold on, wait up!"

    Pretending not to hear anything, I made my way to the third floor. About halfway up that winding staircase, I stopped hearing Minakami''s voice. I don''t think she ended up getting my name right but, all things considered, that was probably for the best.

    It wasn''t as though I''d been trying to be mean or anything, I trust that much was obvious. I was simply done with the bad apple crowd. I didn''t want to get sucked into them again. Sure, it''s "cool" and nobody would get in your way, but...

    "The delinquent dating pool is small and unsavory. What was it? There was... no, Akane Akasaka doesn''t count. Vane is... Vane is Vane, so that can''t be helped. Then there''s... Gagetsu?" My expression soured in response to that last name. "Ah, but I digress."

    Point being, the costs far outweighed the benefits. An idol wouldn''t come your way if all females avoided you like the plague. Granted, where would I find an idol to begin with? Or rather, don''t idols get in trouble for dating people? Could it be that my dream was impossible from the start?

    "No, it should be fine." I murmured.

    I''d definitely date an idol someday, I just needed to strategically plan things out. It''s a campaign that will take time to set up. What''s more, it will be a long road. Even so¡ª

    "Ah, not good. I''m getting sidetracked in the worst possible way."

    When I finally made it to the top of the stairs, I took note of the fairly large number of students present in the third floor hallways. This struck me as odd. There were almost exactly thirty minutes (I pulled out my cell phone to check) before the bell rang. What kind of fool came to school this early?

    "Wait." I slowly glanced down at my feet.

    I''d forgotten, I was now one of those fools. With a sigh, I made my way down the hall and towards my classroom. Several individuals tossed glances in my direction as I walked. I wasn''t sure if it was because I looked strange, or if it was because they recognized me as the person who got one hundred percent.

    I definitely wasn''t feeling self-conscious. I was merely thinking about my appearance because of that white-haired girl, that''s all there was to it. It didn''t matter what these people thought of me.

    After a minute or so of walking, I made it to my destination: Classroom 3-A. I assumed the "A" meant it was for the best of the best, so I felt a bit proud. Or rather, did I really score one-hundred percent? I''d asked this already, but it was still on my mind.

    I gripped the door''s handle and slowly slid it open. Almost immediately, I heard a voice.

    "Ah."

    "I see." I murmured.

    Someone else beat me here- I easily reached this conclusion. I glanced towards the source of that voice after stepping into the classroom. Golden hair and eyes greeted me. Sitting near the center of the classroom was a familiar looking girl. Her face looked half surprised, and half as though she''d expected this turn of events.

    "Shibuya," the one known as Yoshino Yamasawa(?) uttered.

    "Yamasawa," I responded.

    This was where the first of many problems arose.

 PART ONE, CHAPTER THREE

    PART ONE, CHAPTER THREE: "MISREPRESENTATION"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    "Alright, I''m doing roll call. Say, uh... really, say anything at all if you''re here."

    The teacher who stood at the front of the classroom was a handsome man that looked wellinto his late-twenties. He had a slightly smug look on his face, and his hair was dyed a dark purple colour. Unbefitting of a teacher in my opinion, but such wasn''t my business. According to what the teacher had put on the blackboard, his name was Hiroto Hasegawa.

    That would be... Mr. Hasegawa, then? Very well.

    "Kozue Kotobuki?" He called.

    "Present."

    More importantly, I was in the same class as Yamashina. If it wasn''t obvious, I got her name right that time. She made a point of correcting me between the verbal beating sent my way before class started. It was really quite an admirable skill. Learning it would be nice. No, I''m getting sidetracked. It''s too early for that.

    "Yoshida Yamashina?"

    "Present."

    This was my mistake, I should have seen this turn of events coming. Yamashina had scored second place, so ending up in the same class as her made sense. Honestly, I could''ve likely guessed quite a few of my classmates just from the placement test results. Then there was the biggest problem.

    My test score had to have been a fluke, I couldn''t think of anything else. There''s no way I''d be able to fool these people. I wasn''t academically challenged, but this was a special class for special people. While the oh-so-exalted Satou Shibuya couldn''t be called anything less than the ideal human specimen, such praise didn''t extend to my academic prowess.

    "Iori Ikuzawa?"

    "Here."

    What to do, what to do? I could think of many ways to slip out of this situation, though many of them had to be discarded. As I''d tossed aside my bad apple life, using any of the skills I''d acquired at that time for acts of questionable morality was a no-go.

    "Junko Shiranui? No? Okay. Satou Shibuya?"

    Honestly, how irritating. It''s as I thought¡ª

    "Youth is such a hassle." I sighed.

    Mr. Hasegawa chuckled. "Well, I can''t deny that."

    "Eh?" I blinked. "Ah... I mean, I''m here. Or rather, it''s obvious that I''m here. I''m certainly sitting here, so stating otherwise would be blatantly false. I''ve been here from the start as well, so I can confirm that I''m not just arriving. That''s... probably the case? Hm? Wait..."

    "No way, did you actually manage to confuse yourself? How funny! What an interestingperson!" Mr. Hasegawa snickered. "That''s a top scorer, I suppose. Someone like that would have to be of distinguishable character."

    Heat gathered in my face. "Ah, er..."

    My fellow students were quick to comment. An assortment of whispers filled the room, few of which I could decipher. I''d been hoping for a more gentle introduction to the world of high society academics, but it seemed that such was impossible. There was nothing I could do but sigh.

    I glanced past the person next to me (Ikuzawa, I think) and towards Yamashina. She was, as expected, staring back at me. I couldn''t quite read her expression, but there was some sort of gleam in her eyes. I wonder, what was this strange feeling of dread?

    "Honestly, what a frustrating girl." I whispered.

    Mr. Hasegawa quieted the class after a minute or two, after which he continued down his list of students. I didn''t hear the name Genjou Gekkouhara, so the day could still be salvaged. After all, there was now one less problem to worry about.

    It was as I considered my plan of action that Mr. Hasegawa moved back to the front of the classroom. He patted down his vest, loosened his tie, then cleared his throat. Next he scratched his chin and, after doing so, glanced out at the students present.

    "Now then, let''s have a discussion about the nature of this school." He said.

    Resting my elbows on the desk, I felt a sense of disappointment wash over me. I suppose it made sense to start on this note. Still, such a blatant attempt to explain felt rather trite. There was no flare to it, you see? Or rather, no charm.

    The corners of Mr. Hasegawa''s mouth upturned. "Does anyone have any ideas? I know most of you have your own unique interpretations, but it feels like a good idea to ask. You know," he glanced towards this side of the classroom, "In case some aren''t taking this seriously."

    Oh, great and powerful teacher, even I know the answer! Pick me!

    Mr. Hasegawa smiled. "Yamashina, care to share your thoughts?"

    Tch.

    Yamashina cleared her throat. "I''m not sure if you desire an in-depth answer so, for now, I will give the basic outline. Kawagusa General Academy is a school that serves as a training facility for those possessing supernatural abilities."

    "Close enough. You covered most of the core idea, but you left out one crucial detail." Mr. Hasegawa nodded. "Kawagusa General Academy is not simply a training facility. If anything, it''s closer to a cram school for those leaving in two months time."

    I glanced towards the golden-haired girl, where I found her taking note of... something. No, was she writing down Mr. Hasegawa''s words? This was just an introduction. I wonder, why was she taking this so seriously?

    "Yamashina," Mr. Hasegawa wiped his name off of the blackboard. He then he turned to us once more. "In regards to your notion of a supernatural ability, would you be so kind as to give an example? Nothing too flashy, please."

    Yamashina nodded. She placed her pencil down, arose from her seat, and held her hand out towards the teacher. I saw her sneak a cursory glance in this direction, as if she wanted me in particular to observe this show of power.

    Very well, you have my attention.

    "Don''t disappoint me," I murmured.

    Bzzt.

    With a snap of her fingers, the girl''s hand crackled with light blue electricity. It came to life, tracing miniscule fishbone arcs through the surrounding air. The blue glow seemed to intensify and weaken at random intervals, with each bolt striking some sort of invisible wall if it went too far.

    The girl winced a bit. She closed her hand into a fist.

    In response, the electrical surge fizzled out. This occured over a period of five or so seconds, after which she reopened her hand. I was positive that this was only the tip of a very large iceberg. It was clear that Yamashina could do far more with this power if she wanted to.

    Her ability was fairly interesting, I suppose. If my guesswork about Yamashina being a non-human was correct then, given her ability, was she... perhaps a Raiju? Considering her hair color and personality, that would make the most sense.

    Mr. Hasegawa began to clap, and the rest of the class followed suit.

    The golden-haired girl nodded, returning to her seat. The display itself hadn''t been very amazing from a visual standpoint, but I suppose that was for safety reasons. From a technical standpoint, it was nothing to scoff at. She''d maintained control of her ability very well.

    "I''ll give it a passing grade." I whispered.

    Mr. Hasegawa cleared his throat. "And so, that''s how it is. All of you possess supernatural abilities, and Kawagusa General Academy will be teaching you how to utilize them based on your career path. I suspect, however, that most of you will be joining military activities."

    I frowned. "So it''s like that."

    "Military activities" was the more proper term used to describe "demonslaying."

    Demon activity heightened in summer, when they formed swarms in search of food. In this case, food meant carbon-based life. This was apparently because Demons sustained themselves on the resources that most life processed to make use of abilities: reiki, mana, and chi.

    Let''s get back on topic. I had no interest in demonslaying, but Shizuka did. This was why I knew so much about the subject. I wasn''t keen on my sister putting herself in harm''s way, but it was her own choice. As the younger of us twins, all I could do was support her decision.

    Enough about that though.

    In the end, class flew by. I listened to the teacher drone on about responsible ability use and the rules of conflict. No using one''s abilities to bring harm to oneself or others. Any ability users discovered acting out poorly written light novel battles would be punished. When there were 20 minutes left in class, the teacher changed the subject.

    "Ah, one more thing." Mr. Hasegawa said. "I know it''s a bit sudden, but I want to pick a class representative today. You know, to get it out of the way. Most of you will be going into military activities though, so it doesn''t really matter who gets the position."

    Almost instantly, Yamashina''s hand shot up. I''d expected this outcome and had already started putting my belongings away. It was as I closed my bag (I didn''t get my old bag back, I had to buy a new one of lower quality) that I heard a voice to my right.

    "Why not Shibuya?"

    I quickly turned towards the person who''d spoken. Black hair, dark eyes, and glasses. This person''s name was... Iori Ikuzawa, yes? Wait, that''s besides the point. I wonder, who did this beanstalk think he was? Did he really want to die that badly?

    No, I should calm down.

    "I don''t think I''d make a good representative." I responded, my tone disinterested. "I won''t say that my character is lacking, or even that I couldn''t handle it. No, suggesting such would be foolish. I''ll simply state that I feel no passion for the position. It means nothing to me."

    Chatter came in from all around.

    "I guess I could see that guy as a class rep..."

    "Really? Doesn''t he sound a bit off?"

    "He got 100% though, didn''t he?"

    "Shibuya hasn''t really said no, has he?" Mr. Hasegawa mumbled.

    Didn''t I make my stance clear?

    Yamashina almost certainly stared at me, so I didn''t look in her direction. Something about accidentally locking eyes with her again seemed like it''d be irritating. I hadn''t really figured out the cause of this yet, but I wagered it was an innate character trait of hers. No, maybe that was part of Yamashina''s power?!

    I cleared my throat. "Can I just say that¡ª"

    "Maybe we should take a vote then?" said Mr. Hasegawa.

    "A vote?" I frowned.

    That might actually work in my favor. Yes, let''s do that. Yamashina was pretty, so voting for her was natural. The thought process was rude, no doubt, but I didn''t think I was incorrect at the time. Even I''d have picked the more attractive alternative if given a choice.

    "Very well, I''ll allow it." I responded.

    A plan took form in my head. This was actually quite good. It gave me a chance to look good, and it also meant that Yamashina would be able to "defeat" me fair and square. Or at least, as fair and square as a vote can be. Furthermore, I wouldn''t count it as an actual defeat.

    Who knew, perhaps that girl would stop glaring at me. From that point on, we could simply be mutual acquaintances who infrequently spoke with each other. Perhaps I''d ask our class representative for help with something, and I bet she''d gladly oblige.

    Mr. Hasegawa hastily scribbled both my and Yamashina''s names on the board in white chalk. He then produced a small box, most likely for collecting ballots.

    "Then, shall we start the vote?" Mr. Hasegawa smirked.

    My plan was perfect.

    <hr>-S0008-

    <hr>

    My plan was flawed.

    Mr. Hasegawa pulled another slip out of the box and read the name aloud.

    "Shibuya..."

    How did it wind up like this? What sort of sick and twisted joke was this? Could it be that I, Satou Shibuya, had miscalculated? Did I rely too heavily on the prejudices of mankind to pick a pretty girl over one such as myself? Did I underestimate my own all-encompassing charisma?!

    "Shibuya, Shibuya, Shibuya, Yamashina, Shibuya..."

    My patron deity seemed to be doubling down on punishment today.

    "Yamashina, Shibuya, Yamashina, Shibuya..."

    No, perhaps it wasn''t too late to deny the class representative position. I truly held no interest in the prospect, so there shouldn''t be any problems stating this. Ah, but I was already winning. My pride wouldn''t allow me to blatantly throw in the towel!

    "Shibuya and, finally..." Mr. Hasegawa paused. "Shibuya."

    Honestly, what is wrong with these people?!

    I glanced towards Ikuzawa, the genesis of this problem. His bored expression as he doodled in his notebook was enough to fill me with profound distaste. I didn''t know this person, perhaps he was with Genjou? Was this some advanced delinquent technique that I''d yet to grasp?

    Yamashina quietly sat at her desk, looking as respectful as ever. While she didn''t seem to be releasing any form of bloodthirst, I knew she was probably seething with the wrath of... what''s the name of a lightning god, I wonder? Ah, yes.

    That girl was probably seething with the wrath of Nikola Tesla.

    "Perfect," I murmured, stifling small amounts of laughter.

    "And so, our class representative will be Shibuya." said Mr. Hasegawa. "I doubt there would be, but I''ll ask anyway for fairness sake. Are there any objections?"

    Surprisingly, Yamashina didn''t raise her hand.

    It seems the task of dealing with this mess has fallen to me! In your stead, Yamashina, I will sabotage my own position as class representative. Be grateful, it''s not often that one such as myself goes out of their way to relinquish positions of power! I quickly raised my hand, a new idea fresh in mind. This plan could be salvaged!

    "Hm?" Mr. Hasegawa turned to me. "Shoot."

    Even if the ashes of my castle fell from the heavens, I could still sculpt them to form a new stronghold. It''d simply take a bit of guts, no small amount of talent, and the determination to see things through to the end. I rose from my seat and, after clearing my throat, spoke.

    "Yamashina is better suited to this position."

    Mr. Hasegawa tilted his head. "You don''t want to be the class representative?"

    "That''s not what I meant." I stated, blatantly defying my earlier stance. Now I rapidly gestured with my hands, as if trying to convey some form of idea. "I think Yamasawa might be able to handle it better than I myself. Only by a bit though. Not too much. You''d need a ruler to gauge it."

    I didn''t look over at Yamashina as I spoke, partially because I was afraid I''d reflexively berate her. More importantly, I''d accidentally gotten her name wrong again. Regardless, this was a done deal now. I could respectfully pass on being the class representative.

    This was Satou Shibuya''s ultimate socialization technique. My super move, if you would. By passing on a position of power, I disregarded all responsibilities. This wasn''t the first time I''d used my super move, so its power was already honed. None could stop it.

    The teacher blinked. "Then why don''t the both of you do it?"

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    ¡ªAn unexpected counter?!

    "Mister, surely you jest." I stood my ground.

    "You two have the highest scores, so¡ª"

    "So?"

    "Well," he shrugged, "It''ll probably work out."

    How irresponsible! Mr. Hasegawa, chaining that counter into his own technique! This waterflea! This insect! This worm! This rat! This pig! I was about to recite these statements aloud, but another person interrupted my mental tirade.

    "I object to this." Yamashina calmly stated such.

    "Eh?" Mr. Hasegawa tilted his head. "Why? Everyone wins in the end if we follow this tree of logic. That''s the best outcome, right? Everyone gets what they want, right? Teamwork should be encouraged, right?"

    "I have made a decision, Mr. Hasegawa. Even disregarding this, I definitely couldn''t work alongside Shibuya. His disposition is... I don''t know how to describe it, but something about him irks me."

    How rude!

    "Well, let''s forget Shibuya''s, erm... personality quirks for now, Yamashina. Shibuya is Shibuya, and that can''t be helped. Barring that, you mentioned some sort of decision. May I ask what that decision is?" asked Mr. Hasegawa, perhaps genuinely curious.

    "This person," Yamashina tossed a sidelong glance in my direction, "I wish to compete with them. Furthermore, I will defeat them fair and square. This is rather difficult to do if we are sharing the position of class representative so, unfortunately, I stand by my refusal."

    That wasn''t at all the answer I''d expected. I thought it''d be something along the lines of "Because I can''t accept that person," or something of that nature. If Yamashina''s answer wasn''t grounds to make my escape, I''m not sure what was. It wasn''t running though, it was a strategic withdrawl.

    I quietly packed my things. I''d leave it to Yamashina, she could sort things out.

    "You''re not entirely correct." Mr. Hasegawa smirked. "Sharing the class representative spot is a good way to start, you know? All you''ve got to do his show him up."

    That''d never work. If my understanding of Yamashina''s character was accurate, she''s an unreasonable and pig-headed person. It''s only natural that she''d deny such a thing¡ª

    "I suppose you''re right." Yamashina mumbled.

    Oh.

    "Then it''s settled," said Mr. Hasegawa.

    And apparently that was that.

    <hr>-S0009-

    <hr>

    The next couple of classes passed rather uneventfully.

    Nothing physical; such classes would get started on the second or third day. In the meantime, we sat in the gym and listened to a teacher ramble on about the rules of using the gymnasium. They were more or less inline with what I''d expected.

    Now it was lunch time.

    I was en route to where Shizuka and I would meet up. It was only natural for me to eat with her. After all, I had to establish dominance and scare away all filth who would dare attempt to court her. Only a man of high calibur was deserving of my sister! Such was besides the point though.

    Shizuka had suggested meeting outside the first year building, and I didn''t have much room to complain. I didn''t know the school very well myself, so this would work in my favour. It wouldn''t do to look like a fool, especially when coming to meet my coolest sister.

    When I''d finally exited the building, I immediately found my sister. What''s more¡ª

    "...Hm?" I blinked.

    She had a friend! How great to see my unlucky sibling conversing with another female student like a normal human being. She was, after all, a human being. Less than normal perhaps, especially given our rather potent abilities, but whatever. This made sense.

    The person she spoke to looked familiar, but I couldn''t really place it. That was happening a lot lately, though in this case it wasn''t very strong. Certainly not as strong as the feeling I''d gotten after seeing Yamashina, or that trendsetter... er, Minakami.

    As I was contemplating whether or not to approach, Shizuka glanced in my direction. She lifted a hand and waved me over. Naturally, since one couldn''t say no to her, I quickly approached.

    "So? How did classes go?" Shizuka asked. There was a pause. "Actually, don''t answer that. I''m more curious about something else, something far more important."

    "Hm?"

    "What happened to your hair? It definitely looks good..." She murmured this with a nod, after which she paused. As if having realized something, her tone turned panicked. "Or rather, it doesn''t suit someone like you at all! You should like, change it before too many people see you? I think?!"

    "How rude! I think it looks quite good. Minakami said..." A beat passed. "Or rather, I was informed that someone else held the same opinion! Could it be that sister dearest''s fashion sense is lacking? How unexpected! I trusted you, you know?"

    "W-wait, I was just... at that time it seemed like a good idea since... man, I don''t care anymore!" My sister whined. She motioned to the girl standing a foot or so away. "Kotobuki, help me change the subject. I can''t take this anymore."

    The first thing I noticed was that the girl looked quite pretty. She wasn''t a first year either, I could tell from the silvery badge proudly worn on her puffed out chest. Yes, I''d snuck a glance at her chest. I was discreet about it though, so fear not.

    Miss upperclassman had light-blue hair, tied in a waist-length high side ponytail on the right. She seemed athletic, which was fairly consistent with the bamboo sword at her hip. Even so, she didn''t look intimidating. If anything, she looked somewhat dazzling.

    "This is the very pretty Kotobuki. How is it? Isn''t she your kind of gal? I bet she''s a little closer to my cute little brother''s type than that Akasaka, hm? I''m joking, of course, but it might not be entirely false!"

    Shizuka said this with crossed arms. Hastily scraped together pride was well apparent on her face. Could it be that she wanted to show off? Or rather, what did Akane Akasaka have to do with this?

    Well, let''s put that aside for now.

    "Kozue Kotobuki?" I asked a question with an obvious answer.

    "Kaede Kotobuki." Kotobuki shook her head. She completely disregarded Shizuka''s comments, as though such foolishness was commonplace for her. "Kozue is my all too energetic younger brother. You shouldn''t mix us up, especially considering our uh... differing personalities."

    I nodded, having remembered her now. "You gave a speech for us first years, I think. I thought you seemed familiar, though now I know why. Rejoice, Kotobuki the elder. I won''t say that you left a particularly deep impression but, all things considered, I didn''t hate your speech."

    Kotobuki the sister smirked. "Thanks."

    "You misunderstand, that wasn''t a compliment. Don''t get ahead of yourself, prototype Kotobuki. I can''t have people thinking that Satou Shibuya hands out compliments on a whim. It''d be a travesty, you know? A calamity, one might say. With that said, don''tget the wrong idea."

    "Yeah, yeah." She nodded.

    "It''s no use, Satou." Shizuka snickered. "I''ve already informed our very understanding upperclassman of your sour-sweet disposition. She won''t get mad no matter how hard you try. How is it? It must be great having a sister to clear things up for you, huh?"

    "You could''ve asked if you wanted to die that badly." I sighed.

    "Come on, come on... woah, why the bloodthirst?!" Shizuka retreated back a step. "I was playing around. I didn''t say anything weird, I just told her that you were somewhat difficult to get along with! She doesn''t have the wrong idea or anything, okay?!

    Honestly, how foolish.

    "So?" I stopped exuding killing intent. "How''d you make friends with this one? Isn''t she a second year? I won''t say she''s out of my precious sister''s league, but it still seems a bit odd. Tell me more, sister dearest."

    "Huh? Oh..." Shizuka frowned. "She approached me because she wanted to talk to you."

    I gave Kotobuki my attention. "About?"

    She grinned. "First, how about we eat?"

    And so we did. Kaede Kotobuki showed us a nice place. It was a pretty little bench between the first year and second year buildings, beneath a fairly large tree. The tree prevented snow from collecting on the bench, which was quite convenient for the likes of us. I marked the location down in the back of my head- it seemed like a good place to bring a girl.

    The instant Shizuka and I opened our lunches, Kotobuki spoke.

    "Those look homemade." Interest was well apparent in her voice.

    My sister smiled. "Because they are."

    "You cook?"

    Shizuka shook her head.

    It was time to earn some affection points. I couldn''t pass up an opportunity such as this. Even if Kotobuki wasn''t an idol, I could at least think of her as dating material. Who knew, perhaps my standards would lower somewhere down the line. Let''s see, let''s see.

    Kaede Shibuya, huh? The name lost its alliterative appeal. Still, it had a nice ring. I wasn''t especially fond of children, but one would be fine... no, maybe two. It wouldn''t do for one to be lonely, yes. Namewise, I''d prefer Saki if it were a girl. Perhaps Souta if it were a boy?

    No, let''s not get ahead of ourselves.

    "I do the cooking," I stated.

    Kotobuki crossed one leg over the other. "Not bad. I envy the woman you''ll marry."

    "Don''t praise him too much, okay?My Satou is unexpectedly pure-hearted." Shizuka stuffed some food in her mouth. After a moment, she continued speaking. "Besides, this boy is still learning to cook. That''s why it all tastes the same. Like rice, kind of."

    "I''ll master it someday." I averted my gaze. "...Also, who''re you calling pure-hearted?"

    "You." Shizuka said with a nod. "Also, try to master cooking by tomorrow."

    "Sister dearest, that''s impossible."

    "And to think, you''re always boasting!"

    I noticed Kotobuki curiously staring at the two of us out of the corner of my eye. Her expression was two parts warm, and one part confused. I wonder, I wonder. What was it that had her making such a face at the two of us?

    "You''re very sibling-like." Kotobuki mumbled.

    Of course, I quickly received the answer to my question. The new problem, however, was what she meant. Kotobuki''s statement demanded some sort of explanation. We were siblings, so of course we''d be sibling-like. Or rather, wouldn''t it be weirder if we didn''t act like siblings?

    "Why wouldn''t we be sibling-like?" I asked.

    "No reason, I guess. Was just making an observation." She responded. "I''ve got a brother, but we don''t get along like the two of you. Er, don''t get it twisted. I don''t dislike my brother or anything, but we''re not sickeningly close like you both. No offense."

    Hm? How strange.

    "Sickeningly? Pardon my asking... hold on." I produced a napkin and began wiping off my sister''s mouth. It was a fairly heavy-handed show of affection, but my sister took it in stride. "Pardon my asking, Kotobuki archetype, but could it be that you and your brother don''t get along?"

    "A weirdly personal question to be asking someone you''ve just met. Shizuka told me you were like this, but I didn''t think she was too serious." Kotobuki said this with a frown. "I don''t dislike that blunt approach to things, but I can see how others might. You strike me as kind of a bulldozer."

    How amusing.

    "Bulldozer? And now the older Kotobuki is making increasingly personal quips about me." I mumbled this with a nod. "I''m impartial on the matter, so instead I''ll parrot something I was told. What was it? I don''t dislike that blunt approach to things, but I can see how others might. My, I''m so clever."

    "There''s no wit if you parrot it moments after me, underclassman." She snickered. "You oughta be careful. Never know when we upperclassmen will make your life a living hell. In fact, I''m kind of peckish. Feel like buying me some bread?"

    "The infamous bread shuttle, is it? How amusing¡ª"

    "Let''s get back on topic. The atmosphere between you two is getting a little too good, especially considering I''m still here." Shizuka interrupted. "What is it that you want from my foolish younger brother, Kotobuki? I''m curious, but I won''t say it twice. That''d be childish, right?"

    How rude, how rude!

    "Right, right. Still, I wouldn''t call him foolish." Kotobuki nodded. "After all¡ª"

    "Hm?" Shizuka tilted her head.

    "He scored one-hundred percent,right?"

    Hearing those words, a simple realization struck me.

    If Kotobuki was a second year, and she presented the speech for the first years, then there was a fact I''d overlooked. Or rather, it was strange that I hadn''t realized immediately after remembering her. I knew who this person was now, and what position they held.

    "Huh? There''s no way Satou got higher than twenty percent." Shizuka didn''t look up from her food. "In no timeline exists a Satou capable of scoring one hundred percent. Even if there were an infinite number of timelines, Satou''s test average would be around thirty percent."

    You could at least consider it a possibility in this timeline, sister dearest!

    "He''s definitely the top scoring first year," said Kotobuki. She reclined in her seat and stared out at the gently falling snow. The blue-haired girl smiled. "He beat the score I received last year by one percent and thirty seconds."

    Kaede Kotobuki easily established place on the academic foodchain. The exalted Satou Shibuya''s affection points were at an all-time high! How did you do it, Kotobuki the oh-so-lovely? What''s the trick to courting one such as myself? I''m curious, I''m curious!

    Shizuka glanced over my direction. "...Did you cheat?"

    "No."

    It wasn''t a lie because I didn''t cheat, probably.

    "Then that cramming worked!?"

    "It''s only natural that I score the highest." I responded. "Have you forgotten who I am? Anything less than the pinnacle of perfection is beneath me, sister dearest. If I can''t even crush insects underfoot, I''m less a man and more a child!"

    "We''re both children, but besides that..." Shizuka frowned. "Why didn''t you tell me?"

    Think fast, Satou of the Burning Heavens. What do you say to preserve your coolest sister''s good mood? The fate of mankind is in your hands! It starts right here, right now, at this exact point in time!

    "Because you''re an important part of my life!" I proclaimed.

    Here it is! My finishing move!

    "That''s not how that works!" Shizuka complained.

    It was blocked!?

    My sister looked as though she wanted to say something else, but Kotobuki quickly interjected. I could tell that this was merely a ploy to inject herself into a quickly escalating situation, almost like a sort of coolant. It seemed that this was Kotobuki''s own sure-kill move.

    "Well, I should probably get to why I asked for you," said Kotobuki.

    Now then, I already knew where this is going. There''s only one second year who would give a speech to the first years. It wasn''t a matter of knowing who she was, it was a matter of being able to figure out her position through common sense.

    "Shibuya," started Kotobuki.

    After all¡ª

    "Would you visit the Student Council room after school?"

    This person was likely the Student Council President.

 PART ONE, CHAPTER FOUR

    PART ONE, CHAPTER FOUR: "SEA SNAKE"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    The cafeteria''s emptiness meant it was a good day to monologue.

    Let''s do it, I guess. Minako Minakami prepares for action!

    There are a bunch of things you learn after becoming a delinquent. People don''t tell you, but respect is a pretty big thing for them. If you don''t show respect, they''ll either crush you or get frozen in a block of ice trying. It''s tough, y''know?

    What they also don''t tell you is that their intimidation factor doesn''t come from their total headcount, accumulated territory, or whatever. It mostly came from their leader. Take, for example, that natural disaster of a Golden King. That''s a good description, right?

    The Golden King''s round table didn''t have many members, maybe around eight, but that aurum tyrant''s name was enough to send people packing. It probably helped that the law of his circle was something along the lines of "power dominates."

    "Mi."

    "Eh?" I turned to meet the other girl''s gaze.

    The upstanding girl who knelt before me wasa special person to me, a precious friend closer than anyone I could think of.Her frame was tall and slender. She had waist-length dark red hair (done up in a ponytail) and a pair of pretty scarlet eyes. Yeah,she was definitely the same age as me, but¡ª

    "Like always, your body is outrageous," I mumbled.

    It was a complete and utter defeat on my part. A contest with no hope of victory, this was the so-called hopeless boss fight scenario. You can''t win, so the best thing to do is lay down and take your beating. Don''t bother wasting your items.

    The redhead frowned. "I''m not sure what you mean, Mi. Certainly my physical conditioning is a cut above most, but that''s only natural. I''d rather not brag, but I''m at least allowed some level of confidence. After all¡ª"

    "Let''s put that aside, Kei."

    Yeah, this girl was Kei. Keiko Kusanagi.

    Kei and I went way back. You could even call us childhood friends. She lived across the street from my home, and we''ve been in the same class ever since. She probably wouldn''t have made it into second class at this school if I hadn''t helped her study. While I wasn''t particularly brainy, Kei was a tried and true idiot. A high level believer in the school of hard knocks, even against herself!

    "Er," I scratched my head. "Sorry, but it''s true."

    Her frown widened. "I don''t really understand, but very well."

    Internally lambasting Kei didn''t feel very good, so I thought about something else. There was, after all, a reason I''d waited here. There''d have to be one, right? Most people didn''t host two-gal tribunals in the school cafeteria for no reason. At least,that''s what common sense told me.

    Anyway, let''s get to the first point of interest for today''s discussion.

    "Anything new?" I asked.

    Kei nodded. "Yes, on this so-called Satou Shibuya."

    "Er," I squinted, "who?"

    "Satou... Shibuya?" The redhead seemed to lose confidence.

    "Whatever, no biggie. I''m pretty sure we''re on the same page, the specifics don''t matter. I don''t like mincing words, not one bit, so let''s get to the meat of this whole shebang. Did you notice it too, Kei?"

    "Yes, of course. Satou Shibuya does look a bit familiar, doesn''t he. Given time, I might be able to place those eyes of his. Yes, yes, it certainly feels like I''ve met him somewhere, though I''m not sure where¡ª"

    "Not that. The hair, Kei. I''m talking about his hair!" I said this with a frown. "Then again, he came away looking pretty good when I was done with him. Some of my betterwork, especially for something done on the spot. Feeling pretty good about it to be honest."

    Kei cleared her throat. "Returning to form, I don''t think it was that strange. His hair, rather."

    "That''s not fair, you haven''t had to do your own hair in years. Your perception is skewed, Kei. Like a bird underwater, or like a fish in the sky." I nodded, satisfied with this comparison. "Not sure what, but I propose that Saito Shibuchi has more going on than he''d like to admit."

    "Satou Shibuya," Kei corrected. "Also, I agree."

    My gaze wandered to a student that''d just entered. "What''s more, doesn''t Souta Shibusen have a sort of air about him? Doesn''t it feel like he''s really some kind of wild animal? Like, if you gave him an instant, doesn''t it feel like he''d spit on youor something? Or like, stomp on you?"

    "Satou Shibuya," Kei corrected me again. I was having too much fun."And I suppose he did have a rather intense air about him. His eyes were far sharper than your run of the mill fool who doesn''t know where they stand. It was a familiar feeling, really. To give my thoughts, Satou Shibuya gives off a rather tense air. He no doubt practices martial arts."

    "Eh? What kind?"

    "What kind? Mi, even I cannot figure out such a thing ata glance. Rather, I doubt the existence of such a convenient eye technique."

    "That''s not important right now. I''m confident he''d be a good pick, Kei." I pumped my fist. "We should go for him. I''ve got a good feeling, you know? The special kind of feeling you get after winning something rare out of the gacha machine. Feeling seriously lucky. You better not get snatched up, Satou Shinjuku!"

    "That''s the wrong ward, Mi." Kei responded. "Also, while it''s true that we might be able to make it in time with his help, I''ve found out something else. It seems as though it might be important, at least in the context of your... special feeling."

    I crossed my arms. "It doesn''t matter what it is, we''ll handle it. We''re in this together, and I''m gonna help you until you get your seat. We''re already on a time limit, so we''ve gotta go fast. Throw caution into the wind, you know? All it takes is a little passion, Kei. You should know that better than me!"

    "I have news regarding Satou Shibuya." Kei narrowed her gaze.

    "Eh? No way, why the darker tone?"

    "...First, let''s have lunch."

    <hr>

    -S0010-

    <hr>

    I sneezed.

    "Satou, you okay?" Shizuka asked.

    "Yes, it''s nothing major."

    "You''re not lying or anything, right?"

    My sister didn''t sound amused, and I couldn''t blame her.

    "Would you come and visit the Student Council room after school?"

    After uttering those words, Kaede Kotobuki quickly finished her lunch. Before I could ask her another question, she got up and disappeared. Yes, she quite literally disappeared. Perhaps her power was teleporting? Regardless, that explanation returns us to the present.

    Shizuka frowned. "Anyway, why are you the one who looks unhappy? I should be mad."

    "People have been saying black hair doesn''t suit me."

    "People?"

    "Very well, one person." I corrected.

    "...Well, I guess it does look a bit weird."

    I frowned. "Thank you for the advanced notice, sister dearest. Now that I''m in the know, I can avoid any harrowing social situations. My oh my, it''d be tragic if I was thrown to the wolves without any idea of my perhaps next-level foolish appearance. Asexpected, my coolest sister certainly has my back!"

    Shizuka scooted away. Now she cleared her throat. "With eyes like that, you can''t really pull off the honour student look. Let''s not forget that your only concession in the endeavor for normality, reluctant as you were, was no piercings at school! No offense, Satou, but that''s pretty stupid."

    "First, a Satou Shibuya without solid gold adorning his perfect figure is nothing more than a hack. Second, you should''ve told me that I looked weird beforehand, idiot! What is this, some bizarre circus for the sublime?!"

    "You were so adamant on black hair that I couldn''t get a word in! Besides, why black hair? There are some good dyes I guess, but this island has a lot of different hair colors. Heck, you''d stand out less if your hair was electric blue! Or hot pink! Or brown, like it''s supposed to be!"

    I silently accepted defeat.

    Shizuka sighed. "Wanna wash it out when we get home?"

    "I''ll just get rid of it now."

    "...I mean, if you say so."

    The tone that Shizuka took struck me as odd, but I paid it no mind. I decided to get this over with while nobody was around. Well, nobody plus Shizuka. This was an important factor, as in no way could Shizuka be classified as a nobody. For now though, let''s put that aside.

    My gaze narrowed. "Prepare revert aspect."

    Having an ability that required specifics was a bit annoying, but it was still useful. In this case, the specifics were because I wasn''t used to singling out my ability''s individual aspects. It was easier to activate all processes at once, like starting up a computer proper.

    "No activation aria. Boot code. Load utility code one, stage one."

    Reiki in the air gathered around my body. Shizuka scooted further away, so as not to get caught up in the effect. I didn''t blame her; Shizuka spent a while dolling herself up this morning. I wasn''t sure why, but such could be ascertained later.

    The colorless reiki converged in the palm of my dominant right hand. It twisted into a crackling golden energy. Twinkling sparks spilled forth, showering the ground with pebble-sized shooting stars. They bounced once or twice, like rocks on a lake''s surface, then fizzled out.

    I snapped my fingers. "Activate."

    With a brief flash of light, the golden glow faded. All that remained was a faint whirring noise, not unlike the dying groans of old machinery. That should have done the trick.

    In the end, that''s all it is. A trick.

    It wasn''t anything that warranted some kind of applause. It was a mundane (albeit convenient) use for one of my ability''s four aspects. That''s not to say I wasn''t satisfied with it. All abilities had to be good for at least one mundane trick. Outside of military activities, a tool for destruction had little purpose in any sort of modern society.

    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    I turned to my sister. "Did it work?"

    "Yeah, it''s brown again." She paused. "I think it''s at the point just before I dyed it."

    That meant it hadn''t reverted back too far. I was afraid it''d go back to the days when I dyed my hair blonde. Such''d be a dead giveaway regarding my past. Fortunately, my fears had been without base. I wonder, why did I lose faith? There was no way I''d make such a basic mistake.

    "Does it still look weird?" I asked.

    "Well no, but¡ª"

    "But?"

    "It''s weird to just change hair colors in the middle of a school day, isn''t it?"

    I frowned. "That''s your problem? How foolish."

    Glazing over my insult, Shizuka spoke. "Still, you''ve gotten better at using your ability."

    "You''re only saying this now? An ability mustn''t retain any bad habits. Mine is a good child, provided it gets everything it desires." I reclined in my seat. "Abilities have to be good at more than just breaking things if you want to lead a fulfilling life. I''ve got to learn new things, sister dearest."

    "And that includes fixing hair?"

    "Leave me alone."

    In the end, Shizuka and I continued basking in the frigid lunchtime breeze. Even as we conversed, however, I still felt her to be unhappy. I quickly tried to formulate a plan of action, but nothing came to mind. I decided the best solution would be throwing myself at her mercy. Foolish thoughts like "What''s the worst that could happen?" filled my head.

    "Apologies, sister dearest. You should''ve been the first to know of my test score."

    "No kidding?" She snickered.

    "Don''t misunderstand though, I wouldn''t be so forthright about my mistakes with anyone else." A pause. After a few moments, I continued speaking. "I''ve got a reputation, you see. If I were anything less than perfect, I wouldn''t be worthy of¡ª"

    "Get to the point, Satou."

    "Let me finish, idiot!" Heat gathered in my cheeks. "Ah, um, what I mean is, I don''t mind listening to any immediate requests you might have. Within reason, I mean. I won''t atomize anything larger than a tree, it''d be unfortunate if someone saw me. Not for me, rather. For them."

    Shizuka sighed. "It''s whatever, what sister isn''t used to her unruly younger brother''s antics?"

    Ah, what a relief.

    Shizuka was prone to making unreasonable requests, especially if given leeway. She was the elder of us two twins, but I kept her on quite a short leash! After all, how else could I keep her safe?

    "We''re siblings, Satou. Gotta look out for each other. After all, I¡ª" Shizuka paused.

    "Hm?"

    "Wait, whatever I want?"

    <hr>-S0011-

    <hr>

    "Satou, get me something to drink!"

    My sister said the above, all the while crossing her arms like a brute.

    This was, in no uncertain terms, her way of getting revenge. Being the person I was, who thought of her as my most important person, I decided to get the mighty Shizuka Shibuya a drink. It was the dawn of Satou Shibuya''s life behind bars! A new age! There was one flaw in my sister''s plan though.

    "You didn''t tell me what kind of drink to buy," I whispered.

    Pay unto evil with evil. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth. On this day, Shizuka would receive her much-detested red bean soup. Bow before Satou Shibuya, he with control over your received beverage. My power over vending machines was absolute, at least provided I had the finances to waste!

    "Ahem."

    After my fit subsided, I continued on my way. I didn''t know where the nearest vending machine was. As a result, I''d gotten up and waltzed back to the first year building''s grounds. There had to be at least one in that general area, and I was determined to find it.

    Eventually I spotted the red-black plastic shape I''d sought: the legendary "school vending machine" that I''d heard of so many times before in myth. I quickly made my way over. Unfortunately, I was less than satisfied with the swill that I found.

    "This is snacks, not drinks." I murmured.

    How disappointing.

    As I turned away, I saw something in the vending machine''s slot. It was out of the corner of my left eye. How had I nearly missed it? The eyes of a bargain bin stalker eluded me, but this''d looked like a free snack in every respect. Those were¡ª

    "Chips? How curious, how curious."

    Someone probably bought the wrong item. Or perhaps they accidentally received two bags without noticing. Regardless, this couldn''t be unsanitary. They didn''t look to have been opened, plus it''d be a waste to leave them behind. I wasn''t particularly cheap, mind you.

    I extended a hand towards the free snack, carefully glancing from side to side. It wouldn''t do if someone saw this fairly shameful show of thriftiness. Unexpected, however, was the something I grabbed in place of a bag of chips. I peered downwards to see what it was.

    A wrist?

    No, not a disembodied wrist. Someone else''d reached for the bag of chips. Common sense wasn''t in such high demand that I couldn''t determine this. I wonder, did this fool understand the nature of his failure? All that my eyes fell on belonged to me, and these chips were no exception. I needed to assert my dominance.

    "Ah, sorry." I tightened my grip. "That''s mine."

    "My, is that so?" A familiar voice chimed.

    I see, so you''re my foe this time.

    Knowing who the person in question was, I slowly turned towards them. Shortgreen hair, serpentine yellow eyes, and a toothy smile greeted me. His uniform was uncharacteristically neat, which put me off. The snake''d been half a second faster, but I''d caught his wrist.

    This was Genjou Gekkouhara.

    Yes, Genjou Gekkouhara¡ª

    "Yo, Satoto." Genjou leaned in, interrupting my train of thought. "Fancy meeting you here. I take it you''re working through an internal monologue about me? Am I good or what?"

    I narrowed my gaze. "What, actually. I don''t know what you''re talking about. Also, don''t act so familiar. It''s embarrassing. Or rather, who is this strange person with puke-green hair and ugly eyes? I wonder, why are they talking to me? There''s an order to these things, filth."

    "Huh? It''s seaweed green, Satoto."

    "I don''t care. Most people don''t talk about their hair dye choices during first talks with a new person. Similarly, most people don''t touch people they''ve just met."

    "Is it like that?" He snickered. "I mean, you touched me."

    "It''s like that." Bloodthirst oozed forth.

    With a snap of his fingers, Genjou''s wrist slipped through my fingertips and into open air. Or rather than slipped, it''d be more accurate to say his wrist phased through my hand. That type of power was difficult for me to handle, and it belonged to someone I couldn''t stand.

    "I won''t break that easily, Santana. Besides, should the top scoring first year really be acting violent?" Genjou snickered. "I thought you were starting over."

    I lowered my voice. "...What do you want, Genjou?"

    Genjou smirked. "So you do know me. Get this, some rude person was here earlier, pretending he didn''t know me. Can you believe that, Satolio? Someone who doesn''t know about the Golden King''s undefeated Silver Knight? I didn''t think it was possible!"

    Impertinent fool. What are you, five?

    "Make words, Genjou, or make like a banana."

    "Split?" He smiled.

    "I''ll skin you."

    Genjou shrugged his shoulders. "It''s not like I intended to run into you here, Satyr. It was a coincidence. A super big coincidence. Still, it''s not all bad. My precious Saturn seems to be doing well, and knowing that means I can relax."

    "Nobody asked for your concern." I frowned. "Bow or leave."

    "Yes, yes¡ª"

    "Why are you actually bowing?!"

    Genjou chuckled, returning to his feet. He spent a few moments dusting himself off. You know, making sure he looked presentable. I, on the other hand, used that brief moment of respite to calm myself. After I''d relaxed and Genjou''d cleaned himself up, we moved to another topic.

    "The other Golden King is looking for you, Salto."

    I sighed. "What a fool."

    The current Golden King was Midas A. Goldstein, a member of my Round Table. His supernatural ability granted an incorruptible mind, an indestructable body, and heightened physical strength. Such was how he earned his place as my Pyrite Rook.

    I wonder what he wants, the foolish meathead.

    Midas was, needless to say, unreasonably violent. Still, that wasn''t my problem. If he still hadn''t found me, he likely didn''t know where to look. If anything, he wouldn''t know where to look for a while. After all, I''d done a fairly good job keeping a low profile!

    "Monologuing again?"

    "You''re unmistakeably wrong." I paused for a moment. "Unrelated by the way, but I have a question."

    Genjou tilted his head. "Yes?"

    "Does the nameIori Ikuzawaring any bells?"

    "That guy? He''s pretty normal, Satellite."

    Normal?

    I massaged my brow. "You''ve given me little to work with, Genjou."

    Asking Genjou probably wasn''t the best idea. A snake obviously wouldn''t tell me what I wanted, and Genjou was no different. As much as I hated praising him for it, Genjou was good at concealing information. Even if he''d been lying, there was no way for me to tell. I spent a moment sizing up the filth, but to no avail. Sighing, I turned and walked off.

    "Visit when you get the chance! My sister misses you, she foams at the mouth literallyevery time I say your name!" Genjou yelled.

    With that, I made my way back to Shizuka. At the last second though, it dawned on me.

    "Ah¡ª"

    I didn''t get those chips from Genjou.

 PART ONE, CHAPTER FIVE

    PART ONE, CHAPTER FIVE: "SERVILITY"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    After a tongue-lashing from Shizuka, classes continued.

    "¡ªAnd so, as I haven''t finished my teaching plan, today will be self-study!"

    Mr. Hasegawa proudly spoke, as if he''d waited an eternity to make this lackluster announcement. Afterwards he wrote the words "WORK HARD" on the blackboard, then exited with a well-apparent spring in his step. If this had been the worst of things, I wouldn''t have cared.

    "As class representative, I think we should do some review."

    Seriously stating such, Yamashina crossed her arms. Whether she was trying to show off or not, I couldn''t tell. Given her self-assured expression, she was confident in her ability to teach. I could admire such confidence. In fact, I found it somewhat captivating. That, however, was beside the point!

    This is self-study. One is supposed to study... by themselves.

    In other words, it was for relaxing. Nobody in their right mind would agree with that golden girl. Who would want to review as a group? Perhaps some might use class time to play around with, but not to study. People would never make responsible use of a free period. Such was simply part of youth.

    Comrades, state your thoughts!

    "I''m cool with it."

    The boy next to Yamashina said this. He had short light-blue hair and, leaning against his desk, a single bamboo sword. If I had to describe him, he was... fairly handsome. Enough so to acknowledge him, but not to threaten my position at the top. If I remembered correctly, his name was Kozue Kotobuki.

    Kotobuki''s little brother, is it?

    "I suppose we should review demonslaying history," Yamashina murmured.

    My interest sank to an all time low. This topic meant there was little for the exalted me, Satou Shibuya, to learn. It was, after all, my strongest subject in middle school. I wasn''t going into demonslaying as a career, but I knew enough to support Shizuka''s own dreams. I could relax without feeling guilty.

    "Shibuya?" As I put my head down, Yamashina called me.

    "Hm?" I frowned.

    "Are you coming?"

    Me? Myself? I? Why would I go to the front of the class? I had nothing to teach these insects, especially during my self-study period. The fact that the oh-so-foolish Yoshida Yamashina even considered asking me could be taken as an insult. Honestly, did this girl actually score the number two position?

    "...You dare¡ª" I paused.

    The girl had a passionate glint in her eyes, one that said "no" was the wrong answer. To her, the competition had already started. She came at me right out of the gate, and she wasn''t pulling any punches. Such reckless disregard for the exalted Satou Shibuya''s circumstances, I loathed it.

    "You''re a class representative as well," reasoned Yamashina, "Shall we review together?"

    My gaze turned cold. I wasn''t a competetive person, not in the slightest, but even a paragon of temperance like myself would get mad if thrown under the bus. This was more than simply a challenge to me. This was comparable to being made light of, or so I thought. As a result, I decided to show the girl her place on the food chain.

    "Very well."

    After straightening my tie, I pushed in my chair and headed to the blackboard. As we walked, the two of us kept our eyes locked. Finally, the we reached the front. There was a moment''s pause, one we spent sizing each other up. It was only now that I properly took in the girl''s appearance.

    The golden girl (as I called her) stood overcome with a nervousness I hadn''t noticed at the time. She was picturesque, serving as the ideal representation of a productive student body. Not a single imperfection, not a single mistake. This was the code that Yoshida Yamashina strove to abide by.

    Not even an inkling of unpreparedness presented itself in her apparel. No wrinkles on the black-gold blazer fitting her slender frame, nor the carmine tie beneath. Her plaid skirt, red in traditional Kawagusa fashion, reached to her knees. There truly was nothing noteworthy about Yoshida Yamashina''s dressing habits, a textbook model student for sure.

    Straight golden hair, ordinarily reaching her upper back, fell in thin strands over her left shoulder. Binding it was her only personal article, a black and white scrunchie. Her sharp gaze and blade-like countenance, traits many thought intimidating, paired quite well with her golden eyes. Seeing all this, I couldn''t help but restate my thoughts:

    This girl is beautiful.

    Yamashina erased Mr. Hasegawa''s message from the board. Afterwards, she grabbed a piece of sky-blue chalk. I too grabbed a piece, mine red. Nobody realized the tension between us, and the reactions we received differed greatly from what I''d expected.

    "Why are they staring at each other so hard?"

    "No way, arethey¡ª"

    "Don''t say it!"

    How embarrassing!

    And then, as if silencing the class, Yamashina cleared her throat. It didn''t take much longer for the chatter to fizzle out, especially after the two of us broke eye contact. We turned to the blackboard, and I used the opportunity to cool my recently-heated face. Finally, as if she''d waited for me to relax, the golden girl spoke.

    "Where shall we start, Shibuya?"

    "I-It''s only natural that we cover moderndemonslaying history."

    "Then I''ll go first," she stated.

    All eyes were us. I realized this too late, and a bead of sweat formed on my brow. I wasn''t bad with being the center of attention. Rather, it was one of my strengths. However, it was a strength I hadn''t wanted to use. I produced a small sigh, then peered over at Yamashina. The two of us accidentally locked eyes once more, but I broke eye contact first.

    Now Yamashina spoke.

    "The year 2028 was when Germany, then split into east and west, passed a bill preventing the conscription of non-humans and superhumans against the Demon threat. This preceded the construction of artificial islands such as Niflheim, Muspelheim, Alfheim, Svartalfheim, so on and so forth. Such became economically and technologically plausible after the conception of a Germany-Japan alliance. What is the treaty these two countries signed?"

    In response to this, hands shot up.

    "The Yggdrasil Treaty," I answered.

    "Correct. Both countries have a close relationship, hence why it isn''t uncommon to see those of mixed descent on artificial islands such as this."

    Shizuka and I were two such people. That man,a Demonslayer, was Japanese... not quite. Born on Vanaheim, not on the mainland. Our mother, a Demon researcher, was born in Germany. In our case, that man''s brown hair beat out mother''s platinum blonde. Shizuka took after him, and I after mother. Not in terms of appearance, but supernatural ability.

    "I''ll go next then," I said.

    She nodded.

    Now then, time to get serious.

    In the end, Yamashina proved herself quite knowledgeable.

    <hr>-S0012-

    <hr>

    Afterwards, the day flew by.

    Classes had just let out for the day. Being the lost lamb I was, I started looking for the Student Council room. My initial plan to ask Mr. Hasegawa, however, fell through. For some reason, I couldn''t find him after class. Not in the hallways, not in the faculty room, nothing. It was all very strange, to be honest.

    What kind of teacher is this fool?

    The next thing to do was ask another student, but that''s where things got complicated. I finished asking some third floor students about it. None who I asked seemed to know, so I decided to move down a floor and try again. A wonderful plan, yes?

    My footsteps echoed down the second floor halls. It''d sounded livelier from the third floor, but things seemed to''ve died down before I''d arrived. The second class students didn''t have much reason to stick around compared to the first class students. Unfortunately, I wasn''t given time to consider the implications of such an idea.

    Heralded by a bell''s jingle, a voice sounded behind me.

    "Satou Shibuya."

    T''was a familiar method of name-calling, but the voice itself only slightly so. After straightening my tie, I turned to face she who''d spoken. After all, who could fault them? Satou Shibuya rolled off the tongue, and saying it was only natural. Such good taste couldn''t go unrewarded, not in good faith.

    Now then, now then... hm?

    I knew this person.

    The scent of cherry blossoms reached my nose. I was reminded of the many flowers we''d hidden in books, and resulting times her father''d scolded us. To protect the sanctity of beauty, as he''d described, fell well within their family code. This was why he''d doted so heavily on his daughter.

    Her uniform couldn''t be called neat. The dress shirt, in constant battle with her ample bosom, had its sleeves rolled up to the elbow. Her black-gold blazer was nowhere in sight. Only the skirt kept its sanctity, cut just above her knees.

    Deep crimson hair traced a wild arc, bound to form by a single silvery bell. The resulting ponytail reached the backs of her knees. Contrasting the wildness of her design, the neatness of her bangs. She made no effort to hide the piercing red eyes beneath. This was¡ª

    "Kei?" I murmured.

    Yes, Keiko Kusanagi. It''d been a long time, and I doubted she remembered me. What''s more, the name Satou Shibuya definitely wouldn''t ring a bell for her. That didn''t explain how she knew it though. I narrowed my gaze.

    Either a certain red-haired vampire had sent her, Midas had sent her, or she''d remembered me. If such was the case, would she perhaps confess her undying love? The third scenario, though unlikely, was a favorite for tonight! To my knowledge though, she wasn''t an idol.

    "Are you an idol?" I asked.

    "An odd question, but no."

    Very well, I''ll scratch Kei off the list.

    "Did that red-haired vampire send you?" I asked.

    "...The Vermilion Shinso?"

    "I suppose not. Then the Golden King?"

    She frowned. "No."

    Which means¡ª

    "...Then you''re here to confess your undying love?"

    "What an unpleasant thought," Kei murmured.

    I''d gotten ahead of myself, like I''d been trying not to do. Still, it was fine. Even counting my mistakes, nothing could detract from my perfection. With that in mind, I turned an index finger towards myself and kept the conversation going.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "Do you perhaps remember me?"

    "I don''t understand the question, sorry."

    That stung a bit. "...I-In any case, can I help you?"

    "I''d like to borrow a moment of your time."

    I didn''t give the notion much thought. Less because I didn''t care, more because I lacked a reason to decline. My schedule, while not entirely free, wasn''t particularly backed up. I didn''t mind humouring my childhood crush. A single matter, the elder Kotobuki''s request, was the only business I had today.

    "Should we move elsewhere?" I asked.

    "No, here will be fine."

    "Very well, you have my attention."

    Following those words, silence fell. Kei glared daggers into my chest,an unpleasant experience for sure. I couldn''t immediately understand her problem. After a bit of reflection, however, I realized what had caught her attention. Kei stepped forward, entering within arm''s length of me. She breached my absolute territory with little regard for my thoughts on the matter.

    "If you don''t mind me asking, what happened to your hair?"

    "I removed the dye," I retreated a step, "Also, you''re too close."

    "You''re not allowed to wash dye into school sinks."

    "I didn''t, fool. What do you take me for?"

    Kei''s brow tensed, but she didn''t comment. The girl, taking my request into consideration, pulled back a few steps. She took a deep breath, as if calming herself, and then returned her gaze to me. The redhead cleared her throat.

    "You shouldn''t join the Student Council," she said.

    "I was invited to the Student Council room, not to join. Mind you, joining doesn''t seem like a bad idea. No, maybe that''s why Kotobuki the elder invited me? I suppose that''d make the most sense. She wouldn''t be the first to covet my majesty, but I can certainly make her the last. My, what a good line! I''ll be sure to remember it."

    "Apologies," Kei frowned, "But you''ve lost me."

    "Don''t worry, it isn''t your business to begin with. Or rather, you''re awfully knowledgeable about my personal ongoings. You can''t be faulted, I suppose. Few aren''t curious about one such as myself, but let''s put that aside. May I ask what your so-called ''deal'' is?"

    Her expression oozed with pride. "I''ve been watching you since the middle of lunch."

    Ah, I understand.

    "Are you a stalker? And in love?"

    She frowned, remaining silent.

    "Very well," I sighed, "I''ll bite. Why were you stalking me?"

    "I was watching you," Kei corrected, "Because I was told to do so."

    "Your client has good taste. Who sent you?"

    "Does the name Minako Minakami ring a bell?"

    I slowly nodded. Before I could give a verbal answer, however, Kei''s eyes lit up with a familiar passion. I recognized this passion, having fallen victim to it against a certain gyaru. I knew where this was going, and I didn''t like it. My brain immediately kicked into overdrive, searching for an exit route.

    "Don''t you dare¡ª" I took a step backwards. Against this foe, it wasn''t enough.

    As if carried on the winds themselves, Kei appeared before me. It''d been abrupt, far too fast to see without my ability. The weight of her hand on my shoulder brought me back to reality. In turn, my signature scowl surfaced. Partially due to disgust, partially because I lamented this waste of unprecedented martial talent.

    "I shall tell you of Mi... Minako''s noble cause," She said.

    "Tch."

    Kei cleared her throat. "In the wake of evil and destruction left behind by the Golden King, delinquents were in a state of unrest. The groups in this area may work under the Golden King, but he is a tyrant. His means are neither just nor noble. Minako is absolute justice."

    "Oh, I''m sure."

    "And so, I will protect Minako''s noble cause. She will unite all delinquents on this island, accomplishing what the Golden King could not. Such a tyrant isn''t fit to sit on his throne, Satou Shibuya. Surely you understand, right?"

    "I don''t. Can I help you?"

    I lifted a hand to brush Kei''s hand aside. The redhead didn''t seem to mind, easily releasing her grip. Strange, however, was the flash of bloodthirst I sensed from her. Just as easily as it''d appeared, it soon fizzled into nothing. Needless to say, my alertness peaked.

    "Minako senses something special in you, like a wild beast trapped in a cage of normality. Now that I''ve seen you up close, I''m starting to understand. It seems, however, that Minako hadn''t fully grasped the depth of your ferocity."

    I narrowed my gaze. "Oh?"

    Kei stepped forward. "You too are a practitioner of a demon-slaying kenjutsu style, Shibuya. The flexibility of your shoulder muscles, not to mention the way your hands are callused... below the first joints of your fingers and your thumb, is it? My hands are the same."

    "Impressive."

    So her senses were alreadyhoned to such a point? To think she could gauge my martial prowess with a single touch. Through clothing, no less. Kei had entered the realm of an untouchable sword master. I''d always thought she was strong, but this was abnormal. This was monstrous talent, similar in nature to my own.

    How interesting.

    "Still, a wild beast trapped in a cage of normality? Minakami has a way with words."

    She averted her gaze. "Minako didn''t phrase it in such exact terms..."

    "In any case, is that everything?"

    Keiko made a difficult face. "Technically, yes."

    "In that case, I''ll be leaving¡ª"

    "Before that," Kei stepped in front of me, "You seem familiar with that red-haired vampire. I''m unsure of your past, but it must be dark if you believe he''d send someone after you. In that sense, I have some information you might want. Shall we make a deal?"

    "A deal, is it? I''ll at least hear out your terms."

    "Consider my precious Minako''s invitation."

    There was no reason to decline her request. She''d said to consider it. Such greatly differed from demanding I join. Given her choice in words, helping Minakami wasn''t a dead-set requirement. Kei had become more reasonable since I''d last seen her. Far more beautiful as well.

    "Very well," I sighed, "Tell me."

    She nodded. "That red-haired vampire skipped a year."

    "I don''t understand the problem."

    "He''ll be coming here in two or so weeks."

    I frowned. "Wasn''t he supposed to be leading Kokorobuki?"

    "I''m unsure of the details, but I have heard rumors. Most point towards the idea that he''s looking for someone here, at Kawagusa. I have reason to believe this too."

    Looking for someone, is it? The Golden King beat that red vampire and his old leader, so why come here? The current Golden King was the obvious suspect, or so I thought. There was no reason to think that Midas wouldn''t do it, especially given his vicious streak.

    No, perhaps the red runt knows it wasn''t Midas?

    How did he know to come here? Someone had definitely clued him in, but who? I considered this for several moments, but only Genjou came to mind. Only he had the correct intel. Only he had the gall. Just the thought was enough to irritate me.

    I narrowed my gaze. "Kei¡ª"

    "Please don''t act so familiar."

    "Kusanagi," I corrected, "Tell Minakami that I''m not interested in helping her."

    Kei sighed. "You weren''t interested to begin with."

    An undeniable truth, but could the exalted Satou Shibuya be blamed? Perhaps so, but not in good faith. In any case, I did have one last question. I doubted Kei would answer it though. I cleared my throat, turning my focus back to the redhead.

    "By the by, where''s the Student Council room?"

    <hr>-S0013-

    <hr>

    "My, I''m home!"

    The sound of my voice echoed across the Gekkouhara clan house.

    I slipped my shoes off, tossed them aside, then made my way down the long corridor. My footsteps were silent, the result of ten years spent learning Gekkouhara-style demon slaying. In the end though, there wasn''t any reason to sneak in a house like this.

    With a flash, two figures appeared at my sides. It wasn''t as if I''d been noticed, they simply knew I''d be here. After all, why wouldn''t I be? A wise man had told me the worth of punctuality, and I''d taken his words to heart. It was this lesson that allowed the twins before me to properly do their jobs.

    "Young master, allow me to take your coat," My butler, Sentogawa.

    "Shall I fetch your glasses,Master Genjou?" And my maid, Kanae.

    A single nod set them in motion. With each step I took, part of my school uniform was removed. First the blazer, then the tie, then the shirt. It was replaced with a black shirt, which Sentogawa quickly buttoned. As the collar was adjusted, Kanae removed my contacts and slid my square-frame glasses into place.

    The walk from the front entrance to the practice hall was all it took to settle in.

    Snow wafted in from the practice hall''s open windows, exposing those near the three-by-three meter entrance to the wintery winds outside. To the artificial island''s natives, who had braved the cold their entire lives, it wasn''t too bad. On the contrary, "mild" would best describe it. Few could complain about the snow at this point.

    From the nature-exposed practice hall, metal against metal sounded. The rhythmic clacking adjusted in accordance to the bout''s intensity, as if a poorly constructed beat with little in the way of proper pacing. I easily recognized the small figure inside, who duked it out with one of the trainers.

    My cutest little sisteris doing well.

    Having confirmed this, I started towards my room. Down a corridor to the left, straight, and then another right. Upon arriving, I turned to dismiss my twin servants. The two bowed, disappearing in another flash. Such low speed, unfitting of a true blood Gekkouhara, was at least enough to earn a servant position.

    Ara, they''re good enough at that. It''s fine.

    With that, I entered my room. Darkness greeted me, shrouding the room in a black haze. I snapped my fingers, prompting the room''s lights to activate. An artifical white glow washed over the area, dispelling the brief illusion of mystery. With a small nod, I marveled at my room''s newest addition.

    There, in the very center, was a bearskin carpet.

    A mighty foe indeed, I''d faced it fair and square. Its tenacity quickly withered away after the thousandth cut to its flesh, but the fear of death never kicked in. A snap of the neck was enough to end things, cementing my respect for the creature. None would forget its valor, especially not I.

    I decided to relax for the rest of the day. I stretched my arms, after which I plopped down on my bed. The room''s pristine white ceiling was calming, on some levels. Since I had trouble keeping my eyes open, a small cat nap was in order. I frowned, quietly thinking about events to come. In the end though, it all came back to one question:

    What will you do, SHIBUYA?

 PART ONE, CHAPTER SIX

    PART ONE, CHAPTER SIX: "CRUSH"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    After we''d exited the first year building, snowy trees greeted us.

    "What is it about your eyebrows, I wonder?"

    Kei''s words lingered on my mind for a moment. She''d complimented my eyebrows in the past, so this struck me as odd. Such wasn''t my main problem, however. Shizuka had eyebrows just like mine, so I couldn''t easily accept the girl''s words.

    "How dare you?" I frowned.

    The redhead blew a stray hair out of her eyes. She waited another moment, after which she adjusted her bangs by hand. All the while, she whispered to herself. Before I could lean in to listen, she cleared her throat and started speaking. All while fixing her hair, of course.

    "Apologies, I meant no harm. It''s just, rather..." She paused. Silence fell, and her hair adjustments became frantic. Frustrated whispers and modest cursing reached my ears. Finally, she continued. "Rather, your eyebrows are... beady, I suppose? Is that the right word?"

    "Hmph," I straightened my winter coat, "I won''t get mad over someone of your ilk."

    "Is that so? Then I retract my apology."

    "V-Very well."

    This was the least of my problems though. No, it couldn''t be called a problem! Being a paragon of patience, Satou Shibuya was above petty insults. I refused to get riled up over Kei''s words, but not for any particular reason! For now, I had a question to ask the girl walking alongside me.

    "Kei¡ª"

    "Kusanagi," She corrected.

    "Kusanagi," I corrected, "I appreciate that you told me where to go. I honestly and truly do. Perhaps enough to pretend you didn''t blatantly insult my genealogy. I''ll be sure to send Minakami a glowing review, but that''s not important right now. Why are you following me?"

    "Are you a fool?"

    "No, I''d like to think the contrary..."

    It wasn''t as though I''d scored one-hundred percent, or anything of a similar nature... or wait, it seems I did! I wonder, where does an individual get off calling the top-scoring student a fool? Even if the score felt wrong, such a remark seemed in and of itself rather foolish.

    That''s to say, I''m calling Kei an idiot! A big, stupid, idiot!

    Kei sighed. "I''m here to make sure you don''t join. The Student Council, that is."

    "I see."

    This ordeal made less sense now. If she didn''t want me to join, why tell me where the room was? Counter-intuitiveness at its finest, if that''s a word. It likely was, but I decided to look it up in the dictionary later. Such was another matter entirely, though. As if reading my thoughts, Kei spoke.

    "I''d like it if you left a bad impression."

    My confused peaked. Why even bother making sure I left a bad impression? Still, it''s fortunate that Kei came with me instead of doing something erratic. With her here, I''d have forewarning for whatever strange plan she''d set in motion.

    Back when we were younger, Kei had a wild streak. She wasn''t always the seemingly straight-laced person of our high school days. Some people wanted to watch the world burn, and Kei wasn''t far removed from such an individual. There''s a bit of history to this.

    Let''s see, let''s see.

    <hr>-S0014-

    <hr>

    Until age eleven, I didn''t know I had a sister.

    Shizuka stayed in Germany with Mother, while that mansought refuge with House Kusanagi on Niflheim. Keep in mind that, as previously stated, I hadn''t known sister dearest existed. It wasn''t until middle school that I met her, but that''s another story entirely.

    House Kusanagi treated me as one of their own for the duration of my stay. During my time there, I lived in the Kusanagi clan house under the name Katou Kusanagi. They justified my distinctly not-red hair by saying I was born to a branch family. The Sasaki, I think they were.

    Off-topic, but said branch family practiced Flash Cancel variant Kusanagi style.

    For the longest while, that manworked with House Kusanagi to see if I''d become a permanent clan member. As Satou Shibuya doesn''t go by that other name anymore, such obviously didn''t happen. That, however, is unrelated to the point I''m trying to convey.

    To pass those days I learned the Kusanagi''s sword techniques. This was interesting to the younger, more simple-minded me. Such was due to a belief that any problem could be crushed, provided enough brute force was presented. It was the same as running head-first into a brick wall, but I digress.

    During the third practice session was when I met her.

    "That sword, you''re swinging it wrong."

    Leaving me with those words, Kei and I dueled. That "defeat" haunts me every night. The match wasn''t close, it was very decisive. As it was practice, I didn''t count it as a real loss. Furthermore, if we were to clash today, I could probably face Kei on even footing. Regardless, I''m getting off topic again.

    That was how I, an impressionable youth, met Keiko Kusanagi II.

    <hr>-S0015-

    <hr>

    Kei later rejected my robust confession of juvenile affection.

    "Love like that, I wonder how it spawns? Have my tastes twisted as a result? The Kotobuki sister and Kei are close in style and fashion sense. What''s more, Akane and Kei do have similar hair colors... no, where does Akane come into this?"

    "Pardon my asking, but what are you whispering about?"

    "Ah," I stealthily hid my face, "No, it''s nothing. What a dark history this is."

    Now then, where was I? Ah, right.

    Kei always played with some other girl, a irritatinglittle rat. The girl clung to Kei like a moth to flame. Annoying as she was, I''ll admit I''d been jealous. In retrospect, such is why I treated the other girl poorly. I wasn''t a mean-spirited person, children were simply cruel. With that in mind, I couldn''t be faulted.

    What was that girl''s name again...?

    "¡ªWe''re here."

    Kei''s voice brought me back to reality, the two of us coming to a halt. Having tuned out most of the walk, I couldn''t tell where we were. This was still on school grounds, but the establishment before us wasn''t any of the student buildings.

    A pretty stone path lead to a small wooden building. The path in question had been shoveled quite well, with little snow on it. The building itself was a quaint little thing, akin to an old western house rather than a school-related facility. On its door hung an ornate nameplate, sporting the sort of flowery design one might find at an arts and crafts store.

    "Student Council Office," I read.

    Who thought it a good idea to put the office out here? Was there some map of the school grounds that everyone but I possessed? I scoured my mental notebook for every possible complaint. Eventually though, I straightened the collar of my uniform. There were more important matters attend to, more sinister problems to deal with.

    "Pay me no mind," Kei reached for the doorknob.

    As I thought, this fool is my biggest obstacle.

    With the turn of a doorknob, Kei stepped forth and kicked the door open. It slammed against the building''s inner wall with a heavy thud. Two parts mortified and one part startled, I froze for a moment. Kei walked in first and, after collecting myself, I followed after her.

    "Y-Yo, underclassman."

    From those present, I quickly placed the source of this confused voice. There were two males and three females, one of which I recognized as Kaede Kotobuki. She, likely the one who''d spoken, sat in a large leather chair. With one stocking-covered leg crossed over the other, she accurately represented my image of an authority figure.

    "H-Hello, Ms. Kotobuki. For reasons beyond me, I''m late."

    In showing an inkling of respect, I could perhaps counteract whatever Kei had schemed. The redhead retained some respect given the small bow she made, so I prayed she wouldn''t slander Satou Shibuya''s good name too much.

    "Er, don''t worry." The Kotobuki sister waved dismissively.

    "Then it''s fine?"

    "Yeah. I see you brought a... friend?"

    Calling Kei a "friend" felt mildly disconcerting. I didn''t dislike Kei, but I couldn''t allow myself to be associated with her in that sense. The time for such a relationship had come and gone. I cleared my throat and closed the door behind me.

    "I''m sorry, she followed¡ª"

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "May I ask what you want from Shibuya?" Kei scowled.

    Kotobuki snickered. "A clingy friend too."

    My gaze shifted to Kei. She didn''t seem to care about the misunderstanding. I almost denied Kotobuki''s statement, but refrained. After all, I knew that the more I denied, the more Kotobuki would push. From my perspective, she seemed like such a person.

    "Ms. Kotobuki¡ª"

    "Kaede is fine," She interrupted.

    "Kaede," I corrected, "Why have you called me here?"

    Kaede stared at me, her gaze turning warm. For some reason, I found this shift in expression grossly disconcerting. All others in the room also had their eyes on me, but that much was to be expected. The exalted Satou Shibuya deserved at least this much attention.

    "You''re one of two candidates we''ve selected to be the First Year Representative. How about it, is mister first yearinterested in competing for the position? Could be fun."

    Kei cleared her throat. "I''m sure Shibuya laments his inability to compete. After all, he has a prior engagement. You understand, don''t you? It''d be rude to¡ª"

    I frowned. "Don''t put words in my mouth, Kei¡ª erm, Kusanagi. Kaede, you said there was a another candidate?"

    "Yeah, she''ll be here soon. Had something to take care of, apparently."

    I''m curious, I''m curious. Who could it be?

    A powerful chill raced down my spine, as if I''d overlooked something. It felt like, due to a rookie mistake, I''d raised some sort of flag. A bad flag, mind you, not a good one. Who did I know that could give me chills like this? I began to count my fingers, sweat condensing on my brow.

    Kei tilted her head. "Are you ill in the mind?"

    "Treasure your life, fool."

    Not intimidated, Kei held back laughter. Now I began to think, whose presence could disgruntle me so? Genjou, foolish as he was, didn''t have the gall to face me head on. Iori Ikuzawa, the suspicious rat, wasn''t worthy of my presence. Then, as I began to relax, one final name came to mind.

    Could it be¡ª

    Knocking sounded from the door behind me. I''d taken too long to guess; It was too late to make a clean escape. The situation had escalated to a point I''d been hoping it wouldn''t. I glanced towards Kaede, but she spoke before I found an excuse to leave.

    "Would you get the door?"

    As if she''d caught onto my unease, Kei turned a mischievous eye towards the door. The following glance came in my direction, and I quickly averted my gaze. The redhead cleared her throat, then moved towards the door.

    "Allow me," she said.

    Then, with the click of a doorknob, my premonition came true. Golden hair and eyes greeted Kei at the doorstep. The girl, sporting a beige windbreaker, looked to''ve been texting someone. She quickly slipped the phone into a pocket and stepped into the building. This was today''s next foe.

    Kaede grinned. "Welcome to the jungle, Yamashina."

    "The pleasure is mine, Kotobuki."

    Unacceptable! An insect like this dares encroach on my world of stopped time!? Am I a vector for all of the world''s excess good and bad luck? Could it be said that I''m a storm drain for all variants of fortune? No wait, I can certainly phrase it better!

    "An electric-type, some evolution of Schrodinger''s Cat? It evolves into Schrodinger''s Tiger at level thirty-six?! Nobody told me! I wasn''t made privy to this information! Fetch me the file! Do so as if serving Zeus atop Mount Olympus!"

    It took a few moments for Yamashina to see me, likely due to the redhead standing between us. Her eyes came to life with competetive flare after noticing me. Unclear, however, was whether she''d picked up on my fairly hushed rambling. Yamashina cleared her throat.

    "So? May I ask why I was called here?"

    Kaede nodded. "Oh, see¡ª"

    <hr>-S0016-

    <hr>

    "So you''ve called myself here, along with him," Yamashina tossed me a sidelong glance, "Because we are the most suitable candidates to be the First Year Representative. On that note, only one of us can fill the position."

    "Sounds right," Kaede nodded.

    Kaede, Yamashina, and myself all sat at a wooden table. Kei stood off to the side, observing us with unparalleled stoicism. The other four Student Council members sat a corner, chattering amongst themselves with glossy binders situated on their laps.

    Honestly, what an irritating situation.

    I''d heard enough. The best course of action was a strategic withdrawal, which greatly differed from fleeing. Afterwards, I could find another way to earn my stripes. The position was tempting, but not so much that I''d throw myself beneath a metaphorical road roller.

    The golden girl nodded. "Very well, I accept."

    "Unfortunately, I have to refuse. I''ve decided the position isn''t for me."

    Kei silently affirmed her victory.

    "Wait," uttered Yamashina.

    My eyes met Yamashina''s fast enough internalize herwell apparent irritation. It was only natural she''d make such a face. My actions could only be taken as cowardice, that much was common sense. I knew how things would play out, no flowchart required. After all, she made it obvious.

    "You still refuse to face me, even after insulting the efforts of others? Odd, especially since you speak so highly of yourself. Are you perhaps worried about losing your position at the top? No, are you looking down on me? On all of us, Shibuya?"

    I frowned. "Is that wrong?"

    "Yes, I suppose that would be your answer. You never struck me as prideful, only arrogant. I''d had my doubts, thinking perhaps there''d been a miscommunication between us. In the end, it seems I gave you too much credit. I know now that I must overcome you. Face me, Shibuya!"

    "You''ve given me little incentive to agree."

    First of all, I didn''t know how she intended to challenge me. Second, it was only the beginning of the year. I''d have many other chances to clean up my image. Besides, why had the girl seemed so pressed for time in her crusade against me? At the time, the answer to such an obvious question hadn''t dawned on me.

    Kaede shrugged her shoulders. She tossed me a cool glance, then spoke: "If first yearisn''t interested, there isn''t anything I can do. In that case, the position goes to Yamashina. I''m a bit disappointed, but whatever."

    This one has some measure of common sense.

    In denying my willingness to be First Year Representative, this excursion became pointless. Now I had to salvage my wasted time in another way. To that end, I wanted to practice cooking. If I did, Shizuka would praise me the next time I improved. That was the best possible outcome.

    My focus shifted to Kei. "Satisfied?"

    The redhead didn''t nod, but she was clearly fine with her success. It showed through in the slight smirk she fought to contain, a bad habit that my childhood friend hadn''t parted with. I didn''t dislike such a trait, but it was mildly annoying when put into effect against you.

    "Now then, I''ll be leaving."

    After getting up, I grabbed my bag. It was more a stopgap measure than anything else, filling the role of my old bag. With a small sigh, I turned towards the exit. As I stepped through the doorway, however, Yamashina''s voice reached my ears.

    "So this is your limit."

    I froze. Every fiber of my being tensed.

    Yamashina crossed her arms. "Is it a matter of power? If such was the case, I could very well understand your reluctance to face me. Even so, it''s unforgivable that you''d choose to follow such a cowardly agenda. Where is your passion?"

    "Gh." My jaw tightened.

    It was too sudden. A wild beast, one I''d endeavored to conceal, came to life with white-hot rage. Its golden sparks twinkled visibly amidst the dust. Fortunately, with my mental strength, I managed to chain it down. Even so, I couldn''t keep it up. At most, a few seconds was my limit.

    How abrupt. This was definitely too abrupt. I''d been fine only moments ago, that much was true. Yamashina''s words had been mere conjecture, yet my ability howled with the wrath of a god scorned. Such simple insults had gotten my mental fortitude on the ropes?

    You dare disobey me?!

    I lashed out at the strongest power, refusing to give in. Its howl seemed strong. Confident. Coercive, even. Like the whine of a child in the toy section, its low roar quickly became a high screech. Its wrath reached a fever point, and queasiness overcame my being.

    No matter how I reasoned, no matter how I explained, it wouldn''t listen.

    My breathing became laborious. I squeezed my left forearm as hard as I could, praying none thought too deeply about my situation. The pain helped to keep my eyes on the important things in life. If I gave even an inch, I wasn''t sure how things would escalate.

    "You speak of power?"

    Even so, crushing an insect was only natural.

 PART ONE, CHAPTER SEVEN

    PART ONE, CHAPTER SEVEN: "SLEEPING DOGS"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    Father''s mantra was simple: "Power dominates, power is absolute."

    "Power" wasn''t far removed from my core idea, this was undeniable. The nature of power, the idea it represents, the vessel for its fortunes- such topics weren''t foreign to me. More than Kei or sister dearest, I understood the word that twisted fate. I knew which idea bent an arm behind the almighty''s back.

    Strength, fortitude, might, power. On our first meeting, sister dearest ruthlessly hammered into my existence her thoughts¡ª no, her ideals on the matter.

    The bright young girl hadn''t minced words, she''d used every descriptor that came to mind. Arrogant, haughty, ungrateful, cruel¡ª I''d heard them many times before, but only then had they carried meaning. Even despite that, her begrudged acknowledgement of my perfection carried with it a warmth unfamiliar at the time.

    A concept given form, the very definition of talent. The highest form of royalty, the pinnacle of perfection. She easily applied these labels to I, whose absolute power existed for personal gain. By all means, this untouchable idea lived first and foremost as an example of unforgivable selfishness.

    And so, I decided.

    To meet those expectations, SHIBUYA mightshatter even the Moon.

    <hr>

    -UNKNOWN-

    <hr>

    "You speak of power?"

    Whistling winds whipped through my fingertips. The faint twinkle of aurum carried, spreading an unspoken regalia across the room. Papers scattered, dust cleared. A hum of unmitigated disbelief escaped my being, its low rumble echoing for all to hear. Silence fell moments later, as if the world itself awaited the King''s decree.

    And decree he did.

    Amidst the scattered sheets, a hand pierced the silence. Skywards, as if admiring its perfection, then slowly towards the distant golden girl. Across my palm, between the spread fingers, seriousness spread across her beautiful features. The corners of my mouth rose into a smile.

    Time crawled forward. My world, my garden, only we existed within. Those hindrances, those stagehands, they didn''t dare intervene. This was a scene for two.

    Each of the golden girl''s minuscule movements were categorized behind my eyes. The slow rise and fall of her chest, the slight twitch of her left index finger. After every blink, her gaze slowly refocused. Even so, those eyes wouldn''t stray. She stared forward, refusing to break eye contact.

    You''d leer with such filthy eyes?

    My hand retracted. Each of the five fingers, perfect in make, slowly ran through my silky brown hair. One strand, then two strands, slowly they fell before my eyes. That wouldn''t do. With a faint golden crackle, my ability converted Minakami''s black hairpin into a hair tie. Now I gathered my hair at the nape.

    The golden girl''s face tightened. "You..."

    A moment passed, and finally I''d finished. I shook my head, allowing the Keiko Kusanagi-esque short tail to whip freely on the winds. My amber eyes focused, invigorated by their renewed vision. With this, SHIBUYA could operate at his best. With this, SHIBUYA had no equal.

    And so, the King descended from his throne. The room''s door shut, silencing the outside world''s wintry winds. Now I approached. A rhythmic saunter, a pompous swagger, footstep after footstep resounded. Past Keiko Kusanagi, past my empty seat.

    Only that golden girl held my attention.

    My hand flattened on the cool tabletop. Mahogany, most likely. My fingers spread. Between them, I saw my reflection in the glossy wood. That face, those eyes, the contempt they exuded couldn''t be understated. They knew full well the nature of this engagement.

    Putting my weight on the table, I leaned in. Amber eyes locked with gold, our faces only a few centimeters away. I fully grasped the warmth of her soft breaths.

    "Tell me about power, Yoshida."

    Low as a whisper, smooth like silk. There was no interest, no seriousness in that request. There was only hostility, given form through the seductive tone I took. Many a foe had frozen upon hearing this voice. Unable to think, unable to respond. This was normal.

    Even so, the golden girl challenged this natural order.

    Calm and collected, she raised an alabaster tea cup. Her discerning gaze fell to the amber liquid within, then her eyes closed. She inhaled, as if taking in the scent, then brought the tea cup to her rosy lips. One small sip was all she took. Then, opening her mouth once more:

    "I suggest that you lack it. No, I suggest that you fear it."

    "Yours?"

    "Who knows?"

    The girl motioned towards an empty cup, and I to a tea pot. Two sets of nameless hands slid the articles across the table. Both of us retrieved our requested items.

    Our too-close faces separated, myself standing up. Across from the golden girl, I pulled out a chair. As I sat, I poured amber liquid into the empty cup. Now I put the teapot down. From the golden girl to myself, the newly filled cup switched hands. I brought it to my face, observing the steamy ripples within.

    For a moment, the room went quiet.

    None spoke, none questioned. One sip, two sips, we nursed our drinks in silence. Only the low clink of porcelain against porcelain sounded as cup was lifted from saucer, then returned once more. All the while, neither I nor the leading actress broke eye contact.

    "Your challenge," I gently blew into my cup, "Shall I accept it?"

    Then, from out of view, the thump of a fist against wooden walling.

    My eyes shifted to she who''d taken the spotlight: Keiko Kusanagi. Her gaze narrowed, her mouth curved downward, she stepped to the table, the centerpiece. Her palm hammered the glossy tabletop as the tell-tale rattle of porcelain followed suit.

    "You know what I''m going to say," she said.

    "I don''t, actually. Your faith is admirable."

    The redhead wasn''t fond of my comment. The cool glint in her eyes regarded this scenario as the worst possible outcome. Wildness surfaced on her face, as if thinking of a method to disrupt this flow of events. Just as quickly, however, another variable entered the fray.

    Kaede crossed one stocking-covered leg over the other. She leaned forward, resting both elbows on the tabletop. From where she sat at the table''s head, she commanded the room''s atmosphere. Her words sparked the skirmish between gold and gold.

    "What will this challenge be, huh?"

    The golden girl briefly hummed. "Something in which luck isn''t a factor. A means by which power can be gauged without breaking the school''s rule on fighting. To ensure the highest level of fairness, the ideal challenge would be¡ª"

    "Arm wrestling, isn''t it?" I sipped my tea.

    She lowered her cup. "Correct."

    Arm wrestling. It relied entirely on personal strength and skill, so luck wasn''t a factor. Like this, no matter the outcome, nobody could question who had more power. The golden girl had realized this at the same time as myself. No, perhaps even before then.

    "But is that really fair?" Kaede tilted her head.

    Yoshida Yamashina frowned. "A valid question. As a Raiju, my strength far surpasses that of a human''s."

    This was undisputable fact. Raiju were a type of non-human, or Youkai. Typically of eastern descent, they were many times faster and stronger than a normal human. Whereas an adult male might have problems lifting the front of a car, Yoshida Yamashina could perhaps do so with one hand. This wasn''t their only strength.

    As stated in myth, Raiju possessed unparalleled control over electricity. With a swipe of the finger, lightning descends from the heavens. With a flick of the wrist, thunder roars across the sky. The specifics of each lightning-based ability weren''t the same, but none could be underestimated. This was the source of my upperclassman''s question.

    Sky and Earth. Youkai and Human.

    But what of Heaven and Earth?

    "If you''re worried about fairness," I lowered my cup, "Shall we say abilities are allowed?"

    The golden girl sighed. "If that''s the case..."

    Suddenly, creaking wood sounded to my right. I turned to the source, where I found Kei pressing down on the table. She seemed deep in thought, as though considering something important. When she noticed my gaze, however, she retreated back to the wall.

    During the affair, scalding hot tea had cooled.

    Spice and sugar coagulated at the top of the liquid, forming a pale film on its surface. I quickly finished my cup and lowered it onto a saucer. Yamashina did the same. The two of us slid our cups aside with gentle hands. The time for tea had passed.

    I placed an arm on the table, but not before removing my blazer.

    In this scenario, a plan held no merit. Forming a plan implied strategy to be a necessity. There was no risk involved, there was no chance of failure. For a challenge of this nature, tactics would simply get in the way. This was the nature of SHIBUYA''s confidence.

    The golden girl paused for a moment, as if she couldn''t understand. Her dainty eyes blinked once, then twice, and finally she smirked. It was brief, lasting less than a second. Lesser eyes might have missed it, but mine didn''t.

    After shedding her own blazer, Yamashina planted an elbow on the tabletop.

    Now we locked hands. Her hand was far more rugged than I''d expected- it wasn''t soft at all. The skin was tough, perhaps covered with calluses. The touch of her time-tested hand startled me, but I made sure to hide this. In doing so, I glanced towards Kaede.

    "I request a countdown," I said.

    The Student Council President nodded. Her count began.

    "Three."

    Breathing steadied, arms relaxed.

    "Two."

    Wrists tensed, shoulders tightened.

    "One."

    Every spec of dust in the air, every corner of the surrounding area, I traced them in my mind''s eye. My index finger twitched and my brow tensed. Time seemed to slow as the golden girl and I exchanged heated glances. She tightened her grip, the twinkle in her eyes growing intense.

    A moment, then two moments. There was silence, there was quiet. I slid my elbow a little further in and my foe did the same. The low clink of porcelain killed the silence. Initiated, Kaede signaled for the show to start.

    "Go!"

    I expected Yamashina''s first move.

    Electricity arced from her hand to mine. It surged down to my elbow and, in a controlled act, traveled no further. Slight pain gave way to numbness as my arm lost all feeling. My foe''s eyes glinted, then my arm went limp. In this state, competing with a Raiju was foolish.

    Yamashina''s plan had no objective flaws.

    Power became useless if it couldn''t be utilized, and numbness was a means of causing this. Most wouldn''t be able to react after such a quick opening move. Given her understanding of how we likely compared, she''d made the best possible move. This deserved praise... no, not quite.

    The golden girl shouldn''t havelocalized my paralysis.

    A quarter-second after my arm went limp, the King''s regalia activated.

    I knew the scope of my strengths, my advantages, my power. Reinforcement via molecular stabilization, optimization and alteration from notes in my mental archive, and reversion to a previous state. Reiki was the basis, a powerful fuel source with the tendency to harm its user.

    The bout between SHIBUYA''s "talent" and Yoshida Yamashina''s "effort" took form.

    Fzzt. Golden reiki crackled through the air.

    With a dull glow, reversion corrected numbness. Reiki circuits communicated my renewed physical condition faster than the nervous system running parallel. Faster than feeling was restored, the muscles in my arm tightened. A Raiju''s physical strength faced my own.

    It''s heavy.

    Bone creaked, muscle strained. The girl''s confidence wasn''t unwarranted.

    "...?!"

    My foe was startled. Her grip loosened for a moment, then returned in full force. Electricity surged through her golden hair, turning it white-hot for a brief moment. Another current raced down my arm, scorching the tabletop in an unseemly fish-bone scar.

    Even so, I refused defeat.

    Alteration and optimization activated. The King''s regalia adjusts the electrical resistance of flesh and bone. Carbon, calcium. The question of "Can it withstand" became pointless in an instant. Reinforcement''s activation ensured the lack of a counter. Molecular stability is preserved, unchangeable in all circumstances.

    Bone couldn''t crack, muscle couldn''t tear.

    Three-quarters of a second had passed since we began. I''d staved off her electricity twice, even negating it outright the second time. Life and limb became the proper tool- the perfect artifact- to deal with this foe. Such was the birthright afforded to SHIBUYA.

    Preexisting matter could be altered without limit.

    My hand stopped an inch from the tabletop. Electricity arced between knuckle and the mahogany beneath, but such was the extent of their engagement. My foe''s eyes widened, a stark realization hitting home: her strength could not move this hand.

    The muscles in my arm tensed. This counterattack was slow, methodical. From my near-loss to the top of our hands'' arc, I gazed deeply into those golden eyes. The frustration with which she struggled made my chest tighten. Her rebellion held no purpose- this fact made my heart beat faster.

    That''s right, this is how it should be.

    I had power, so I was absolute.

    Absoluteness, unquestionable might. Savoring those ideas, Yamashina''s loss inched closer and closer. I watched with bated breath as her hand approached the tabletop. Then, with one last spurt, I couldn''t restrain myself.

    Her bitter expression of defeat, I wanted to see it. Her begrudged acknowledgement of my superiority, I wanted to taste it. I wanted to witness the point at which hope turned to confusion, and then to despair. I wanted to relish our difference in status.

    With an earth-shaking thump, the golden girl''s hand struck tabletop.

    The table wobbled, its foundation struggling against the rumbling earth. Its make, its structure, they barely managed to withstand the explosion-like impact. The tea set rattled as if it might fall. Lights flickered, a chandelier shook. Sawdust and splinters scattered in all directions.

    Several council members struggled to keep their balance, Kaede included.

    "Ngh!" She gripped the table''s edge.

    As the hiss of air pressure subsided, the King''s insignia traced itself across the tabletop. Starting from the center, then radiating outward towards the corners. It took the form of a wild lion, with fangs bared for all to see. Its shape, its form, they couldn''t be mistaken.

    This insignia belonged to one, and only one individual.

    I could have done more, I could have gone further. Unfortunately, that went above and beyond the confines of a small competition. Even by myself, such callous disregard couldn''t be permitted.

    I, the greatest. I, the strongest.

    If I forgot these simple facts, I''d cease being human¡ª

    "Ow." My brow twitched.

    The sting of a splinter brought me back to reality.

    My eyes widened. The King''s regalia deactivated, and my arm returned to its base state. A series of questions bombarded my psyche, each one muddling the last. Had I broken her arm? Had anyone else gotten hurt? There were many, many things to consider.

    The fingertips of my free hand instantly shot towards the tabletop. The process of reversion activated, and the grooves and cracks in the wood began to mend. Despite the original plan of hiding my ability, saving face became the new objective.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    It was as I prepared to use reversion on my foe that she reacted.

    Yamashina''s hand swiftly parted from my own. She shook her wrist like she''d bumped it against something. What''s more, closer inspection revealed no immediate wounds. Her furrowed brow showcased inconvenience more than anything else.

    How resilient.

    Still, this was the least of my problems. For an instant, for a split-second, his- the Golden King''s- insignia took form. Who''d been watching? Who could''ve seen it? Only one person came to mind, and I shifted to meet their piercing red gaze.

    Kei''s smirk tipped me off. "How interesting."

    This was a worst case scenario.

    I slid my arm off the tabletop, after which the room fell silent. Using this artificial peace, I set about forming an excuse to leave. The first and second excuses proved too implausible, and the fourth and sixth too, how to put it, stupid. This left the fifth excuse. Now I waited for an opportunity.

    "I''ve won," I said.

    Then Kaede, in response: "I guess he won."

    My gaze shifted to Yamashina. Seeing her unexpected expression, I flinched. The golden girl stared at me, a look I couldn''t properly describe on her face. Serene, or even relaxed? I couldn''t tell. It was odd, but not the type of odd I could place.

    As I returned my hair to normal, Kaede seemed to mellow out. She reclined in her seat, removing her elbows from the tabletop in the process. Her gaze wandered around the room, as if assessing the damage. Finally, her eyes fell on me. She smiled.

    "First year, the prize is on the table. You in?"

    My decision was instant. I knew full well the benefits of being on the Student Council. Objectively speaking, I was the best candidate. I wasn''t sure of Yamashina''s circumstances, but I''d be here after the Demon-slayer examination in two months time. Yet, even so:

    "It''s like I said, I''m not interested in joining the Student Council."

    Kaede frowned. "Got it."

    Passing on the position had benefits as well. Less work, more free time. This meant more opportunities to socialize, more opportunities to study. That wasn''t all though. Yamashina was the last person I wanted to butt heads with. Suspicions might raise if such an upstanding character was found arguing with one such as myself. Of course, some might have chalked it up to jealousy over our scores. I, for one, had seen no jealousy in those golden eyes.

    That''s why I''d yield the position.

    What a waste. I wonder, will she accept this ending?

    The screech of chair legs interrupted my train of thought. I glanced towards the noise''s source. What I saw gave me pause- I almost fell out of my chair.

    There stood Yoshida Yamashina. Her head bowed, one arm crossed over her chest, she spoke.

    "If you would allow me, I will accept the position."

    An unexpectedly quick decision.

    Kaede peered towards the golden girl. One moment passed, and then two. She seemed to thoroughly chew on the idea. Shortly afterwards, the corners of her mouth bent upwards. She extended a hand towards the bowing Yoshida Yamashina.

    "Of course."

    Now my gaze jumped around the room. The disgruntled observers, the lightly shaken chandeliers, and the papers scattered about. I had no words to justify my actions. After a moment of deliberation, I decided I didn''t need to. An apology was enough.

    "By the way," I slid my blazer back on, "Sorry for the mess."

    Kaede shook her head. "It''s whatever, first year. I saw something interesting today."

    "Is that so?"

    "Yeah. For now, nnn..."

    Kaede clasped both hands, stretching them high above her head. Both eyes closed, as if relishing the room''s chilly ambiance. Stocking-covered legs stretched, one over the other. Next, she placed her feet on the tabletop. Kaede smiled.

    "Let''s call it a day."

    If only things had ended there.

    <hr>-S0017-

    <hr>

    We- Yamashina, Kaede, and myself- remained long past the end of our "election".

    In that cold room, we held something of a tea party. Biscuits, freshly brewed tea, so on and so forth. It wasn''t anything special, or so I thought. Kei lingered for thirty or so minutes, but she was the first to leave. We didn''t talk much, and both of us avoided eye contact. Yamashina left second, stating she had "family matters" to attend to.

    In all, the extent of my own stay had amounted to four or so hours.

    After Kaede and I were the only people left, the atmosphere turned frigid. I''d feigned a phone call from my sister to escape. I have to preserve my secret identity- Shizuka would go with my lie if I cited this reasoning. This gave me an excuse to leave, something to do with Shizuka''s inability to cook her own meals.

    I''m ruining her image, aren''t I. No matter, it''ll deter the unworthy filth around her.

    With that in mind, I exited the school through its front gates. A recently shoveled path lead me through a short walk to the train station. I''d steeled myself to walk through slush, fortunately for no reason. I silently thanked the Teacher''s Council for approving the use of snow removal drones. But wait, hold on.

    Did Shizuka have to go through the slush? The drones might''ve cleaned up during our tea party.

    Obviously Shizuka, sister dearest, had already left. Asking her to wait was unreasonable, I knew that. Even so, I''d held a bit of hope- maybe she''ll be waiting for me at the train station. Such didn''t happen. My hopes, held close to the heart, were easily crushed... via text.

    "mom sent a new thingy, come home"

    This was another problem entirely.

    How irritating. For now, let''s head home.

    When I reached the train station, a stress-filled sigh escaped my lips. Even as I ran my boarding pass along the scanner, my tension did not fade. I''d struggled not to atomize the expensive machinery. And so, I took a seat and began my wait.

    A silvery train, headed for the Gekko District, ate up most of the station''s crowd. My foot tapped throughout the entirety of the boarding process. I held only contempt the Gekko District and, more importantly, this wasn''t my train. Mine came every ten minutes.

    I checked the time and date on my phone: 6:26 PM on April 2nd, 2057.

    Staying out late was bad news, especially in a schooling city like Niflheim. Delinquents crawled out of their holes at night. What''s more, rumors were quick to spread. That wasn''t all though. If such were the extent of my problems, I wouldn''t have cared too much.

    My ability, my little monster, whined and screamed from the confines of my mind. Even though I''d won against Yamashina, it sought a more concrete victory. Arm wrestling wasn''t enough. It longed for combat, to crush a lesser existence. In a sense, it desired a new toy.

    What an unruly child.

    The silvery train left. Afterwards, my train pulled into the station: a single red railcar. This was the express train. Shizuka and I lived in Niflheim''s southernmost area, the Ryugujo District. As a result, this was one of the few trains that went to our neighborhood.

    I waited with bated breath as the train''s doors opened. A mechanical voice sounded.

    "108 ''Akazuki'' heading southbound to Ryugujo Station."

    Then, disregarding my surroundings, I sauntered in. My eyes settled on a good place to sit: a window seat that''d give a good ocean view. I sat down and, as nobody was next to me, placed my school bag in an adjacent seat.

    With a ker-chack, the doors closed and we started moving. Even so, my ability didn''t settle.

    I started fishing through my school bag. There had to be something, anything, that could calm my nerves. As I reached my bag''s bottom, however, I realized the futility of my search. I''d hunted for a familiar scent, a relaxing tobacco that wouldn''t be there. No, it couldn''t be there.

    That''s right, Shizuka told me to quit.

    It''d never been about addiction, nor any fondness for smoking. My ability parsed bodily imperfections within minutes. Alcohol, cigarettes, I couldn''t get addicted. I couldn''t get into them for long without being cleaned of toxins. This was why I''d one day found my cigarette cartons in the garbage, no doubt at Shizuka''s hand.

    "Things like this don''t suit you,"she''d said.

    "Tch." I clicked my tongue.

    Now I peered out the window, ignoring the streets and buildings below. I looked past the falling snow, past the sea itself. Only the distant horizon held my attention.

    Niflheim''s cloudy sky helped me relax. It helped me think, rather. I could consider the future and everything I wanted to do. Simple things, honestly. I wanted to go to a real beach someday, not an artificial one. I''d invite all of my "friends" and we''d discuss sweet nothings into the night.

    I''d even thought about a future girlfriend. It was one of the few matters I seriously considered. I''d thought about her features, her personality, and how we''d meet. What kind of person could win Satou Shibuya''s affection? Who was the so-called "Idol" that I''d sought?

    At the time I truly had no way of knowing. What a handful, that girl.

    In the end I reached my usual conclusion: I''m thinking too much.

    Slowly, steadily, I reclined in my seat. The future of next year and after weren''t important to the me of then- such was my take on the matter. Tomorrow came first, then the day after. I wasn''t good at studying and I hated mathematics. Growing up with an ability reliant on numerical processing quickly put a damper on that faucet.

    I held back a smile. "Honestly, how foolish."

    After the words escaped, a realization hit me.

    There hadn''t been much idle chatter in the background. Save for the low voom of the train''s magnetic rails, there was nothing. A cursory sweep of the eyes solved this mystery, for better or for worse. As far as I could tell, there were no people here. Nobody except us two- her and Satou Shibuya.

    My focus shifted to the other party- a young woman.

    There sat the avatar of disinterest, pale as winter itself. Wavy white hair, perhaps whiter than snow, traced her contours down to the lower back. Her slender but buxom frame, her slightly broad shoulders, and her unruly sitting posture. Pink-red eyes completed the set.

    Black pants clung to long legs. She casually spun her expensive high heels on her big toe, as if bored. Her coat, black and adorned with faux fur of the opposite color, rested over her shoulders. This did little to conceal the tight-fitting dress shirt beneath.

    The woman seemed to be texting on a cell phone. This simple act couldn''t be called abnormal. On this island, her features also couldn''t be called abnormal. There was no reason to gawk at her, that was true. Even so, I couldn''t tear my eyes away.

    This is strange.

    Then, she looked up¡ª

    "...?"

    ¡ªAnd met my gaze. One second passed, then ten.

    I broke eye contact, unsure of what to do. As if she''d noticed, the suspicious woman rose from her seat. The click, click of her high heels came closer and closer, until it was right in front of me. I peered back to find she''d taken a seat across from me. Two meters of space separated our knees.

    "Erm." I couldn''t find the words.

    "..."

    Our staring contest resumed. If Kei''s eyes were piercing, these were relaxed. Confident, even. Nothing in those eyes showed doubt, fear, or confusion. Even so, I couldn''t gauge any further. Frustrating as it was, I couldn''t judge the worth of such eyes.

    "...What?" I asked.

    "Nothing."

    The conversation ended there, or so it would''ve.

    "Listen closely, this isn''t one of Satou Shibuya''s usual questions. Excuse me, but have I offended you? Have I negatively impacted your day in any way, shape, or form? If you''d request recompense, know there''s only one opportunity to do so. I present it right now."

    She quirked a brow. "Got a few looks today, didn''t care that much."

    Unhappy with her bluntness, my ability''s whines intensified. Against my will, reasons to pick a fight filled my head. That wouldn''t do at all. I needed the King''s regalia to settle down, and our increasingly abrupt discussion wasn''t helping. I decided to steer the conversation elsewhere.

    "The weather is nice," I said.

    "Too hot for me."

    The cry of "Are you serious?" nearly escaped my mouth. Niflheim''s trains were certainly heated, but only within reason. This train was only slightly below room temperature. Could that really be called "too hot"? On the contrary, wasn''t it fairly cool?

    No, perhaps it''s because of her jacket?

    "I-I know what you mean. I used to wear jackets too."

    She tilted her head. "You''re wearing one right now."

    "..." I was silent.

    "..." She was silent.

    "T-That might be true."

    "It''s true."

    It was certainly true! I had a jacket on. In the past I''d worn them all the time, but not anymore. Now I only wore them on particularly chilly days. After all, I wasn''t very receptive to cold weather. This was due in part to my ability, which raised my body temperature. Rather than a passive attempt at adaption, this was just a general side-effect.

    I quickly defended my case. "I-I''m cultivating a new image, and jackets run counter to the... warmth and friendliness that I, Satou Shibuya, seek to convey. With that said, today was colder than usual. Refusing to wear a jacket would be foolish."

    "A new image... your high school d¨¦but?"

    "Putting that aside," I sighed, "What brings you here?"

    The woman reclined in her seat. "Work. Brings me all over the place."

    "I should''ve been clearer about what here was. As in, in front of me. Regardless, continue."

    "People ask me to find people. I find people and get paid for it."

    I took a moment to consider the meaning behind these words. Her objective, I couldn''t fully grasp it. She wouldn''t be so forward, so on the nose, if she didn''t want something. But what? Many things came to mind, but only one stood out as logical. Still, I couldn''t be sure.

    "I''m curious, I''m curious. What kind of people do you look for?"

    She shrugged. "Special people."

    "Oh?"

    Then, taking the farce a step further, the woman scratched her head. She broke eye contact, but only for a moment. Afterwards, our gazes crossed once more. Now a small smirk was apparent on her face. She leaned in, I leaned out.

    "Grilling locals for intel is always fun. Can I?"

    I crossed my arms. "Go ahead."

    "First..."

    The woman stared intently... no, that''s wrong.

    Those red-pink eyes were sharp. Sharp like Kei''s, but nowhere near Genjou''s. In that regard, even I struggled to reach Genjou. Such was besides the point though. Regarding her gaze, I reached a single conclusion: This woman has seen many things.

    "Tell me about the Golden King," She said.

    It was the worst possible topic for one such as myself. Did she want Midas? Or maybe his forerunner? There was no point thinking about it. At this point, I''d grasped the situation. Still, I played along.

    "Midas A. Goldstein, is it?"

    She shook her head. "Not that one."

    "Then¡ª"

    "The actual Golden King."

    Time ground to a halt. I could tell immediately, she wasn''t playing around. In that sense, she knew her target was close. No, she knew exactly where the so-called Golden King was.

    I smiled. "Is there any other information you can give me?"

    "The top-scoring first year student at KGA. Born May 8th, 2041. His name..."

    Now her smirk faded.

    "Satou Shibuya."

 PART ONE, CHAPTER EIGHT

    PART ONE, CHAPTER EIGHT: "SHIBUYA"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>"Satou Shibuya."

    The woman''s voice demanded silence.

    Behind her, Niflheim''s dark cityscape streaked past the train''s windows. A low whir, the whine of machinery, filled in the gaps. The train''s infrequent rumble set the stage. I reclined in my faux leather seat, mottled and dirtied with the stains of public transit.

    Between the woman and I, silence answered. She for reasons I couldn''t place, myself out of anticipation. Her breathing slowed, mine followed suit. Both of us knew, I think. Our stalemate needed to end.

    A mechanical voice killed the silence. "Next stop, Nakagawa Junction."

    "Who are you?" I asked.

    "Fran Fairchild. Just Fran is fine."

    Fran Fairchild produced both cigarette and lighter. She brought the vice to her lips and, with a click, it lit up. Smoke escaped from between her rosy lips, then her red-pink eyes fell to me. The woman expected another question, and I readily obliged.

    "How can I help you, Miss... Fran?"

    "Aren''t you a barrel of fun," said Fran. "Karatsuba sent me."

    So it''s like that.

    Karatsuba were a PMC known for training Ace Demonslayers. Many Demonslayers sought their mark, a black shawl crested with a three-legged crow. Karatsuba''s coat of arms, their black wings, represented talent. Shizuka too idolized Karatsuba, but for reasons I couldn''t stand.

    Fran shrugged. "That guy said you''d be bitter. Smile a little, huh?"

    I hadn''t noticed my scowl. Being strung up didn''t suit my character, my archetype. I couldn''t play my role like that. The show couldn''t start without its leading actor, I knew this better than anyone. My face relaxed, a splendid return to form.

    "Bitter? How foolish," I said.

    Fran stifled a laugh. She peered out the adjacent window, caught her breath, then turned back to me. Fran resumed spinning a high heel on her toe. She stirred for momentum at the bottom, only relaxing as her shoe hit the top of its arc. A tic? No, a bad habit?

    How interesting.

    Fran smirked. "Jealous, boy? Anyone can do this much with free time and practice. Started out in a waiting room at the hospital. Was reading a magazine, don''t know when my feet started moving. The Boss is always complaining about it, but¡ª"

    "Let''s not get sidetracked," I said.

    "Right, my bad. Where was I? Yeah, now I remember. Like I said, Karatsuba sent me. You''re that guy''s magnum opus, so he doesn''t want you wasting away in a corporate office. That''s why he sent a hound like me after a trickster like you."

    I frowned. "A trickster? I''ll assume you were briefed with such terminology. With that said, I won''t atomize you. In any case, what does Karatsuba want? I think I know, but let''s clarify just in case. Misunderstandings are the seed of chaos."

    "We''re recruiting, and we''ve got eyes on some promising talent. You, the Trickster. Your sister, the Sun. We''ve also got the Dragon, the Viper, the Crow, et cetera. Neat code names, right? The Boss came up with them on his coffee break, said he liked yours the most."

    "How many of Niflheim''s students are you eyeing?"

    Fran crossed her arms and glanced towards the ceiling. She tapped a finger against her elbow. Once, twice, so on and so forth. Fran focused on me after ten or so seconds. She grinned.

    "Including you," she said, "about thirty-three people. Niflheim is full of strong candidates. Besides, this year Karatsuba is proctoring the Demonslaying Examination alone. We don''t have to share our toys with Eisenritter or Daisekidou, we can take anyone we want."

    "Almost anyone. I''m not taking the examination."

    "Oh?"

    Ding. The train stopped. Its mechanical voice sounded.

    "Nakagawa Junction. If this is your destination, proceed to the doors in an orderly fashion."

    The train''s doors opened to greet new passengers, but nobody boarded. Fran and I sat there in an awkward silence, neither of us breaking eye contact. I didn''t have anything to say. At least, nothing that came to mind. Then, after thirty seconds, the doors closed.

    We broke eye contact with a sigh. Our staring contest hadn''t just unnerved me, it seemed. Fran cleared her throat. Her gaze jumped between me and the train''s doors. Once, twice, thrice. When the train started moving again, she gave me her full attention.

    I tilted my head. "Forgive my asking, but when''s your stop?"

    "Nakagawa Junction."

    "Are you a fool?"

    Perhaps unhappy with my question, Fran frowned. Until then, she''d properly maintained the visage of a cool adult. Now I saw that my words had an impact on her, a fact that allowed me to relax. Even so, I couldn''t stand being near her. I wanted to move.

    My eyes fell on another spot five seats away. I stood and began my trek over. Fran was quick to react, stepping in my path and motioning to where I''d sat moments ago. I clicked my tongue, but returned to my seat. Fran did the same.

    "Listen," said Fran, "I wanted to persuade you. Hoped you''d help me with the next candidate, actually. Mai Gagetsu, a second year at Sakuragi Girls'' School. Tall with a big scar on her face and right shoulder. Tanned. Has a huge rack, yams the size of my head. She''s the Iron Queen of your little clique, right? Introduce me, aren''t you two close?"

    "Yams? Really?" A groan escaped my lips. "In any case, I refuse. Gagetsu can''t stand me and the feeling is mutual. The exalted Satou S. Shibuya can''t be bothered with your antics, not on a beautiful nightlike this."

    "Man, you''re a tough nut to crack."

    I stood up. "Is that so? Don''t you know about the old Golden King''s reputation? What of the Silver Knight, the Pyrite Rook, or the Iron Queen? What of the Chrome Bishop? The Diamond Pawn? Tell me, do you know anything? Their presence serves as defamation for those in close proximity. If you understand, bother someone else."

    Perhaps it came across as cruel, but I couldn''t associate with the Golden King''s Round Table. Being near Genjou pushed the envelope enough. An apology wouldn''t suffice to my old companions, so I hadn''t bothered.

    Besides, we weren''t friends.

    A sad thought. Still, I turned towards a distant seat¡ª

    "Beneath the stars."

    Foreign bloodlust turned my head. My body reacted faster than my brain.

    Reiki reinforced flesh as I swiped at the space behind me. My arm recoiled, greeted by heaviness. I turned to find my forearm bent in a sickly crescent, connected by skin alone. Golden circuitry traced jagged lines along the limb''s surface. It returned to form in an instant, no worse for wear.

    "Nice reflexes," said Fran.

    The woman stood with her left hand in her pocket. A ghostly visage overlayed her right- an arm wider than my own head. Patches of black fur barely hid the muscle beneath.

    She attacked before I could blink, but not before my arms moved.

    Crack! A bone snapped, but not mine. Fran jumped backwards, opening three meters between us. My reflexive handiwork soon became apparent. Her ghostly arm bent at a ninety-degree angle.

    "What are you doing?" I asked.

    Fran''s apparition healed in an instant. "That guy said it''d be fine to test you."

    "That guy? You mean¡ª"

    Fran didn''t let me finish. She lunged forward, ghostly knuckle cocked. I retrieved a stapler from my school bag, but her knuckle came the moment I did. I stepped backwards, my bag catching part of her attack. It smashed through a window and disappeared into the night.

    How many bags must I lose?!

    I discarded my jacket and darted to the side. Fran''s black knuckle swiped where I''d stood moments before. I refused to move back any further, my pride didn''t allow it.

    The train came to life with an aurum glow. Reiki scattered and flecks of industrial metal transmuted to solid gold. My ability''s hungry growl saturated the atmosphere.

    Fran snickered. "You''re finally attacking?"

    Low to the ground, I lunged forward. Raging winds passed overhead, the tell-tale sign of another punch. My right foot stomped the ground and crunched the metal beneath. Stapler in hand, I thrusted towards Fran''s gut.

    "One thousand foes," I chanted.

    Reiki skewed the stationary''s form. Reversion corrected the base matter, optimization created the proper frame. Alteration adjusted the material''s properties, reinforcement heightened molecular stability. My sword, Bigwig, took form. Two meters in length, a foot in width. Even so¡ª

    "You''re too obvious, boy."

    ¡ªFran stopped it. She''d formed another black knuckle, this one over her left arm. The apparition held my sword''s blade, a mere foot from Fran herself. Oil-like blood dribbled to the ground.

    Too obvious?

    The spike in Bigwig''s blade shot forward. It blasted through the apparition''s palm, splattering black blood everywhere. Fran recoiled, I stepped forward. Bigwig traced a vertical arc.

    "Still too obvious!"

    Crack, she deflected it. I realized what happened and took a two-handed stance. My foe''s technique couldn''t be mistaken, I immediately recognized her. Karatsuba''s rank seven, Bloodhound Fran. I couldn''t show her my back.

    Surpassing those supersonic fists became my priority. I continued my advance, swinging a mile a minute. Black hands always arrived first, a testament to my foe''s speed.

    What flawless form.

    Fran recognized the danger of Bigwig''s pile bunker, she didn''t hide this. I pushed my advantage. With a shift in weight distribution, I twisted my waist and swung Bigwig like a baseball bat. Its weight ripped through the adjacent seats¡ª

    "Kh¡ª?!" I gritted my teeth.

    A blow slammed into my chest, I couldn''t react. The wind pressure hit the wall behind me. Sickly, like the scream of crushed metal. Clumps of blood and flesh caught on my throat. Something exploded, something that shouldn''t have.

    My regalia fixed my wounds as I prepared to meet my foe''s next attack. The phantom pain of crushed bone and ruptured flesh greeted me. Even so, Fran charged towards me¡ª

    ¡ªShe''s too fast.

    No, she arrived in an instant. I steeled myself and raised Bigwig in front of my torso. Then, with a train-shaking impact, Fran slammed into my sword. My foundation crumbled, the air ripped from my lungs. I smashed into a wall, but the battle continued.

    A black apparition overlapped with Fran. "Hunting the sun¡ª"

    "Tch!"

    "¡ªDevouring the moon!"

    A black knuckle shot forward. Space bent like ripples on a liquid surface.

    I dropped low to the ground, an ingrained reflex. I couldn''t take that punch. My ad-hoc mountain cutter couldn''t stop her. I couldn''t dodge either, but why bother? I lunged forward.

    It''s coming.

    Fwoom. Fran''s punch passed overhead. All the train''s windows exploded. Air pressure tore a hole in the ceiling. Falling snow sublimated to molten-hot steam.

    Wind pressure assaulted me. My left arm snapped at the elbow, but didn''t disturb my stance. Reiki-charged adrenaline fought off pain. I pressed onward, ignoring torn skin and muscle.

    "¨y¨z¨{¨{¨z¨{¨{¨y¨z¨{¨{¨z¨{¨{¨|¨|!"

    Roaring reiki gave form to a long-eared beast, the manifestation of my ability. Bigwig held in one hands, I thrusted at Fran''s torso. Her apparition tried to catch it, but the blade opened like a stapler.

    "Shit¡ª"

    Click. Bigwig''s jaws slammed shut around Fran.

    She barely protected herself, staving off broken arms with her apparition''s savage strength. It didn''t matter. Golden electricity arced between Bigwig''s two fangs, turning the spike between red-hot.

    A slow saunter, an unstoppable waltz, I pushed forward until Fran hit the wall behind her. My fingers clutched Bigwig''s handle. They scorched black, a pain I''d long since gotten used to.

    Fran panicked. "Oi, oi!"

    "I''ve decided your fate¡ª!"

    I lifted my foe above my head. Bigwig crackled and sputtered. Sparks from above burned my cheek, but I paid this no mind. I sneered as I pulled the golden trigger.

    "Shatter, just like the Moon."

    Bigwig''s spike sank to its maximum depth.

    Moisture in the air became steam. The wrath of SHIBUYA''s sky-killing legacy forced superheated gas in all directions. My surroundings turned red-hot, and everything that couldn''t turned to ash. Leather seats, my clothing, everything disintegrated onto the winds.

    Lightning pierced the heavens, melting every snowflake in the sky. Only the thump of a spike falling back into place sounded. Melted and malformed, like an unfinished sword. An empty shell casing ejected from Bigwig''s side. It hit the ground and splattered into molten metal.

    The aftermath of my attack came next, a thunderous boom that rolled across the horizon for all to hear. Its low rumble shook the atmosphere, shattering our surroundings. Bigwig''s blade crumbled next, unable to withstand my full power. I clicked my tongue.

    As per usual, the train remained. Beaten and broken, but still functional. Mostly functional, at least. Its mechanical voice came, saturated with stutters and static.

    "Ne-Ne-Ne-Next stop, Ryugujo Station."

    As the dust and steam cleared, I retreated back a step. Reversion replaced my clothes and corrected my wounds. I registered no problems, so I glanced upwards. There I found a rapidly expanding hole in the clouds. Pale light filtered down from above.

    My eyes panned down to see how my foe had managed. Fran lay at the other end of the train, left hand clutching her wounded right arm. Sweat rolled down her brow, but she didn''t take her red eyes off of me. I didn''t have to ask how she''d staved off my attack.

    What a durable mutt.

    A jet black phantom loomed over Fran, no doubt the avatar of her ability. Its form, most reminiscent of a massive black hound, glared at me through feral eyes. Flesh melted off its frame, revealing charcoal-black bone. The entity fizzled away, unable to maintain its true form.

    The woman peeled herself off the ground. Burns of varying shapes covered her otherwise pristine skin. All things considered, she''d come out of my attack fairly well. I''d been ready to heal her wounds too, so disappointment struck me.

    Fran wheezed. "You''re¡ª"

    "Satou Shibuya, former King of Gekko District. Born May eighth, blood type O negative. It''s unfortunate, but I''m a very fickle person. My likes and dislikes are always in flux. Still, you don''t care about that. You''re only interested in the exalted Satou Shibuya''s worth, the nature of his confidence."

    "The answer?"

    I pointed skyward. "Isn''t it obvious?"

    The Earth''s fractured Moon, a scar from the first Demon invasion, shone for all to see. Its gentle glow filled the train car, unimpeded by Niflheim''s usual clouds. The planet''s debris ring stretched on for as far as the eye could see, a beautiful sight indeed.

    Yes, none could question. To Niflheim''s citizens, SHIBUYA''s sky-killing legacy had to be part of day-to-day life. That''s how it used to be. How long had passed since then? How many months, I wondered? That didn''t matter, not in the slightest.

    How pointless.

    Akane might''vecried if she saw this sorry scene. I lowered my arm and tossed Bigwig''s hilt aside. It slid to a halt in front of Fran, who eyed the metallic object. She didn''t understand what I wanted, I think.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "Fetch," I said.

    She didn''t respond.

    "Never mind, keep it as a reminder of today. Forever remember your place beneath my feet. A mutt like you might otherwise forget. All you do is eat and defecate, completely ignorant to your surroundings. Foolish. Still, I wouldn''t mind having a pet."

    Dry laughter left Fran''s lips. "...You''re terrible."

    "Am I?"

    I retrieved my jacket from a nearby seat. Gashes and burns coated it, the result of my and Fran''s small bout. I slipped my arms into the sleeves and, with a slight nod, activated my ability. Golden reiki corrected any faults in the material and returned the coat to its original state.

    Next came cleaning. I touched a hand to the train''s wall and ran my reversion process. Time seemed to rewind as metal and glass flew back into place. This mess posed no challenge, not for Satou Shibuya. Using the train as a conduit, I even healed Fran.

    Fran grunted. "Gh¡ª?!"

    An obvious reaction. The feeling of reversion couldn''t be described, not in a manner that did it justice. Having the skin peeled from your body felt terrible, but imagine experiencing it in reverse. It produced a weird "I''m not sure if this hurts" feeling. Still, I couldn''t get sidetracked.

    The white-haired woman dragged herself to a nearby seat. While she caught her breath, I moved to the train''s doors. We didn''t compliment each other and we didn''t say goodbye. We''d meet again, I knew it. After my show of dominance, Karatsuba wouldn''t leave without SHIBUYA.

    Ding. The train stopped. Its mechanical voice sounded.

    "Ryugujo Station. If this is your destination, proceed to the doors in an orderly fashion."

    <hr>-S0018-

    <hr>

    It didn''t take long to get home from Ryugujo Station.

    From home, I turned right and continued down the street. I''d hit the tree where I first met Yamashina Yoshida, near my sister''s favorite cafe and patisserie. If I kept walking, Ryugujo Station came up on my right. Reversing the steps brought me home.

    The exalted Satou Shibuya wasn''t a robot. The journey''s monotony turned my eyes to the moon above. Due to Niflheim''s weather, the moon always disappeared. Sometimes it took hours, sometimes it took days. Niflheim''s clouds couldn''t be defeated, not even by me.

    I''m getting sidetracked.

    My house came into view down the block. This alone made my day worthwhile. What could sister dearest be doing? Had she missed me? Thoughts like this psyched me up as I opened our front gate. After a small nod, I entered through the front door.

    Kekekeke. A strange cackle greeted me.

    Shizuka''s nonchalant voice came from the living room. "You''re not a criminal or anything, right? If you are, leave and I''ll forgive you. Haven''t seen your face yet. My little brother is scary, you know? You''ll cry if he finds you. He''ll eat you like caviar."

    Kekekeke.

    "I''m flattered by your faith. You should know, however, that I don''t eat people. Have you been considering unsavory deeds? Deeds involving consumption? Fear not, your cute little brother won''t fault you. I''ll protect you until the end of time."

    I heard a sigh. "Eh? Just Satou, huh?"

    "You sound disappointed."

    "Really?"

    Kekekeke.

    I couldn''t hold back any longer. I''d tried to ignore the cackling, but I couldn''t! An iron resolve brewed, one I vowed to see through. I wanted to figure out the source of that laughter. With a nod, I slipped my shoes off and walked into the living room.

    Shizuka sat on a leather couch in the living room''s center. I noticed what looked like an opened letter on the glass table in front of her. Also on our table, a glossy black box. Not large, but also not small. Ordinarily I wouldn''t have dug any further¡ª

    Kekekeke.

    ¡ªExcept Shizuka was trying to force the box open.

    I squinted. "Sister? Light of my life?"

    She didn''t look at me. "How did things go with the Student Council? Did you get a position? I doubt it. After all, we''re talking about Satou. You wouldn''t be able to handle another position of power. No offense, but you''re too strict."

    "I''m only strict with you, sister dearest, but let''s put that aside. I''m curious about another matter. What are you doing? Actually, don''t answer that. I have a better question, one that cuts right to the heart of this whole shebang. What is this black box?"

    "I texted you, remember? Mom sent us a thingy. Another puzzle, I think. You press the buttons in the right order to make it open. If you put in the wrong input it does this creepy laugh. Here, like this. Listen closely, little brother!"

    Kekekeke.

    "Love," I frowned, "You were trying to break it open."

    Shizuka gave a dismissive wave. "Go make dinner or something."

    "Yes, yes."

    Sister dearest couldn''t handle puzzles. Eventually she''d toss her problem my way, like always. I stepped into the connected kitchen and checked the fridge''s contents. Sports drinks filled up the bottom section, at least forty of them. Nothing abnormal, our fridge had always been this way. Shizuka and I burned through electrolytes abnormally fast due to our powerful abilities.

    I scanned the fridge''s top section. As I did¡ª

    "¡ªSatou, er, um..."

    Shizuka caved faster than I''d expected. I stepped into the living room and sat on the couch. The side opposite to Shizuka, of course. We''d done this song and dance many times before. Mother loved puzzles, a fact that heavily influenced our upbringing.

    "Yes, Shizuka? My world-class older sister?" I asked.

    Shizuka scowled. "Are you trying to pick a fight?"

    "You want my help? It''s a limited time offer."

    Shizuka seemed to consider this, then gave a reluctant nod. Her defeated look made want to tease her. Not with impure feelings, of course. My routine sister pestering hadn''t turned me into an unsavory individual like Genjou. At least, I hoped.

    Let''s not get sidetracked.

    I glanced over the black box. Closer inspection revealed four buttons on one of its faces. Each button had dots on them. One button with five, one with thirteen, one with nine, and one with eleven. An interesting concept. Four buttons meant sixteen possible outcomes. A fair amount, but nothing a truly determined person couldn''t solve. Shizuka couldn''t have tried very hard.

    "Satou, is something wrong?" asked Shizuka.

    "That''s an odd thing to ask."

    "Eh? Really?"

    I shrugged as I skimmed Mother''s letter.

    Sylvia Shibuya, your wondeful mom, takes the stage. I present another gift to my twin rabbits, Shizuka and Satou. Think of this as an early birthday present. Do with it what you will, but don''t flaunt it. Now then, let''s talk about puzzles.

    The letter detailed a simple puzzle. Each button represented the age we''d been when certain events transpired. In this case, the events related to Shizuka''s training. Shizuka''s ability test, her first combat test, her anti-contamination test, and her second combat test. I''d taken all four too, but not at my own behest. That man''s face came to mind.

    Shizuka seemed concerned. "You''re freaking me out, Satou. Did you get into a fight?"

    My jaw relaxed. "What makes you say that?"

    "Barring the fact that I looked out a window, you''ve been releasing bloodlust since you got home. I wasn''t joking, Satou. I couldn''t tell if you were a criminal, not until you spoke. It''s not my business, but I wanna know. Why were you fighting? Did someone attack you again?"

    "That man sent his dog after me," I said.

    "That man? You mean Dad?"

    A scowl formed on my face, one I noticed. Shizuka stated a fact I refused to accept: that man,Sougetsu Shibuya, was our father. He held the position of Karatsuba''s rank one, hence why Shizuka idolized him. Even so, Sougetsu Shibuya and Satou Shibuya couldn''t get along.

    Shizuka sighed. "Listen, Satou¡ª"

    Ding! Cool mist seeped from the box''s corners. I''d cracked the code. My sister had something to say, but I didn''t want to hear it. I placed the box on the table and watched as it unfolded. Each side, click after click, flattened onto the table''s glass surface. Inside¡ª

    "Another box, huh?" said Shizuka.

    "It seems so."

    ¡ªA single cardboard box. Mother often sent odd gifts with no purpose. Fossilized dragon teeth, heroic manuscripts, so on and so forth. Once in a blue moon, however, something truly splendid came in the mail. A house-cleaning tsukumogami, old world cookbooks, items of that sort.

    I tried to open the cardboard box, but several layers of packaging tape kept it shut. I picked up Mother''s letter and poured reiki into it. The paper stiffened and sharpened. Next I cut through the tape. Or rather, I started doing so.

    Why is there so much tape?!

    The exalted Satou Shibuya couldn''t stand this sort of packaging. It only prolonged the unpackaging process. Furthermore, it made the package look increasingly suspicious. My movements turned frantic, an attempt to speed up the process¡ª

    "¡ªOw."

    Blood dripped onto the table below.

    I dropped my Mother''s letter and turned my right hand over. A lengthy cut ran across the palm. Nothing serious, but the wound looked quite bad. Golden reiki gathered at my core. The bleeding stopped, but the cut itself didn''t close. The King''s regalia deemed my wound inconsequential.

    "How annoying," I said.

    Shizuka grabbed my wrist. "Hey, Satou!"

    "I''m fine, fear not. It hurts, but this isn''t a bad wound. Actually, can this be called a wound? Tis but a scratch, sister dearest. A Satou Shibuya without problem solving skills has no value. Give me a moment, I can easily fix damage of this variety¡ª"

    "I''ll grab the first-aid kit."

    Shizuka left the room before I could stop her With nothing left to do, I focused on the cardboard box. Curiousity overwhelmed me. Tape couldn''t hold me back, I wanted to see Mother''s gift.

    I opened the box with my left hand. The object inside felt cool and metallic. I carefully retrieved the item. After all, Shizuka wouldn''t be happy if she returned to a second wound on my other hand.

    What have we here?

    Mother''s gift looked like part of a shattered blade. It might''ve been the lighting, but I swore it shone with a pale glow. I turned the metallic chunk until something caught my eye. Odd letters were etched onto the blade''s side, a language I couldn''t understand.

    Shizuka returned to the room, first-aid kit in hand. "Okay, I''m back. Paw."

    I held my hand out and Shizuka wrapped my cut. Her quick and precise movements put her experience on display. In the past, before I fully grasped my ability, Shizuka wrapped my wounds. Kei used to do the same. I doubted the latter remembered, but I didn''t dwell on that.

    "B-By the way," I said, "I have a question."

    "Hit me. Not literally."

    I frowned. "I wouldn''t¡ª no, I refuse to get sidetracked. I''ve unearthed Mother''s gift from the bowels of tape and cardboard. This chunk of metal, it seems. There''s an inscription on it, but I can''t read it. You''re cultured, what does this say?"

    My sister leaned in close. Her gaze narrowed.

    "Is it something weird?" I asked.

    Shizuka nodded. She recited the inscription.

    <hr>-S0019-

    <hr>

    "Balmung," I repeated once more.

    Shizuka said Balmung, a name we both knew. From the bathtub''s warm confines, I better digested the information I''d acquired. Thinking in a warm bath felt like the easiest of tasks. So easy, in fact, that I''d already gotten sidetracked. A bad sign, which made me get back on topic.

    Balmung- one of Dragonslayer Gram''s many names. It fell under a dwindling list of weapons known as demonslayer tools. Holy Sword Excalibur, Mountain Wheel Caladbolg, so on and so forth. I didn''t concern myself with these out of reach existences.

    Only one demonslayer tool mattered to me: Crimson Muramasa.

    I frowned. "Wait, Muramasa?"

    KeikoKusanagi... no, Kei''s face came to mind, but I brushed it aside. Mother''s gift felt infinitely more important. It couldn''t possibly be a fragment of Dragonslayer Gram, which already had a wielder: that man. The nature of Mother''s gift further escaped my grasp.

    "It might be a replica," I said to myself. "My Bigwig mirrors Caladbolg, and Mother might''ve done the same with Gram. If that''s the case, why send us a fragment? Is she showing off?"

    More questions cropped up, nothing truly new. Still, I hugged my knees to my chest. Relaxation came fast within warm waters. New ideas would surface provided I sat there. Honestly, the wonders of bathing couldn''t be understated.

    That''s how it should be, yet...

    A strange feeling assailed me, one I couldn''t place. No matter how I tried, I couldn''t relax. I didn''t feel an immediate threat, nor did I feel pressured. I thought about the matter and, after a moment, returned to the topic of Crimson Muramasa.

    "Kei, is it?"

    Her name escape my lips, but the person held no power over me. Her clan''s profession lingered on my mind: demonslaying. Perhaps I couldn''t get it out of my head because of Fran Fairchild. She sought to gather promising recruits for Karatsuba. An admirable cause indeed.

    Many of the people I knew had relations to demonslaying. Kei, Shizuka, Genjou, that man... and one more person. I recalled the form of a certain flame-haired girl, much too spontaneous for her own good. A frustrated sigh left my mouth.

    Akane Akasaka once more haunted me.

    Satou Shibuya felt no affection towards Akane Akasaka. The mere thought of her drained the life out of me, yet I couldn''t get her out of my head. I wasn''t a fool, I already knew. We were two different people following two different paths. Akane Akasaka moved on.

    And soon¡ª

    "I left your clothes in the basket." My sister''s voice came through the bathroom door.

    "E-Erm, thank you."

    It took me a moment, but I slipped back into my normal persona. I reclined within the bathtub and the surrounding water overflowed onto the bathroom floor. Like this, things returned to normal. Like this, I wouldn''t stress myself out.

    "What''s up? You sound unhappy," said Shizuka.

    "Is that so?"

    "Yeah."

    I shrugged my shoulders, though Shizuka couldn''t see it. "It''s your imagination, sister dearest. The exalted Satou Shibuya is trying hard to fill his daily happiness quota, but it''s fairly difficult. It conflicts with my established archetype. You understand, don''t you?"

    "What archetype do you even fit into? You might be the damsel-in-distress heroine archetype, you know? If you get kidnapped, I''ll know what happened¡ª oi, why the killing intent?!"

    "I wonder, I wonder."

    Still, a character archetype for myself? A difficult topic indeed. Being the closest person to the subject matter, I felt like my opinion might come across as biased. Perhaps Shizuka wouldn''t mind? Either way, I threw my hat into the lot.

    "I''m the powerful sort of character, I think."

    I heard Shizuka''s sigh. "What, is that your sole defining trait? That''s no good, my cute little brother. Everyone needs a little something something. Jeez, you''ll become one-dimensional at this rate. Mom''d throw a fit, you know?"

    "Fear not, I''ll develop by the end of the game."

    "Oi, what game are you talking about?"

    I shrugged. "I''ll get a giant robot too."

    "We''re a mecha game?!"

    And so, another day passed in the Shibuya household.

 PART ONE, CHAPTER NINE

    PART ONE, CHAPTER NINE: "GOLD STANDARD"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    To the uninitiated, Niflheim might come across in description as a frozen hellscape. It almost always snowed, and the dangers of its occasionally frozen sidewalks were abnormally high. The average Niflheim resident tripped at least four times a week, and 1 in 300 falls lead to injury. Black eye, broken nose, so on and so forth.

    Now that I think about it, I''m not doing the place any favours. The cold lead to frequent absentmindedness, a mental state I often fell victim to. I lost track of time with alarming frequency on Niflheim, often times stumbling into the streets by accident. You''d think the common man would hate the island.

    No, maybe they did?

    That didn''t matter. For every curse spewed at Mother Nature, ten people were out there experiencing youth. When I was younger, Keiko and I went to the park. We laughed and played for hours on end, throwing snowballs and ruining the snowmen of other children. Right bullies we were, but I still look back on it fondly. Keiko too.

    Right, thinking back...

    Niflheim was a warm place, wasn''t it.

    <hr>

    -UNKNOWN-

    <hr>

    Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

    Sky blue peeked in through patches of gray, but that wouldn''t last. Above, clouds in the sky already started to gather. Afterwards, snow followed and we''d later settle into Niflheim''s perpetual Winter. Muck and moist concrete made their mark until then, no problem.

    "Show your work here. Here too, Satoto."

    Genjou Gekkouhara stood dressed in Kawagusa General Academy''s black-gold blazer, buttoned all the way up. Short seaweed green hair, neat and maintained, covered his forehead. A checkered scarf wrapped around his neck. I wore a sunflower-print scarf, one of Shizuka''s own.

    I frowned. "Why bother if the answer is right?"

    "You''ll get more points," said Genjou. He leaned in. "Look, here should be¡ª"

    "You''re too close, snake."

    We walked to school on a cool Friday morning. Shizuka left early, stating she had business to attend to. I needed to finish some homework, so I left after her. Perhaps an act divine intervention, I bumped into Genjou on the way. He started to, as he put it, "debug" my homework. A rude quip, but I let it slide in favour of the service provided. Still...

    Why would he go so far? To seek praise is common sense, but to this extent? What a fool. An irredeemable, unsalvageable fool. I can''t fathom Genjou Gekkouhara''s way of thinking.

    Overall, the day felt warmer than usual. Snow melted into dirt and the mud beneath released a scent most foul. Days like this always marked the aftermath of Satou Shibuya''s battles. I failed to mention the raging tides that subsided two days prior. Shizuka chastised me for a callous disregard of nature, which I didn''t refute.

    My gaze narrowed. She wasn''t wrong, I don''t think. Still, is nature truly that big a deal? With nobody to enjoy it, what purpose does it serve... hm?

    In the muddled distance, a familiar figure emerged from a building. Her chime of "I''m off" reached my ears, then she turned down the road- the same direction that Genjou and I walked in. Her long golden hair bobbed back and forth as if carried on the wind. She walked alone, a fact made more apparent by the brisk pace at which she moved.

    She- Yoshida Yamashina- wore a familiar beige windbreaker, one I''d seen on our first meeting... no, not beige. A different one. Closer to white, I think. Black splotches clad the jacket, as if mimicking the pelt of a cow. I couldn''t help but appreciate Yamashina''s terrible fashion sense.

    "Yoshida Yamashina, huh?" Genjou snickered. "Didn''t know you two lived so close to each other, what a fun development!"

    "We don''t live close." I pointed at the building she''d exited. "Look, it''s a patisserie."

    "Yeah, the Yamashina Patisserie."

    As we passed the building, I did indeed see "Yamashina Patisserie" on the front window. An unexpected development for sure, but I didn''t pay it any mind. I turned forward once more and continued past the tree where Yamashina and I first met.

    Genjou grinned. "You wanna grab a bite?"

    "How foolish," I whispered. "I''ve got standards, you see."

    "You''re whispering."

    "Raiju have good hearing, don''t they?"

    "Do they?" Genjou snickered. "Also, you''re being creepy."

    I shrugged. My gaze focused on Yamashina''s long legs, on which she wore black knee-high socks. Right, left, step, step, she seemed to be in a rush. Every tenth step, she''d pull out some sort of device (her cell phone, I think) and nod. The fact that I noticed this drove home what Genjou said about being creepy, so I glanced elsewhere.

    "Oh, is that a cat?" I murmured. Couldn''t tell from where I stood.

    Genjou frowned- I snuck a cursory glance at him. He noticed, I think, because he glanced in my direction. "Hey," Genjou narrowed his gaze, "I''m late in asking this, but did something happen? You''re squinting a lot lately, are your eyes okay?"

    "You''re curious, you''re curious?" I asked.

    "Bzzzt, wrong. I''m worried. There was a sort of bestial sounding explosion three nights ago. Like a lion, actually. You''ve been wearing a scarf since then. It''s backlash, huh?"

    I bit my lip.

    "Was it Fran Fairchild?" he asked.

    "Backlash or not, I''m always in top form." I turned my gaze ahead, towards the distant but blurry train station. "This scarf is for fashion. Stylish, hm? Sister dearest''s tastes have no match. Granted, I''d have preferred something a little less yellow¡ª"

    "Satou." Genjou''s tone turned harsh.

    My brow twitched. "Remember your place, snake. It was like this last time, the time before, and the time before that. This is nothing new, so mind your own business."

    "This is my business, Satou. Shizuka would roast me if someone harmed you. The Round Table too. They won''t admit it, but nobody likes seeing you hurt. Midas is... he''s a regular battle junkie, but Gagetsu would stomp me into the concrete if I let you cry. Friendship and all that sappy stuff."

    "I wouldn''t cry, fool. Also, you give Gagetsu too much credit- she would stomp me into the concrete given the chance. This goes without saying but you''re the only member who doesn''t loathe my oh-so-perfect existence. ''Friendship'' is the wrong word."

    Genjou frowned but didn''t respond.

    In any case, it didn''t take long to reach Ryugujo Station. Nothing eventful happened on the train, as Genjou kept vigilant watch over... something. I couldn''t tell what, but he murmured a line about guarding someone from gropers. On the other hand, I kept my eyes on Yamashina.

    Eventually we arrived at Kawagusa General Academy.

    A technicolour stream of students swept through the front gates. A rainbow of hair, one that the golden girl disappeared into. Chatter about the weather came in from all around. People noticed my show of power. As a result, an old name found frequent use among my fellow students.

    Golden King.

    How amusing that I walk among them right now. I wonder, would they bow if they knew I commuted to school like any other student?

    "By the way, Satou."

    I glanced towards the green-haired youth at my side. He wore a more serious expression, one that worried for my safety. I clicked my tongue. "Yes?"

    "That vampire... the Vermilion Shinso is on the move," said Genjou. "He and Fran Fairchild fought at Nakagawa Junction yesterday- they had to close part of the area off. I don''t know who won, but I''m told it was a bizarre fight. That redhead, he''s getting stronger."

    A quiet laughing fit assailed me. "Fran Fairchild is a stepping stone. If the boy couldn''t defeat her, he''d have no chance of beating anyone on the Round Table. Honestly, what a fool."

    Genjou smiled. "Be careful, that''s all I''m saying. After all, he wants your seat."

    We entered the school and walked to the shoe lockers. Mine sat at the end of the third row, farthest from the school''s entrance. Genjou''s sat on the fourth row, directly behind mine. I hadn''t noticed on the second day because I''d arrived early. A rookie mistake. As a result, Genjou once again became part of my everyday life.

    A yawn seeped out as we walked down the row.

    "My, not sleeping well?" asked Genjou.

    With a shrug, I removed my outdoor shoes. Despite my attempts to keep them clean, bits and pieces of mud caked their surface. Shizuka gave them to me, hence why. I couldn''t clean them with my ability, not in public. I retrieved my indoor shoes from my shoe locker¡ª

    "G-Genjou."

    "Sachacha, what''s wrong¡ª" Genjou paused.

    Our eyes fell on the insides of my shoe locker. The obvious contents presented themselves: a pair of clean shoes meant for indoor use. Nothing about them struck me as odd, but why would they? Shoes didn''t catch our focus. Another matter sparked our unrest.

    A single envelope lay atop my indoor shoes. White paper with a frilly design. A single sticker, the image of a shiny gold star, sealed the envelope shut. Genjou and I exchanged glances, as if expecting something to happen. Then, after our brief silence, Genjou spoke.

    "I-It might not be a love letter. Let''s think about this for a second, when was the last time you got a real love letter? Middle school, I think... hey, are you listening?" Genjou waved a hand in front of me. "Satototou? Satou Shibuya?"

    "It was only a matter of time. The exalted Satou Shibuwa... S-Shibuya obviously turned heads with his magnificent gait and perfect face. I''d prepared for this day, but to see another love letter in person..." Dry laughter echoed from within.

    "El Satou? Sasatou?"

    "Woe, my standards are too high. S-Satou Shibuya can''t date someone of lower status! Right?! B-Besides, why me... no, of course it would be me! It''s obvious... yes, it''s completely obvious! Who wouldn''t seek to stand at Satou Shibuya''s side? Foolish. B-Boorish? Nonsense! Poppycock!"

    "A meltdown?! Yo, snap out of it!"

    "That''s right, that''s right! G-Give me a moment."

    "You''re reading it here?!"

    I rushed to peel the sticker off the envelope. Two of the star''s five prongs tore, but that always happened with more complex stickers. My fingers swept across the envelope''s flap, checking if it''d been sealed. It hadn''t, so I opened it. A white slip of paper rested inside. Curiosity overwhelmed me.

    Slowly, steadily, I pulled the slip out of the envelope. My gaze wandered to Genjou, and the two of us locked eyes. He nodded, and I turned back to the envelope. I nodded as well, then pulled the slip free. Folded, like I''d suspected, so I carefully opened the paper...

    "G-G-Genjou!" I couldn''t hide my bewilderment.

    A bead of sweat rolled down my brow, a testament to my shock. My eyes slid down the page. In neat writing, red ink, a message ran along the paper''s surface.

    "Satou Shibuya, lunch time, on the roof."

    <hr>-S0020-<hr>

    A digital chime started off first period: Home Economics. At least, that''s what it should''ve been.

    We stood lined up on the muddy field, we being myself and my classmates.

    I wore my indoor shoes for all of five minutes!

    After entering the classroom, an announcement over the com system ushered the contents of two classrooms out into the gym: 3-A and another class. Upon arrival, suspicious-looking men handed us our gym-wear and told us to change. In this case, gym-wear equated to an uncomfortable skin-tight bodysuit. Black and gold, in true Kawagusa fashion.

    In the end, the suspicious-looking men moved both classes to opposite sides of the field. We were lined up, made to stand, and left there. As expected, silence did not reign.

    The student to my left, a youth with a refreshing face, played with the rubbery collar of his bodysuit. Kozue Kotobuki, if I remembered correctly. He tied his light blue hair up in a bun. "Top scorer, are these anti-contamination suits?" He paused. "...Actually, are you nervous or something?"

    "No, um..." I traced the contours of my frame by eye. Perfection, as per usual. I gathered my hair into a tail at my nape. "T-These are mock-ups, there''s no black salt baked into the rubber. How unexpected, you can''t differentiate between training wheels and the genuine article?"If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    "Yeah, my bad."

    "Fool, why are you apologizing?"

    "There''s no pleasing you, huh?"

    Before I responded a new face appeared on the scene.

    "You lot have guts," said the teacher. A tall, well-built man with an x-shaped scar beneath his left eye. Long red hair took the form of a spiky ponytail, reaching nearly to his feet. His red eyes glinted. "Wouldn''t be chatting otherwise, eh?"

    Our class fell silent.

    "That''s better," said the teacher. "Now then, I''ll get down to business. My name is Kengo Kusanagi, and I''ll be watching you guys for the duration of our exercise. Any complaints?"

    My brow tensed. One of Keiko''s cousins? I''ve never seen this one before, but he''s the spitting image of her father. How amusing.

    "Most of you are here to boost your odds of passing the Demonslayer Examination," continued Mr. Kusanagi. "For those who aren''t, well, put up with it. What is it, the fifth of April? We''re starting a day early, but whatever. Who wants to guess what we''re doing?" He glanced over the row of students, then settled on someone. "You, golden hair."

    I glanced towards the person in question, who stood one student to my right: Yoshida Yamashina. She wore her hair in a low ponytail. Refreshing, to say the least.

    Yamashina cleared her throat. "Given these suits," she motioned downwards, "and the fact that another class was called, I believe we are doing field training."

    Mr. Kusanagi nodded. "Yeah, sounds about right. We''re early, like I said, and our mock-demon isn''t here yet. She''ll arrive later. Until then, we''ll be doing a little anti-personnel training... no, an anti-personnel game."

    A game? How curious, how curious.

    The teacher glanced towards the other end of the field, where another faculty member no-doubt gave the same spiel. Mr. Kusanagi turned back to us with a small frown. "Change of plans. Was gonna make you guys play ''Capture the Flag'', but let''s make it more interesting. I''m gonna see if we can do class versus class."

    With a nod, Mr. Kusanagi jogged off towards the other end of the field. In response, chatting once more commenced.

    "Why anti-personnel?" Kotobuki murmured. "Seems kinda weird, don''t you think? Signed on to fight demons, not people. They''re different. Like, super different."

    I sighed. "Foolish, isn''t it?"

    "Experience is experience," spoke a familiar voice. I glanced towards its source and found the golden girl directly to my right. "Though I''ll admit, I don''t like the idea."

    Kotobuki snickered. "Right?"

    "More importantly," I frowned, "You swapped spots."

    Yamashina nodded. "In case Mr. Kusanagi can''t convince the other teacher. Most teachers determine teams on a one-two basis. Being next to you might place me on the other team, provided I''m right."

    "How foolish," I murmured.

    Perhaps the rest of the class disagreed because a great shuffling occurred. The line shifted as people changed positions, no doubt hoping to adjust their team composition. This reaped the expected outcome, and soon everyone settled down.

    Twenty seconds later, I stood at the left end of the line and next to a person I didn''t know: a hunched girl with pale green eyes. She sported dark green hair down to her upper back, in a tail at her nape. A shark-toothed grin served as her most defining trait.

    How uncouth. Is she picking a fight?

    The girl didn''t look in my direction. "Yo."

    I clicked my tongue. "Know your place."

    "...Right."

    Mr. Kusanagi returned soon after, a wide smile sprawled across his gruff and oh-so grimy countenance. The man clapped his hands, catching the attention of those in my surroundings. Every student in view straightened their backs, and I followed suit.

    "Good news, we''re on for a game of class-versus-class CTF," said Mr. Kusanagi. He smirked. "Bad news, the losing class will be scrubbing the gym on their lunch break. Not my plan, but the opposition is looking for an excuse to ditch cleaning duty."

    Wait, lunch break?

    Confidence welled up in the face of music I couldn''t afford to face. The exalted Satou Shibuya''s very special lunch plans didn''t involve cleaning up someone else''s mess. The idea of leaving a girl on the cold roof because of cleaning duty lit my heart ablaze.

    I''d simulated the experience in my head. Climb up to the roof and flash a winning smile, a reminder of my untouchable status. "Little kitten," I''d say, "The world and all its pleasures separate us. I can''t waste my time on a lesser existence like yourself. I''m sorry."

    "No matter what, master?"

    "No matter... hm?" My eyes shifted to the shark-toothed girl on my left, who fought off laughter by the skin of her oh-so-pointy teeth. Her eyes seemed to bulge out of their sockets with unprecedented comedic force. Sweat condensed on my brow.

    "Little kitten?" The girl''s raspy voice shook, and the sounds of suppressed laughter escaped the gaps in her fingers. "Lord forgive me, I''ll be meeting you soon!"

    "What''s going on over there?" Mr. Kusanagi''s voice made me tense up. "You find something funny about CTF?" A pause. "Me neither, so tell me what you''re really laughing about."

    Yes, I''m very curious.

    "Oh, er... hiii?!" Murderous intent blacker than the night sky killed her laughter. She snuck a glance in my direction, then turned towards Mr. Kusanagi once more. "Was just uh... you know, I kind of forgot. S-Sorry teach, I''ll shut up."

    "Yeah, do that... is what I''d say, but we start in twenty minutes. There are twenty-six people in this class, though it seems we''re one person short." Mr. Kusanagi counted something with his fingers. "Should be enough for five squads, so that''s perfect. Before I tell you lot to form up, I''ve gotta figure something out. How many of you know the basic five positions in an Anti-Demon Squad?"

    I expected the first hand up- Yoshida Yamashina.

    "Go for it," said the teacher.

    Yamashina cleared her throat. "Not withstanding the supplementary role of ESPer, there are five basic positions that every Anti-Demon Squad must fill. They are Vanguard, Meister, Chaser, Support, and Burner."

    Mr. Kusanagi grinned. "Very good. Now then, allow me to explain in detail."

    First, the warrior at the forefront- the Vanguard- kept the enemy Demons'' focus. Mother filled this role on her squad. Second, the Meister damaged and temporarily immobilized Demons. To my knowledge, Fran Fairchild alternated between Meister and Chaser.

    Chasers tracked nearby Demons in the absence of an ESPer, whilst Supports tended to equipment and the wounded. These were regarded as the least important (but still vital) roles. On the other hand, none could compete with Burner as the most important role.

    Demons sported unparalleled healing abilities. Nothing short of annihilating their physical form could kill a Demon. The next best method involved cauterization of their wounds. Because of this, Burners filled very specific criteria: they required a way to create immense heat.

    Many people aspired to fill the Burner boots, including some I knew: Akane Akasaka, sister dearest, so on and so forth. More than I''d like to admit chased the shadow of our father, the so-called "Greatest Burner" with the title of Sol Dios.

    "Now then," said Mr. Kusanagi, "Squad up. Since there''s no way to form a proper squad, I''ll give you guys a pass on that. Just do five groups of five, line up afterwards. Five minutes, go!"

    My surroundings began to shift as fellow students filled in gaps. The world became a swirling vortex of form-fitting black rubber, leaving me with nowhere to look. My gaze rose towards oppressing gray skies, and there the sun greeted me.

    You don''t scare me.

    "Apologies, Shibuya, but what are you doing?"

    "Nothing, what''s wrong?"

    My eyes fell on a familiar golden-haired girl, arms crossed over her (larger than expected) bust. One brow raised, perhaps in unabashed confusion at my own perfection, she cleared her throat. Yamashina placed her hands on her hips. "It seems we''re among the remainders."

    I snickered. "Remainders? That''s nonsense, I''m... wait, everyone is already grouped up?!"

    I got sidetracked? Me?!

    My gaze swept across the area, scanning for a group to join. Too late, it seemed. Two mixed groups, one group of all boys, one group of all girls. In a mere three days, circles had already been established. I''d waited too long to join one! My only hope became the leftovers, the remnants who hadn''t joined a group!

    Who? Who will I be stuck with?!

    All outliers soon gathered at Yamashina''s back. The first, a familiar face. Short, sky blue hair and an athletic build like my own. His cool blue eyes focused on me as he gave a wide smile.

    "Yo, top scorer," said Kozue Kotobuki.

    I frowned. "Hello."

    The second, a gloomy beanstalk of a youth, shrugged. Black hair, black-framed glasses, dark eyes. Arms dangling at his sides, he- Iori Ikuzawa- seemed overcome with lethargy. The youth shrugged in acknowledgement of our predicament and went to line up.

    The third, a hunched girl with pale green eyes. She sported dark green hair down to her upper back, in a tail at her nape. This shark-toothed person-

    "Wait, it''s you." My brow twitched.

    She retreated a step. "R-Reika Rurisaki, pleased to meet you."

    "As you can see," Yamashina shrugged her shoulders, "This is our situation. I can fill Burner, Kotobuki can be Meister. Rurisaki might work as Vanguard or Chaser. Shibuya, you... apologies, but I''m not sure what your ability is."

    I pressed a hand to my waist. "What about Ikuzawa?"

    "I''m not sure, but he wants to be Support."

    A troublesome predicament indeed; I''d planned on filling Support. I loathed to admit it, but Genjou hit the nail on the had. Top form eluded me, a fact I endeavored to hide. Even barring this, it felt like a poor idea to use my ability here, where someone might recognize it as the King''s Regalia.

    "Do you know which class we''re facing?" I asked.

    Yamashina nodded. "Unfortunately, 3-C."

    She explained who to look out for. Kohei Kitamura, super strength, recent addition to the boxing club. Satsuki Sanae, air manipulation, heir to the Sanae school of archery. A long list of names, but the last one caught my attention.

    "Genjou Gekkouhara," Yamashina said. "Heir to the Gekkouhara clan, skilled practitioner of the Gekkouhara''s demon assassination techniques. Gekkouhara is the current Beta."

    "He is rather beta, I suppose."

    Yamashina scowled. "The Beta, Shibuya."

    "I know, I''m aware."

    Genjou Gekkouhara filled the seat of Beta, one of twenty-four superhumans and non-humans known as Letters. Each had fantastic, awe-inspiring abilities that put them at the top of Karatsuba''s recruitment list. Eisenritter''s too, a fact that left both groups butting heads.

    If Genjou is in opposition, he might single me out for his own amusement. What a troubled little person, the snake. I''d rather not deal with him, but I can''t afford to waste my lunch cleaning out the gym. What a terrible day!

    "I wonder why they selected us to face Gekkouhara''s class," said Yamashina. I saw a strange bitterness on her face, but not towards the opposition. She took a deep breath and gave me her focus. "Shibuya, would you be our Vanguard?"

    I stepped forward with a frown. "On what grounds do you ask this? If you know who we''re facing, why ask me? Choose your answer carefully. Four of them should''ve popped up, Ms. Yamashina. My route is open, you need only pick the right choice."

    Yamashina closed her eyes. For the first time, she seemed to be considering my bizarre rambling with the utmost seriousness. So serious, in fact, that I felt my face redden. I had to clarify my meaning.

    "W-Wait, my route isn''t actually on the table."

    "Route?" Yamashina tilted her head. "In any case... it pains me to say this, but you are strong. Strong enough to contend with me and, by extension, strong enough to contend with Gekkouhara. I can face him, but I cannot say with absolute certainty that I''ll win."

    "Your faith in my perfection is normal, but-"

    A small thump resounded throughout my chest. The eyes of my classmates turned to focus on the scene behind them. My gaze shifted from one squad to the next, and then down to my chest. A sturdy fist pressed against the very center of my torso.

    I followed that fist to its source, the golden girl. Her eyes burned with a dignified tenacity, a determination that surpassed pride and passion. That steadfast, unwavering expression induced within me with a bizarre nausea that I struggled to place.

    My hand fell to her outstretched arm and I gripped her wrist. Disgust welled up, but I fought off the all too powerful urge to spew profanities. I took a deep breath and once more focused on the dazzling existence at my doorstep. The voice that left my mouth oozed with unconditional distaste.

    "What are you doing?" My grip tightened.

    "Satou Shibuya, I cannot afford to lose here. Understand that I do not ask for your cooperation lightly. You are everything I loathe in a person, but also something- no, someone to overcome. An awe-inspiring entity that nobody, not even I, can ignore. I put my faith not in your so-called perfection, but in that which you have shown me. After all, you..."

    I snickered. "Me?"

    "You are not the malicious person you aspire to be."

    My body moved on its own. A loud slap rang through air, which prompted loud yelps from the surrounding students. My vision blurred, unfocused on the stinging in my palm. The golden girl stepped backwards, the side of her wrist red. She didn''t falter though.

    The two of us stepped forward until less than half a foot separated us. Yamashina looking up, me looking down, the two of us locked eyes. Her expression felt stern, almost unquestionable. I knew better, and she recognized that.

    I glanced down at her right hand, which crackled with electricity. Perhaps she noticed mine, which burned with an aurum reiki. We stared at each other for five, maybe ten seconds, without either of us so much as uttering a word.

    Very well!

    With a flash, gold smashed against gold. Reiki and electricity danced, parted, and dissipated. When the light faded, my gaze fell on our joined hands. I sneered.

    "I absolutely hate losing," I said. "I don''t like physical contact either- frankly, your touch disgusts me. I don''t like looking at you, your face is too pretty. More than anything else, I reject failure in any way, shape, or form. Whenever I see you, I always remind myself that I scored higher. You''re a fool, one I can''t be bothered to reason with."

    Yamashina scowled. "You''re a megalomaniac, and the fact that you know this speaks volumes about your character. Fortunately, your good looks are a wonderful counterbalance. You reek of vanilla and citrus- I often find myself cursing you from across the room. When you defeated me at arm-wrestling, I wanted to lunge across the table and continue with our fists."

    I leaned in closer. "I''m the Alpha. "

    She as well- our foreheads almost touched. "I''m the next Zeta."

    Bewildered chatter came from all around as Yamashina and I separated. About I, the Alpha, her, the (then) Zeta candidate, about both of us. I didn''t pay it any mind and I don''t think she did either. Our backs to each other, the conversation continued.

    "Genjou Gekkouhara''s ability is Orochi. Gen... Gekkouhara''s blinding speed comes partly from his training, but mostly from Orochi''s ability to bend space to his will. The snake thinks he hard-counters my ability, but that''s nonsense. I''m the strongest, after all."

    "So you''re familiar with him. I saw you walking together, but-"

    "You saw that?!"

    Mr. Kusanagi cut in. "Yeah, listen, you guys should have this talk later." He made a swiping motion with his finger. "That goes for all of you, stop gawking and get back in line! Kids these days, I swear. Shows over, I''ve still got some rules to talk about!"

    The rules were simple: Capture the enemy flag to win. Get an enemy on the ground and they''re out. Scrapes and bruises were expected, but we were advised with the utmost seriousness not to go overboard. The game would run for thirty minutes. Afterwards, we''d move on to basic training with the ''mock-demon'' that Mr. Kusanagi mentioned earlier.

    We were dismissed shortly after, and our team gathered elsewhere to strategize. I, the exalted Satou Shibuya, received the task of carrying the flag. Another matter caught my attention, one I brought up when we arrived at our destination.

    "Why are we using the entire school?" I asked, backside firmly planted on my desk.

    Our group chose our classroom as our base of operations. Muffled sounds of class came from the adjacent Class 3-B; they took classes like normal today. Their exercise ran tomorrow on Saturday against 2-B, which I recognized as Keiko''s class. It seemed that 3-B had no chance of victory.

    Keiko could take on Genjou''s entire class by herself. Or at least, she could''ve done it when we were children. I wonder, how much stronger has she gotten?

    "Well," Yamashina brought me back to reality, "It seems they expect us to avoid damaging the school. Perhaps anti-collateral training for Demon-infested areas? At least, this would make the most sense. In any case-"

    "Yamashina, is this good?" Kozue Kotobuki planted our flag in the dead center of our classroom- far enough from the window, but also far enough from the hallway. The flag itself wore the crest of Kawagusa General Academy: a white peony on a black shield.

    "Move it closer to Class 3-B," I said. "They won''t punch through 3-B''s wall to get at our flag, so it''ll be safer on that side of the room."

    Kotobuki nodded. He picked up the flag and walked past the fast approaching Reika Rurisaki. The shark-toothed girl took a seat on the desk next to mine, where the lethargic Iori Ikuzawa sat. The boy groaned but didn''t say a word.

    Rurisaki squinted. "So, like... you''re the Alpha?"

    "Oh, er..." I forgot my open announcement of my rank. "Y-Yes, so choose your words carefully. You see, I''m still rather sour about our previous engagement. Not really lime sour, not lemon sour either. More a mild tartness. Tangerine sour, I think-"

    "What''s your power?"

    Rurisaki spoke with a bizarre sort of expression. Half intimidated, half cautious, but one-hundred percent curious. She struggled to hide her almost childish interest in not me, but the nature of my abilities. I doubted she was the only one.

    Curious eyes focused on the exalted I, who took center stage. It made sense to be interested. A Letter''s powers were said to be mind-bending, almost vindictive towards the laws of reality. As a result, most Letters opted to keep the extent of their full power in darkness.

    Thus, I told them the bare minimum.

    "Alteration of preexisting matter plus synthesis of material with a sufficient catalyst. Air is the common ingredient, but it''s easier if I use a tangible material. The name is a secret. How is it, are you in awe at the oh-so-mighty Satou Shibuya''s abilities?"

    "Um..." Rurisaki squinted.

    Yamashina cut in from across the room. "My domain is electromagnetism. Electrical currents, magnetic fields, things like that fall under our control. It''s fortunately simpler than what Shibuya described. For now though, we have five minutes to prepare. There are more important matters to deal with."

    The whine of chalk against a blackboard brought my attention to the front of the room. Yamashina scribbled (rather hastily) a small map of the school and its field. She circled in red on the field where she expected the enemy to put their flag, and in blue the room where we sat.

    "Shibuya," said Yamashina, "let''s discuss tactics."

 PART ONE, CHAPTER TEN

    PART ONE, CHAPTER TEN: "LIGHTNING CIPHER"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    "Heat up, Cernunnos!"

    Earth''s roar twisted grass and mud at the call of its master.

    Viscous browns geysered up, then stalled in the air- one moment, then two- and dried. Flakes of dried mud and small pebbles rolled off the side of the newly formed dome. At five meters in height, it surrounded our team''s flag- a respectable barricade, but would it hold against the opposition?

    One youth''s right foot traced a molten arc across the field''s muck. Ash and earth scattered from the tips of the boy''s fingers. He took a deep breath and, with a wild crash, slammed his palm to the ground. Thick earthen walls emerged on all sides, another layer of defense. I marveled at the talents of my classmate.

    Rock Hoshino, rank ninteen on Kawagusa General Academy''s placement exams. Born on Muspelheim, transferred to Niflheim to apply for a spot in Karatsuba. A powerful earth manipulator who learned Scattered Ash CQC from a former demonslayer, Akashi Amane. Guy might be the second strongest Vanguard in Class 3-C.

    "Gekkou, I got this side done!" Rock wiped the sweat from his brow. He scanned his surroundings, no doubt looking for a special someone. "Yamashina can''t blitz our flag at the start of the game if there''s a dome- you said that, right?"

    I grinned. "Yeah, she''d have to come here in person. She''d have one... no, two more people with her if she came- Satou Shibuya and Kozue Kotobuki, I bet. If that happens, I''ll be counting on you to lend me your power."

    Rock cracked his neck. "I ain''t losing here. Satsu''s pops is scary, but backing down isn''t an option." He smiled. "Try and keep up, Gekkou."

    Awkward laughter turned both our heads. The source, a red-faced girl with silvery hair in a bob cut, elbowed the taller boy with red hair and suntouched skin in the side. She- Satsuki Sanae- glanced towards the distant school, a view clipped slightly by the mud walls that separated us.

    "Betahara, I can''t see their flag." Sanae frowned.

    "But they''re in classroom 3-A, right?"

    Sanae nodded. Her eyesight never ceased to amaze me.

    Satsuki Sanae II, rank fifteen on the placement exams. Second daughter to the head of the Sanae clan, one of Niflheim''s five primary slayer clans- Sanae, Kusanagi, Gekkouhara, Shiranui and Gagetsu. A wind manipulator, the most capricious among three siblings. An aspiring Chaser, I think. Still, there''s one card I need to prep. Let''s leave these two alone.

    I grinned. "You two can flirt. I''m gonna chat with Kitamura, kay?"

    The two burned bright red, but didn''t refute. Youth, how beautiful! Anyway, other matters beckoned. I strode across the field, stepping through muck and puddles. After all, the field came in two flavours: shoveled and swampish. No alternatives presented themselves in the face of Niflheim''s abnormal weather.

    I arrived at my destination without noticing. Clear as day upon sight, not so much when on hunt. This prey moved on a whim with neither rhyme nor reason. And so, the sight of his athletic frame seated on a distant bench caught me by surprise... no, not the sight. The atmosphere. Visual stimuli came afterwards.

    There, hunched forward with a towel on their head, sat a youth with problems far worse than a bad attitude. Hands clasped together, the youth''s cerulean blue hair shook wildly in the wind. He stared at the ground with unwavering fervor. Even when I called out that goliath didn''t look up.

    I struck a pose with my hands in the air. "Kitamura, enjoying that high school life?"

    "No."

    The reason being the lack of life in the youth''s surroundings. He, Kohei Kitamura, exuded a wild sort of pressure. Anyone without training might avoid him not on purpose, but due to basic survival instincts. I could tell that today, Kitamura bursted with excitement. No, anticipation.

    "You''re gonna take it back, right?" I asked. "Your seat, that is."

    Kitamura nodded. The earth seemed to rumble as the youth rose from his seat. Hands clenched into fists and ripped free the towel on his head. The face beneath, rugged and handsome, carried but a single flaw¡ª

    "Yeah."

    ¡ªa horizontal, lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.

    <hr>

    -UNKNOWN-

    <hr>

    "They''ll come up the staircase, won''t they?"

    Yamashina nodded. "The windows are locked, so they won''t be able to slip in without breaking them. Assuming the goal is to avoid collateral, the invading party will in fact have to come up the stairs."

    I frowned. "A little dull, but fair enough. Also, you''re too close."

    From end to end, the our battle plan marked the black board. The scope of our strength, what we knew about the opposition, and who to send where. We named our squads by colour for ease of recognition. The composition left something to be desired, but I and Yamashina agreed for sure on one thing, a matter I might have fought against a day prior.

    "Shibuya," said Yamashina, "You''re with me."

    "Actually, you''re with me." I corrected.

    Our initial squad composition consisted of Kotobuki, Ikuzawa, Rurisaki, Yamashina and I. On paper this remained the same, but in practice only I and Yamashina would act together. Kotobuki called us "Double Trouble," a squad name that 3-A almost universally vetoed in favour of the simpler, more sleek "Squad Gold."

    Iori Ikuzawa received command of "Squad Silver," which consisted of two actual squads- one mixed squad and the all-girl squad. Noteworthy members included students whose names I''d been forced to learn. Guren and Ichi Sashizumi, plus Botan Tachibana- a telekinetic, a rotation generator, and a shapeshifter. Tachibana showcased her ability by copying my face.

    "Now I''m the top scorer," she''d joked. I didn''t laugh.

    Reika Rurisaki (a mermaid non-human- she seemed confused when I called her a shark) and Kozue Kotobuki received command of "Squad Platinum," which consisted of the all-male group and the other mixed-gender group. Notable players included Walter Washio and Kamui Reiss- a vibration generator and a lycanthrope.

    All the world''s restraint and then some kept me from mocking these lesser abilities. Counter to me, Yamashina considered ways in which to utilize them. Eventually though, she came to a conclusion that fell in the grey area between "giving up" and "innovating." Those who wouldn''t be useful in direct combat were to help Ikuzawa set up on the roof.

    Odd, isn''t it.

    To be honest, I''d never considered the idea of working with a group until then. Or rather, perhaps "working together" didn''t fit the bill? It felt more like using the pieces afforded to you, I think, but that''s besides the point. In the end, we decided to focus on facilitating fast communication between our groups. The grunt work of this task fell on Ikuzawa''s group, who went up to the roof.

    Once all was said and done, Kengo Kusanagi''s voice boomed across the intercomm.

    "Attention all students. The game of Capture the Flag between Class 3-A and Class 3-C will now begin. For those currently in class and vice-versa, please avoid distracting each other. Thank you, have a nice day."

    This lead to the current situation.

    Pristine white stairs surrounded us on all sides, a spiral that seemed endless until one looked down. Light filtered in from the outside wall, comprised almost entirely of glass. A flock of black birds flew by, warped and twisted by the window wall''s make. One could almost imagine their incessant cries, the beat of their numerous tiny wings.

    The two of us, Yamashina and I, marched down the third floor staircase at a brisk pace- faster than a walk, but slower than a sprint. Our footsteps, a light pitter-patter, echoed down to the floor below where second class students studied. Each step beat through my soles like a small earthquake, a bizarre notion indeed. I couldn''t have recognized it as excitement, not at the time.

    I felt the cool glass through my contamination suit''s thin make. The fingers of my left hand traced the curved surface without much thought on my part.

    ¨y¨z¨{¨{¨z¨{¨{¨z¨y¨z¨{¨{¨z¨{¨{

    A ceaseless murmur, repeated over and over in the recesses of my mind. Not quite my voice, but still mine- a strange statement, no doubt. A voice originating within the self that I identified as belonging to something else, my ability. It didn''t speak any human tongue- it didn''t speak at all. Closer to a white noise, a hollow rustling that did little to distiguish itself from my own thoughts.

    "Shibuya, have they entered yet?" Yamashina peered over the stair railing, a thick wood of some sort- mahogany, I think. She glanced over her shoulder to see my response.

    "You''re distracting me."

    With a frown, Yamashina leaned on the railing. Elbows pressed on the surface, I heard a small sigh escape her lips. A cursory glance in her direction came back negative- no change in facial expression, at least none that I noticed. As I continued down the staircase, my mind began to wander- menial tasks dulled the brain.

    Does Yoshida Yamashina go to a gym?

    You wouldn''t notice at first glance, not if Yamashina wore her uniform. Her slender frame struck me as waify at first, though later observation concluded her frame as the result of hard work and exercise. Flat stomach, firm legs, each showed through more easily in the tight anti-contamination suits we wore. Not to mention her hands...

    Oh, I''m at the bottom.

    The second floor''s halls were empty, just as I''d expected. No footsteps, no bloodlust, nothing of note. I could say with confidence that nobody new had entered the school, not since the game started. I took my hand off the wall and thumbed my palm. All things considered, my hands were softer. I won this particular bout, as expected.

    From above came Yamashina''s voice. "What about Kotobuki?"

    I pressed my hand to the wall and closed my eyes. Golden lines scanned the framework in my head, an image I burned into my memory. I traced each person- each body, face, and hairstyle- and found my target on the opposite end of the school, in the other staircase. I identified the second, third, and forth persons until I found the shark-toothed girl paired with Kotobuki-

    T-They''re larger than expected. No, don''t think about it.

    "Kotobuki and Rurisaki are in the other staircase. That fool Ikuzawa is on the roof with," As I removed my hand from the wall, I struggled to remember the names of my other classmates. "The Sashizumi sisters and Tachibana, I think? They''re still setting up the item on their list. How dare they keep me waiting?"

    "If you don''t mind my asking," Yamashina changed the subject, "Do you need to touch the wall to see our surroundings? Your feet would suffice, wouldn''t they?"

    "Hmph," I crossed my arms. "Have your hands ever shaken? Of course they have, but it''s hard to prevent when given thought. On the contrary, they seem to shake more after you notice. Unfortunately, it''s the same monkey logic here. The less I think, the easier it is."

    Yamashina crossed an arm over her chest and began to stretch. "That seems like a fatal flaw."

    "Nonsense, the reverse applies too." Oh, there it is. I should prepare. "The better I understand something, the easier it is to do. Steel, for example. I have to think about it to make it, but I can''t if I think about it. The answer is simple- learn and understand the composition of steel."

    I scanned the side of the staircase, the metal bars that supported its glossy railing. The bars shone dully in the day''s murky greyness, which revealed signs of rust and wear on their surface. That can''t be safe, I think. I knelt and dragged an index finger down the metal''s cool surface. Structurally sound, but unseemly in my eyes.

    She''s not watching right now, I think.

    Let''s do the school a kindness.

    "One thousand foes¡ª"

    Golden reiki traced circuit-like lines along the lone bar''s surface. I ripped free my newly metamorphed weapon- a vaguely sword-shaped item, a little over a meter in length. Its blunt edges and rounded tip gave the impression of a practice sword or perhaps a baton. Light but tough, I assured myself this tool was safe for recreational use...

    "Shibuya?!"

    "Oh, you saw. No matter, I''ll put it back when we''re done."

    Yamashina''s frantic journey down the stairs distracted me from my first swing. To properly hear the weapon''s sound, I made a downward stroke and struck the ground¡ª crack.

    "No, perhaps a little lighter?" I mended the ground and went to work adjusting the weight.

    "What if someone saw you on camera?" I heard her behind me.

    "How foolish. If they did, they heard me say I''d put it back." I traced a horizontal arc, striking the adjacent series of metal bars. A dull thunk echoed and I, satisfied, lowered my weapon. I''d call this one Hawkbit- stupid, but usable. "Also, don''t you have to get ready?"

    Yamashina sighed. For some reason she seemed drained. "In what sense?"

    I turned around. "Oh, I didn''t say it? They''re here."

    In less than a second I witnessed the golden girl go from confusion to bewilderment to what looked like frustration. She darted up to the wall and pressed her back to it. One eye open, she peered around the corner and into the adjacent first floor hallway.

    "How many are there?" Yamashina cracked her knuckles.

    With a roll of my eyes, I took my place on the wall. "Two."

    "Who?"

    "Does it matter?"

    Yamashina glared at me.

    Honestly, what a hard girl to please!

    I touched my hand to the wall and closed my eyes.

    In my mind''s eye I glanced over the school- my field, my territory. First the third floor, then the second, and finally the first. At the front entrance I found two individuals- a taller boy, and a rather short girl. The taller boy, with his right hand to the adjacent wall, spoke to the smaller girl about something. I couldn''t hear them.

    "A stupid musclebound boy and a midget girl," I reported. "They''re standing at the front entrance, talking to each other. And before you ask, no, I cannot hear them. Or rather, I could if I wanted to, but that''s another matter entirely."

    "It''s likely Hoshino and Sanae. Is the taller one touching anything?"

    "The¡ª?!"

    The wall behind us sputtered to life. Concrete pushed through tile and wrapped around my wrists, ankles, and neck. When I looked down, I discerned the bindings to be shackles. Concrete shackles, what a strange concept. I glanced left, where Yamashina- Wait, she''s gone?!

    "I should''ve expected this." Her voice came from above.

    I glanced up to find her kneeling on the staircase''s wooden railing, a full four meters above. Her gaze slid down the wall until we locked eyes. Her eyes briefly lit up, but she cleared her throat and took a deep breath. She stood up and walked down the railing.

    I forced a smile. "You reacted faster than expected."

    "I''m a Raiju, after all." Yamashina jumped to the ground.

    A warning would''ve been nice!

    With a faint golden crackle, my bindings turned white and crumbled to salt. I retrieved Hawkbit and distanced myself from the wall.

    "Rock Hoshino is a powerful earth manipulator," said Yamashina. She peered into the hallway. "The second one, Satsuki Sanae, is a wind manipulator. To engage, we should..."

    "I''ll go first," I said.

    "First? Hold, Shibuya¡ª"

    I was halfway down the hall before she finished that thought.

    Honestly, I couldn''t fathom the common mind. If you''ve found the enemy, the battle is already decided. I scanned the outside world through the numerous windows that passed, where mucky fields and dirty goal posts greeted me. I came to a halt five steps later, when I spotted two figures just outside the building''s front entrance.

    The first, a tanned boy, still had one hand pressed to an adjacent concrete wall. I thought so, anyway. Couldn''t see the end of his arm from where I stood. The second, a short girl with silvery hair, checked on the entrance from around a corner. Outside the school, rather. Trying to evade direct battle, hm? What a fool.

    Now then, let''s put these mutts to work.

    I turned the corner, Hawkbit in hand, and greeted my foes. "You fools dare enter my domain?"

    The boy squinted. "This is Satou Shibuya."

    "Definitely him," said the girl.

    Of course. It''s unfortunate, but you''ll be losing now- wait.

    Strangely enough, I couldn''t move- something prevented me. Not just my legs, but my arms as well. When I tried to look down, my chin hit a hard surface. Rock? No wait, stone shackles... wait, we''re doing this again? Back against some sort of stone plate, I clicked my tongue. With a sigh, I returned my focus to the fools before me.

    I sneered. "Stone cannot bind me... hm?"

    The world seemed to rotate. Or maybe my angle of view shifted. Slowly, my focus changed from the fools before me to the pristine ceiling above. Relaxing, like the soft leather seat in a dentist''s office. I almost wanted to relax, nay, to fall asleep, but-

    "Wait, what is this?!" My eye twitched.

    The stone slab I was shackled to, it''s rotating? No wait, are they trying to get me on the ground?! No way! I''d rather die than lose in such a foolish manner!

    I easily pulled my arms free of the stone. Before I could smash the bindings on my feet, stone ribbons wrapped around my arms and pulled my back to the slab once more. What a farce! What a bizarre turn of events! This was the sort of thing you''d see on a humorous social media video.

    Golden reiki crackled at my fingertips.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    "Don''t mock me!" I hissed.

    "This is him for sure."

    "Yes, definitely."

    My brow tensed. "Why do you people keep saying that?!"

    Crashing thunder came in response. I found myself spinning through the air before I could react, slab and all. Each shackle fell to bits, and I disorientedly dropped to my feet fast enough to watch my stone bed doing cartwheels down the hall. As it crashed flat to the ground, a golden bolt came to a halt- fast footsteps that transisted into a slide.

    "Tch," the tanned boy raised both hands. Open palms.

    Yoshida Yamashina knelt, completing the bizarre quadrilateral we now formed. Electricity crackled from from her hair and arced between her fingertips. She turned, golden eyes tracing a glowing arc amidst the gray gloom. She blew a strand of hair out of her face.

    "I''ll support," said the silver-haired girl. Her voice was calm, and she made a rather bizarre wave. Some sort of code? "Rock, focus on Yoshida Yamashina."

    The tanned boy, Rock, nodded.

    Yamashina leaned forward. Back hunched, fists raised in front of her face, she kept her eyes on Rock. She found the time to speak. "As I said, Rock Hoshino and Satsuki Sanae. An earth manipulator and a wind manipulator, respectively." She didn''t look in my direction.

    I took a moment to collect myself. Deep breaths. "Noted," I said. I lifted my sword and focused on the silver-haired girl, Satsuki Sanae. Sanae then. "I''ll get this one. It''s unfortunate, but try not to lose before I finish up. I want the other one too."

    "Hm? Very well." I don''t think she heard me.

    What an irritating girl.

    No matter, I cleared my mind of distractions. I''d let my guard down and my foes made a fool of me. A small misstep, but nothing to learn from. Sword in hand, my eyes locked on the silver-haired girl''s own. That''s right, you''re my focus. Take heed-

    "Woah, hell!"

    I narrowly evaded a fist-sized rock. It hit the wall behind me and dropped to the ground with a heavy thunk. I glanced back and forth between the rock, and the silver girl who threw it. She picked up another projectile from the ground, a slight smirk on her face.

    "You nearly hit me!" I readied my weapon fast enough to block the next shot. Stone shards scraped my cheek, but didn''t draw blood. "The goal is flooring a person you damned ingrate! Are you trying to pick a fight?!"

    Sanae tilted her head. "That''s a good question."

    "So that''s how it''s going to be, hm? Pragmatism over honour? Fine, very well! I, Satou Shibuya, will put you in your place. Prepare yourself-" I sidestepped another stone. "Would you stop throwing stones you god forsaken barbarian?!"

    Sanae didn''t say a word. She picked up another rock.

    She''s mocking me! Do words mean nothing to this fool?!

    The golden girl slid to a halt in front of me, arms raised in front of her chest. Startled, I stepped back. Before I spoke, a molten hot blur rushed up- Rock Hoshino. Arms raised, he slammed a palm into the girl''s guard- wait, isn''t this just a game?!

    Yamashina ducked under a strike. I suddenly found the tan-skinned boy spinning through the air, wild confusion spread on his face. He landed on his hands and shakily hopped to his feet. Does that count as safe? Isn''t that cheating-

    "Shibuya, what are you doing?!" yelled Yamashina.

    Another rock zoomed past. "This all seems rather wacky."

    "Just deal with the other one, okay?!"

    "You dare speak to me in such a manner-"

    She darted away before I finished.

    How annoying!

    After a deep breath, I gauged my strength. Reinforcement, back online. Alteration, reversion, both in the process of booting up. Making a weapon was the limit of my ability right now. Optimization stalled- the least vital of my abilities, and thus the last to come back online.

    Fortunately, the exalted Satou Shibuya doesn''t need his full strength to deal with a foe of Satsuki Sanae''s calibur. That''s right, let''s get some practice in.

    Sword gripped in both hands, I envisioned the fruits of my childish labours- Kusanagi swordplay''s thirteen forms sword forms and five unarmed forms. The crimson wind and the heavenly host. To face the Kusanagi''s storm was foolish. The Path of Jupiter had no match.

    "You bear witness to Satou Shibuya," I spoke. An introduction, like always. "A sword of the Kusanagi, an unstoppable existence walking the Path of Jupiter."

    Sanae paused.

    "The Sanae aren''t fond of the Kusanagi to my knowledge, but it makes sense." I checked my weapon. Blade, dull. Straight, no structural problems. Could do with a little optimization. "The Sanae''s Path of Mercury is just a lesser Path of Jupiter if you really think about it."

    "Those your last words?" She cracked her knuckles.

    Twisting winds intensified, an attempt to drag me forward. I''d angered her, stepped on a few toes. An unsatisfying tone, for sure, but she''d taken it. Her worth fell. Such a meaningless existence, how could any red-blooded human being handle it? Such a struggle whet my appetite.

    One foot pressed to the ground, I pointed my sword at the worm in human skin. I glanced to my right and found Yamashina and her foe already entrenched in battle. One, two, punch, duck, step, guard. Throw. Throw? The golden girl moved too fast for the opposition to react.

    It''s like she''s playing jacks.

    Fwoosh! Whipping winds brought me back to reality. I found a ring of stones surrounding Satsuki Sanae, no doubt carried on the wind. She pointed a finger at me, as if aiming a gun.

    She wouldn''t break a window, would she-

    Bang! I ducked under a shot. No time to think. I stomped the ground and stepped forward, exiting the school building. The distance between us shifted from six meters to one. She stepped back as I swung. I saw a distant tree fall over. Shoot, too strong. A little weaker.

    "Are you trying to kill me?!" Sanae''s face turned pale.

    "Wh- you started it! Fool! Rat! Pidgeons are just the rats of our skies!"

    "What does that even mean?!"

    I swatted aside another shot. My sword traced a vertical arc. Sanae yelped, narrowly evading my upswing. In the distance, the school''s gates flung open. Next, she ducked under a horizontal swipe. A storm of moist grass scattered on the wind. The groundskeeper could take a day off.

    "How unexpected!" I hopped backwards. "Is my condition really so bad that I can''t even swing a sword? Honestly, you''d be better off laying down right now. I''ll even let you lick my boots, little rat."

    Sanae didn''t respond. Heavy breathing and all that.

    Oh, wait!

    This struck me as the perfect opportunity. Strike when the opponent is exhausted, yes? She made for an easy target when she wasn''t moving. I took aim against my forearm and pointed my sword in Satsuki Sanae''s direction. She took a moment, then got frantic.

    "Rock?!" Sanae took a step back.

    Too slow. He won''t get away from that golden girl.

    Sword raised, I locked onto my target. A distant tree, far enough. Golden reiki traced jagged circuitry along the surface of my weapon. Crimson winds coalesced with absolute aurum. The Path of Jupiter''s third sword form manifested, a technique of the Kusanagi''s demon-slaying martial art.

    "Path of Jupiter, third form-" I thrusted. "Shrike."

    A crimson needle killed the distance- a deep red line pierced what the eye could see. Soundless, not a single chirp to its name. Red gave way to gold as my reiki took the stage. Only the distant rustle of branches marked this momentous occasion.

    Satsuki Sanae stood there, unmoving. Her eyes focused hard on the gleaming needle that pierced the air next to her head. Her eyes slowly shifted down the weapon, then to me. I retracted my sword as the needle crumbled to reiki particles.

    In the distance, I watched a branch fall from a distant tree. A little blurry, but I fortunately landed the attack. A splendid display! Marvelous! O Satou Shibuya, how perfect thine are! Even in poor condition, you never miss a beat!

    I''m the strongest, after all.

    A slight smile on my lips, I turned my head to take in my surroundings. A beautiful gray day, one of Niflheim''s grayest. On the horizon, snow already fell. My gaze fell to the two at my back- the tanned boy and the golden girl. Neither said a word, but their focuses differed. Yamashina, with her eyes on Rock, and Rock, with his eyes on me. He didn''t move.

    "By the way," I glanced back to Sanae, "shouldn''t you be falling now?"

    The girl stumbled backwards without a response. She fell bottom first to the ground, heaving and wretching. I won, as expected. I always won, no matter the circumstances. The exalted Satou Shibuya had no match. Not even Genjou Gekkouhara and his rather crude classmates.

    Yes, a distant stone fortress told me everything I needed to know about my current foe.

    Not a coward, but a smart man. Despite his confidence, Genjou knew the scope of Satou Shibuya''s power. He knew that failure did not exist in this head. And so, the snake created his ideal battlefield- a place to utilize his own blinding speed and unparalleled acrobatics.

    I turned to Rock. "Yamashina, I don''t care anymore. You can have this one."

    "Shut your mouth." The boy stepped forward, fists clenched.

    "Hm? Over there, over there." I shook my sword at the battle-ready Yamashina who had both fists raised. "I''m done for now, I can''t be bothered to play with you. Fight her."

    "R-Rock, forget it. I''m out, just run," said Sanae.

    "Yes, you''re out!" I frowned.

    When I turned back around, the tanned boy seemed to realize his situation. This wasn''t actual conflict. This was a mere game, a means to gauge our strengths. One hand pointed in my direction, the other towards Yamashina... what great escape were you planning, Mr. Rock?

    Swirling reiki coated my arm as I pointed it towards the tanned youth. A stone sphere took form in my hand. I''d liked Satsuki Sanae''s trick and thus wanted to try it out myself. Alteration, booted up. Scanning for data corruption, I think. No matter.

    I lined up my shot with Rock''s shoulder. "Can the exalted Satou Shibuya go two for two? Shall we find out-"

    It''s heavy.

    The stone sphere grew heavier in my hand. I didn''t understand why until my eyes once more fell on Rock Hoshino. My gaze jumped between the sphere and the tanned youth, then I put two and two together. I frowned. Did he really think this would stop me?

    Reiki strengthened my muscles. "Cease your foolish struggle."

    "You''re strong as shit!" Rock clicked his tongue. "What the hell?!"

    "I''m the strongest, after all."

    A golden blur appeared between Rock and I. My eyes couldn''t adjust, not in this state. Before I could react, the tan-skinned youth was doing cartwheels through the air. Even I saw the shift from confusion to fear as he realized what happened. Dust and grime took form beneath him.

    "Cernunnos!"

    Then, in a flash of mud and stone, the youth disappeared. All that remained with an assortment of stone pillars, some of which immediately crumbled. The exchange ended before I realized. I didn''t grasp this until the golden girl slid to a halt in front of me, electricity scorching the earth beneath her feet. She didn''t seem amused.

    "Honestly!" Yamashina clicked her tongue.

    "No matter, he didn''t seem particularly tough." I tossed aside the stone in my hand. "You said he was a threat to look out for? I''m disappointed! I expected a much greater foe, not foolish tricks and a trip to the dentist-"

    "Shibuya, can you find him?"

    "Honestly, why do you people keep interrupting me?!" I threw my sword at the ground. No good, keep calm and composed. I cleared my throat and retrieved my weapon. "N-Not anymore, and most certainly not outside the school building. Why would you ask knowing how it works?"

    Yamashina stepped towards me. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but paused. She glanced to the downed Sanae, then back to me. The golden girl took a deep breath and sighed.

    "What?" I asked.

    "Nothing. We took down one of their scouts, that''s good enough for now. It''s almost time to meet up, so we''re heading back now. The other squads should be done by now too." Yamashina turned around. She paused, then glanced over her shoulder at Sanae. "You''re out, head to the gym."

    I watched the silver-haired girl push herself up from the dirt. She gave us a rather mean look, then wordlessly departed in the gym''s direction. She wouldn''t cheat, would she? I kept an eye on her back until Yamashina called me.

    "Shibuya?"

    "Ah, yes. Let''s head back."

    Not before repairing the collateral, however.

    <hr>-S0021-

    <hr>

    Everyone expects to arrive first, I think. You leave early under the assumption that being there before anyone gives you a bizarre sort of seniority. Unfortunately, you''re rarely the only person with that idea. It''s never about leaving early, but rather leaving earlier than everyone else. An ever-changing goal post that you cannot see or even tangibly quantify.

    The exalted Satou Shibuya subscribed to being fashionably late. At least, on paper. Mother and sister dearest were sticklers for proper timing, keeping meet-up times, so on and so forth. I never got it. The obvious assumption was that you''d wait for me to arrive, no matter how long it took. When I suggested this, Shizuka sat me down and left the room. She didn''t come back.

    No, was she trying to prove a point?

    That''s right, I remember she came crying to me the next day. She''d apologized for something (I wasn''t sure what) then showered me with pastries and sweets. In retrospect, that series of events made a little more sense. Sister dearest was something of a worrywort, but she did a good job hiding it. What a wonderful sister!

    Wait, I''m getting sidetracked.

    Yamashina and I weren''t the last people to enter the classroom, but we certainly weren''t the first. Kozue Kotobuki and Reika Rurisaki, complete with the students under their charge, beat us there. The two leaders stood in a corner, discussing something with one another. Not the game, I think. No, maybe it was. They seemed rather serious.

    Though it looks a bit odd with a single desk unstacked desk in the corner. Oh bother, it doesn''t matter. I''ll stack it before we head out again.

    I took a seat on my desk while Yamashina made her way to the front of the class. She went down a long list of names on the blackboard and scraped one off. Satsuki Sanae, I think. I didn''t have the presence of mind to remember worthless names, but Yamashina did so with ease. One had to wonder what value such knowledge would have after the examinations.

    Everyone is splitting up, aren''t they?

    "We''ve downed Satsuki Sanae, heiress to the Sanae''s Path of Mercury." Yamashina said this without turning around. The squeak of chalk against the blackboard brought all eyes to her back. "Rock Hoshino has a bizarre technique. He''ll bind you to a stone tablet and lean you back until you''re out. I wonder, who would fall for such a technique?"

    Y-Yes, I wonder who!

    Kotobuki raised a hand. "So we did the patrol, we''ve gotten first blood. Doubt things are gonna be as cut and dry next time, so what''s the plan?"

    "Actually," I leaned back on my desk, "We don''t need to do anything. We''re ahead. If the time runs out under these circumstances, we win. I won''t say we should barricade ourselves in, but it''s something to consider."

    "No way it''d work, top scorer." Kotobuki shook his head. "They have a fort, and we can''t block off the school''s entrances. Someone''s bound to find a way in, we should swarm ''em."

    Yamashina cut in. "They''ve got at least two aces up their sleeves, I know it. We''ve got a handful of aces ourselves, but only a few would be able to handle a two-on-one, let alone a class-on-one. We''ll be able to work better once Ikuzawa''s group finishes on the roof."

    "Wow, you''re gonna bank on the weird cartoon plan Shibuya suggested? The lightning one, not the turtle one. They''re both cartoonish though."

    "Cartoon?! It''s a brilliant idea!" I kicked the stack of desks next to me. "A magnificent marvel of battlefield tactics that nobody of lesser mental faculty would ever think of. I''ll admit it looks and sounds rather foolish, and maybe television inspired me, but still!"

    The golden girl nodded. "Yes, we''re going to try Shibuya''s odd plan."

    "Ignoring me, hm? How very mature."

    I watched Kotobuki and Yamashina continue their discussion, completely independent of my nigh unquestionable opinion. Barbarians, all of them- their foolish refusal to heed my words said enough. Not that I cared, though. Not one bit! If push came to shove, I could carry this entire team with one hand-

    "...Shibuya, where''d you get that sword?" A sudden interruption.

    "¡ª?!"

    Startled, I fell off my desk. Thankfully I landed in my chair and not on the ground. My gaze shifted to the shark-toothed gal who''d startled me. Back hunched, thin fingers gripping the edge of my desk, she gave me more time of day than I wanted. A bizarre thing to say, for sure, but even artillery on par with Gagetsu wasn''t enough to-

    No, don''t think about it. Don''t even acknowledge it.

    Seeking to save some face, I kicked my feet up on the desk. Play it off, play it off. My eyes slowly moved up to the gloomy girl''s face. Too slow, wrong route, don''t think about it. Circle motion, Satou Shibuya. Around the room, then to her face. Her dull eyes focused on mine, and then on the sword I''d accidentally dropped to the floor. Shoot.

    "F-From somewhere." I jerried around with my right hand, but didn''t look at the floor. After three or so attempts, I won the hellish crane game. With a small sigh, I picked up my sword. I could see the shark-toothed girl fending off creepy laughter.

    The thing about Reika Rurisaki, it seemed, was her almost vehemont refusal to take me seriously. She didn''t take herself seriously either, I think. I''d coincidentally caught a glance of her before we''d changed. She''d worn the uniform''s sweater instead of the blazer, but no shoes. None that I''d seen, so it seemed.

    Did she honestly wear flipflops in this weather?

    Honestly, what a barbarian. Now, in her faux anti-contamination suit, you could almost look past the bizarre protogremlin-esque tendencies she did little to hide. I could sing praises about her figure now, but I had yet to see her eat. With teeth such as those, I had to wonder- did she hunt in the same manner as the malevolent mermaids of yore?

    I shivered. "Weird, what are these conflicting feelings?"

    "Your eyes glazed over for a sec."

    "Don''t think about it. I mean, don''t comment on it." I cleared my throat. She didn''t notice, did she? I don''t think so. "Now then, I trust your and Kotobuki''s patrol went well? No conflict, I''m assuming, but no abnormalities either?"

    Rurisaki blinked. "Nothing."

    "Very good."

    A good response, and also a natural end to a conversation. Good, no need to put up with this ticking timebomb of a chat. I sat up straight and dusted myself off. My eyes skimmed the room, we were waiting on Ikuzawa''s group now. Yamashina probably needed input. With a nod, I got up-

    "...So where''d you go to school before this?"

    Or not. What a question, what a question. I''d never entertained the thought of disclosing such information. Rather close to home, you see. My middle school had a poor reputation of being filled with problem children and unsavoury youths.

    Myself included, of course.

    In my last year, twenty-nine students were suspended and eight were expelled. Three teachers resigned- one to be a full-time mother, the other due to threats from a student''s family, and the other because he was caught stalking a middle school girl. It was no miracle such an environment created an existence as loathed as the Gekkou District''s Golden King.

    Still, perhaps it''ll shut her up.

    "Irving Kweisenveil Middle School," I said.

    "That place for German-speaking students?"

    I nodded.

    Rurisaki frowned. "Top scorer, huh? Is that why you write your name with an S. in the middle?"

    This is not the reaction I wanted. Or rather, you noticed that?!

    "You''ve... heard of I.K. Middle School, yes?" I squinted.

    "Named for Irving Kweisenveil, the slayer who single-handedly turned the Battle of Worms in mankind''s favour." Rurisaki spoke in a creepy, almost murmurous tone. Or rather, she always spoke like that. "It''s thanks to him that Cthylla didn''t break our defense line."

    I scowled. "He''s also the reason Cthylla fled to Vanaheim."

    Shizuka and I had family on mother''s side in Vanaheim. The man hailed as a hero had done some serious damage to our family tree. He should''ve known merely wounding an amphibious Archdemon would make it look elsewhere for food. How very troublesome.

    Maybe sensing my distaste, Rurisaki changed the subject. "...So what''s the S. stand for?"

    A good question! "You''re curious, you''re curious?"

    "Uh, er, sure. I guess."

    I crossed my arms and puffed out my chest. The last time I''d given the explanation, everyone on the Round Table laughed at me for days. I put them in their place when I defeated the Vermilion Shinso, but they almost certainly still mocked me. Perhaps my one-person audience would receive this ripe biscuit of golden knowledge better.

    "It stands for Schneider," I said this with a quiet pride.

    "I... see. So-"

    "Schneider is my mother''s maiden name, or so you''d think. That man... no, my father adopted mother''s surname when they married. The family has temporarily adopted my father''s name, but that''s a temporary fix for certain family issues. Truly, that man ruins everything he touches-"

    "Wait, Schneider?" Rurisaki''s brow tensed. Her voice lowered. "As in the Schneiders? Champions of the Eisenritter? Lords of the Watership Covenant? Slayers of Zathog? Those Schneiders?"

    I nodded. "Correct, correct, and correct. Three in total, how smart. No, perhaps it should be four? Grammatically speaking, I suppose that''d be true..."

    Rurisaki leaned in, eyes confused. She spoke quietly. Quieter than usual, even. "You''re just gonna spit that out like it''s nothing? You''re not trying to keep it a secret or nothing?"

    "Why would I?"

    "Karatsuba is proctoring this time."

    "And?"

    "And, well... aren''t Eisenritter and Karastuba at each other''s throats? Over the Zathog incident, I mean. Doesn''t that, like, concern you or anything? As a Schneider?"

    "But I''m the Alpha."

    The hunched girl gave me a bizarre look, as if she were talking to a doorknob. How very odd. She glanced around the room as if scanning for something. Maybe she didn''t find what she wanted, but she turned back to me. Brows furrowed, lips pursed, she knelt until she was on eye level with my sitting posture.

    Or rather, you''re too close.

    I scooted back in my seat but Rurisaki leaned forward, keeping her eyes on mine. Her expression seemed to tense further and further with each second spent staring at me. Soon I leaned back far enough to worry about falling over. Rurisaki leaned unsettlingly close to my feet. Zen escaped me.

    D-Don''t think about it.

    "I-I''m about to get very angry." Sweat condensed on my brow.

    And, in an endless rising game, the situation grew more bizarre. The shark-toothed girl rose, then glanced over her shoulder at the distant Yoshida Yamashina, who looked in our general direction. I think she wanted to discuss tactics, but didn''t want to interrupt. When the two of us looked in Yamashina''s direction, the golden girl turned back to the blackboard.

    Rurisaki stared at Yamashina''s back for a moment, craning her neck to look at the slightly taller girl from a different angle. She stood up straight then stared directly down at her feet, I think. Rurisaki glanced back to me. Then to Yamashina. She no doubt gave some eldritch idea a serious amount of thought, such that I found myself scooting further backwards in my seat.

    What is this girl doing? Is she doing the thing I do?

    As was customary when I got sidetracked, I felt obligated to interrupt her train of thought.

    "Insect? Worm? Rat in human skin? Reika Rurisaki?" I said.

    With a bizarre shiver, light returned to Reika Rurisaki''s eyes. I watched the facial spectrum shift from befuddled to realization to red-faced embarrassment. Is that what I looked like?!

    I squinted. "Are you... ill? In the head?"

    "A-Anyway, er." Rurisaki cleared her throat. "Yo, I think Ikuzawa''s group is back. We can, uh, chat later. Or something. I''m gonna go talk with Kotobuki. You and Yamashina have to, uh, discuss tactics. I''ll leave you two to that."

    Sure enough, Iori Ikuzawa and his squad had returned. A little worse for wear, it seemed, but I doubted conflict to be the source. Still, the raven-haired youth entered seeming even more lethargic than usual. He glanced in my direction and clicked his tongue. A good reaction, he knew who cracked the whip in these parts.

    Right, let''s finish up.

    I turned back to Rurisaki. "I didn''t get much out of talking to you, but fear not. The exalted Satou Shibuya gets little from basic conversation to begin with. To expect anything more is arrogance, the likes of which I''ve never seen. Would you not agree?"

    "Yeah, uh, bye." The girl walked off... no, she paused. She glanced over her shoulder at me. "I mean, can we talk later?"

    "I''d rather not, but very well. Not lunch, I''ve got business. After school, maybe? At this exact moment in time, I lack after-school plans. This may change after lunch. N-No, I doubt it will, but it very well might. Or rather, it''s not like I want it to change-"

    "Thanks, okay, bye." She sauntered off.

    H-How abrupt!

    No matter, this left me time to stew on the bizarre interaction I''d entertained. I stood up from my seat. Arms crossed, I marched to the front of the room to meet Yamashina. I stopped one step short of walking into the blackboard, then turned to face the golden girl. She handed me a piece of chalk. Yellow? Fair enough.

    Yamashina cleared her throat. "Regarding our plan of action-"

    "...Do I strike you as bizarre?" I asked.

    "I''m sorry?"

    "As in weird. I''m not accustomed to pointless discussions and passing interpersonal relationships, you see, so I haven''t fully grasped the conventions."

    "We''re discussing this again? So be it, I''ll bite the metaphorical bullet." Yamashina took a deep breath. She stared at the chalk board for a moment, then cleared her throat. Next, she turned to face me. "If I may ask, Shibuya, why me?"

    "Hm? I can''t ask someone with better social skills than me, can I? The goal being to maintain superiority, of course. It''s an uphill battle against people more experienced than you yourself. I''m not interested today, so I settled with you."

    Her brow twitched.

    "Furthermore," I continued, "I believe we''ve already had a similar discussion. With that said, I''ve determined you the best person to ask. Be grateful, I don''t usually discuss personal issues outside of family. You must be eager, so let''s get to it. Tell me, do I seem out of place?"

    The golden girl opened her mouth, but paused. She glanced around the room, then took a deep breath. With sharp eyes trained on me, she held her breath for three or four seconds before exhaling. She put her stick of chalk down and turned around.

    "What are you doing?" I squinted.

    "Taking a walk."

    Before I could counter, she stepped out of the room and slammed the door behind her. The room''s ambience, the faint chatter of my classmates, reached a startled yelp before disappearing entirely. The room''s atmosphere immediately chilled. It''s obvious when lukewarm turns to tundra, I think. What a bizarre thing to say.

    I turned my head and found all eyes on me. Different than usual. I wonder why? Those glossy eyes, narrowed and pointed like knives...

    Oh, I get it.

    It was the atmosphere I''d grown used to in middle school.

    Odd, how very odd. I hadn''t revealed my identity as the Golden King. Those eyes lacked reason. Had I done something wrong? I didn''t think so. Within the last hour, within the last week, I recalled no wrongdoing. The exalted Satou Shibuya easily recognized mistakes, and this was not a mistake. However, the air in the room stated otherwise.

    How troublesome. Perhaps getting an explanation from the source would help. I put down the chalk and went to stack my desk. Afterwards, I hastily strode to the classroom door. Oddly enough, the eyes on my back were uncomfortable. Best to face them head on. I turned around as I exited the room.

    "Guard the flag, I''ll be back."

 EXTRA SCENARIO ONE

    EXTRA SCENARIO ONE: "BLUE SKY DAYS"

    <hr>

    Carried on gentle winds, cherry blossoms scented the air.

    The Amane are righteous, the Amane are together. They gathered as one in the Houtengeki''s divine halls to share rites. Forever unwavering, all for those that might follow. In the Spring of 2042, Atsushi Amane stilled preached this dogma- to his beautiful wife, to his two wonderful sons, and to a broken world that questioned the Amane''s veracity.

    Akashi Amane, then eighteen, truly admired the kindness of his father. Violet eyes, clear like the midday horizon, which claimed knowledge of the world and all its wonders. Stalwart confidence aided by familial warmth and all the kindness of an era bred Akashi Amane. Not just Akashi, either. The red-haired youth watched his distant sibling.

    Little Aoi, you know not how these people care for you.

    The boy of nine years, adorned in the too-large kimono of an Atsuhi Amane from days past. A dawn of brilliant blues and vibrant golds, inlayed within the print of the enduring peony. Still a child, he carried himself as such- a serious expression undermined by faint shaking and unsteady steps.

    Aoi Amane stepped down the hall. Those that looked up with admiration, and those who looked down with warm eyes, they didn''t dare look away from that boy''s high-headed posture. Unbeknownst to he himself, Aoi Amane carried more than the fate of the Amane on his shoulders. And yet, thought Akashi, if it were someone like his little brother¡ª

    The world might remember its smile.

    With eyes as blue as the sky above, the young boy faced forward. He knelt at the altar, thin fingers straightening his garb. Before him sat the mightiest of all, he with the greatest of dreams. And yet, faced with the mighty existence of a father, Aoi didn''t waver. Today was his day.

    "Youth of the Amane," spoke Atsushi, "Blood of the brighter tomorrow, my precious little Aoi. It is my great honour to speak with you on this stage, on this day, as a father before a leader. And so I ask you, my son, has this world''s beauty captivated you?"

    The boy''s blue hair fluttered as he considered this. Gently, as if carressed by the world itself. He smiled. A brilliant arc, brighter than any rainbow. He couldn''t stop the voice of his heart, the answer he gave¡ª

    "I love this world."

    Truly, Aoi Amane felt this.

    <hr>

    -EX1-

    <hr>

    In the often mocked words of Aoi Amane, "Women are more trouble than they''re worth."

    After a week, they''re clingy. After a month, they''re possessive. After a year, he''d get tossed aside. The logic of "I don''t know what you''re thinking" never resonated with him. Someone other than Aoi Amane knowing Aoi Amane''s thoughts never sat well. Perhaps out of fear, or perhaps because of two words that always came to mind: "So annoying."

    Every time a girl asked to come over. Every time she asked to hang out. Every time she wanted his opinion. Time and time again, no matter what, Aoi Amane found it annoying. He''d never considered this a fault of his own character. At some point, twisted teenage selfishness manifested a worldly realization: "There''s no point faulting your own feelings."

    This dogma sparked Aoi''s discontent.

    To Aoi, the notion of rationing happiness didn''t exist. The sun shone, no clouds in sight, a beautiful Thursday on all accounts. He''d woken up, received a call from his father, then walked to school. No classroom complaints came to mind, but he''d eagerly awaited his lunch break. Aoi wanted to relax on the school roof, to soak up sunlight in all his perennial glory.

    Yet there he stood, behind the school on his lunch break. Healthy skin, wild cerulean hair, and sky blue eyes. At two-hundred centimeters in height, Aoi Amane filled the role of Sougetsu General Academy''s tallest student. None could compare. Not his peers, and not the person before him.

    "Amane, um-"

    The girl barely reached Aoi''s chest. She cemented her resolve, pushed a pink envelope forward, then pulled it back before Aoi could take it. The million dollar question shifted from "why" to "when" in an instant, but to whose merit?

    Come on, out with it.

    "Amane, for a long time now-"

    As she spoke, Aoi''s breast pocket vibrated. The first year didn''t notice, or so it seemed. She continued with her all-too-slow mumbling. Seeing this, Aoi retrieved his phone without a word. Lo'' and behold, he found a text message waiting for him. Aoi read the contents with a sigh.

    ''ur late hurry up''

    Aoi''s expression soured. A confession hadn''t been on his wish list. He couldn''t have known the first year''s intent, not with the bored tone she''d called him with. Unfortunately, hindsight was twenty-twenty. Aoi returned a text, but kept his eyes on the girl in front.

    ''someone is confessing''

    ''nvm stop texting and listen''

    "For a long time now, I''ve-"

    The first year held her envelope out. Aoi''s brain once more kicked into overdrive. This''d be the one, he thought. Slow like a snail, cautious like a predator, Aoi reached forward. At the last second, however, the girl clutched the letter to her chest.

    Again, huh.

    They reached a stalemate. Aoi checked the time- 12:59 PM. The possibility of missing lunch sank in. He couldn''t dare imagine such a future, why ruin a good day? No reasons came to mind. He fell back on his usual get-out-of-jail-free card.

    Aoi assumed his stance. Arms straightened, legs stretched, back erect. His form refined, his craft perfected, Aoi prepared his secret technique. Twenty rejections gave ample time to practice his sure-kill move. Aoi leaned forward and, with a bow¡ª

    "Not interested, sorry."

    ¡ªHe crushed another heart.

    <hr>-EX2-<hr>

    A gentle breeze circulated the classroom.

    "Little Aoi turned down another first year."

    "Heard this one was cute."

    The class held an open-air discussion about Aoi Amane''s patended "heartbreaker" routine. The time for gossip had long-since passed. After Aoi''s first rejection of the year, hushed voices became the norm. After the eleventh time, they became too much of a hassle. Mocking discussions turned from cold to warm. This came fast in small circles, and Aoi''s class certainly fit the bill.

    Class 3-A consisted of eight students, after all.

    The term "special" didn''t apply to it nor its few students. Save for the lethargy attributed to aimless third years, nothing stood out as overtly wrong with 3-A''s students. No, the quirk of this small eight-person class came from one simple fact: Classroom 3-A housed the school''s only third year class. It''d be wrong to call this abnormal.

    Free space surrounded all eight of Classroom 3-A''s desks. Not because other classrooms were smaller, but because 3-A''s student count equaled less than half that of other classes. Such classes consisted of twenty or so pupils, most excited to learn the time-honoured art of demonslaying. They usually stayed for a year or two, took the demonslayer examination, then left the island.

    But what of the leftovers?

    "Aoi, Aoi."

    The girl before Aoi fell under this category. Straight black hair fell over her shoulders to her lower back. A ghost-themed hairpin, one result of her recent occult fever, kept the hair out of her face. Dark, tired-looking eyes reflected Aoi''s gaze. Aoi often compared her eyes to a dead fish''s, but never out loud. Nothing stopped him from internally doing so.

    "My eyes are pretty, hm?" said the girl.

    Aoi sighed. "What, Hazuki."

    She frowned. "At least make it sound like a question."

    "Pass."

    "You''re terrible."

    The girl- Hazuki Schneider- leaned forward and planted both elbows on Aoi''s desk. Her uniform''s black blazer and knee-length skirt clung to the slender figure beneath. With one stocking-clad leg crossed over the other, she kept her dark gaze on Aoi. Rather, her eyes focused more intently on the titanic youth.

    "What, Hazuki?" Aoi rolled his eyes.

    "You shouldn''t text me when someone is confessing. Imagine if you confessed to Tomoko and she texted the entire time. Doesn''t look good, hm? Makes us third years seem like villains if little Aoi, our mascot, is doing the deed¡ª"

    "Why Tomoko? She barely comes up to my chest. You''re jumping the gun, ''Zuki. I''d get detained if a cop saw us holding hands." Aoi shivered as he considered this. "Jeez."

    Hazuki frowned. "I wonder, what do those girls see in you?"

    As if on cue, a small redhead girl stepped into the classroom- Tomoko Tanaka. Sandwich in one hand, cell phone in the other, she walked over to her seat. She''d either missed the ruckus or hadn''t allowed it to bother her. Even still, 3-A''s student body continued to gather.

    Hot on Tomoko''s heels, a boy of average height. Silver hair in a long tail, school bag in hand, the boy sauntered into Classroom 3-A. Yellow eyes swept from one corner to the other, then focused on Hazuki and Aoi. At the same time that Hazuki called out, Aoi glanced out the adjacent window.

    "Ban, Ban," Hazuki turned to face him.

    "Yeah?" As he spoke, the boy- Ban Kishimoto- took a seat.

    3-A''s desks fell into two rows of four. Hazuki sat in the front row, farthest on the left. Ban sat to Hazuki''s right. Aoi sat directly behind the girl. This flipped ninety degree angle served as the trio''s desk layout all through childhood and well into the present.

    Hazuki snickered. "Little Aoi turned down another first year."

    "I know." Ban hastily rummaged through his bag.

    "Yes, but Aoi was texting the entire time. Terrible, hm? Almost as bad as Auntie Sylvia''s son. He''s a little mean, but always happy when someone compliments him."

    Aoi squinted. "Sounds like a pain in the ass."

    "You''d know," said Ban.

    Mind your own business, Ban.

    With a sigh, Aoi focused on the sky outside. Azure, the colour attributed to the Amane clan and its lore. Soaring birds, green trees, and a townscape that stretched into the distance. Aoi had lived there his entire life, but the view never lost its value. Every time he saw it, the strange recognition of "This is my home" washed over him.

    Prettier than Niflheim, larger than Muspelheim- those were Aoi''s thoughts. Other artificial islands couldn''t compare. Not in size, and definitely not in atmosphere. To him, this place never felt bigger than a small town. There were trains, but most people walked. There were urban areas, but large sections of the island lent themselves to agriculture.

    Vanaheim, the land of blue skies, represented peace.

    "Settle down, I''d like to get started."

    Mister Kuronuma, who''d stealthily entered, stated this with a nod. Clad in black formalwear, the brown-haired man scanned the classroom. Maybe satisfied with the lack of absences, he turned towards the blackboard. The man selected a stick of chalk and wrote "DEMON-HUNTING SCENARIOS DUE" in large white print.

    Tomoko''s brow twitched. "W-Wait, those are due on Thursday."

    "Today is Thursday. I want them by the end of class."

    Groans came from all around. A normal reaction.

    Aoi opened his backpack and readily pulled out a thin folder. His confidence couldn''t be understated, not in this situation. Many of Aoi''s clanmates went into demonslaying. As a result, his work possessed a more "professional" touch to it. At least, that''s what he thought. Now Aoi''s eyes fell on Hazuki.

    The gloomy girl produced a folder like Aoi''s own, but many times thicker. Aoi eyeballed her folder at a full inch in thickness, perhaps larger. In Aoi''s experience, Hazuki Schneider always aced assignments of this nature. Even so, Aoi wouldn''t be beat. Not this time.

    Extra fluff and shitty diagrams can''t contend, ''Zuki.

    Followed by the Ban and Hazuki, Aoi dropped his work on the teacher''s desk. He paused, making sure he''d properly signed his name, then returned to his too-small desk.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Mr. Kuronuma cleared his throat. "By the way..."

    The classroom fell silent.

    "Vanaheim and Alfheim will be docking sometime today. It''s not often that I can show off my precious students. That being the case, I''ll ask one more time. Who here has signed up for the joint tournament between Vanaheim and Alfheim?"

    Only two hands came up- Aoi Amane''s and Ban Kishimoto''s.

    "Got it. All right, I''m taking roll call."

    <hr>-EX3-<hr>

    The concept of "dreading" school never took root in Aoi Amane. Due to his upbringing, schoolwork struck him as a normal part of life. Never aiming above his weight class, but never slacking off. These simple tendencies defined Aoi Amane''s study habits. As a result, certain thoughts often gripped him. Thoughts he gauged as, how to put it, abnormal.

    "Isn''t it weird to hate school?"

    Aoi never considered why people disliked going to class. The idea of school-related stress never made sense to him. Aoi didn''t care when school started or ended. Common as it might sound, school simply existed for him. And so, from Aoi Amane''s perspective, afternoon classes ended without fanfare. But what of the walk home?

    "Aoi, Aoi, How long has it been since our last game?"

    "Four days."

    Two students walked along the roadside. The shorter student, Hazuki, walked in front of the taller student, Aoi. Both lived in Vanaheim''s rural southern area, and thus followed the same road. They moved at their own pace, an exaggerated and goofy saunter that might''ve irritated other pedestrians. Today, however, they walked alone- just the two of them.

    The island''s scenery wrapped around the two. To the left, a grove of elderly maple trees. Vermilion mingled with deep blue skies, which took on a warmer tone near the horizon. To the right, past a crossing sign, rice fields stretched on for as far as the eye could see. If Aoi squinted he almost saw the distant Kusakabe District.

    Left to their own devices, the two engaged in tomfoolery.

    "What constitutes a rival for love?" asked Hazuki.

    Aoi tilted his head. "For love? Not in love?"

    "You''re not my type."

    "Yeah, I''m not."

    Satisfied with this, Hazuki nodded. She spun around, panning her gaze across Vanaheim''s splendor, then continued walking backwards. Aoi couldn''t help but observe her footwork. Step, step, spin, step, step, repeat. Her rotation needed work, Aoi determined this at a glance.

    Hazuki cleared her throat. "Four days. ''Love'' is a four letter word with one syllable. Compare and contrast, little Aoi. Crows and ravens, for example. Different, but aesthetically similar. Find an equivilent for the word love. Find love''s rival, if that makes sense. Shall we play?"

    Aoi nodded. He found no reason to decline. "Which definition?"

    Hazuki paused to consider the Aoi''s question. Her face turned sullen. She gave her surroundings a final once over, then turned back to Aoi. Hazuki swept a finger across the scenery, then towards the sky. All the while she, continued with her exaggerated backpedalling.

    Silence reigned until a truck drove past.

    "Feeling stupid?" Aoi squinted.

    "Just a bit."

    Yes, Aoi Amane couldn''t stand women. Even so, every rule had an exception. In Aoi''s case, Hazuki Schneider fit that bill. Perhaps because Hazuki respected his boundaries, or perhaps because of her odd sense of humour. Aoi appreciated both, but never said so out loud. He didn''t have to.

    Let''s see...

    An equivilent for the word love. Similar in form, different in nature. After five seconds, nothing came to mind. After ten, he got frustrated. Aoi tossed the idea back and forth, as if playing tennis with himself. The answer came to him fairly quickly. Or rather, it''d been obvious.

    "Your answer?"

    "Maybe love?" said Aoi. "Like, tennis?"

    Hazuki frowned. "Love does describe you in that context."

    "I won, don''t talk shit."

    Their conversation met an abrupt end. Aoi realized that he''d passed, a fact confirmed by Hazuki''s all-too-rare scowl. But at what cost? At what point, Aoi wondered, did victory become phyrric? He couldn''t tell, not with Hazuki. Landmines came in many forms. Still, Aoi relaxed.

    Silence opened room for ambience. Vanaheim''s sounds filled Aoi''s ears. Cicadas chirped, winds whistled, trees rustled. Such noises always calmed Aoi down, even in Hazuki''s presence. Then, as Aoi''s mind began to wander¡ª

    "¡ªAoi." Hazuki waved a hand in front of him.

    Aoi flinched. "Yeah?"

    Hazuki cleared her throat. "Barring talks of love and love¡ª"

    "Which is which?"

    "Witches are wishes."

    They got sidetracked in an instant. Both parties waited for the other to speak, but neither wanted to pursue a discussion about witches and wishes. Tempting, oh so tempting, but they couldn''t. Aoi felt it, Hazuki wanted to discuss a more serious topic.

    "Barring talks of love and love," Hazuki continued, "You signed up for the tournament?"

    "Yeah."

    "Anger and worry aren''t mutually exclusive. Still, I''m no tyrant. I''ll let you defend your case. One sentence. Two if you absolutely must. Three if you''re desperate. Wait, let''s reuse ''four'' as our jumping-off point. Aim for four sentences, little Aoi."

    "The slayer exam. My family pushes the future. A hassle, for sure." Aoi smirked. He counted his sentences, three in total, then followed up with the fourth. "By Aoi Amane."

    "A very bad haiku," murmured Hazuki. "Can you win four tournament rounds?"

    "Should I?"

    The gloomy girl tilted her head. "It doesn''t really matter. Aoi Amane will reach the finals no matter what I say. Good grief, what an unruly puppy. It''s fine to worry, hm? You wouldn''t worry me, hm? With that in mind, go back in time and fix your mistake. I won''t wait for you."

    "You better wait."

    "In any case," Hazuki continued, "Are you fine entering a combat tournament? It''ll be tough. You might have to face Ban. Barring that, there''s still Alfheim. Barring that too, you still have to take time off, don''t you? Confidence is cool, little Aoi, but arrogance is not."

    Aoi sighed. "Listen¡ª"

    "Hazuki, Aoi," called a third voice.

    A familiar arm hooked around the titan''s neck. Aoi glanced towards the person who''d appeared on his left. Silver hair tied in a tail, yellow eyes like gemstones. He, Ban Kishimoto, glanced from Hazuki to Aoi. He clicked his tongue. With a smile, Ban turned back to the gloomy girl in front.

    "Ban, Ban, you''re coming this way today?" asked Hazuki.

    Ban nodded. "Got out of club activities early. I''m preparing for the tournament. My underclassmen want me to make our kendo club look good. Maybe it''s abusing their trust, but I kinda felt like walking home with you two. The three of us haven''t hung out in a while."

    "That''s true. Thought I''d be walking home alone after Aoi joined the Basketball team. It was a false alarm, really. He never attends, even when they threaten to kick him out. Why is that, little Aoi?"

    "No point," said Aoi. "They''re all shit."

    "Then leave?" Ban''s gaze narrowed.

    Aoi shrugged.

    "By the way, Ban," said Hazuki, "You might end up against little Aoi in the tournament. Do you think you can win? He''s fairly strong. Besides, little Aoi seems confident. I''d like a comparison."

    "Aoi, huh? Tournament rules state that someone loses when they can''t fight, or when they''re removed from the ring. The former might be a little difficult, but the latter is easy enough. Aoi is strong, but he''s got no range. I deserve to get thrown if he catches me¡ª?!"

    "Caught you," said Aoi.

    It happened in an instant. With his left hand, Aoi lifted Ban by his uniform''s collar. It hadn''t been hard. Ban, who weighed less than a normal human, commented on Aoi''s strength. Ban, who claimed that Aoi lacked ranged ability, placed himself within arm''s length of the titanic youth.

    Aoi glanced skywards. Nothing could get in the way up there. Thinking that, he decided to play a little rough. With his free hand, Aoi measured a good distance. About eight meters. He gathered power in his muscles and planted his feet. The titan''s blood began to boil.

    Ban''s brow twitched. "You''re stretching my collar, Aoi¡ª"

    "I caught you, Ban."

    The ride began. Step, step, pivot, step. Aoi spun as he channeled a childhood dashed by endless martial training. The scenery around him blurred, winds twisting and contorting under his brute strength. One revolution, two revolutions. With the third, Aoi directed his cetrifugal force upwards¡ª

    "That means it''s fair game!"

    ¡ªAnd released his fastball special.

    The silver-haired boy spun into the air like a top, like a rubber band fired off the thumb. Like a rock from a giant''s hand, in more respectful terms. Two meters, four meters, six meters. At the eight meter mark, the ride finally came to an end.

    "Enough!" hissed Ban.

    A small whirlwind gathered beneath the boy. Black feathers scattered from his back. They fell to the ground, like cherry blossoms on the wind. He corrected his orientation and glanced down at the blue-eyed boy. Ban''s eyes lit up with red-hot anger.

    "Oi, Aoi!" he yelled.

    Aoi cracked his neck. "Shut it. I''ll put you in the concrete."

    "You wanna go?!"

    Hazuki sighed. "Honestly, you two¡ª"

    A heavy clunk quickly silenced the trio.

    The ground''s low rumble caught Hazuki and Aoi off guard. With a clearly perturbed expression, Aoi grabbed the gloomy girl by her forearm. Hazuki heaved a sigh of relief. When she realized who''d grabbed her, the girl hastily regained her footing. She and Aoi separated faster than the eye could register.

    "Sorry," said Hazuki, "Are you¡ª"

    "Don''t." Aoi''s face darkened.

    The rumbling ended soon afterwards. The entire event struck none of the trio as odd, even if it''d caught them by surprise. They''d been warned over and over again by Mr. Kuronuma, and also by varying news outlets. The groan of machinery and the rumble of earth had but a single meaning.

    January 3rd, 2053. Vanaheim and Alfheim docked on a windy Thursday.

    <hr>-EX4-<hr>

    An orange sky loomed overhead.

    "In any case, we''re splitting up here."

    Hazuki stated this after they''d reached the urban Isuka District. She gave a worried look, as if sizing up the two boys. Afterwards, the girl got into a nearby car that waited for her. Aoi often went with Hazuki due to her home''s close proximity to his apartment. This time, such didn''t happen. Fate snickered- Ban and Aoi walked in the same direction.

    Urban ambience surrounded the two. Cars, chatter, so on and so forth.

    Both students hastily walked down the road. Any outsider could see the flames between them. But why? On all accounts, the bad blood between Aoi and Ban made no sense. When did it start? Why did it start? Indeed, neither party could answer these questions.

    "The hell are you looking at?"

    "Shut it, Ban."

    Even still, they hated each other.

    The Amane and Kishimoto clans never got along. Aoi and Ban represented a mere fraction of that feud and they couldn''t stand each other. Not the other''s face, not the other''s gait, and most certainly not the other''s voice. The two played nice in front Hazuki, or at least tried. Otherwise, they actively denied each other''s existences.

    And so manifested their current stalemate. Aoi, with one earbud in. Ban, who texted to stave off boredom. The two gave it their all, tried their best. Why spark conflict? Both hated each other, yes. Both hated conflict, yes, yes.

    And yet, they couldn''t stop fighting.

    "Aoi." Ban''s eye twitched.

    Aoi quietly hummed.

    "Aoi, shut up."

    He didn''t.

    "I swear to god, Aoi."

    Aoi cleared his throat and hummed even louder.

    Ban scowled, but ultimately decided to ignore Aoi. A wise decision, even if brief. Within seconds, Aoi settled into his quiet hum once more. Moments such as this made up the bulk of their engagements. Violence couldn''t be used under a crowd''s watchful eye, both parties knew that.

    "Tch, why are you even here today?" Ban quickly went back on his decision.

    Aoi kept his gaze forward. "Amane clan business, not yours."

    "A Kishin tribunal, huh? Animals, all of you."

    "Eat shit."

    Still, Aoi couldn''t deny Ban''s comment. The Amane clan head called Aoi to his real home, the Houtengeki, for a "tribunal." The definition didn''t fit, but the associated dread did. The call came before school, from Aoi''s own father. That struck him as odd. Why would his own father call him? After Aoi thought about it, nothing came to mind.

    No, that''s wrong.

    One scenario jumped out at Aoi. A worst-case scenario, one he prayed didn''t play out. Aoi slowly exhaled. He turned up his music and tried to tune out his surroundings. A worst-case scenario needn''t be given consideration. Or rather, Aoi didn''t want to think about it. For better or for worse, he pushed the thought aside. And so, Aoi hummed.

    "The hell are you listening to?" said Ban.

    No response.

    Ban clicked his tongue. "Kotetsu? Really?"

    "I''ll put an earbud through your face. You tell me, Ban."

    "That man''s filthy. How can you listen to him? He''s got no presence, his words have no weight, he doesn''t even write his own songs. Got tons of input for you, Aoi. Guy only spits about material wealth. It''s not good for the soul, makes you rotten. Makes sense that you''d like him¡ª"

    Aoi sighed. "That''s petty, but I''ll play. Insulting me for my taste in music? I have you beat. Couldn''t get Hazuki, now you''re macking on first years. Read a light novel lately? You''re a riot, Ban."

    "Yeah? That''s your angle?" Ban scowled.

    "Go for Tomoko if that''s your type."

    Ban snickered. He chewed on Aoi''s words for a moment, after which he laughed louder. The boy slipped his cell phone into his uniform''s pocket. He glanced forward, but kept his gaze off the adjacent titan. A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.

    "My type, huh? You''re the last person who should be talking about type."

    "Yeah?"

    "Tomoko isn''t my type, Aoi, but at least I have a type. Hazuki mentioned something about four days, yeah? Come on, I''ll play too. Four days, four letters. A rival for love, one with four letters and the same meaning. Let''s tailor this one to Aoi Amane. Wanna play?" Ban smirked.

    "No."

    "Heck, I''ll play by myself. Gotta get the juices flowing, you know? Let''s see, a rival for love. Four letters with the same meaning. In relation to Aoi Amane, right? Got it, here''s my answer. Fe¡ª"

    Fwoom. Smashed bricks fell to the sidewalk near Ban''s feet. He glanced left, where he found Aoi''s fist lodged in the adjacent building. The titan''s knuckle smashed deep into the concrete. Dark red blood- Aoi''s own- dripped down the cracked wall and onto the sidewalk.

    Nervous chatter sounded from all around, but the taller boy didn''t care. Aoi turned to Ban. Neither pain nor anger registered on his face. Aoi''s eyes shone with a cool glint. He didn''t care if people were watching, not when it came to that topic.

    "You''re playing it wrong," said Aoi.

    "Tch."

    Ban ducked under Aoi''s arm without a word. The taller boy watched as his nemesis sauntered to the nearby intersection. Ban turned west there, but Aoi had to continue south. Even if they walked the same path, their destinations were always different.

    Fucking Ban.

    Aoi pulled his hand free. Pristine, with no wounds.

    <hr>-EX5-<hr>

    The Amane clanhouse, the Houtengeki, represented generations of bloodshed.

    First built in Sengoku era Japan, it housed a goliath of a man from the west. He appropriated the name of Asagi Amane not as a bushi, but as a bloodthirsty berserker. His home, a venerable palace of luxury, persisted far into the modern world- only seeing minor damage during its relocation to Vanaheim. The current clanhead at the time, hot-headed as he was, swore vengeance against the company in question. This promise carried to the current head.

    Atsushi Amane, age fourty-three, lorded over the modern Amane clan with an iron fist. His gait perfected, his posture refined, few questioned his right to rule. Violet eyes saw the root of all problems, and unquestionable strength brought them to light.

    "You''ve come, Aoi."

    Atsushi Amane''s words held weight, as if the world twisted to his beck and call. In this twenty-by-ten meter room, surrounded on all sides by burning incense and lit candles, he epitomized the very idea of a final boss. The click of his ebony pipe, the shuffle of his kimono, both cemented his place at the top of the food chain.

    In the face of this age-old intelligence, Aoi snorted.

    A sigh escaped Atsushi''s lips amidst the gloom. With his pipe, he motioned towards a red cushion on the tatami floor. "Have a seat, there''s much to discuss."

    "Nothing to discuss," said Aoi. He pushed the cushion aside and lay down on his side, face rested in the firm palm of his calloused left hand. "Been a while, huh?"

    "Alfheim has docked with Vanaheim," Atsushi ignored the boy''s statement, "The matter of your marriage will be finalized today. Prepare yourself accordingly."

    "Eat shit."

    Atsushi scowled. He emptied the ashes from his pipe with a click. The clan head''s words never reached the boy. No matter the context, no matter the meaning, Aoi refused to see reason. Atsushi could only push, and so he spoke.

    "The Sekizawa have always supported us, Aoi. The home you refuse to stay in, the dirt you played in as a child, it is here on Vanaheim because of them. I know you and Akashi differ, yet I grant you the honour once afforded to him. This is not up for debate, the council meeting is a formality. This is why I said to prepare yourself."

    Aoi clicked his tongue.

    "The girl will visit tomorrow," said Atsushi. "Find your manners by then¡ª"

    Fwoom. A cushion-shaped blur shot past Atsushi. It hit the wall behind him, about seven meters away, then burst into white feathers.

    "Manners? Fucking manners?" Aoi stood, backpack cradled in his left hand. Candles went out, but the gloomy room came to life with his deep blue rage. "You call me here, ramble about a bunch of bullshit, then tell me to find my manners?!"

    "Then where are they, boy?" Atsushi hissed. "Before me stands a spoiled child that''s never had to sacrifice anything. You''re an adult, yet throw fits like a child. Tell me of your so-called manners! I eagerly await the tale you tease, Aoi!"

    "You want it?!" yelled Aoi. "The man who couldn''t keep a wife talks about marriage? Herb-snorting fuckass, you probably couldn''t get it up! Round two, let''s go! Where''s the fire at, huh?!"

    "You''d insult your father?! The Amane didn''t raise you like this!"

    "Yeah?!" Aoi cut towards the nearby sliding door. His heavy footsteps left imprints in the floor with each step- a testament to the rage-induced strength of a Kishin.

    "Aoi, you better not¡ª" Atsushi''s words fell on deaf ears.

    With a thump, the door slammed behind Aoi. Before silence fell, Atsushi pounded a fist to the ground. Once more, his child refused to listen. Akashi wouldn''t have thrown a tantrum, he wouldn''t bite the hand that feeds. This alone locked the insults in Atsushi''s throat. He''d forgotten a simple fact- Aoi wasn''t Akashi. He never would be.

    Aoi Amane was an iredeemable mess.

 PART ONE, CHAPTER ELEVEN

    PART ONE, CHAPTER ELEVEN: "SPEAKING TERMS"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    I have trouble remembering him.

    The Shibuya who preached the Kusanagi''s mantra of infallable strength. The Schneider who rose to the top on birthright alone. We''re similar, I think, but also different. To peek into the mind of a past me would reveal no massive difference in hobbies, speech tendencies, or even attitude. Satou Schneider as a personality has long since reached its peak.

    "There is no room for growth."

    And yet, Niflheim''s Satou Shibuya truly believed this. Perhaps such defined his confidence. A stalwart, unchanging pillar that shone for all to see, even in the darkest of nights. To watch from above, to look down on those beneath your feet, I can''t fathom such a thing anymore. When did I lose my place? When did Satou Shibuya forget his lines?

    Oh, I remember.

    To stand at the apex, to stare out at the clouds above, is a wonderful feeling. But he didn''t feel lonely, just a subtle happiness that he didn''t need any help. An unshakeable refusal to stretch out one''s hand, to accept assistance. Doing so meant lowering himself. He couldn''t do that. And so, like a tyrant atop his throne, he feigned effort. He pretended to step forward.

    No, maybe the pretense of trying lead to the genuine article?

    <hr>

    -UNKNOWN-

    <hr>

    I loathed the layout of Kawagusa General Academy.

    A twisting marvel scribbled into place by a madman at his drafting table, the semi-circular building felt most reminiscent of a lemon wedge. Squeezed and shaved until only the rind remained, you were left with the current hellscape. I reserved the term for only the worst of scenes, and KGA''s first year building had earned it.

    Congratulations!

    Nothing could justify this madness. Twisting staircases at multiple locations, hallways that lead into each other as if occupying four-dimensional space, it felt more like an artist''s passion project than a building saved in the name of education and practicality. It hardly fulfilled its intended purpose as an easy to navigate school.

    Only with one hand on the wall, with golden circuitry tracing the framework, could I put my confusions to rest. When you knew the layout, it made sense. A strange thing to say, but I couldn''t describe it any other way. To commit the eldritch landscape of "school" to human tongue would cause no small deal of stress.

    Thus, my focus shifted to Yoshida Yamashina.

    That golden girl is walking awfully fast. I suppose by raiju standards it might be a slow saunter. The mind''s eye, however, sees otherwise. Such an agitated walk, is she angry?

    My fingers traced the windows. Condensed moisture didn''t seep through my anti-contamination suit. No, I felt only the cool sensation of wintery glass against my skin. Step after step, tile after tile. No, don''t lose focus. Deep breaths, Satou Shibuya.

    Now then, where are you?

    The golden girl already turned the corner. Arms crossed against her chest with fingers firmly clutched against her sides. A slow, very deep breath. Then she exhaled, I think. I could hear nothing, but I almost imagined the quiet click of her feet against the tiles.

    Heading to the stairs, is it?

    Yamashina turned the corner into the stair landing. My thoughts were confirmed, but my footsteps remained steady. To keep locked on to her required a bizarre amount of focus. I decided to move slowly for now. It''d be troublesome to lose her location, after all. Still, what poor form!

    Try as I might to stay focused, the mind wandered before I closed its gate. For instance, it''d be easy to catch her off guard. Not that I wanted to, of course. Such struck me as childish. Who would benefit from such a thing? Inane thoughts assaulted me.

    I wonder, have I stepped on a certain someone''s toes?

    Impossible, the exalted Satou Shibuya could do no wrong. To even try and assert otherwise could be construed as a crime against humanity. Foolish, foolish. I myself should''ve been the last person to question my own decisions. After all, I''d offered her a kindness- an opportunity to weigh in on my all too immaculate life.

    "Offense can be taken, not given," mother most perfect believed this wholeheartedly. Her dogma spread to sister dearest and I like wildfire. Perhaps I came across as a wee bit rude on certain occasions, but at whose expense? Nobody''s, provided they understood common sense. Honestly, why even entertain this train of thought-

    Turn here.

    I glanced around the corner, and towards the distant staircase. Right, find your focus. The golden girl stepped up the stairs. Halfway to the roof, it seemed, no doubt to inspect the work of Ikuzawa''s group. I had a clear idea of where she intended to go, so I pried my finger from the windows. Sensations from the surounding world flooded back.

    "Now then, what to do?" I said.

    It felt like a good time to build a plan of action. After arriving, I''d discern the nature of her discontent. Afterwards, once the nature of her foolish conflict was determined, the game would begin once more. There were matters to tend to, plans to make, so and and so forth. That''s all there was to it, one-hundred percent, so I sped up.

    It''d be inconvenient if we lost because of this foolish excursion, after all.

    Before I realized it, I''d already reached the stairs. As expected of the exalted Satou Shibuya, my footwork surpassed even the wind. Such quick steps, none could question that I possessed the fastest walk. I didn''t look down at my feet because I knew their gait. Calm, reserved, one foot in front of the other.

    I caught my breath once I arrived at the door leading to the roof. Deep breaths followed one after another as I emptied my mind. With a nod, I quietly stepped onto the roof.

    Gray skies loomed over the distant cityscape, which masked its presence behind snow and fog. Niflheim never struck me as the most scenic of places, but it had a bizarre sort of charm. A distant concrete jungle, looming every so subtly on the horizon, meant the world to me. Still, early morning skies did little for the view.

    Only at night can you see a city''s beauty.

    My gaze panned down to the school''s rooftop.

    Dark gray concrete overlayed the framework beneath, no doubt an aesthetic oversight. Tall metal fences stood less than a foot away from the concrete lip separating the average student from being a news headline. As if trying to affirm the roof''s safety, someone saw fit to put six benches on the roof. Two, side by side, on each side of the enclosure.

    A little tacky, to be honest.

    Yamashina was nowhere to be seen. Not on any of the benches, and not in the very center either. Instead, dead center of the roof, sat the child of my brilliant mind- a tall metal rod of five meters in height. A lightning rod, if you would. I''d hastily thrown it together, but the end result came out better than expected.

    Those lot did well getting it up here. I spy minor scratches and scuffs, for sure, but I didn''t think they''d actually manage to do it. I suppose a carrot is in order for my foolish little mules.

    I decided to reserve praise until afterwards.

    Now then, where is that fool of a girl?

    A cursory glance revealed no hidden figures beneath the benches. Obvious, one might assume, and I''d agree. I''m not sure why I looked. Of course she wouldn''t be there- The mind spoke with enough conviction to make me flinch. Still, how had she escaped me?

    There were more pressing matters.

    My gaze fell on the lightning rod''s base. It couldn''t be called safe, not pressed raw against the school roof. I dropped to one knee and, with a golden crackle, insulated the concrete beneath my feet. An easy task for my ability.

    I nodded. "If a mistake is corrected before anyone notices, it ceases to be a mistake. With that said, the exalted Satou Shibuya''s wrong-free streak continues. As expected of me."

    Kshick.

    As I finished speaking, the distant scrape of boots caught my attention. Not so distant, rather. From a different direction- behind me. I saw nobody, but the last puzzle piece clicked into place. I narrowed my gaze.

    One might not notice, but the fence enclosure did not start at the roof''s entrance. Rather, it encompassed it. If you turned around, you''d immediately notice the roof''s rather hidden back area. I had no doubts that a tryst or two might transpire back there in the coming months.

    A-Animals, all of them.

    No matter. I''d figured out my mark''s location and, on top of that, discovered a nice spot. For activities. I cleared my throat and my mind. That''s right, pure activities. Nothing unseemly, of course. I peered around the corner and found nothing, so I stepped onto the narrow walkway.

    A single meter separated the fence on my left and the wall on my right.

    I glanced at the distant fortress of stone and scoffed. I had a clear view. At full power, if this were a real battle, I could decimate their entire team from where I stood. Our game couldn''t possibly serve as reference for live combat. Everyone must''ve known.

    Right, don''t get sidetracked... hm?

    I found the golden girl as I turned the next corner.

    "Still," I murmured, "what a funny pose."

    Yoshida Yamashina sat with her back against the wall. Eyes closed, crossed arms clutching at her sides, and knees pressed tightly against her forearms. She didn''t move as I turned the corner. The girl didn''t even look in my direction! Honestly, her reception needed work.

    She''s almost certainly not sleeping.

    At, least I didn''t think so. Her eyes weren''t merely closed. They were shut tight, as if denying the outside world''s existence. Her breathing was calm, cool, almost manufactured. It became clear as day that she actively denied my presence.

    I stepped forward with a shrug. "Honestly, do you take joy in troubling me? I''ll look bad if you strut out mid-conversation, you see."

    No response.

    "Ignoring me? Again, how mature-"

    "Leave."

    Yoshida Yamashina spoke quietly and without looking in my direction. Even curled up like a pillbug she dared speak to me in such a manner. This moved past disrespect and stepped into the territory of insanity- a world beyond the minds of men.

    How very odd.

    A bizarre feeling assailed me, one I couldn''t place. A glance from one end of the walkway to the other revealed no traps. A touch to the concrete revealed no hidden foes. None that I could sense, rather. I couldn''t sense anything. Focus eluded me.

    A variant of pity- that''s the best way I could describe it. A sort of compassion, I think, towards an existence beneath my feet. No, that didn''t feel right. I felt no elation, not like usual. It felt heavier. The closest comparison was handing in schoolwork late.

    Back in middle school there were situations when I waited until the last minute to finish my homework. A strange feeling ran hand in hand. Not dread, I think. A sort of grim weight in the torso, one that claimed fault for procrastinating.

    How disgusting.

    I opened my mouth, but the insults I''d stockpiled didn''t come out. The first syllable of my attack on her character stuck in my throat. Strange, very strange. Flowery dialect translated to hesitant grunting as it left my mouth. My throat felt hoarse.

    Perhaps that''s why I said the unthinkable.

    "My apologies."

    It didn''t make sense. I lacked a reason to apologize, but my mouth moved on its own. Hollow words escaped. They couldn''t have meant anything. After all, an apology without remorse had no value, no weight. I knew that full well. That should''ve been the case...

    Yet, why did she look up?

    Eyes wide as if watching a unicorn, the golden girl stared at me. Mouth slightly opened, fingers relaxed, brows tensed. Next, the girl''s expression shifted- startled, confused, and then stern. I didn''t like that look. She had to be snickering inside, guffawing at the thought of dragging me down to her level. I had to correct the scales.

    I couldn''t look at her. "The exalted Satou Shibuya, rather..."Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    Hurry, faster.

    "Shibuya?"

    Before she notices.

    Cold moisture sent shivers down my spine. Sweat? No, it couldn''t possibly be sweat. I took a silent breath. No, too unsteady. Use the nose, not the mouth. This was an abnormal situation. The words I chose refused to come out. When I opened my mouth, a torrent spewed forth.

    "I-I fooled you, hm? The exalted Satou Shibuya doesn''t actually think you''re a rat. Or a waterflea. Or... or a maggot. Not even a stupid lightning dog. As expected, you easily fell for my insults. You see, er, it''s customary to treat assets poorly. It builds character, I suppose. When that rocky oaf bound me to the wall, I got really frustrated. The second time, rather, erm-"

    "Shibuya-"

    "I... perhaps thought you were a little cool. Just a little. A teensy bit. The slide into a slow walk, the gleaming eyes, perhaps my chest tightened. Again, just a bit." I paused for a moment. "B-But only because I wanted to try it. And then that fool started throwing rocks. Honestly, who throws rocks? Who? What barbarian assumed nature''s pellets could harm one such as myself? My victory was the natural conclusion in such a farcical battle-"

    "S-Shibuya, wait-"

    "I''m serious, who throws rocks?" Something snapped. "I considered trying it for the sake of keeping an open mind, but in the end I didn''t even get to do that. Honestly, who does that musclebound rockhead think he is? It''s just a rock. At least let me hit you once! Troglodytes, both of them. To think, I didn''t even know this stupid game was happening until this morning!

    "Did you know I was fixing my homework on the way to school? I''m serious! I planned on doing nothing today. I wanted to hand in my homework, go home, then curl up on the couch and watch HEART-MAX! Now there''s this oddly vague love letter, I''m dressed up in this embarrassing fetish suit, and on top of that I haven''t seen sister dearest in two whole hours! Two hours, twenty-nine minutes, and fifty-three seconds! At least tell me If you''re going to leave early!

    "Now I can''t even guarantee that I''ll make it in time for my show! Reika Rurisaki wants to talk to me after school! There''s a bizarre charm to her that I won''t describe, and certainly she fulfills the bonus criteria of being a fair deal shorter than me, but I can''t get past the teeth! Sharks are fish, and in the end mermaids are just fish people! Whose to tell me that a mermaid can''t also be a shark, hm? Nobody, right?!"

    When the tank finally emptied, I couldn''t stop my ragged breathing. Deep breaths. Inhale, exhale. That''s right, calm down. Everyone is a fool, that''s all there is to it! Nobody understands what it means to be Satou Shibuya! If they could understand even a fraction of my being, perhaps they''d do me a kindness and let me spin on my wheels for a bit!

    "Really, what is wrong with the people on this island?!" I stomped my foot. "I scored first place on the entrance exams! I''m not sure how, but I did it! If I''m the top scorer, why all the hassle?! I got the answers right, so why does the extra fluff matter?! It''s not like I''d make a mistake! And to top it off, who does Fran Fairchild think she is? What self-indulging idiot throws a punch without warning?!

    "Also, why do people keep touching me? I keep telling them not to. I absolutely hate that nobody listens! The King''s orders are absolute, aren''t they?! If I say not to touch my face, take me at face value! Even if you fine tune my dashing looks, even if you compliment me, every person has limits! Obviously the illustrious and immaculate Satou Shibuya would get angry if ignored!

    "Besides, what do you mean I''m too soft to handle my own problems?! As if the likes of Genjou could bully me! The closest I''ve gotten is Gagetsu, and even that''s stretching it! If you''re going to pick a fight, be more obvious about it! Lunch? A movie?! I''m a paragon of integrity! Such stupid tricks won''t lower my guard! Midas too, what in blazes am I supposed to do at an indoor pool?!"

    I couldn''t stop my brow from twitching. I glanced towards the golden girl, who at some point had gotten up. A bead of sweat condensed on her brow. For some reason, she assumed an awkward pose with both palms pointed in my direction.

    What are you even doing?!

    Yamashina cautiously stepped forward. "C-Calm down, Shibuya-"

    "Why did you even come up here? Have I perhaps insulted you?! I wouldn''t know! If you''re going to throw a fit, do it to my face! What, do I strike you as the sort to put thumbtacks in your shoes? Should I kick you and spit on you? Shall I have you lick my boots? Would you like that?! I can''t read minds you stupid lightning dog! And that''s not the worst of it!

    "I''ll worry if someone struts off to the roof without a word! Suicides from work-related stress are at an all time high! Demons are scary, you know?! They''re man-eating aliens! I''d be the one in trouble if anything had happened to you! You didn''t consider that, hm? I mean look at this!" I glanced over the side of the building. "Without my ability, even I''d die if I fell from up here! Or not! According to studies, I''m ninety-nine-point-nine percent unkillable!"

    "S-Studies?"

    My brow twitched. "Oh, you didn''t know? Those with especially powerful abilities are subject to WCS testing! Do you know what WCS testing is? WCS testing is when they study you until they find a way to solve you! Wouldn''t want the illustrious and immaculate Satou Shibuya throwing a tantrum! Do you know what the Satou Shibuya WCS plan is?! I''m not sure either, but apparently it exists! That''s a scary thought!"

    Yes, very scary. I didn''t like to think about it. What father stares at you through the glass and smiles? Who on this earth would smile at a time like that?!

    "Wait," Yamashina paused. The golden girl slowly lowered her hands, then panned from one end of the walkway to the other. She glanced back to me. "Pardon me, hold on for just a moment. Forgive my interruption, but weren''t you apologizing?"

    I frowned. "I didn''t apologize."

    "E-Excuse me?"

    "Satou Shibuya didn''t apologize! It didn''t happen! An apology assumes you''ve done something wrong, and I neither accept nor acknowledge any wrongdoing on my part. The exalted Satou Shibuya has not and will not apologize. Be warned, anything as to the contrary is false!"

    Golden eyes widened in disbelief. She opened her mouth, as if to speak, but no words came. She pointed a finger at me (I scowled) then back to herself. Quiet vocalizations escaped her lips, a failed attempt to put her feelings to word. I snickered, how foolish. That''s right, I had the upper hand! As expected of the exalted Satou¡ª

    "¡ªShibuya." Yamashina stomped forward.

    "Wait, what are you¡ª"

    We locked hands, an abrupt battle of strength. It looked like some bizarre pushing battle. I clicked my tongue, so she wanted a fight? Hmph, so even Yoshida Yamashina resorted to violence! I grounded myself and tensed my muscles. Very well, I''d crush her too¡ª

    Ow?!

    "I was awestruck." Yamashina shoved her thumb into my mouth and hooked a cheek. I grabbed her arm, but she hooked my other cheek too. "When we first met, I thought you looked dashing. A proud Knight, looking down from above with warm eyes. Your cruel words must''ve had some sort of justification. Who would take such a tone with someone they just met, right? Right?!"

    My gaze panned down to the Yoshida Yamashina. Wild-eyed, red-faced, and filled with some inexplicable red-hot rage. I could almost see spirals in her twitching eyes. Now another feeling filled me, a feeling I dare not mention. Few had illicited it from me. No, hold on.

    W-Wait, did she snap?

    "To begin with, you have high standards?! Mom''s run the patisserie for a decade, and before her Grandma ran it with Grandpa! They''re the best chocolate-dipped croissants in Niflheim!" Yamashina shook me back and forth. I fell backwards and she stumbled onto me, but that didn''t stop her incessant rambling. "I can''t pretend you didn''t insult the Yamashina family business!"

    S-She heard that?!

    "Besides, you didn''t do anything special? I prepared for months in advance! I promised sis I''d get first place! When she heard one Satou Shibuya bested me, she laughed! What''s that supposed to mean? So what if he''s your boss''s son?! I put in an honest effort, at least try comforting me! What does it matter if he''s cute?! He''d be much cuter if he knew when to hold his tongue!"

    I tried to comment. "Her boss? Wait¡ª?!"

    "Silence!" She swiftly clamped both palms over my mouth. "See?! If you were like this all the time then everyone would adore you! Whenever I start to forgive you, you speak and I want to punch you! That''s never happened before! I''ve never wanted to punch someone mid-conversation, Satou Shibuya! I used to think you were joking, but I quickly realized you were serious! You could not speak to someone without putting them down!"

    I grabbed her arms and shoved her off. "What is wrong with the people on this god forsaken island?! I thought you might get it, but you''re just as insane as the rest! Hmph!"

    The golden girl caught her footing. "I''m insane?! What functioning human mind complains about not seeing their sister in two hours! Wait until after school, there''s bound to be places where you can meet her! That''s the most disconcerting subject you''ve ever brought up my presence! Have you no shame?!"

    I frowned. "She''s the best sister in the world."

    Yamashina gagged.

    "W-What''s that supposed to mean?!" I yelled.

    "What do you think it means?!" Yamashina stood up. "How stupid, I don''t care anymore! I''ve picked up the problem here, and here''s the verdict! It seems I can stomach you! All I need do is take a deep breath, close my eyes, and pretend you''re a social idiot! A slimey, pig-headed fool who can''t fathom the idea of swallowing his own pride!"

    "Hmph, how foolish. Pretend? There''s no need, you''ve come to the correct conclusion! It''s true that I have no friends, and it''s also true that I think social conventions are stupid! It''s their loss though! The longer I go without friends, the better my first friend will be! It''s simple math! Math! That''s the reason I''m the top scoring student!"

    Yamashina froze. "W-Wait, say that once more."

    How annoying!

    I clicked my tongue. "You need to hear it again? I''m the top scoring student¡ª"

    "Not that part," Yamashina shook her head. She glanced at the distant fortress, then to me. "You... truly don''t have any friends, Shibuya? None at all? Not even one? Not a single person comes to mind when the topic of friendship and comradery comes up?"

    "How foolish," I said this with a frown. "Rather, you''re being abnormally intrusive today. It''s starting to creep me out. The exalted Satou Shibuya can''t stave off such a dark feeling. This is the most perturbed I''ve felt in a long while. Aren''t you supposed to be the calm and composed sort? The type to be a knight in a fantasy setting."

    Yamashina also frowned. "A knight? Myself?"

    "You called me shameful! Then, when all was said and done, you even called me your rival! Your eyes were glinting, you know?! I witnessed a level three super move firsthand!"

    The golden girl seemed to mull over this.

    Now then, there is a point in every man''s life when he witnesses the breakdown of an ideal. For the common youth, they reach adulthood and realize that their parents are people too. Not superheroes, but simple people who wanted a life for their children. Once this integral pillar of the self is broken, you''ve matured enough to stand on your own two feet.

    In the eyes of Satou Shibuya, the world ran on two separate systems. First, the system that allowed a person to be a perfect, unquestionable existence that could do no wrong. This was exclusive to the me of then. Second, the flawed system on which every other living being ran. The twisted code that promised no fame and no fortune without effort.

    Within the confines of this system, only the brightest lights captured my eyes.

    Yoshida Yamashina represented a lesser variant of perfection. The common man''s perfection, separate in its entirety from Satou Shibuya''s perfection. Fierce eyes, Sharp countenance, and a honed posture. A well-proportioned body, long legs, and brilliant golden hair. She was the ninety-nine percent to my a hundred. And so, when she spoke¡ª

    "I-Is that how it seemed?!"

    ¡ªI''d never been more disillusioned.

    Red-faced, her brow moist with sweat, the golden girl pointed both palms at me. She spoke fast, such that I almost couldn''t understand her. "It''s true that I called you shameful, but you caught me off guard. I was flustered, I barely knew what I was saying. I compared black hair to tree bark, remember? Honestly, think about it! They vastly differ! Besides, you were acting rather odd!"

    "Eh?"

    "A-Also, you were trying to pass off responsibility to me! Perhaps you thought you looked smart? Everyone could see your reluctance to be class representative. Few people wouldn''t get angry! You insulted me after results came out, then you misremembered my name! You did so during your sales pitch as well! I was looking for any excuse to trouble you!"

    "You were bullying me?!"

    "And whose eyes were glinting? I honestly and truly wanted to show my worth. In my defense, you stepped all over me in all interactions up until then! Mom thought I was being bullied! She wanted to call the school! What should I have done, sheepishly asked to compete with you? I''m fairly certain you would have laughed it off!"

    "Then, when we arm-wrestled," I paused for a moment. "Am I correct in assuming that you wanted show your worth there? Because you wanted the first year representative seat?"

    Yamashina''s gaze sharpened. "Rather, I''d hoped to sprain your wrist. I thought it would be nice if your studies worsened and mine improved."

    "How terrible! I almost had faith in you!"

    When the dust settled, I struggled to see the prideful knight of a girl I''d once mocked. Back against the fence, golden eyes locked on my agape mouth, everything clicked into place. I spoke not to Yoshida Yamashina, Zeta candidate and the second highest scorer. I spoke to Yoshida Yamashina, a stupid high school girl with stupid high school problems!

    Every instance of heated interaction between us fell to bits. We weren''t rivals striving to one-up each other! No way, all traces of noblesse oblige and honour disappeared into thin air! She was trying to bully me! Me! A person attempted to bully me and I failed to notice! How does that even work?! I dropped my makeshift sword and held my head.

    "A-As expected, the exalted Satou Shibuya never had any competition!" I laughed. "It was all in my head, a fictional narrative sparked by a series of misunderstandings. It''s not my fault. I didn''t make the mistake, so it doesn''t go on my list. She who failed to convey her intentions is at fault!"

    "Shibuya?" She knelt.

    "You!" I slapped my hand against the adjacent wall. Once, then twice. "It''s my turn! I get to say the line! I, the prestigious and pristine Satou S. Shibuya, demand compensation! You''ve got ten seconds, Yoshida Yamashina! Make me a good offer, preferably something I don''t already have! I''m the strongest, after all! Ten!"

    The golden girl squinted. "P-Pardon me?"

    "Nine! Eight!"

    "I''m sorry, what?" She glanced from side to side.

    "Seven, six, five, four¡ª"

    "Hold on, I require a moment to think!"

    The golden girl seemed to consider my words with the utmost seriousness. About time! She crossed her arms and touched a thumb to her chin, deep in thought. As soon as her focus returned to me, I cleared my throat and prepared to continue. She was quick to cut me off.

    "Three-"

    Yamashina snapped her fingers. "Friendship?"

    My brow twitched. Certainly I stated I didn''t have friends. Certainly I didn''t say she needed to give me material wealth. However, something about her matter of fact tone made me scowl. I stood up and crossed my arms, giving no response.

    "F-Friendship?" She seemed more uncertain this time.

    "Two!"

    "Shibuya?!"

    I puffed out my chest. "You haven''t given me anything yet!"

    Yoshida Yamashina stood up and cleared her throat. Her expression returned to the stern, steadfast countenance that I''d come to expect. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then focused on me once more. I heard the breath escape her lips. The golden girl stepped forward until a little over two feet separated us.

    "S-Satou Shibuya," Yamashina held out her hand. "I retain much of what I said about you on the field. You''re a megalomaniac, a man who''d admire himself at the end of the world. If I''m being completely honest, I can''t stand that."

    "How rude."

    "Even still," she continued, "would you accept my friendship?

    Hearing those words, I went to work grading her approach. Straight posture, sufficient footing, but also a very well-placed hand. Not fully outstretched, but slightly bent- a position that conveyed strength over energy. She didn''t avert her gaze as we locked eyes. Rather, her eyes seemed to focus. Yoshida Yamashina assumed a textbook pre-handshake pose.

    Now then, what to do?

    When I gave it some thought, the situation carried a fair deal more weight than initially expected. I''d expected free pastries as a peace offering. Rather, I''d very much have preferred a danish. I glanced at the girl''s outstretched hand and shivered. As expected, I really loathed the idea of touching her. I gave no small amount of thought to the idea of declining.

    Satou Shibuya had no friends. Following this logic, Satou Shibuya needed no friends. This social climate hadn''t changed in years. Not even after enrolling in I.K. Middle School. Not Kawagusa General Academy either. I could make friends whenever I wanted.

    In that case, my answer should be¡ª

    "My, what have we here?"

    Yamashina raised her fists. I kicked my sword into the air and caught it. Our eyes shifted to the sky, where the voice''s source greeted us. I clicked my tongue.

    He decided to come?

    Atop the metal fence stood a familiar green-haired youth, both hands stretched at his sides. The sun''s dim rays projected his slender shadow onto the concrete beneath. He wouldn''t fall. He couldn''t- few could compare with his footwork, myself included.

    The youth''s glossy anti-contamination suit reflected my cool gaze. Serpentine eyes yellow stared down through rectangle-framed glasses. His thin lips twisted into a malformed crescent. One could always count on this snake to ruin a moment.

    He- Genjou Gekkouhara dropped into a low squat. His eyes danced between the battle-ready Yoshida Yamashina and I. With fingers clasped, I heard him snicker. A different sort of snicker, one I''d never heard before. His eyes shifted back to mine.

    "You made a new friend?" He grinned.

    "Tch."

    Satou Shibuya''s first mistake made its appearance.

 PART ONE, CHAPTER TWELVE

    PART ONE, CHAPTER TWELVE: "ZONE"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-<hr>

    One couldn''t understate Satou Shibuya''s strengths.

    At my best I could rend the sky, part the sea, or level everything on the horizon. This destructive power, most reminiscent in aftermath to a saturation bombing, meant Satou Shibuya existed less as a person and more as a weapon- a contingency plan, raised and cultivated as one of many to turn the war on demons in mankind''s favour.

    Except, Satou Shibuya''s parameters were not all encompassing.

    My ability''s destructive power and versatility paired with a ninety-nine-point-nine percent immortality ratio to create the Golden King of the Gekkou District, but only that. I represented a wide spread of overall high combat parameters, but other letters surpassed me in certain aspects. A weird notion, for sure, but I''d be foolish to deny it.

    I couldn''t know how, but Keiko Kusanagi surpassed my ninety-nine-point-nine, reaching the coveted hundred percent. Sister dearest''s destructive power rivaled mine, but her ability''s all-consuming heat served as the better tool against the encroaching demon threat.

    Genjou Gekkouhara too surpassed me in a single aspect.

    "Have you gotten any faster, Satou?"

    Clang! Sonic winds ripped skin from flesh.

    Tch, he slipped past!

    Blunt force knocked my right shoulder out of the socket. I flew backwards, tracing spirals. My limp arm tore free concrete and metal fencing. What face did the golden girl make? I couldn''t tell, she disappeared from view before I realized what happened.

    So the snake attacked after all?

    I slid to a halt and caught my footing.

    The footprint-shaped fissure on my torso filled out. Golden sparks forced my shoulder into place. I slammed the fence net onto my sword and added its mass to the slender blade. Once a longsword, Hawkbit became a one and a half meter zweihander.

    A boom filled the air. I stomped forward as the next attack hammered my sword. My feet dug into the concrete. The pressure popped the soles of my feet like balloons- blood filled my suit, but returned to the body just as quickly.

    Next is here?!

    Fwoom! A horizontal swing deflected the strike on my right. Too shallow. The world twisted as if viewed through a kaleidoscope- he planned to retreat.

    "How naive!"

    Gold-flecked fingertips ripped through the dimensional gap. Cracks in space revealed fissures beyond the comprehension of man- they couldn''t deter me. The wrath of a King tipped the scales of justice. The laws of this world bowed, if only for a second.

    Ones and zeroes distorted to glyphs I couldn''t decipher. My hips twisted as I dragged my assailant through space-time by the face. Winds whipped past as my feet scraped through flooring like mud. The world around me spun like a tornado.

    "And now, concrete!" I roared.

    "Tch?!"

    Centrifugal force whipped Genjou Gekkouhara to the floor.

    The snake landed on his hands and slid backwards, his fingers cleaving thin lines into the concrete''s surface. The snake flipped to his feet on my left, four meters away. Blood oozed from his palms and onto the ground below, but it didn''t faze him. It couldn''t.

    The green-haired youth licked blood off his upper lip with a smile. He smeared his palms across his anti-contamination suit then struck a pose with both hands in the air.

    Genjou snickered. "Even dimensional fissures are fair game now?"

    "What a farce!" I rushed at him.

    Swish! A spinning golf swing parted the fence at Genjou''s back.

    Raging winds whistled between frayed metal as a spray of pebbles and dirt disappeared into the distance. A flip of my sword dispersed its dust trail- it pierced the ground as my brake. I slid to a halt and spun around.

    Concrete and rebar exploded outwards as I ripped my sword free. Metal links and dust scattered on the wind. A miss, I needed to strike faster. The smug-looking snake who leered down from a distant bench agreed.

    As expected of the Gekkouhara clan heir.

    Genjou Gekkouhara''s speed had no match- I wanted to say this, but Keiko Kusanagi might be able to keep up. The fact that she might, that I couldn''t, frustrated me to no end. I could reach supersonic speeds at near-maximum output, but Genjou did so with ease.

    Has he gotten faster? I think so.

    Even still, he wouldn''t enter my effective range again.

    "It''s pretty small, huh?" said Genjou.

    I clicked my tongue.

    Golden circuitry denoted the King''s territory, a three-meter sphere of influence, within which I reigned. This represented the active zone of my ability. Inside this domain I held absolute and unquestionable power. The untrained eye wouldn''t be able to spot such thin and uniform reiki, but Genjou knew.

    He''s gauged the border.

    This weakened state limited my effective range. I normally exerted my powers within a twenty-meter radius, but not today. The small diameter of my golden zone meant more informed foes could see my range with relative ease. Had he baited my attack to scope out my domain''s size?

    The golden girl sprinted into view as I pondered. She peered around the corner, then stepped onto the field of battle.

    "So he came here?" murmured Yamashina.

    I touched a hand to the damaged fence at my back. The world corrected itself as bits and pieces fell back into place. A golden sheen signaled the end of the process, after which I returned my focus to the green snake¡ª

    Fast.

    Genjou appeared in an instant. I stepped backwards, he hopped into place where I once stood- well within my effective range. The snake shrugged.

    "I''m not one for mystery. What is it you''re playing at, I wonder?" I asked.

    "It''s my challenge to you, Satoto."

    "A challenge? From you? To me, the illustrious and immaculate Satou S. Shibuya? A serious challenge, not the playful sort? How interesting, how interesting. This should be grand!"

    Yamashina chimed in. "Shibuya?"

    I raised a hand to silence her.

    Maybe he thought it funny, but Genjou stepped forward. Once, then twice, until only a foot separated us. I met his xanthous gaze without faltering. Verdant coils slithered across the surface of his anti-contamination suit, the eight-branched mark of Orochi''s activation.

    What''s up with that?

    He had confidence, and something in me wanted to crush that. I stepped forward to stare down at the fool. Less than an inch separated our faces- he couldn''t escape, not at this range. Such close proximity served as more than checkmate, but rather a victory determined by fate.

    The snake should''ve known, yet he spoke with a glee-filled voice¡ª

    "You won''t forge the sword she gave you?"

    I averted my gaze.

    Genjou stared at me for a moment. He sighed, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. I hated that. I couldn''t stand the warmth in his eyes- a person able to feign hospitality so well made me ill. He''d already gotten into my head- a rookie mistake. I had to correct the scales.

    My forehead slammed against Genjou''s own. The ground beneath the snake''s feet cracked, but he didn''t budge. Disgusting, absolutely gross, but I had to make a point.

    "It''s not like I need it," I spoke. "Molten stars and divine flame are territory beyond the reaches of mankind. To call the sun god''s miracle, the burning sword, for one such as yourself would be nothing short of baffling. I take pride in my common sensibilities, you see."

    "My, nobody gets how nice you are."

    A sigh escaped. "Nice? Yes, of course I''m nice. I''m perhaps the most magnanimous person in all existence, especially considering I have to deal with the likes of you. Gaze in awe at the paragon of human decency before you, snake."

    "You''re too dazzling, Satou." Genjou''s eyes softened. He prodded my chin with his index finger. "It''s no wonder we love you so much- Gagetsu, Midas, Vayne, Sergio, and even Akane. Your smile is precious to all of us."

    I slapped his wrist aside.

    Genjou Gekkouhara underestimated by intelligence. Any sane human mind could gauge the falsehood in his words- those people loathed my existence. That''s why I had to reciprocate, that''s why I had to rule them with an iron fist. They''d stab me in the back at the first sign of trouble. I couldn''t associate with such bad company.

    The snake is just like the rest.

    Something snapped. I moved it to the back of my head with the rest- such grim thoughts had no place at the forefront of Satou Shibuya''s mind. More important matters were present and needed to be dealt with. My sword hand tightened.

    "So?" I narrowed my gaze. "What''s your challenge, hm?"

    "My, it''s just a bet. On whose team will win, I mean. You hate horses, I know, but think of it like horse racing. If my team wins, you have to come see everyone. Don''t worry, you don''t have to go back to the Gekkou District. They can visit you instead."

    I didn''t respond.

    Genjou snickered. "By the way, the golden throne is kind of dangerous. You didn''t do a very good job smoothing out the edges. That''s the reason Midas took it- he''s the only one of us who can handle the thing. He brags about being the person allowed to sit on the throne. Everything is gold, so he fits the bill well enough.

    "Oh, did you know? Gagetsu... right, I shouldn''t say it, but she found work at that one indoor pool. She isn''t supposed to be working, so hush hush on that. I think she''s saving up to buy that giant stuffed lion. You know, the one that wasn''t for sale. If you find it on your doorstep, you know what happened. Sergio too, he''s¡ª"If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    I tuned out.

    The idea of a person so easily lying through their teeth made me sick to my stomach. It took a certain sort of darkness to spin such a tale, to try and get a rise out of me. I took a silent breath, then returned my focus to Genjou. I couldn''t think about it, not here.

    "And when I win?" Nausea forced my hand.

    "Huh? If you win, I''ll leave you alone. I''ll stop talking to you, I''ll even pretend that I don''t know you. That''s what you wanted from the start, right?" Genjou stated this as if it were a matter of fact.

    "That''s... true."

    He grinned. "Then you agree?"

    After a moment, I nodded.

    Green snakes unraveled at Genjou''s back, eight in total.

    Avaricious serpents observed me through hollow eyes, as if marking their prey, then hissed- a noise that couldn''t belong to a flesh and blood animal. Too loud, too much distortion- it almost felt manufactured. His power couldn''t be understated, not as the Golden King''s former right-hand man. What a frustrating thought.

    With five outstretched fingers pressed tightly together, Genjou pointed the tips of his right hand at me. Genjou''s misguided epithet of Silver Knight manifested. The bright green light at his fingertips sharpened to a point- the Gekkouhara clan''s grass-cutting sword. His once yellow eyes glinted a glittering green.

    "In that case, I''m a little mad!" yelled Genjou.

    Swish! Verdure crashed against aurum.

    "How frustrating!" I whined.

    The words weren''t directed at Genjou.

    Wind pressure sent me stumbling backwards, but I caught my footing. I shielded my eyes from golden light with my sword as a blind. Genjou forgot a crucial aspect of this conflict, but I couldn''t rebuke him. We made the same mistake.

    Lightning struck twice, thunder roared. Two fist-shaped imprints appeared on Genjou Gekkouhara''s gut. The snake slid backwards, knocking over my lightning rod but keeping his footing. He wouldn''t go down that easily.

    The golden girl stood in front of me. One arm raised, she made her place on our battlefield. As expected, she hadn''t learned a thing. The mutt couldn''t mind her own business.

    What a troublesome girl!

    Yoshida Yamashina silently kissed her right knuckle. She assumed her combat position. Back hunched, feet parted, fists raised in front of her face- I recognized it as a variant stance, like the Fairchilds'' own. Genjou too- he hastily corrected his breathing.

    With a scowl, Genjou assumed his form. Bloodied palms forward, legs far apart, I guessed this to be the Gekkouhara''s demon assassination stance- the foundation for the legendary Path of the Moon, a sure-kill martial art with a history of bloodshed.

    "That really hurt." Genjou squinted.

    She didn''t respond.

    "Oh, you''re the sort who clams up in a fight?"

    Yamashina paused for a moment, maybe considering Genjou''s words, then rolled her eyes. She jabbed the air- one, two- then dropped into a low stance with her left palm to the ground. Her hair spiked up, glowing white-hot with electromagnetic forces. No, not just her hair.

    Non-humans are a diverse bunch, aren''t they.

    In the case of a mermaid like Reika Rurisaki, I noticed some bizarre quirks- wide mouth, dull eyes, and a natural hunch. I''d (rather miraculously) caught a glimpse of her neck from the back, where scales peaked out from under the collar of her contamination suit. She didn''t hide her true nature.

    The golden girl didn''t either, not anymore.

    A pair of white, fox-like ears rested atop Yamashina''s head. They ended in arrowhead points that scattered sparks and discharged arcs with each twitch. A thunderous nimbus tapered to a gray-tipped point on the snow-coloured fox tail at her back. Its flickering form looked like a storm cloud drifting across the sky.

    Fwish! Her tail lashed the floor. Electricity skittered across the rooftop.

    I retreated a step to avoid the second lash, which traced a lightning bolt. The golden girl''s hands twitched as violet claws pierced the fingertips of her contamination suit. Her left hand dug into the floor. Blue-gold arcs danced between the fingers. Were these her true colours?

    The answer came in her self-introduction.

    "Rolling Thunder CQC, second step practitioner, Yoshida Yama¡ª"

    Bang! Lightning struck Genjou''s jaw.

    The snake stumbled, nearly to the ground, but caught himself first. His eyes skittered between the floor and the golden girl, who stood with her right arm outstretched. Smoke billowed off her crackling fist. I replayed the attack in my head.

    A golden knuckle pierced the air. It exploded into an electric blue line, a super-charged streak that raised the hair on the back of my neck. Lightning stamped its seal, a fist-shaped imprint on the side of Genjou Gekkouhara''s face.

    A-An electromagnetic sucker punch?

    Genjou''s eyes sharpened with delayed realization. He hopped backwards, spitting blood onto the floor, and found his bearings. He touched a finger to his jaw and winced. His eyes turned grim as he looked to the source of his pain.

    The underhanded fox of a girl spat something out. She stuck an index finger in her mouth and hooked her cheek, revealing pearly white canines. She then pulled her finger free with a loud pop.

    "Yoshida Yamashina," she finished her introduction.

    Genjou clicked his tongue. "No honor, huh?"

    Whatever Yamashina spat out, it hit the ground and rolled to a halt. Closer inspection revealed the mystery item as an AAA battery, crushed like she''d bitten it. Yamashina pulled another battery from her tail and popped it into her mouth like a pill. She didn''t chew.

    Is she drawing power from batteries?

    That couldn''t be true. A measly AAA battery couldn''t have provided the energy for her almost railgun-esque punch. It needed to be her own internal charge. Under that assumption, did she chew on batteries for fun? How long had it been in her mouth?!

    Maybe she noticed my gaze, but the fox of a girl sighed.

    Yamashina glanced over her shoulder. "They help me focus¡ª"

    Fwoom! She flew backwards, both arms raised. I caught her and we slid into the fence behind me. Reflex had me shove her away. Yamashina groaned but (thankfully) didn''t comment. The golden girl assumed her stance once more... not quite.

    The fox girl''s contamination suit drooped at the sleeves, where sinister fingers tore into them. Maybe it bugged her, but she ripped her sleeves off and tossed them to the ground. The rubber strips flew away, carried on dusty winds.

    Bzzt! Electricity coated her arms.

    "Focus harder next time." Genjou flicked his wrists, scattering flecks of rubber from his fingertips. "I''m not big on the hypotheticals, but you''d be dead if I''d gone all in on that opening. I do it, sure, but talking is not a free action, sweetie."

    She frowned. "Sweetie?"

    "Yeah, that. Don''t do that."

    Raging winds signalled an attack.

    A deep green crescent carved the earth at Yoshida Yamashina''s feet- she hopped over it. The golden girl lunged forward, ducking under near-invisible attacks. Genjou moved too fast, such that it took me a moment to register his serpent strikes.

    Crashes filled the air- electromagnetic jabs met supersonic slashes. Both parties stepped forward with each strike. They looked for openings, for a blindspot to end their battle. Genjou couldn''t have forgotten the real threat, right?

    I should hope not.

    A golden glow illuminated my frame.

    The exalted Satou Shibuya cracked his neck. I raised Hawkbit and stepped forward to enter the fray. The girl threatened to steal my prey right out from under me. Genjou Gekkouhara couldn''t lose to anyone but me, I''d long since decided this¡ª

    "You''ll have to do."

    Foreign bloodlust turned my head¡ª boom!

    The ground beneath me zoomed past. I smashed through a distant fence and went spinning through the air. Metal shredded part of my anti-contamination suit. Before I realized it, the earth below stretched into the distance.

    "Satou?!" I heard the snake''s voice.

    Something- rather, someone hit me. Someone strong. I glanced downwards, where the ground approached faster and faster. The perception of danger roused my golden might. My ability came to life, excercising power over the contents of its sphere of influence.

    I stretched a hand skyward and watched circuitry trace its way down my fingers and to the rest of my body. My hand tightened into a fist as I took control of the situation. I spun around, carving jagged golden lines through the air, and gathered reiki.

    "One thousand foes!"

    Howling winds reinforced flesh, golden lightning reinforced bone.

    If this isn''t enough¡ª

    Bang! The world exploded.

    Bones fractured and blood splattered, but only for a moment. Reiki traced golden circuitry along the recesses of my mind. When my vision returned, whipping winds carried the scent of stagnant air- my descent continued. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a single patch of white in the fast growing darkness.

    Metallic wires weaved a jungle of colossal cables. Their ribbed surfaces criss-crossed the underbelly of cradle Niflheim''s second layer- the maintenance floor.

    I clicked my tongue. "Damn it!"

    With my ability I''d inadvertantly turned myself into an artillery shell. Survive the fall? This went past that- I''d blasted through ten meters of metal, dirt, and concrete!

    Golden-flecked fingers dug into subway-sized cables. They tore free thin, metallic wires that shredded flesh- my left hand became an unrecognizable amalgam of meat and bone. The momentum sent me spinning through the air once more. The ground below approached at rotational invervals- I wanted to vomit.

    So I have no choice?!

    I tucked in my arms and legs. The winds at my head flashed gold. Countless twinkles reinforced my body to take the fall- flesh, bone, mind, body- organic matter became machinery.

    "Shortcut¡ª Panzerstein!" I yelled.

    A golden star hit the ground.

    Shockwaves rocked the world. Ribbons of dust and rings of grime scattered scraps of metal and heaps of trash. The ground beneath me, a mountain of trash and filth, went up in flames at a single touch. My blood boiled.

    Liquid metal pooled at my feet, which carved a molten trail down the hillside. The reiki at my back coalesced into a stream of twinkling stars. I crashed to the ground and bounced like a rock on the water''s surface.

    "Ngh?!" My teeth chattered.

    Clunk! Hawkbit bounced across the trash. It spun to a halt.

    I slid to a flaming stop, the uneven metal beneath me glowing red hot. Sticky breath clung to the inside of my throat. A dull pain assailed me, but everything clicked back into place. A cursory touch to my face revealed the end result of my ability''s handiwork.

    It worked?!

    A touch to the molten floor cooled the surface. Glass atop reflective metal replaced molten steel, in which I took a better look at myself.

    Chrome replaced flesh- the entity that stared at me couldn''t be called human. Golden eyes peered at me through a black visor- angular, sleek. Metal spikes, one on each side of my metallic helmet, pointed skyward like metallic cat ears. Golden flames noosed my neck and formed a burning mane- the mark of the lion, the Golden King''s insignia.

    Reiki-reinforced carbon nanotubes formed muscle beneath the mechanical surface, and the engine in my spine whirred with otherwordly energies. The fingers of my left hand rebuilt themselves. Bone grew, then flesh, then carbon nanotubes. Golden circuitry called for the King''s armour, my unbreakable shell.

    I''d actually done it.

    As expected, I''m amazing!

    Panzerstein- one of the King''s suits of armour, a culmination of study and hard work inspired by Midas A. Goldstein''s unquestionable durability. It rerouted reiki towards heightened strength and durability to create the ultimate shield, the King''s Aegis. In theory, Panzerstein could not be broken.

    Granted, I''d never used it before. Everyday life and the lack of worthwhile conflict as of late meant I''d never gotten to try the suit out. Ideally I''d never get to try it, at least according to sister dearest.

    Even though it looks so regal...

    Heavy metals groaned as I stood. Gravity fought back. The glass beneath my feet cracked under my weight. I glanced upwards, towards the gaping hole in the ceiling. Steel serpents did little to block gray gloom, which filtered in from the outside world. From there to here, I fell.

    "Ninety-nine-point-nine percent," I whispered.

    As if in response to those words, my ability''s engine slowed. Metal fell, dispersing to golden particles as it hit the ground. Steel flesh regained an organic complexion. The machine beneath became Satou S. Shibuya once more. I clicked my tongue.

    So I can''t sustain it?

    Lightning ran up my spine. I stumbled forward and dropped to one knee. It burned, but not enough to stop me. The taste of iron filled my mouth. I spat blood, and it evaporated as it hit the floor. Hazy eyes scanned the surrounding battlefield.

    Darkness surrounded me on all sides. Only the endless field of trash and filth shone a different colour- light from above gave it an almost divine glow. I wagered this to be a dumping section in the maintenance floor. Most districts had one, though it struck me as odd to find it under a school such as KGA.

    What an atrocious scent.

    I needed to know more.

    Golden reiki traced circuitry into the darkness. I scanned the world and found a familiar bench on the surface where sister dearest, Kaede, and I ate together once before. I''d fallen quite a ways to get here. This didn''t strike me as an accident- someone intended to harm me.

    Not to mention I hadn''t seen their face.

    Should I atomize them?

    I strode over to my sword- stuck in the trash, it seemed. My fingers trembled as I gripped the handle. After a long breath, I lifted the weapon.

    Hawkbit felt heavy- it didn''t move the way I wanted, as if denying my right. A glance at my arm revealed dull, faintly glowing circuitry along the surface. I poured more reiki into my body. Soon I could lift my weapon, but not optimally. A one-handed swing would prove difficult.

    "How troublesome!" I whined.

    I couldn''t adjust Hawkbit''s balance- my ability groaned. Why did it refuse to obey? Surface level common sense gave a shocking answer.

    More backlash?

    The boot process for my ability reset.

    Optimization, offline. Alteration, offline. Reinforcement, booting. Reversion finished booting first as basic protocol, but something told me it hadn''t started properly. It needed a reboot, but doing so would leave me a sitting duck. I couldn''t risk it, and not because of impending danger.

    If truly necessary my ability would activate, but at what cost? Even more backlash? My ability slumbered and I watched- it felt tired, exhausted, drained. It would gladly howl and scream in my name if roused. Paltry self-preservation far superceded integrity as a priority.

    "Very irritating." I lifted my sword. "This is quite a handicap, isn''t it?"

    It got worse.

    I turned my head and saw a blue twinkle falling from the sky. Heavier than a mountain, swifter than falling lightning, I learned everything I needed from their entrance. They wouldn''t shine so bright if they weren''t trying to pick a fight. SHIBUYA would oblige. He had to.

    To wean oneself off the wonders of physical confrontation was a difficult prospect. I''d done so fairly well, but just one more couldn''t hurt. A foe such as this, who dared claim any place in the sky above, couldn''t be left alone.

    I''ll crush them.

    Nobody could be allowed to steal SHIBUYA''s spotlight.

 PART ONE, CHAPTER THIRTEEN

    PART ONE, CHAPTER THIRTEEN: "PRINCIPALITY"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    A twinkling blue streak descended.

    The teal meteor illuminated the darkness. It slammed into the hill ahead of me. Assorted cans and broken machines rippled out from the epicenter, scattering oil and grime in all directions. A cloud of dust surrounded me as shadows gave way to effluvial browns and grays.

    Through the darkness, a pair of glowing dots pierced the murk. Eyes, blue eyes. The world rumbled as they focused on their target, a golden beacon in the gloom. Wheezing laughter revealed winding police tape behind the wall of zero visibility- not yellow, but blue.

    Ethereal blue tape snaked through the air and across the ground. GAIA read along the surface, repeated in a blockish and spaced-out font.

    So they''re here¡ª?!

    "On these shoulders!"

    A shooting star cleared the distance.

    Deep blue fists hammered my sword. The weight of the world sent air rushing past- the shockwave blasted through my weapon. Howling winds killed the silence and scattered trash in crumpled ribbons. Not good enough, not by a long shot.

    Sloppy, very sloppy!

    Dozens of impacts traced blue streaks through the air. Ra ta tat tat, I countered each blow with a golden streak of my own. Aurum criss-crossed with blue as stars hammered the visage of a roaring beast. Screaming metal overlaid the creak of bone and the crunch of joints.

    Gravity wept as winds swept up the surrounding trash. Conflicting forces kept debris afloat between the atmospheres of our clash, then exploded as streaks of light clipped them. Twinkling explosions flecked the darkness around our showdown.

    There''s one more!

    The roar of crushed earth marked their stomp. Golden fangs deflected the next blow.

    An aurum paw slammed the earth. I launched forward, using the resultant lip as footing. The enemy''s arm entered my view for a split second- more than enough. Using my momentum to spin, I slammed Hawkbit''s hilt upwards- and in the enemy''s direction.

    Bang! A pointed shock wave jettisoned grime and dirt straight upwards. The cloud funneled towards the heavens into a gaseous cylinder, then dispersed onto the winds.

    As the dust settled my foe stared down at me through wild eyes.

    So this is fortune''s fool?

    Wild cyan hair crackled with a bubbly light. They were a tall- a little shorter than Midas, but a fair deal taller than me. The anti-contamination didn''t hide his toned figure. He''d trained. He''d trained, and trained, and trained. That''s why he didn''t react, even with Hawkbit''s hilt against his jaw.

    The lightning-shaped scar on his forehead made me squint. Yamashina had mentioned in passing a student with a lightning bolt on their head, back when we were planning. I didn''t know the cyan youth, but he looked like a scumbag. His name danced on the tip of my tongue.

    "Kohei Kitamura?" I whispered.

    "That''s right!"

    Kitamura smirked. He moved his chin, allowing Hawkbit''s hilt to slip up. The titan rested his cheek against the cool metal surface as if relaxing on a hot summer''s day.

    "Wanted the fox, but you''ll do. Tough as nails, just like the lady told me!"

    I clicked my tongue. "Is that so?"

    The blue giant punched his palm once, then cracked his neck. He stared at me for a moment, his mouth opening and closing as if deciding what to say. Kitamura touched a thumb to his chin and, after a moment, opened his mouth once more.

    "Shibuya, you ever know a Fran Fairchild?" he said.

    I lowered my sword and hopped backwards.

    Kitamura sniggered. "Been vying for a seat, see. Sat on the Zeta list for a bit, at least until that bitch took my spot." He thumbed towards the school above. "Really thought I could settle for taking it back, but... I don''t know, Alpha seems ripe for the picking right now."

    My brow twitched. ''That bitch?''

    "Lady said I could have the Alpha if I got through you. You know, really gave you the works." Kitamura stretched an arm over his chest. He did the other as well. "Seemed like a bad idea at first, but you? You ain''t looking so hot. I might as well leave the bitch to Betahara."

    I stomped forward and grabbed Kitamura by the rubbery collar. He leered down through mocking eyes, but that didn''t frustrate me. It felt weird to feel so put off by a choice in terminology, yet I couldn''t help but get... angry? Yes, angry.

    Yoshida Yamashina could only be described as stupid. A simple-minded lightning dog with easily misconstrued ill character, the likes of which I''d never seen before. It took a special sort of person to come clean about their malicious tendencies, let alone stating them matter-of-factually. Never before had I seen such filth.

    "She''s a dog." I hissed.

    And yet she came across as earnest. I couldn''t hate someone who knew what they wanted, someone who so honestly prioritized their own satisfaction over that of others.

    I shoved the titan. He took a step backwards and eyed me with a wide grin. The bizarre sort of grin a man gives when he thinks he''s figured you out. Why would he make that face, I wonder? Picturing the mind of one Kohei Kitamura left me seething.

    Only the illustrious and immaculate Satou Shibuya could make assumptions.

    "So that''s what you''re into, huh?"

    I sighed. "Don''t misunderstand, I''m high-maintenance. I wouldn''t fall for the likes of Yoshida Yamashina, even if tasked with repopulating the world after the end. My heart and my body are separate, I won''t settle for anything less than a perfect romance."

    Kitamura snickered. "What the fuck?"

    "Furthermore," I averted my gaze, "I''m testing the depths of my tolerance for imperfection. That mermaid''s bust is incredibly large. I''d prefer not to associate her gloomy face with those assets, it''s a rather confusing feeling. Honestly, how dare she distract me¡ª"

    Blam! A jab rocked my jaw.

    I stumbled backwards, my eyeballs rattling in their sockets. After catching my footing, I licked the blood from my split lip. Both eyes shifted to the titan who struck gold.

    Kohei Kitamura stood with both hands raised and eyes wide open. His gaze skittered between his clenched fists and my bloody mouth. I think he wanted to snicker, but he cleared his throat and started talking with a mocking tone.

    "Oops."

    That''s right, why banter with this fool?!

    Clang! Knuckle clashed with metal. Our battle resumed.

    I stepped backwards, he stomped the earth in front of me. His right hook passed overhead. My knee hammered his ribs, but he didn''t flinch. A supermassive punch clipped the face of my sword, and I went spinning backwards.

    "Show me a good time, golden boy!" he roared.

    My vision spun as mud-laden feet traced spirals. I slid to a halt. His fist greeted me as I turned my head- the titan started moving faster. A slow starter?

    It didn''t matter.

    Swish! Hawkbit traced two vertical arcs. Two lines tore into the distance, forming a massive V on the filth''s surface. A wall of trash rose between us.

    Ra ta tat tat, machine-gun punches blew a dozen holes in the barricade. A right cross cleared the distance- its shock wave hammered my sword. I deflected the force, which rocketed off into the distance. Explosions reached my ears.

    He hits like a truck.

    Kohei Kitamura slid to a halt in front of me, fist cocked.

    "Tch!" I clicked my tongue.

    "The world, on these shoulders!" he roared.

    Reality fought against his superhuman punch.

    I stepped in as rushing winds passed my cheek. Less than an inch separated us. I couldn''t underestimate the strength of this foe- in my current state, a single good blow might down me. I spun, carried on dancing feet.

    In that case¡ª!

    Hawkbit traced a horizontal arc as the sword''s mass spun me. The maneuver conjured a dusty spiral. Metal groaned as golden feet stomped the earth. I redirected Hawkbit''s centrifugal force into an overhead swing, and its spine slammed the titan''s head like a hammer to nail.

    Kitamura recoiled, I advanced.

    He''ll go for a hook next.

    I craned my neck and the world behind me exploded.

    Bang! Hawkbit slammed the top of his head once more. He stumbled, I ducked in. My sword''s spine hammered his jaw for the third blow. Each time he stepped back, he opened himself up for another blow. No, it won''t do.

    Teal lights crackled at his knuckles- he wouldn''t go down so easily. I needed more than just consecutive strikes. If I wanted to win in my weakened state, I''d need to get a little serious.

    I hate it.

    Reiki consumed the world.

    I absolutely hate it!

    Bang! A blue streak slammed my jaw. I stumbled backwards, into a trashed vending machine. That''s right, focus. I glanced at the blue giant and his gaze lit up. To continue fighting- he wanted nothing more than that. It didn''t take a mind reader to see.

    "Shibuya!" he roared.

    "Don''t talk!"

    I moved to deflect a punch, but it slipped over my guard. The phantom streak rocked my forehead. I stumbled backwards, he hooked my chin from below.

    Darkness greeted me through blurry eyes. I hit a wall- no, the floor. The taste of iron filled my mouth. A heavy hand grabbed my collar. The cyan titan, Kohei Kitamura, propped me up on unsteady feet. A bad move.

    Damn it!

    A golden line sawed the horizon in half. Kitamura stumbled to the floor- he''d narrowly dodged my lightning-fast strike. Behind the giant, a mountain of trash collapsed. The avalanche of refuse and worthless metals fell towards the two of us.

    "Tch!" I jumped backwards to avoid being buried. Him too.

    The ground rushed past as I soared backwards through the air. Below, trash filled in the craters of our battle. I landed with an explosive crash and slid to a halt using Hawkbit as a brake. My distant foe greeted me as I glanced over my shoulder.

    Blue tape billowed up from the ground beneath Kohei Kitamura. He stood with both arms crossed, and he stared at me through glowing cyan eyes. He didn''t approach. No, we''d moved past that. Now he wanted to banter.

    "I want that Alpha!" he yelled from across the field.

    "Alpha?" I sneered. A weird sort of venom overwhelmed me. My weakened state didn''t help- rather, it sparked a completely separate case of irritation. "You couldn''t handle Zeta, worm. Remember your place on the food chain and I''ll consider forgiving you!"

    "Oh, you''re one of those!" Kitamura snickered.

    "I suppose I am!"

    The titan cracked his neck. "Seats aren''t indicative of power, bud! Nothing says the Gamma is stronger than the Delta, or that the Alpha is stronger than the Zeta. You''re on top of the Alpha list, but that''s easy when nobody else is on it! Don''t get too big for them britches, golden boy!"

    "You honestly believe that?!"

    "And if I do?!"

    He didn''t understand.

    Kohei Kitamura didn''t realize what purpose he served! A potential Alpha? No, Fran Fairchild positioned him as food for the beast! Kitamura knew half-truths, but not the true nature of the Letter system. He mistakenly assumed that every seat held the same weight. Could he comprehend what it meant to come first? To stand in front of everybody else?

    Laughter left my lips, quiet at first.

    Then louder.

    And louder!

    Who could sleep in the face of such thunderous laughter? I couldn''t contain it, wild cackling escaped! Not just mine. A bestial guffaw, a loud roar like the King atop his throne! You too have come to laugh, little one? The nature of Kohei Kitamura''s confidence, does it tickle your gut as well? I see, let us laugh together!

    "¨|¨|¨y¨|¨|¨y!"

    Guttural laughter became eldritch howling as it reached open air. The visage of a long-eared beast, fangs displayed for all to see, assumed visual stimuli. Bright golden tears dripped to the ground below. More than laughing, my ability wept. It wept at the foolishness of this foe, at the thought that it might never again hear its name.

    "¨|¨|¨y¨|¨|¨y¨|¨|¨y¨|¨|¨y!"

    My laughter slowly subsided. What a wonderful day. I touched a hand to my child''s head and comforted it. Flesh and skin scorched black under the heat of its conviction. No more tears, sweet Prince. I''ll break those chains for you.

    "One thousand foes, chasing the endless aurum." I chanted.

    It all felt so clear now! I understood the world and its inner workings. Slowly, as if wading through honey, I held a burnt hand up in front of my face. Between charcoal black fingers I watched Kitamura bob and weave. Another boxer, is it? Too many of those!

    Reiki traced golden honeycombs along the surrounding space. Aurum fangs tore away at the world- ones and zeroes devoured my existence. Reiki powered this otherworldly code, an operating system without limits. The air grew wild.

    Show them your true colours, little one.

    My ability activated at full power. I felt the toll immediately- my view burned gold as a prince with a thousand foes fooled reality itself. I lifted Hawkbit to the sky.

    Aurum consumed the field. Golden winds swept up filthy machinations, machines left behind by the passage of time. Rust and plastic flashed white then burned red hot. Molten metal swirled through the air like a firestorm as it raced to coat my weapon.

    "So you''re getting serious!" Kitamura raised his fists.

    Hawkbit grew larger and larger until the sword reached three meters in length. The hilt felt like I held a spear- long, but adequate for gripping this colossal weapon. Numbers skittered across my mind like spiders prancing across the water''s surface.

    More.

    Metal stakes unscrewed from the base of the sword''s spine. The blade widened to two meters and lengthened to five. Reiki traced honeycomb cells across the weapon.

    Please, just a little more!

    Hawkbit''s blade spun like a drill- raging winds couldn''t drown out the high-pitched whine. A subterranean tornado sucked in grime, which splattered into burning liquid as it approached. The scene around me spun like a whirlpool.

    "Gaze upon me and weep, Kohei Kitamura! You witness the birth of a miracle!" My golden aura came to life. "The sword before you is the Spiral of Wrath, the Pillar of Golden Prophecy- the newest addition to the King''s arsenal, the completed Hawkbit! Don''t disappoint me, are those muscles of yours just for show?!"

    Blue caution tape wrapped the titan''s arms. He grinned.

    "Then I''ll get serious too!"

    Kohei Kitamura dropped to one knee. He lifted both hands above his head. A flickering sphere manifested above him- the so-called weight of the world. Muscle rippled as he spun the massive blue globe in the palm of his left hand, almost like a basketball. That blue rotation threatened to drag me in if I didn''t plant my feet.

    "I''ll carry it all!" Kitamura roared. "Demons ain''t nothing, I got the world on my shoulders! Can you bust my ace before it dunks you?!"

    The world beyond SHIBUYA''s zone could crush mountains- he intended to throw that, right? I understood why Kohei Kitamura had been on the Zeta list. It didn''t matter if he had one projectile, that one projectile could crush anything with its destructive force.

    That deep blue world, the endless dream it conveyed¡ª

    "I''ll shatter it, just like the Moon!"

    Hawkbit roared a crimson streak across swirling trash as I pointed it towards Kitamura. I held the sword under my arm, like a horse-mounted knight with a lance.

    Kitamura stomped the earth- the shock wave nearly toppled me. He stepped forward once, then twice, as a teal glow solidified ribbons along the surface of his body. He entered within twenty meters- the domain of my activated imperial regalia. I couldn''t forgive such impertinence.

    "Atlas, it''s me and you!" he roared.

    With a thunderous boom, he released that blue globe.

    The massive sphere shot forward. Dark blue undulated across the ocean-coloured surface. It traced a deep teal trail through the filth and parted the sea of trash like a gift from the heavens. Except, he didn''t launch it at me.

    To his right?!

    If I hadn''t watched, I wouldn''t have been able to react.

    Fwoom! The sphere shot into the distance, treading up the ground like a bulldozer. It turned into a shooting star in the darkness, a zig-zagging stream of blue light. It circled around faster than a speeding bullet, but I could see it. I could stop it.

    Feet planted, eyes glittering, I lifted my left arm into the air. Armour clad the limb''s surface as I spun around. Hawkbit traced a molten semi-circle across the rusted sea as I changed directions.

    Screeee! Metal whined as I propped the spinning Hawkbit onto my left palm.

    I curved my fingers to get a better grip on the weapon. Red twinkles consumed the drill''s surface, and golden lines shone through the crimson veneer. The heat burned through my arm''s metallic plating- the fingers within burst into flames.

    Reiki gathered in my right hand as I assumed the third form of the Path of Jupiter''s crimson winds. Once. Only once. Such a foe proved stronger than Satsuki Sanae, but weaker than Fran Fairchild. I knew how much power to use, how to reduce this enemy to nothing. Even without my full power I could crush this man.

    "El-Ahrairah! This is your stage!"

    The ground exploded as I shot forward to meet Kitamura''s world. Golden reiki launched me like the boosters on a fighter jet. My surroundings became a golden blur as I thrust Hawkbit forward, blasting tunnels through mountains of filth.

    Metal ground against a material I couldn''t place. Gold sparks turned blue as our paths crossed. An earth-shaking boom scattered fire and residual ash in all directions.

    Fsshhh! The blue globe spun opposite to Hawkbit''s drill- they ground against each other. Lashing winds tore through my anti-contamination suit- I needed both hands. With a roar, I rerouted more reiki towards propulsion. Shrike''s crimson spike formed at Hawkbit''s tip.

    "You won''t break it!" Kitamura yelled.

    I rocketed past the globe. My feet traced scarlet trails through the grime as I spun to a halt with Hawkbit as my brake. I slammed the drill to the ground, ejected a burning hot cartridge, and funneled molten metal into the weapon''s chamber.

    Vree! Hawkbit''s drill roared to life with renewed vigor.

    Over my shoulder, a blue streak of light danced through the darkness. I recalled the time sister dearest and I saw a meteor shower.

    So this is a Zeta candidate''s power?

    If a failed Zeta like Kohei Kitamura held this much power, what about Yoshida Yamashina? What about the candidate who took his spot on the list? How would the golden girl''s true power fare against Genjou Gekkouhara''s, or even my own? I tightened my grip.

    A whine filled my head.

    "You think I don''t know that?" I murmured.

    That''s right, El-Ahrairah and I were the strongest. It didn''t matter how mighty the golden girl, the snake, or even this titan were- SHIBUYA stood above them all, a god among men with power on par with the stars. I couldn''t lose to anyone, especially not a failure like Kohei Kitamura.

    I recalled a valiant red-haired girl- a swordsman who couldn''t fathom the idea of losing. We weren''t similar, not at all. After all, SHIBUYA had no match.

    From the left... it''s tracking me.

    Kitamura''s world tore through the darkness- I swung Hawkbit like a bat. Blue sparks melted rubber to my skin. The globe shot into the distance as an explosive shockwave sent me sliding backwards. That wouldn''t stop it, not a chance. How long could I get away with fooling around? I needed to blow it away, to go further.

    Golden lights coalesced at Hawkbit''s tip. Metal expanded outward and jets of flame burst from the gaps- a four-pointed star of fire. Hawkbit''s layers peeled back like a pine tree and spun against each other, scattering sparks. A metallic spike emerged from Hawkbit''s tip- a last minute modification to this sword, the true Golden King''s grand finale.

    This''ll be a good time to test it!

    A blue streak zig-zagging towards me. Its settled into a straight line and sped up- the boom burst flattened any trash it passed over. Winds at its back gathered to form a horizontal twister, a burning tornado that left a bright red streak along the ground. It got crazier.

    Kitamura appeared on the globe''s top in a blue flash of light. He dropped into a low stance as if surfing atop waves of molten metal. It had to be part of his ability- he could teleport to his globe, the world he''d been tasked to carry until the end of time.

    "Here he comes!" he roared. "It''s Skyscraper Kitamura''s special shot!"

    Time slowed- I registered each nanosecond.

    A deep blue bullet hungered, and I decided to meet it with arms outstretched.

    "Come!"

    Bang! That globe hit home.

    Sky-coloured death called for order as its surface ground against me. No, it pushed me. My vision became a blurry mess of red and black. I felt my knees creak under the weight of the world- the fluids that lubricated my joints burst into flames. My left eye went dull under the assault of bright sparks and magnificent lights. Beneath flesh, bone burned black.

    And yet, SHIBUYA would not break.

    "Shortcut¡ª Panzerstein!"

    Golden circuitry illuminated the darkness.

    Twisted machinery overlaid chrome flesh. Ash and brimstone blasted from the exhaust, the remnants of a man who''d gone further, howled louder than any other. A flesh-consuming inferno twinkled the colour of a sky in flame, a brilliant gold with no match in heaven or earth. Glittering aurum eyes traced a star streak through the gloom.

    My armour-plated fingers dug into the world, scraping five lines across its deep blue surface. The globe''s rotational speed accelerated the process- golden sparks dragged a white hot trail across the surface of Kohei Kitamura''s ability.

    "You''ve got something good going!" Kitamura knelt to look at me. He grinned.

    "Durability is workable." El-Ahrairah''s engine spun to life.

    "The hell are you mumbling about?!"

    Golden reiki exploded behind me- thrusters fought back against a supersonic projectile. Reiki converted to propulsion on contact with the air. The world behind me melted, consumed by the flickering golden dawn. We passed through hell and back. I had to reward my newest creation''s god-given tenacity.

    Let''s go, little one.

    "Now, a test of strength!" I roared.

    My feet dug into the floor, aided by armour-mounted stakes. Something snapped- it fell back into place shortly after. I''d learned everything I needed about Kitamura''s globe.

    Atlas''s projectile couldn''t penetrate Panzerstein''s armour- it worked best against foes with lesser defenses. Demons relied on regenerative power over durability to win battles of attrition, and this ability countered that splendidly. Considering its long range, Kohei Kitamura had a promising future as a Meister ahead of him.

    As expected, I''m superior!

    Hawkbit''s handle glowed red hot with anticipation. I stomped forward and slammed my left palm against Kitamura''s ace- it ground against the surface, setting the sphere ablaze.

    "Tch!" Kitamura hopped off, no doubt to avoid my next attack.

    "Path of Jupiter, first unarmed form," I twisted my palm. "Sparrows."

    A thousand birds chirped.

    Raging winds tore across the battlefield, scattering dust and grime in all directions. The spin of my foe''s globe paused for a moment. Then, as if smashed with a hammer, it cracked. I removed my hand and watched the sphere float backwards, as if suspending in the air. What felt like an eternity passed before my next move.

    "This is it!" I lifted Hawkbit.

    "Damn it!"

    Fwoom. A heavy impact slammed the floating sphere- Hawkbit''s stake. The blue orb cracked further, once more faced with my might, then began spinning anew.

    Sparks singed my visor. Crimson winds coalesced with golden lightning on Hawkbit''s surface- it fought back against the weight of the world with ease. I stomped forward and the globe bounced back. It lunged forward once more, grinding against Hawkbit''s spike. What a laughable ability, it couldn''t recognize its own loss!

    "I''ve decided your fate¡ª!"This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    "So he''s not all talk?!" Kitamura clicked his tongue.

    Hawkbit''s talons dug into the blue sphere- they tore burning black scars across its marred and warped surface. Unquestionable might raised that eight-meter sphere above my head. I sneered as I pulled the golden trigger.

    "Shatter, just like the Moon."

    Hawkbit''s spike sank to its maximum depth.

    Burning air scorched the heavens. SHIBUYA''s newest toy forced super-heated gas skyward. The ground burned red-hot, and colossal cables dripped molten metal. A raging inferno engulfed the world, and everything above turned to ash. Ceiling-bound plastic, carbon wiring, everything scattered to dust on the winds of destruction.

    A burning whirlwind annihilated all moisture in the air. The ceiling screamed like a boiling kettle. Only the thump of a spike falling back into place killed the noise. Melted and malformed, like the rails of an electromagnetic gun. Hawkbit spat an empty shell from its side. It hit the ground and splattered into molten metal.

    Seismic activity rocked the maintenance floor, which sent trash and machinery flying in all directions. Gravity wept as air pressure kept matter afloat. Vibrations saturated the atmosphere, which detonated our surroundings in a flash of glittering golden stars. My handiwork soon became apparent.

    The blue world dropped to the ground with an explosive bang. Half of it melted into the trash below, like water soaking into dirt. It couldn''t withstand the heat. Blue sparks consumed the orb''s remainders. It disappeared into thin air.

    Still, this is quite amazing!

    Hawkbit survived El-Ahrairah''s tantrum.

    "I suppose that''s cause to remember you, hm?" I lowered my sword. "You''ve truly impressed me. From a single longsword to a weapon capable of handling the little one, is it? I must give credit where credit is due. You have your place in my archive."

    Colour returned as El-Ahrairah''s engine spun to a halt.

    Panzerstein''s pieces scattered into golden particles. Everything clicked back into place- fingers, eyes, skin, bone, my body put itself back together. I stumbled to the ground at the sudden sensation, dropping my prized Hawkbit. My stomach turned. I vomited on the malformed clump of metal next to my face. It tasted like iron.

    Damn it.

    The world around me looked like a blur. Studies showed that I should have been near-sighted, but apparently my ability corrected minor imperfections. I swept my gaze across the world until I noticed a blue blur in the distance.

    Kitamura stumbled backwards. He was enclosed in a one meter line that stretched into eternity. Flames surrounded him on both sides. The titan fell to the ground bottom first.

    Yes, I almost forgot.

    Try as I might to retrieve my sword, but it didn''t budge. Satou Shibuya lacked the strength to wield such a mighty weapon. What a sad thought.

    "Worm," I pushed myself up. "Listen well."

    "Now we''re talking!" Kitamura''s shaking legs actively denied the enthusiasm in his voice.

    I spat on the ground. "The Gamma must be a strong Burner, the Zeta must have strong long-range capabilities. The Beta must be the fastest Chaser, while the Delta must be a powerful Vanguard. As one goes down the list, criteria like this tend to pop up. There are two Letters, however, with more absurd criteria- the Alpha and the Omega."

    I couldn''t place the Omega''s criteria- those were far more vague than Alpha''s criteria. Something so odd, something so bizarre, to be Alpha you needed but one thing. Or rather, many things.

    "Vanguard, Meister, Chaser, Support, Burner- the Alpha must be able to do them all." I turned around. "An unstoppable juggernaut of an existence, a god among men with no match among the demon-infested stars. Few have held this title before me, worm. Quallen of the Boreal Sword, Ryashen Ryulong, and before both of them, Sylvia Schneider. Have you heard those names?"

    Upon receiving no response, I turned back around.

    How foolish.

    Both fists to the ground, I watched my foe push himself off the ground on shaking feet. His blue eyes burned with an endless fervor, an undying tenacity. This hadn''t happened before. Nobody had simply gotten up after one of SHIBUYA''s demonstrations. He had to be delusional.

    "You''re out," I said.

    "You too¡ª?!"

    I stepped forward and stomped the titan''s gut. He collapsed, hacking and coughing. His strength and durability didn''t protect him- we were at the same backlash-themed costume party now. That didn''t stop his struggle. Both palms in the trash, I watched the youth force himself back up. How frustrating.

    "I said you''re out!" I roared.

    "Not ye¡ª"

    My next kick crumpled him once more.

    "Not¡ª"

    And the next one.

    "N¡ª"

    And the next one after that.

    After the tenth kick, I clicked my tongue. He kept getting up, no matter how hard I kicked him. What''s more, he didn''t seem particularly fazed by my assault. Only a little winded. Anger at my foe''s tenacity soon shifted to frustration at my body''s weakness.

    I stepped forward and stomped on my foe''s face. He held up both arms, a foolish attempt at guarding. I kicked them aside and resumed by attack. Stomp, stomp, stomp. Soon it turned to monotony. He didn''t want it to stop. I took a deep breath¡ª

    "Got you." He grabbed my leg.

    "Tch!"

    He disrupted my footing and threw me to the ground. I landed on my back. Before I realized, he''d mounted me. This wasn''t a game to him anymore, I could see it in his eyes. Kohei Kitamura was a true battle junkie, on par with the likes of Midas.

    Kitamura clenched his fists. "Grit your teeth."

    I spat in his face.

    "Yeah, this is the way it should be!"

    A punch hammered my temple. My face snapped to the side. Blood dripped into my left eye from my brow. It stung, it really stung.

    "Come on, where''s the moxie now?!" he yelled.

    I slammed my knee into his groin. Kitamura crumpled to his side and I jumped to my feet. I glanced around until I saw what looked like a baseball bat, malformed and twisted as the result of our battle. Jagged edges marked its surface. I strode over and grabbed the weapon.

    Impertinent!

    Kitamura flinched when he saw what I found. I returned to him with the baseball bat lifted high above his head. My focus shifted to his knees. Maybe he''d realize where he stood if he never stood again. If he recognized his place beneath my feet, that would be nice as well. It couldn''t be helped, I decided another demonstration to be necessary.

    I gathered reiki, but my ability didn''t accept it. El-Ahrairah had gone to sleep. I could only rely on my own strength. It wasn''t any different than usual.

    "Do it." Kitamura scowled.

    "Okay."

    Then, as I went to swing¡ª

    "Is anyone hurt down there?!"

    Kengo Kusanagi''s familiar voice filled our ears. My eyes shifted to the left, towards the all too distant patch of white in the sky. Crisp, modern machinery met our eyes. Patches of white, red, gold, and green descended to the maintenance floor.

    Someone set up a mobile lift above- I wagered this to be the case. They were a staple of emergency rescues, used primarily on steady ground to bring medical supplies and other necessities to where someone had fallen.

    This won''t do, not at all.

    I tossed the baseball bat aside. Kitamura heaved a mighty sigh once he saw I''d dropped the weapon. He sat up straight and propped himself up against a rusty guard rail.

    I saw a white-clad figure wearing a red cap a long ways off. In the distance, a four-legged all-terrain machine pointed an arm in our direction. I recognized this as a Junebug, a piloted machine developed in America. Most Junebugs were fitted with super-heated blades and flamethrowers that allowed normal humans to fight against demons. This one was an emergency model.

    The Junebug stood six meters tall. Its namesake was its vaguely beetle-shaped body. Four folding legs, mounted with retractable wheels for use in urban environments, connected to a chassis under its bulky frame. Two metal plates opened up on its back like cannons on a certain turtle from a certain pet game, and that''s where the Junebug''s arms appeared from. The machine''s joints were large and bulky, but also durable- large metal cylinders protected the delicate machinery within. This particular Junebug was white with a brilliant red cross on both sides.

    Oh bother, I''m gushing.

    The Junebug shone a bright white light on us. It went to work spraying foam at us to extinguish the surrounding flames. The concoction''s scent stung my nose.

    "How unnecessary!" I whined as I shielded my eyes.

    We were swarmed by Niflheim''s white-clad Medical Staff (hereon shortened to MS) in an instant. They''d gotten me propped up before I could tell them not to bother. A single touch from one such MS was all it took- a masked man read back my current condition to me.

    "This one is the Alpha, sister. Satou Schneider. Bruised eye, fractured orbit. First-degree backlash- minor stress on the nerve-connected circuitry. The reiki system is swelling, but the complex itself has been strained by overuse. No other issues," he said.

    "This one... a Zeta candidate, brother. Kohei Kitamura. Fractured ribs, second and third-degree burns, ruptured testicle. Second-degree backlash- it''ll heal over time, but the rest is serious. We should get him to the medical bay." The other MS, a masked woman, spoke.

    Kitamura clicked his tongue. "I''m fine."

    "You are not fine. You will be fine if you come with us but, left in your current state, there''s anon-zero chance that you won''t be able to have children in the future. If you come with us then our superhumans will be able to heal you."

    Maybe that did it, but Kitamura didn''t resist. A pair of machines lifted Kitamura onto a stretcher and then carried him over to the distant Junebug. The back opened up, much like an ambulance, and they slid him into place. I almost wanted to laugh as the Junebug trotted off into the distance. Machines emulating a walk always struck me as amusing, in a weird sense.

    Like a child learning its own walk cycle.

    As I took a deep breath, the male MS propped me up. I went to work scraping the foam off myself. It really made me sick- I couldn''t stomach the stuff. When I considered plugging my nose, I saw a familiar face pass by a group of white medical droids.

    A tall, burly man with a wild red ponytail stared at me fiery eyes- Kengo Kusanagi. One could almost imagine a mane of fire around his neck. Who wore it better? The answer was me.

    Wait, what are they doing here?

    The golden girl and the snake stood behind Mr. Kusanagi, both breathing laboriously. This struck me as odd, but further thought dispelled my confusion. It made sense, right? Obviously they''d continued fighting after I fell from the roof. I told myself this.

    Both parties knew that I''d be fine. Genjou simply by nature of being Genjou, and Yoshida Yamashina because I''d quipped about my longevity. I made it abundantly clear that Satou Shibuya couldn''t die a fool''s death.

    What a frustrating bunch.

    With wooden sword in hand, Kengo Kusanagi strode over. Artificial grime and effluvia seemed to part wherehe stepped, and his straw sandals remained pristine and untarnished. He came to a halt in front me. The Kusanagi clan''s red eyes scanned me. The man nodded, perhaps satisfied with whatever conclusion he''d come to.

    "Kids these days," mumbled Mr. Kusanagi. He scratched his head. A peculiar expression spread across the man''s face. "The kids over there told me a Kohei Kitamura caused the escalation. You... aren''t that kid, are you mister Kusanagi clan dropout. Satou Shibuya?"

    I frowned. "You can tell?"

    "Your aura says it all, kid."

    What a stupid notion.

    "So?" I dusted myself off. The male MS began wrapping gauze around my brow. "Considering Niflheim''s Emergency First Response Unit is here, should I assume this is a little more damning that a schoolyard brawl? One bark for yes, two for no."

    "Bark."

    "What? Gross! It''s true that my word is law, and I probably shouldn''t be saying this, but you should assume that a large portion of what comes out of my mouth is rambling or conjecture. If you notice I''ve made a bizarre request, there''s a very high chance that I don''t actually want you to fulfill it. Why does nobody get this?"

    Mr. Kusanagi rolled his eyes. "Can''t please you, huh."

    "Apparently not!"

    "Well, here''s what''s gotta happen. We''ll get Kitamura''s statement later. Since you''re relatively fine, you''ve gotta own up to what happened. We gotta head down to the Principal''s office, and you have to explain why there''s a gaping hole in the side of the field."

    "Oh, that''s all? What about the game?" I frowned.

    "We''ll get an earth manipulator to fill it in. This is part of the curriculum, so we can''t really stop. Being that you''re the Alpha and all, I think the Principal will be lenient if you act nice. At least, provided there isn''t anything particularly damning you want to tell me about this encounter, dropout. Anything you want to come clean about?" Mr. Kusanagi squinted.

    "I kneed that man''s testicles." I puffed out my chest.

    "You seem... very proud of that."

    "Now that you mention it, I am quite proud!"

    Mr. Kusanagi rolled his eyes but didn''t comment. Every fiber of his being questioned my morals, I could see it on his face. It took an almost divine level of tact to avoid retorting. I had to respect that. The man stepped aside, and the two students behind him rushed over.

    First to arrive was Genjou Gekkouhara. The snake slid to a halt in front of me, nearly tripping over a trash can in the process. He knelt then gave me a once over. His expression didn''t change, but I heard a small sigh. The green-haired youth grinned.

    "My, you really took a beating." The snake motioned towards the distant Hawkbit, a mechanical monstrosity birthed by El-Ahrairah''s might. "Someone caught you off guard."

    "Nonsense, I planned this entire outing."

    Genjou extended a hand. "I believe you, don''t worry."

    I groaned but took his hand. Gross. "That''s not the face of a man who believes me. As expected, you truly don''t understand the exalted Satou Shibuya''s splendor. I always believed you were terrible at lying, and this only proves my thoughts."

    Genjou snickered. The snake pulled me to my feet. He glanced to the rather glum looking Yoshida Yamashina, then to me. He sized me up with a smile, then put a finger to his chin.

    "So how does defeat taste, Satorio?"

    "I''ve never lost." The corners of my mouth drooped.

    "And how does it feel?" Genjou tilted his head.

    "As if I''d know. Like I said, I''ve never lost."

    Genjou squinted.

    What''s with that look?

    I glanced over Genjou''s shoulder, at the cross-armed Yoshida Yamashina. I shoved past the snake and stepped towards the golden girl. She stared up at me with sharp eyes, saying nothing even when I cleared my throat. How troublesome, couldn''t she take a hint?

    Desperate times call for desperate measures.

    The exalted Satou Shibuya did not rely on others. Not for any particular reason. They simply could not meet my fast-increasing quality standard. However, I could justify it. Though I loathed to admit it, we were a team. One could argue my classmates were extensions of my legacy. In this scenario I couldn''t be faulted.

    "Yoshida Yamashina," I said.

    "Yes?"

    After all, I relied only on myself.

    "You should know already," I spoke, "but I absolutely hate losing. I reject failure in every way, shape, and form. This is not failure. I have not failed, and thus there is nothing to reject. Additionally, I still don''t like looking at you. You''re too distracting."

    Yamashina nodded. "Even now you reek of vanilla, Shibuya. It''s overpowering, and I''d suggest a gentler scented conditioner. If you can do that much, I''ll consider looking past your sharp tongue."

    I frowned. "Who do you think you are?"

    "I should be asking the same question!"

    As expected, this girl irritates me to no end!

    Still, the rather foxy Yoshida Yamashina could be reliable at times. When bound to a table like the climax of a spy movie, she''d no doubt save the day at the last second. Also, what''s with that blinding speed? She caught a quick-witted snake like Genjou off guard, I saw it myself.

    "You should know that your touch still disgusts me. I hate it when people touch me. You can''t possibly know what or who a person has done, where they''ve been, or if they washed their hands afterwards." Just the thought made me gag.

    "Are you okay?" Yamashina squinted.

    "W-With that in mind, understand I do not take a handshake lightly. Today is a special case. You''re lucky I''m wearing even a torn suit such as this. I wouldn''t dare touch you with my bare hands..."

    Yamashina''s expression soured.

    "...But if I know you''ve taken the proper precautions, I wouldn''t mind shaking hands with you. Someday. Without these bizarre, fetishistic suits, rather. So, erm... be satisfied with this for now."

    I took a deep breath and extended my hand. The golden girl watched my hand through wide eyes, saying nothing. She slowly glanced up to my face. Again, what''s with that look? I thought she might laugh for a moment, her bottom lip quivered so much.

    Instead, she took my hand.

    Her palm still felt rugged, even through two layers of anti-contamination suits. I''m not sure what I expected- I''d already confirmed this before. The sensation made me a little queasy, and the golden girl''s firm grip only exacerbated the problem. Still, her hand was warm.

    "Very well," said Yoshida Yamashina. "I''ll accept this gesture of friendship."

    "I''m accepting your gesture of friendship."

    Maybe she thought my pride a joke, but she laughed. A quiet laughter, as if she tried to contain it. The girl cleared her throat, took a deep breath, then nodded. Her steely gaze locked with my own.

    "We won''t lose, I promise."

    I nodded.

    <hr>-S0022-<hr>

    General Academies were not the same as other schools.

    Buildings were segregated off under the assumption that first years would go into slaying. Pesky second years and loathsome third years were cooped away as bad influences, dark ideals running counter to the dogma preached on flyers and ads. In the eyes of Yggdrasil''s administration, a superhuman who can''t contribute to mankind''s war has no worth. A superhuman who won''t contribute is beneath that, an existence that Orwellian practices actively erased from the mainstream media.

    Kawagusa General Academy was no different. The second and third year buildings were a full ten minute walk away from the front gates of the premise. You were forced to acknowledge two decrepit, almost archaic school houses on your walk to the Principal''s office. Not concrete, but wood. Screen doors and tiled roofing marked the scene of education for KGA''s second years. I actively ignored the third year building. It could hardly be called adequate for teaching, let alone learning. Administration''s mindset troubled me to no end.

    I''ll be in one of those buildings next year.

    A precious cousin on Vanaheim once told me of her school''s learning conditions. Small desks filled gloomy rooms that students themselves were tasked with cleaning, and that had been her second year. She spoke of her third year with a look of recollection, as if parsing darkness from light. She seemed much happier after her now fiance''s proposal, but it pained me to remember her tired voice. From what she described, Vanaheim treated its third years better than Niflheim. That scared me to no end.

    Thus, after Mr. Kusanagi lead me to the Principal''s Office, I had a number of ill thought questions swirling through my mind. That wouldn''t do, I needed to save them for another time.

    The Principal''s "office" looked like a home more than anything else- a traditional Sengoku-era house, surrounded on all sides by bamboo. Counter to its antiquated look, it sported sleek metal foundation to fend off Niflheim''s harsh year-round winters. A stone path traced a serpentine line over a number of small ponds. The water came up to my knee, I gauged this by eye.

    It all struck me as a little gaudy.

    I was lead up to a sliding door and made to stand on the landing, adjacent to the entrance. The cream-coloured wall at my back stank of mud. I couldn''t attribute this to the structure itself, but I avoided leaning against the wall just in case.

    "Who dares keep me waiting?" I crossed my arms.

    "She''s got a guest right now," Mr. Kusanagi said. "Our mock demon arrived a little faster than expected. I was greeting the lady at the back entrance when Gekkouhara and Yamashina told me about your altercation with Kitamura. We got a good one this year."

    "A good one?"

    The door behind me slid open.

    This is his idea of a good one?

    Winter came early. Wavy hair, whiter than snow itself, bounced against broad shoulders- much too broad for a Japanese woman. Alabaster strands clung to her slender waist and wide hips, the latter of which swung to and fro with each step. Her black faux fur coat danced on the wind as she emerged from the the Principal''s office. The click of high heels against the metal platform caught more than just my eyes.

    I saw Mr. Kusanagi hone in on the woman''s tight-fitting dress shirt, embroiled in constant battle against the buxom figure attributed in popular fiction to the west. Black pants clung to long legs, but ended just above the ankles to reveal a silver bangle on her left leg. She worked a casual, almost nonchalant gait as she entered view. The key ring she spun on her index finger agreed.

    As per usual, Fran Fairchild was enticing.

    Wait, why is she here?!

    Fran whistled an unfamiliar tune as she walked. She went down the first step and paused, then glanced over her shoulder. Pink eyes focused on Mr. Kusanagi (who hastily averted his gaze) and then to me. Her sweat-drenched brow tensed for a moment.

    "If it isn''t everyone''s favourite top-scoring first year student," Fran spun around. She wore a smile on her face. "Born May 8th, 2041, Satou Shibuya."

    I scowled. "It''s creepy if you recite it back so naturally."

    "So what brings you here?"

    "T-That''s my question to you, rather."

    Fran leaned against the staircase railing. She rested both elbows on the bars and puffed her chest out. I didn''t avert my gaze. One can''t be faulted if they aren''t looking directly at them- I justified my sneaky glances at her rather impressive assets like this. Maybe Fran noticed, but she snickered.

    "Funny story about that." Fran leaned forward. Mountains disappeared behind her coat''s horizon. "The Boss sent me to test the new blood since we''re proctoring. I''m in the middle of testing a certain red vampire when the Boss calls. Says I should help out an old member of the Karatsuba crew as a mock demon for her students. And, well, hello. I''m here. It''s me."

    "Leave."

    "Oh, okay."

    I blinked. "That simple, is it?"

    "Not really. The Satou Shibuya handling document," Fran slapped her right breast pocket, "says I''m supposed to say what you want to hear. It lists a bunch of weird tricks too. Apparently I can hypnotically influence you if I whisper in your ear while you''re staring into space? Or, with a simple shift in tone and posture, I can stimulate part of your brain to suggest that I''m a lovable person?"

    "How foolish, the illustrious and immaculate Satou Shibuya isn''t stupid." At least, I didn''t think so. That meant I wasn''t. "If it were that simple then winning me over would be the least of your worries. I''m quite amazing, you see."

    "Besides," she continued as if I hadn''t spoke, "I''ve got some other fish in the pan too. A Beta, a Gamma, an Omicron, a Zeta candidate, and dare I say the Kusanagi''s precious Omega candidate."

    Mr. Kusanagi chimed in. "You''re gonna try our heir, huh?"

    "Her aptitude test results were off the charts. A one-hundred percent immortality ratio, god given talent with the sword, and combat parameters on par with the head honcho''s pet project." Fran thumbed in my direction. "I can''t help but get excited. What was her name again? Having trouble, give me a sec."

    I clicked my tongue.

    Fran smirked. "Keiko Kusanagi, right?"

    "Damn right!" Mr. Kusanagi beat his chest. "You better start your family plan, lady. Keep an eye out. With our little girl on the front lines, you might live to see a world without demons."

    The pale woman shrugged her shoulders. After a moment, she continued down the stairs without a word. She got maybe five meters away before she stopped. Fran turned around and stuck one hand into her coat. She glanced in my direction.

    "I almost forgot! You wanted it, so here it is!"

    The woman tossed something, which I caught.

    It looked like a collar of some sort, no doubt for a pet- black leather, studded with solid gold. Expensive, for sure. Blurry eyes scanned the object''s surface, and on the inside I found a phone number. The thought that it might be Fran''s left me frustrated, but not as frustrated as what I failed to notice. I heard Mr. Kusanagi staving off laughter.

    "Kid, what did you do?" he snickered.

    "Pardon me, but I''ll need a little more than that to discern the problem here. I''m not one for hints, but in this scenario I''ll allow one. Maybe two. Rather, I''ll allow as many as I ask for."

    Mr. Kusanagi traced a circle with his finger.

    I turned the collar around and immediately realized the problem. On the collar''s front rested a single golden plate, etched with the name "FRAN." My eye twitched.

    What a farce!

    "L-Look," Mr. Kusanagi said, "you should probably head in to, uh, meet the Principal. Don''t want to keep her waiting. I''m sure you''ve got a lot to discuss, and, er--"

    "Very well!" I huffed.

    Maybe he thought it funny, but the red-head teacher slid open the front door and motioned inside. A low murmur reached my ears, no doubt in mocking jest, but I scarcely deciphered the man''s mumbling. Nothing to be done, it seemed.

    I stepped into the Principal''s office.

    As expected, the former Omicron knows how to please.

    Anachronistic to the building''s outward feudal roots were the amenities attributed to modern society. Checkered marble flooring smoothed to a reflective surface, such that separating individual tiles by eye felt impossible. The floor looked like a single marble plate, polished and cut specifically to suit this exact room. Amber-coloured eyes reflected my own on the ground below.

    Shelves and glass window cabinets filled out the back of the room, but couldn''t block out the sun''s light which filtered through a series of circular windows. I couldn''t spy any familiar titles. Barring my weakened eyesight, it seemed like none of the books were labeled. My mind raced to guess how many were journals and how many were fake books, used to pad out the shelves.

    A black hemmed carpet formed an oval in the room''s center, upon which sat a glossy wooden desk that formed a rather square U-shape. Mahogany, I wagered. The common articles presented themselves atop- pencils, personal affects (a kaleidoscope), a plastic stand containing a number of cream-coloured folders, etc. More important was the steel-edged obsidian plate, upon which read the Principal''s name: Robin D. Shiranui.

    "So you''re here." Her voice was mature, dare I say cool.

    I nodded.

    The Principal sat in the sort of chair one might attribute to a President of the United States- a black leather monster of a seat, custom made for one person and one alone.

    Robin D. Shiranui was the idea of authority. She wore neat black hair in a coiled bun behind her head, suspended in place by two intersecting red glass hairpins. Bangs parted at the front to show off her forehead and, more importantly, the scar that ran from above the right brow to beneath the left eye. Her lips curved downward at the ends, creating a perpetual scowl. The cerulean tie around her neck fell over her black dress shirt and disappeared into the white formal vest she wore over top. The platinum-plated belt at her hips read "HOPE," and it fastened tight-fitting white dress pants firmly against her hips.

    The brown mink coat resting on her shoulders couldn''t hide the slender figure beneath. A constant tapping brought attention to brown dress shoes, worn atop impatient feet. Magenta eyes peered out from across clasped hands, which formed a bridge beneath her nose. Her presence almost masked the imposing machination at her back.

    A low, almost electronic growl caught my focus.

    At the Principal''s back stood a four-legged monstrosity, a marvel of modern technology- a BIG BAD unit, assigned to ESPers on the battlefield to defend themselves. The quadruped stood two meters tall. White plates started at a lengthy, crocodilian head. Traditionally the BIG BAD''s fangs were deposited after biting, then detonated from within. The name "KILLJOY" read in bright purple across the jagged, almost organic plating that clad the machine''s too slender frame. A lengthy black cable extended from its back, no doubt the tail.

    Oh dear, it''s happening again.

    As I cleansed the palate, the door behind me slid shut. I glanced over my shoulder and found a certain Kusanagi nowhere to be seen. He left me alone with the Principal and her pet, if it could be called that. What an irritating thought.

    "Your childish bout has caused me no small amount of trouble, Satou Schneider the current Alpha. Your ability is El-Ahrairah, the Prince With A Thousand Enemies. What have you to say for yourself, child of Sol Dios?" The Principal''s expression didn''t change as she spoke.

    "A former Zeta candidate by the name of Kohei Kitamura struck first. Look, I have gauze on my brow. I look like I stepped out of a battle manga. Left with no other options, I defended myself using my power as the current Alpha."

    "You caused structural damage to the district using your power as the Alpha. I suspect the explosion of three nights prior was your doing as well, and your squirming confirms this. You''ve gravely inconvenienced the people of Niflheim. Not just them."

    I scoffed. "That''s nonsense-"

    "I did not say you could speak, boy. What I''ve stated is fact, there is no room for discussion. Your childish antics three nights prior knocked out telephone lines in the northeastern Kagami district. The mainland contacted us under the assumption that Night Parade #734 had invaded. Does this clarify the gravity of your actions?"

    "Both of those cases were beyond my control. That man, Sol Dios, sent Fran Fairchild to test me three nights ago. What the mainland witnessed was a demonstration of the strength they covet. I am not to blame for the whimsical decisions of that man. Furthermore, Kohei Kitamura called upon his strength as a failed Zeta candidate in our bout."

    The Principal sneered. "Yet you thought fit to use the Alpha''s power against a Zeta, let alone a mere candidate? Consider the tale you tell from my perspective, child."

    What a frustrating woman!

    "I can forgive that statement. Snide comments and insults kept to oneself have no bearing in a discussion of words, thus I will ignore them."

    "Don''t you dare read my mind." I scowled.

    "You''re an open book."

    "Is that so?"

    I''m not sure why the Principal''s gaze narrowed. She slid her elbows off the desk top and leaned backwards in her seat. "Yes, and I can also tell that you regret your actions. Do not comment. Do not speak, I see the venom in your eyes. Regardless of what you''ve done, you are still the Alpha, a precious gift, a twinkling star in the night sky. Thus, I will be lenient."

    I snorted.

    "Junko Shiranui, that name should mean something to you."

    "Of course," I crossed my arms. "Junko Shiranui, the fifteenth highest scoring first year student with a final result of ninety-two percent. She finished her test in nine minutes."

    "You should also know that she hasn''t shown up to school a single time since the year started. That daughter of mine, so bright, but her brother whisked her away to the underside of this island of children and animals. You''ve heard of it, haven''t you? The Gekkou District."

    "As an ESPer, you already know my answer."

    "Yes, you and your unruly bunch of comrades wasted valuable potential in petty squables whilst others prepared for the future." Her cool tone hid a sharp edge.

    Though I can''t argue.

    It''s true that the Round Table could be categorized as a waste of time. That entire period of my life could be compartmentalized and, without it, you''d be left with the very same person. I would not have spoken differently. I would not have any less vitriol for the system than I already did.

    "So? What exactly are you suggesting I do?"

    "Truth be told, the how means nothing to me. My daughter is a gifted ESPer with the necessary potential to surpass I myself. I cannot let such talent waste away in Niflheim''s darkest depths. All you need to is bring her to school, a place where she can develop. Time is of the essence, you should know that better than anyone else."

    I clicked my tongue.

    "You have your task, Golden King." She spat my former title. "You will bring my daughter to where she belongs, unless you feel confident enough to challenge me on the matter."

    "Perhaps I do feel that way?"

    "Then you may return whenever you please to make your statement. Until then, I will not budge. Any further comments, child?"

    I didn''t respond.

    "Then you''re dismissed. Fear not, I won''t ask about the animal collar."

    She noticed it?!

    <hr>-S0023-<hr>

    I hated taking orders.

    Damn it all!

    No, more than that, I loathed relying on others.

    Never had I felt so out of control of a situation. The slow trickle of students into the gymnasium told me little of the match''s impending outcome. A student from my class would step in, then a student from Genjou''s class. Another of Genjou''s classmates would step in, then two of mine would enter the gym. Without any consistency to the pattern, I found myself rocking back and forth in my seat.

    Why all this hassle, just take their flag!

    It had to be that simple. Were I still in, we''d have already won. With Yamashina proven skilled enough to handle a snake like Genjou, I could''ve strode into the enemy fortress. That musclebound rock head''s trick wouldn''t have worked on me again. What''s more, Kitamura wouldn''t have caught me off guard.

    My face hurts far more than expected.

    I planned to blame it on my classmates, but that became increasingly difficult as the game progressed. I couldn''t find an opportunity to berate them. As each classmate entered the gym, they''d apologize to me for some bizarre reason.

    First, Walter Washio. "Sorry, Shibuya!"

    Then the Sashizumi twins. "Hoshino got us with his rock trick."

    Then Botan Tachibana. "They didn''t fall for it."

    One by one, the students of Class 3-A would apologize then fall into line. Some introduced themselves when I squinted, while others shrugged. It became fairly clear that someone gave them the wrong impression of me. A familiar golden girl came to mind. I clicked my tongue.

    Maybe I was too hasty!

    Maybe so. I counted four remaining on both sides before Iori Ikuzawa stepped into the gym. He walked up to me, caked with mud, but didn''t apologize.

    Ikuzawa pointed at himself. "This is your fault."

    I frowned. "Wh- don''t you dare walk off! Hold it!"

    After Iori Ikuzawa came Reika Rurisaki. The shark-toothed girl sheepishly bowed her head. She strode to the end of the line without a word. A moment passed before the next student entered- someone from Genjou''s class. I didn''t recognize them.

    It should be Yoshida Yamashina and Kozue Kotobuki against Genjou Gekkouhara, Rock Hoshino, and some other student.

    Kozue Kotobuki entered next, an unfamiliar face hot on his tail- another of Genjou''s classmates. The blue-haired boy stepped over. He gave me a wordless thumbs up, then strode to the back. At that point I got concerned. That doesn''t happen in normal day to day life. Anyone who gave you a thumbs up was setting you up for failure, nobody could tell me otherwise.

    The exalted Satou Shibuya felt then more than ever uneasy. At some point I''d stood up and started to pace around. Bad manners, for sure. My stress did little to hide the snickers and chatter from the classmates I walked circles around. They discussed matters of the future. Plans, movies, so on and so forth. They moved on much too fast!

    "Oh dear," I murmured. "Oh dear, oh dear."

    Ikuzawa groaned.

    Kotobuki chimed in as I passed. "Shibuya, chill."

    I scowled. "It''s always winter. I''m always chill as a result, Kozue Kotobuki. You don''t need to tell me to be chill. Even now, I''m feeling very chill. This is the most chill I''ve ever been. Global warming ceases to be a factor with each passing second. That''s how chill I am."

    He snickered. "Ever hear a word so many times it sounds weird?"

    Before I shot back, someone entered the gym. I turned to see a familiar tan-skinned youth, Rock Hoshino. He stepped over to his classmates, where the Satsuki Sanae greeted him. I couldn''t hear what they were saying, but that atmosphere... something clicked into place.

    Oh youth, what a hassle! I watched the two flirt with a scowl on my face. Don''t think about it, Satou Shibuya. You''ve got bigger fish to fry. One day, some day, they''ll all see. The exalted Satou Shibuya had high standards, after all. High standards equaled high payout!

    Yes, of course. There''s no reason to be jealous.

    No, I''d gotten sidetracked.

    There were two combatants left, Yoshida Yamashina and Genjou Gekkouhara. I couldn''t gauge the outcome of their match-up. Though I loathed to say so, I didn''t know the full extent of either party''s strengths. Against myself they were no match, but against each other I couldn''t say. They were fast. Both of them moved very fast.

    Yamashina could''ve been the Beta.

    Except she wasn''t, Genjou Gekkouhara filled the seat. That had to say something about his top speed, but I doubted he''d use his full strength here. Conversely, Yamashina landed three hits last I''d seen. She couldn''t have simply caught Genjou off-guard, right? There had to be something else to the equation¡ª

    "At this time, the game of Capture the Flag between Class 3-A and Class 3-C has concluded."

    Silence reigned for a moment.

    I remember having taking a number of deep breaths as I watched the gym''s entrance. Had it been Genjou? Maybe Yamashina? If it wasn''t Yamashina, would I have a loss on my chart? If it wasn''t Yamashina, how should I react? More than a mere dislike for failure, I loathed the very idea. Failure stemmed from inexperience, weakness, and a number of other faults which I lacked. To lose implied the contrary, a statement I''d deny with the galaxy at my back.

    If Yamashina stepped through that door, I''d have every right to be angry. I always had a right to be angry, but in this specific case I''d have an even greater right. If she entered with arms crossed and fingers clutched against her side, no apology would suffice. If she trampled my trust and returned with nothing, that golden girl would have hell to pay.

    And yet¡ª

    "Ah."

    When Yoshida Yamashina entered, I wasn''t mad.

    Back straight, golden eyes forward, the golden girl stepped along. Her posture never changed. The fire in her eyes, that dignified tenacity, never wavered. Vibrant golden hair bounced back and forth with each step. Mesmerizing, like always.

    Yamashina came to a halt a meter in front of me. She didn''t take a deep breath, she didn''t close her eyes. Arms flat against her sides, she leaned forward and bowed her head. She didn''t panic, she didn''t make excuses.

    "I couldn''t defeat Gekkouhara," she said.

    "Very well."

    "I wasn''t skilled enough."

    "I see."

    This was the natural outcome.

    Genjou Gekkouhara started training as a child- before Shizuka or I myself. He passed advanced slayer tests whilst sister dearest and I were studying for the basic tests. More than anyone else on this island, the thrill of battle ran in his blood. Faster than Vane, stronger than Gagetsu. More clever than Sergio, more tenacious than Midas.

    When I''d first met Genjou, he could hardly be called person. The snake who sat adjacent to me all through middle school spoke only of violence and bloodshed. Such traits lent themselves well to the Golden King''s agenda, and soon we rose to the top. The Silver Knight and the Golden King. Both of us, undefeated. The rest gathered around us, became our foundation.

    The Gekkou District''s Round Table was born in a damp, dark classroom.

    And so, I couldn''t blame Yoshida Yamashina. I couldn''t blame a person who bowed to hide their face. She served to the best of her ability, a true Knight of the Round.

    "Raise your head," I said.

    She didn''t.

    I sighed. This girl, always more trouble than she was worth. You''d disobey a command as simple as that? No, that''s not it. You didn''t hear. In that case, it can''t be helped. I didn''t want to repeat myself. Next time I''d speak louder, more clearly.

    "I didn''t lose," I said.

    Yamashina didn''t respond.

    "You all fought, together as a group. Thus, a single loss is spread out across our twenty-five. I have only one twenty-fifth of a loss, Yoshida Yamashina. If you round down, that''s still zero losses. I, rather, we didn''t lose. You haven''t broken your promise."

    She nodded.

    I sighed. "If you understand, stop your incessant weeping."

    Once more, she nodded.

 PART ONE, CHAPTER FOURTEEN

    PART ONE, CHAPTER FOURTEEN: "SPRING CLEANING"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    It''s hard to get a sense for how fast superhumans move.

    Traits attributed to the average superhuman included general heightened physical parameters. While this included physical strength, it also included more minute improvements over the human frame such as stronger immune systems and higher overall longevity. Superhumans retained a youthful appearance longer than the opposition. These boons, however, were not one hundred percent universal.

    Even one as illustrious and immaculate as myself was not exempt from the failings of a human body. On paper, Satou Shibuya suffered from a case of short-sightedness. In practice, my ability tweaked my eyesight to the widely accepted superhuman standard. Under its influence, my eyes had no match. Without its assistance, I could only watch as the world around me became a blur of movement. This was the outcome I expected upon being prompted by Kengo Kusanagi to observe the day''s next training exercise.

    And yet, where did these glasses come from?

    Red-rimmed, square-framed glasses cleared my vision. I disliked carrying them, but sister dearest always insisted that I keep them on my person. In retrospect, she was right to do so.

    From where I stood on the field''s sidelines, I had a clear view of the so-called mock demon that the elder Kusanagi had praised. On the western end of the field, in the leftmost corner of my view, Fran Fairchild''s calisthenics cheated me of focus. White hair in a long braid bobbed as she hopped up and down, alternating from one foot to the other. One red eye snapped shut and the other watched the cloudy skies above. Driblets of rain fell upon the glossy red and black anti-contamination suit wrapped tightly around her frame, which stood out as abnormally toned and slender.

    It was immediately clear that Fran Fairchild''s contamination suit was the genuine article. Bright red rubber covered from neck to groin. Thin yellow lines at the shoulders and hips separated the red from black, which clad both arms and legs, then gave way to red again; it came up to the elbows and knees to give the impression of gloves and.. dare I say thigh-highs, respectively. Protoadamantite plating covered the knees, elbows, shoulders, and even cupped more delicate places. The unflattering aesthetic was of little consequence given a real contamination suit''s ability to defend against even high caliber firearms.

    I suspect Karatsuba''s contamination suits were designed by that man, but I wouldn''t be surprised if mother dearest played a hand in this specific case''s raunchiness.

    Though I could complain, even the archetypal Karatsuba Anti-Contamination Suit, the CRS-071, sported an inherently sensual design by virtue of being a skintight suit. Granted, only Fran Fairchild''s seemingly unique suit dared to evoke the sexual icon that was heaven''s absolute territory. It was a shameless popularity grab, no doubt meant to capture the hearts of young and lusty fools, the key demographic that Karatsuba sought to court. Advertisement was advertisement.

    Even still, the suit''s easy to recognize once character profiles come into play.

    Fran Fairchild, listed on the official website as twenty. The former Beta was actually twenty-four; it was easy enough to look up. Hobbies included piano, song, cooking, gymnastics, and boxing. The last was included to invoke the legendary gap, and it worked. Fran Fairchild had held second place in the Karatsuba Girls popularity contests four years in a row, throughout which she remained twenty years old. I doubt nobody noticed. Rather, it seemed like nobody cared.

    If they did, they''d notice how manufactured her character story is. She couldn''t have been the featherweight champion that year. During the specified timeframe, Fran Fairchild was working as a private eye in Jotunheim. Fools and hacks, the lot of them.

    Simple knowledge, dredged up from a cursory internet search. Not for any particular reason, mind you. Or rather, the brilliant Satou S. Shibuya had not done so. He had not needed to! The calendars that mother dearest sent around Christmas time, the yearly Karatsuba Girls calendars featuring various women in rather risque positions, were assuredly meant to warn me of my encounter with the mutt. Of course!

    "As expected of mother dearest," I whispered.

    Independent of my rambling, Fran Fairchild approached the end of her pre-battle ritual. She touched her toes, leaned backwards with unnerving flexibility, then touched the backs of her knees. From between her own legs, she glanced in my direction. Though I could barely see it, I registered a slanted smirk. What a fool. Her back snapped upright like a rubber band as she turned to address the entirety of my class.

    "Alright!" she yelled. "This is as good as it''s gonna get, huh?"

    The classmates in the corner of my right eye stood in formation: a large V with its tip pointed at the opposition, a tactic decided upon beforehand by one Yoshida Yamashina. I recognized this as a formation meant to enclose and defeat demons of lesser mental faculties. On the right tip stood Kozue Kotobuki and on the left stood Reika Rurisaki. Iori Ikuzawa stood where two lines converged and in front of him, in front of everyone, stood the golden girl herself. Golden eyes focused ahead straighter than any arrow. She raised her fists in front of her face.

    That mutt is fast, but is she faster than that... other mutt? No, hold on.

    As I worked through the muddy dog-mutt hierarchy in my head, Mr. Kusanagi, who had stood next to me, stepped off the pavement and onto the grass. He tightened the sash around his waist and set about announcing the rules of the exercise to the class once more.

    "I''ll go over the details one more time! Ms. Fran Fairchild of Karatsuba, who has so graciously blessed us with her time, is standing in as our mock demon for today''s exercise! You guys don''t have any room to relax. Take this seriously or you will be sore in the morning! Remember, many of you are slayer candidates before students! Education is secondary, combat experience is everything! We can play dodgeball when the dust settles, so you have to get out there and kill those goddamned demons!

    "Now then, the rules are as follows! For our students, you operate under the same rules as our game of CTF- if you fall, you''re out! In the middle of a demon swarm, you will die if you fall! One ghoul-class demon is nothing, but footage from the front lines show that hundreds of ghouls can pile onto a downed slayer within seconds if they aren''t careful! You won''t always be able to rely on power armour, so we''re teaching you to rely on your own strength!

    "As for our mock demon, if you fall, you''re defeated! A well trained squadron of slayers can destroy all of a demon''s cores the instant its incapacitated! You should know better than anyone else! Karatsuba''s point-five second record comes the closest to reaching Quallen of the Boreal Sword''s point-two seconds, recorded during Operation Stormwater!"

    "That point-five seconds is down to point-four seconds now." Fran thumbed the palm of her left hand. "Yggdrasil is still confirming the footage, but the boss is confident in his work."

    Sighs of admiration came from my classmates. I clicked my tongue.

    "Anyway, enough chit-chat!" Mr. Kusanagi raised his right hand with three fingers raised. "We''re starting on my mark, so get ready for hell! Three!"

    Yamashina exhaled. White hot platinum gnawed at the ends of her hair. She no doubt planned to utilize her lightning speed right out the gate.

    "Two!"

    A cool gust of wind swept across the field. Moist grass danced under mother nature''s influence. The rest of my classmates fell into their stances.

    "One!"

    Fran Fairchild dropped into a low, almost animalistic stance with her face low to the ground and both hands pressed into the mud. Pink eyes glinted under dim sunlight. I didn''t recognize this stance, the mutt hadn''t used it against me. Not any sort of martial form, it felt closer to posturing. The natural conclusion, I reasoned, was that she intended to hold back.

    "Go!" Mr. Kusanagi swiped his hand.

    The world behind Fran Fairchild exploded. A shockwave caused my eardrums to pop. I flew backwards and rolled to a halt against the school''s walls, spitting out grass and pebbles. Concerete monoliths spiralled out from the epicenter, scattering mud and water across the entire field in a thick brown rain. It couldn''t be called simple movement; Fran Fairchild ceased to exist where she once stood, leaving only a massive gash in the the earth.

    So this is the speed of a Beta?!

    I almost missed the sight of twenty-three classmates spinning through the air. Less than a third of a second had passed. Some had yet to realize what happened as they assumed combat stances in the air, unaware that failure was inevitable. One after another, they hit the ground, letting loose a series of grunts and moans. But it wasn''t over yet. A platinum bolt deftly landed on its feet.

    Fran Fairchild slid to a gentle halt behind the mountain of collapsed students. She spun around and let loose a wide grin at the scene behind her, where Yoshida Yamashina stood. The girl''s once golden eyes burned with brilliant white light. With a dull crunch, Yamashina spat a battery into the mud. She reached into her tail and produced another battery, which she slipped into her mouth. All the while, she kept her gaze trained on the monster at the other end of the field.

    "Not bad, not bad at all!" hissed Fran. She lunged forward with supersonic ferocity, confident that her second attack wouldn''t miss its mark.

    The platinum girl too lunged forward, claws outstretched to meet their better.

    <hr>

    -S0024-

    <hr>

    A bell marked the start of lunch which, for my class, signalled the start of cleaning. Despite my initial hopes that the matter would be resolved quickly, fortune had once more found its fool.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "Kozue, go long!" spoke one Walter Washio as he tossed his broom across the gym. He was a troublemaker. The oaf of a boy looked content to waste my precious time putzing around like a child, tossing his cleaning tools back and forth between himself and the blue-haired Kozue Kotobuki. The latter had shown himself quick to play along with anything if it seemed fun.

    "No way. The absolute mad man, can he do it?" Kotobuki licked his lips. He dropped into a low stance with both hands outstretched. His fingers wriggled like eager worms.

    The broom spun through the air on the other end of the gym and hit the floor. It rebounded as if doing a cartwheel. Kozue Kotobuki watched through glistening blue eyes as the broom bounced its way towards him. Once, twice, then three times. It slid to a halt a little ways in front of Kotobuki, balanced on the tail end of its handle. The broom spun for a couple seconds before it fell towards him. He caught it and exploded into applause and excited hollering.

    "Two for two, baby," said the rather bulky Washio. He wiped his nose against the collar of his gym uniform and gave a small flex. He hardly completed it before breaking out into laughter. Apparently Kotobuki and Washio were on good terms. Or rather, that didn''t matter.

    What are these fools doing?

    I watched the buffoons prance about, spilling water from plastic buckets and knocking over a cleaning droid. The one meter-tall, garbage-filled machine toppled over with a thunk. It rolled around, letting lose a storm of anguished beeps and boops in its struggle to keep trash from spilling out. I almost felt sorry for the machination as it lay there, flipped on its back like a turtle and left for dead.

    I resumed sweeping the floor. The mound of dust to my left was smaller than the mound those oafs had swept into the cleaning droid earlier. Honestly, it was peculiar how hard a person could work in pursuit of tomfoolery to come. One way or another, the cleaning would get done. In the interest of preserving good health, however, today''s Satou Shibuya lacked the power to solve the class''s lunch predicament. As expected, the forces that be denied had me the springtime of my youth.

    What is a man to do, little kitten?

    My imagination ran wild. A beautiful girl (red-haired and a full head shorter than me, for no particular reason) waited for me on the school roof. She dropped to one knee and, in a rather sultry voice, swore an oath to stand by me until the end of time. Not my ideal, not at all. Why would it be? I''d seen a similar scene in a show I''d followed, that''s all.

    "So LOVE-MAX is out of the question, is it?" I pursed my lips.

    Perhaps in response, I heard the golden girl at my back stifle her guffaw. "Though you mentioned watching it, I didn''t put two and two together. It came as quite the surprise me to hear such a name come out of your mouth of all places."

    I spun around. "Because you didn''t hear it. At no point did I mention my taste in television to you, not once. Never. Anything you believe as to the contrary is a figment of your imagination. Therefore, don''t act as if you begin to understand the inner workings of my mind, of the illustrious and immaculate Satou S. Shibuya. Honestly, how presumptuous of you!"

    Yoshida Yamashina wore Kawagusa General Academy''s gym uniform- a red track suit. A little dull, really. She tied the coat around her waist to reveal a white shirt beneath. The surname ''YAMASHINA'' read along the chest, which I caught glimpses of through my numerous, accidental sidelong glances. She stood with a rag in one hand and a spray bottle in the other.

    Yamashina set about cleaning the gym''s stage. Spraying the floor, scraping the rag across every nook and cranny, so on and so forth. She moved fast. So fast, in fact, that any assistance would have gotten in the way. The golden girl had finished two-thirds of her work whilst the rest of us swept perhaps a fourth of the gym''s floor. It was foolish to expect anything to come of aligning myself with the common rabble.

    "Presumptuous?" Yamashina swept her rag along the stage''s edges.

    I nodded. "Besides, do you really think I''d be interested in such trashy romantic schlock? My standards are high, you see. Rinko Sakagawa is a splendid actress, that''s all. It can''t be helped. If I''m interested in her career, then naturally I might end up learning a thing or two about LOVE-MAX. For instance, did you know that Kenta Fujimura is Kaito Kitagawa''s debut as an actor?"

    "Rinko Sakagawa... Sakuya, you mean?"

    I ignored her question. "Kaito Kitagawa started out as a voice actor in popular demolition-themed drama, Concrete Jungle. I won''t say he was miscast as a half-American, but I especially liked-"

    "Sakuya has poor taste in men," Yamashina interrupted. "Despite how Kenta treated her, she still sees fit to chase after the man. She''s a Vanguard, isn''t she? It won''t do if she gets distracted on the battlefield."

    "They''re childhood friends. They''re destined to be together, a union determined by the stars. They even promised to wed after Operation Thunderbolt."

    "I believe Sakuya has better chemistry with Reiji."

    I snorted. "I suppose you would. Such surface interpretations of fiction are the limit of a sad dog such as yourself. It was foolish to even discuss the matter of true romance with you."

    How must a human mind degrade in order to disregard love in its purest form? Whilst Kenta had certaintly berrated and insulted Sakuya early into the series, he had long since changed. Though he retained his sharp tongue and somewhat abrasive attitude, it was clear that Sakuya could see past that! To see past a person''s imperfections, could that be called anything less than love?

    Counter to this, Reiji''s appearance could be tied to the genre''s infatuation with the notion of a love rival. A person who showered you with kindness on the first meeting was nothing less than suspicious. It was plain to see that he existed as a means to test Sakuya''s affection for Kenta. I understood that, but it seemed lesser intellects had yet to do the math.

    Plus, Reki Renard is much too short. He''s nearly on eye level with Rinko Sakagawa. Standing side by side, don''t they look a little mismatched? What a farce.

    Yamashina and I argued for maybe a minute or so. The common end to this discussion would be the golden girl shutting her mouth, but not this time. It seemed this topic in particular riled her up.

    "Reiji is a kind man with a troubled past. He left the streets to take care of his younger sister, Shibuya!" Yamashina threw a rag at me. I slapped it aside. "If you disregard kindness on the basis of it being suspicious, how many good people will you ignore? Not every person has a shell that needs to be cracked!"

    "You can''t simply ignore those who act kind to get what they want! More often than not, a person that''s kind from the outset has a hidden agenda! Reiji may have left the streets, but do you really think he''s changed? Sakuya comes from a rich family! Of course Reiji would be kind, he needs to pay for his elder brother''s treatments! The man is a leech!"

    "You should understand better than anyone else, Shibuya." The golden girl ran a hand through her own hair. She wore it in a tail on her shoulder. Her checkered scrunchie felt out of place. "Pride in the face of scorn surpasses turning the other cheek for some- some childish idea of love."

    I scowled. "Tell me, what is that supposed to mean?"

    "Exactly what it sounds like."

    A wet mop entered between our faces. We traced the plastic handle all the way back to the long, spindly fingers that held it. A shark-toothed look of frustration greeted us.

    Why is it that the masses never mind their own business?

    Reika Rurisaki''s blackish-greenish hair parted above the brow and fell down her back. She waved the mop around in front of our faces, as if battling some invisible enemy. Yamashina resumed cleaning with a sigh. Once I went back to sweeping, the shark-toothed girl finally lowered the mop. She went to work combing over the spots where I had swept. Extreme, especially considering nobody else had a mop.

    Why the hassle, I wonder? All it serves to do is extend the process. I doubt the place needs to be so squeaky clean that one can eat off the floor.

    "By the way," Kotobuki''s voice pulled me from my thoughts, "Shibuya, I heard that you got decked pretty hard during our exercise. How are you holding up?"

    "I wasn''t decked, I''ll have you know. I won that encounter with ease. Any scrapes I may have come away with are worth less than the papercuts on an cubicle worker faced with a particularly busy day. That is to say, I was fine. One could even venture that I had forgotten such a waste of my time had occurred."

    Kotobuki scratched his head. He gave a coy smirk. "Yeah, I can imagine. Smaller wounds are easy to forget about, especially if you''re physically active like most of us."

    I frowned. "Who forgets about a wound? I''m not an animal, you see. Being the extraordinary man I am, peerless among the stars, I simply ignored it. After all, it takes a certain level of nobility to fight past one''s wounds, to strive for perfection when faced with a disadvantage."

    "Man, you''re a funny guy."

    "Unrelated, but correct."

    "Anyway," Kotobuki continued, "I busted my arm a while back and kept forgetting it was in a sling. You aren''t nearly that bad, but you''re still looking pretty banged up. Must be stressful to respond to a love letter when you aren''t in top form, huh?"

    Wait, what?!

    "H-huh?" I frowned. "I don''t know what you''re talking about? In what timeline would any fool dare test their mettle by attempting to court the exquisite Satou S. Shibuya? I-It should be common knowledge, but I''m not so easy as to be swayed by vapid praise and sweet nothings. Or rather, who told you?!"

    Kotobuki glanced to the shark-toothed girl behind him, who waved her hands in rapid, death-fearing dismissal. The blue-haired youth tilted his head. Perhaps he came to a realization, because his eyes next traced a slow line towards the stage to our right, where a familiar golden girl was working. Rurisaki turned to look as well, and I followed suit.

    Yamashina slid to a halt, wiping sweat from her brow. The golden girl strode over to a bucket on the stage''s edge and squeezed the contents of her moist rag within. She placed her spray bottle down, then plopped on the edge of the stage with a sigh. She looked in our direction, then squinted when she saw us three- Rurisaki, Kotobuki, and I- staring at her.

    What''s with that look? No, it couldn''t be...

    Yamashina scooted towards us. The waist of her pants slid down to the hip, but she pulled them back up without fuss. The girl tugged the strings on her gym pants to tighten the waist, then silently cleared her throat before addressing us in her usual cool tone.

    "Is something wrong?" she asked.

    I slapped the stage''s edge. "You stupid lightning dog!"

    "W-wait, excuse me?"

    "You can''t even keep your damned mouth shut, even after one as magnanimous as myself deigned to pour but an inkling of a drop of my heart''s contents out for yourself? Or rather, that never happened! You stupid, stupid mutt!" I spat.

    "I-I''m unsure what you mean. In fact, there are far worse matters I could have divulged that I dared not, so why am I being lambasted? Even putting that aside, you still owe me an apology."

    "An apology? What? Certainly, I''m sorry, but I don''t understand the bleatings of animals! If you would address me in a human tongue, I would surely be able to make sense of the drivel spilling out of your mouth and onto the floor! How is that, you damned¡ª"

    "She, uh, said something about a letter!" Kotobuki hastily intercepted my next insult with a grin. "After positions reset, Ruri mentioned a funny story about little kittens and rooftop escapades. I kind of put two and two together. You did get a love letter, right?"

    Blast! Foiled so easily?!

    "Huh?" I averted my gaze. "P-perhaps. It was a letter. I found it in my shoe locker, and another party confirmed its existence. I cannot say for sure that it was a love letter... or rather, why am I telling you this?! Even if it were a love letter, which it assuredly is not, it''s none of your business! Hmph!"

    Yamashina kicked her feet. "Even someone as arrogant and obnoxious as Shibuya gets flustered over love letters. It''s the outcome I half-expected, but to see it in action is... somewhat refreshing."

    "How rude."

    "You''re the last person to complain about that."

    I frowned. "Watch your tongue, mutt. Besides, it''s a non-issue. It''s unfortunate, but my current obligations include cleaning this gymnasium. Such is the weight I must carry with my twenty-fifth of a loss, which realistically rounds down to zero losses¡ª"

    "Wait, you''re supposed to be there right now?" said Kotobuki. "What are you doing here, then? Go on, get out of here, tiger."

    I scowled. "As I''ve already said..."

    "You''re not particularly helpful at cleaning," interrupted Yamashina.

    "And you talk a lot," added Rurisaki.

    My brow twitched. "As I''ve already said... I suppose I should go! It''s only natural for peasants to maintain the streets of their lord''s city. Yes, it makes perfect sense! As if the almighty Satou Shibuya, unmatched in all the land, the sea, and the sky, would dare be caught doing grunt work like this! It suits a bunch of ignorant fools such as yourselves far better!"

    And with that, I started on my way to the roof. As I exited the gym, the sound of Kozue Kotobuki''s voice reached me before the thick, metal door slid shut.

    "Protip: don''t say anything weird!"

 PART ONE, CHAPTER FIFTEEN

    PART ONE, CHAPTER FIFTEEN: "GUST"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    The school presented quite a scene as one passed through its halls. Damaged windows, chipped tiles, cracked walling- no doubt the aftermath of the exercise that had continued after my exclusion. From what I could tell, the lower floors had assuredly suffered more damage, but those were of little interest to me. I had maneuvered these halls earlier in the day, and thus, I knew how to reach the school''s roof. With each step I felt an unfamiliar chill in the pit of my stomach.

    What is this feeling, I wonder?

    It could not possibly be related to my future endeavors on the roof. After all, the superior and most splendid Satou Shibuya had no intentions of conceding to a- a coward who resorted to common tricks to convey their feelings. In fact, had feelings been conveyed? Who was to say this was a love letter? The logicial conclusion, as had been throughout my middle school career, was for it to be a letter of challenge.

    I puffed out my chest at the thought. "To think that I could be bested, even in my weakest state, cannot be construed as anything more than the peak of hubris. T-that''s right, a challenge! It only makes sense, does it not? With my showing during the early stages of the exercise, the obvious conclusion would be that amongst the riff-raff, I stand out as the strongest! But wait, the timeline doesn''t line up..."

    Or perhaps it did! As I sauntered down the hall, I reasoned the logistics of having a student go back in time to place a letter in my shoebox. The odds were realistically zero but I didn''t disregard the possibility. It provided quite a timesink, such that I scarcely realized when I came to a halt in front of the stairway leading to the rooftop. A chill ran up my spine. Reason to myself as I might, I took the first step up those stairs. And then the second. Pride, which refused retreat, carried me all the way to the top, where a thick, metal door greeted me; the last barrier between myself and whoever waited out there.

    Should I open it? H-how do I look?

    I hastily pulled out my phone to check. Perfect, as per usual, but there was no harm in making some last minute adjustments. I ran a hand through my hair. My fingers stopped at the tie that bound my hair at the nape, then moved to straighten the black pin that kept the hair out of my eyes.

    "I wonder if sister dearest will cut my hair..." I mumbled. "No, wait!"

    What a farce! I shook my head to clear my thoughts of the tomfoolery that had, however briefly, tainted them. These were the magnificent locks that belonged to the pinnacle of aesthetic sensibilities, the most exquisite existence to grace the universe! I lifted my head and forced a smirk at the handsome devil that greeted me on my phone, then I pocketed the device.

    It''s all because those fools dared butt into my business. As if I would say anything weird. In fact, the most likely conclusion is that when I pass through this door, whatever unworthy existence I find on the other end will be groveling, begging for my attention! It''s that simple!

    With newfound resolve, I placed a hand to the door''s silvery handle. The cool metal seemed to stick to my hands, and the door felt... heavier than I remembered. I pushed it open a bit. Grey light filtered in through the small gap, affording me a breath of fresh morning air. I took a deep breath, not for any particular reason, and tossed the door open. A gust of wind blew the hair into my eyes, but I marched forward. The door behind me fell back into place.

    The roof had yet to see repairs from the exercise''s earlier escapades. Torn fencing dangled off bent poles that overlooked massive gashes in the concrete beneath my feet. My eyes fell on the spot where Kohei Kitamura had sucker punched me off the roof, then naturally to the gaping hole in the field below. The hole had been boarded off on all sides with an array of construction tape and plugged with a large steel plate. It had not been particularly wide, so finding a temporary cover likely hadn''t been much of an issue.

    Even still, this is... somewhat troublesome.

    I had no particular fear of heights, not at all, but I could not guarantee my safety if I fell in my current state. I pulled back a few steps from the roof''s edge. There were more important matters to attend to.

    "Surely you don''t mean to keep me waiting," I murmured. "I''m not such an easy man that one could hope to charm me through being fashionably late. No, was I perhaps late? O-of course not, this is within the specified timeframe, and by extension I cannot be faulted. That''s right, that''s right!"

    As if in response, the jingle of a bell reached my ears, harkened by the faint scent of cherry blossoms. A chill run up my spine- I had felt this before. Instinct spun me around, where a threatening yet all too familiar pair of piercing red eyes came into focus. Deep crimson hair danced on the winds, bound into a ponytail by the source of the jingle, a single bell. It glinted under the pale sunlight, yet I could not possibly mistake its craftsmanship, nor its silvery make.

    There, atop the entrance to the roof, stood the only individual that approached equal status with the undefeated SHIBUYA. Her black-gold blazer, sleeves rolled up, and its tails whipping furiously about like a war banner. Her skirt, now cut just above her thighs, this time hiding only the dark red gym pants she wore beneath. In fact, much of her uniform had been substituted out for the school''s gym uniform. This was the freedom of choice that Niflheim afforded to those with absolute power, those who approached the pinnacle.

    This was the authority of the Omega seat candidate, Keiko Kusanagi II.

    "So you''ve finally decided to show up," said Kei. No, Kusanagi. Her voice was low, yet unmistakeably clear even amidst the winds that assailed us.

    As I thought, this isn''t a love letter.

    I felt the Kusanagi heir scour my form with her gaze. She gave a low hum then hopped to the rooftop below without so much as a sound. Her approach, a confident saunter, was similarly quiet. No wasted movements, no openings. It felt as if a wall of steel had begun closing in. I stepped forward to meet her in the center of the roof. The two of us stopped two meters apart from one another, but I knew straight away that the distance meant nothing. I had always been within her effective range.

    "What a surprise meeting you here." I kept my eyes trained on the devil in the other corner. "Though I suppose it''s only natural that you would covet my attention, Kusanagi."

    Her expression did not change. "That''s technically not false."

    I snorted. "Yes, of course not. Am I to assume that you''re here to finally profess your undying love for me? If not, then you''ve stooped to some foul methods of setting up meetings."

    "I''m unsure what you mean. First, I would rather not be seen engaging with you. Second, I required a method of interacting with you. Thus, I planted a letter for you to find." Kusanagi crossed her arms. "I don''t believe I resorted to any underhanded methods, as you seem to imply."

    "Surely you don''t mean to play innocent. As if a letter in a shoebox could be construed as anything but the most obvious conclusion. If you believe for a second that I arrived in expectance of some grand meeting with an obsessive lout such as you, you''re deluding yourself."

    "I don''t understand." Keiko Kusanagi stated this with a frown.

    I clicked my tongue. I had suspected as much, but Keiko Kusanagi had scarcely changed one bit since childhood. Overwhelmingly talented, much like myself, but without any of the tact native to those of higher birth. She was perhaps the stupidest, most dense gravitational singularity I''d ever had the misfortune of meeting. To think that I had been interested in such a fool...!Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    "Yes, yes. At this point, I''m not sure what I expected." I gave a frustrated sigh. "As it is now remarkably clear that you find joy in leading on the hearts of the young innocents, let us change the subject. Surely there must be some reason you sought my attention?" I said.

    "That''s right."

    A brief silence passed as the Kusanagi heir brushed a strand of hair out of her face. She lowered her hand just above the waist then turned a red eye towards the palm. Finally, she turned her eyes back to me, but this time I sensed something different in them. If she merely met my gaze before, now she stared at me in my entirety. I did not initially realize why, but when it clicked, a chill ran down my spine¡ªshe had not been looking at me. She had never been looking at me.

    I closed my eyes to witness the presence that clung to my essence, the slumbering phantom that served as the source of my absolute power. She had looked at me? No, what a farce. Keiko Kusanagi''s eyes had long since surpassed this. She looked through me, as if assessing my strength. It was this realization that brought me back to reality. I gave a small sigh and returned my focus to the monster of a Kusanagi heir that dared stand in opposition.

    "Pry into the affairs of gods at your own peril," I warned.

    Silence came in response. The Kusanagi heir parted both legs and lifted her arms. In that singular instant, an overwhelming pressure began to ooze forth from her. Frigid winds lapped in and around themselves like the ripple of a stone cast into a pond. Each singular wave bombarded my consciousness¡ªshe was far greater than any foe I had ever faced. Instincts that I had long forgotten bubbled to the surface as my body mirrored the red devil''s posture, the Path of Jupiter''s sole unnarmed stance, the Falcon''s Posture.

    This girl, she wouldn''t¡ª

    She bolted forward before I finished the thought. A crimson flash. Talons as fast as lightning. I deflected the strike with my right forearm and reflexively directed a palm strike up, towards her throat. She twisted to the side, avoiding the strike, then she drew back. I stepped forward, mistakenly following the flow of wind. She stood ready to meet this hasty decision. The airflow I''d followed gathered at her back. She stomped forward, tossing all of her weight in my direction.

    Deep crimson reiki rippled out from her base. It exploded forward in a full-body shoulder strike¡ªthe thunderous mountain fall. Crashing waves struck my chest and ripped the air from my lungs. I stumbled backwards and she pivoted forward, punishing my retreat with a palm strike to the throat. I couldn''t catch my breath. My form collapsed as I fell back against the rickety metal fence behind me. The Kusanagi heir did not press her offense but kept her eyes trained on me. I knew why.

    The Falcon''s Posture¡ªan anti-personnel form whose thunderous blows bypassed extremities to strike at vitals and internal organs. Its purpose¡ªto kill ghoul-class demons, the weakest of the bunch, when faced with both the absence of a weapon and severe backlash. Had I been a ghoul, her last strike would have annihilated the core located in my head. Keiko Kusanagi II had already ''killed'' me.

    This damn girl!

    I readily assumed my stance once more, but the Kusanagi heir simply stood, silent. I darted in, pivoted on my left leg, and directed a reiki-charged fist at her gut. She twisted, grabbing my arm and tossing me behind her. I stumbled, but corrected my stance and used the newfound momentum to release a spinning roundhouse kick. She ducked, clasped my leg with both of her arms, and tossed me to the ground. I slid to a halt and hopped to my feet, my breathing heavier than before. She had not broken a sweat.

    The Kusanagi heir simply tilted her head. "As I thought, you''re a disciple of the Path of Jupiter."

    "Who can say?" I wiped the sweat from my brow. "Regardless, unarmed combat has never been my preferred form of battle. It''s a waste of effort. Surely your intent wasn''t to challenge my weakest subject?"

    "No, I guess not."

    There was a crimson flash as Keiko Kusanagi lifted her left hand. The winds at my feet nipped at the corners of my uniform, conjuring small gashes and cuts into its form. All coalesced in the palm of her hand, where a black and red singularity assumed physical form. Twisted sparks and red lightning danced in the dark blot, which lengthened into a meter-long black bar. Its silhouette closely resembled a malformed sword, formless and rejected by the surrounding world.

    Every reiki circuit in my body fired to life for a moment before fizzling out without consent. My body''s circuits were stressed¡ªthey would not do as I pleased. Only trace amounts of power responded to my call, one singular aspect out of four. I felt a bead of cold sweat roll down my back. In optimal condition, I could surely defeat this girl. In my current state, it took everthing just to conjure a wall of concrete from the floor with which to defend myself. It was as I finalized the structure that the world flashed crimson.

    "Shortcut¡ªVorpal Sword."

    My barricade collapsed, severed instantly into innumerable pieces. Quadrants, separated into quadrants, separated into quadrants. Repeat ad nauseum. The world fell to pieces.

    There was no sound of impact to accompany the destruction that followed, no cacophony of explosions. The only fanfare that signified change was one final crackle of red sparks before Keiko Kusanagi''s reality-killing sword sputtered out existence. The deep crimson lines that pulsated on her left arm slowly faded back into her skin. Her piercing eyes swept across the roof, then to me.

    I took a deep breath, my focus no longer necessary. I remained unharmed, but only by virtue of placing all of my efforts into preserving my defenses. A concrete monolith, comprised internally of layers upon layers of whatever metals I had drawn from the roof''s foundation in my moment of struggle. The clean, almost mirror-like sheen of what remained reflected the strained expression on my face. A cursory glance around the roof suggested that I had gotten off easy. The square engravings that my enemy had carved into the concrete floor resembled a grid.

    "It seems I was wrong," said the Kusanagi heir.

    "In what sense?" I snorted, but could not suppress my twitching right arm. There was a dull ache that I attributed to using my ability during such a powerful case of backlash.

    "Several days ago, when I escorted you to the Student Council Building, your strength reminded me of something important." Keiko Kusanagi brushed a strand of hair out of her face. She sighed. "But I suppose I was mistaken. I can say this now," she said.

    I sensed the tension disappear from the Kusanagi heir''s form. She no longer had any intent to battle, a fact she made abundantly clear with what she next said.

    "Your power... for an instant, I thought it resembled that of the Golden King. Now I see that yours is less than a fraction of that abomination''s own strength. A fraction of a fraction. A shard of a shard. When I look upon you now, I can tell, with absolute certainty, that you are comletely and utterly weak. Weaker than the smallest of insects, lesser in scope than even the most minute of microbial lifeforms."

    "Hmph!" A heat brewed in my chest as I stepped forward to refute her claims. "Is that so?"

    "Yes." Kusanagi gave a slow, wistful nod. A dull, red spark bounced off the palm of her hand, which closed tight into a fist. "So weak that I can barely feel your presence before me. So weak that in another world, I might have harvested your nape by accident. So weak that in another world in which we continued to fight, you have already been beaten."

    At this, I froze.

    "Truthfully, Satou Shibuya, I''ve already lost count of how many times I''ve seen you here, in this very instant, defeated by my hand. I''ve already determined that you could not possibly be the Golden King." Kusanagi lowered her head in an apologetic bow. "For this, crude as I am, I must apologize. You will be of no use to Minako or myself."

    What?

    "As payment for your time, please accept my advice. Idolize who you please, even a tyrant such as the Golden King, but be careful with who you mimmick. If I were that man..." Keiko gave a confident nod. "Yes, if it were him, then he would have already swallowed you whole. That''s all I''ve come to say."

    "Wait!" I reached out to stop her. "What do you mean¡ª?!"

    The only thing I grabbed was the lingering dregs of a crimson gust. A beat passed. Galeforce rushed forth from where the Kusanagi heir once stood. I stumbled backwards, one step, two steps, then fell onto my bottom. I sat in near-silence, privy now to the rapid beating of my heart, and the flit of cherry blossoms on the dying winds. I don''t know how many seconds passed before I lowered my hand, nor how many more before I clasped that same hand to my face.

    She had called me weak. In my weakest condition, with every advantage stacked in her favor, she had come to the conclusion that I was weak. So weak as to not even be worth her attention. So weak as to be useless to even a lesser existence such as Minako Minakami. She said that I could not possibly sit on the Golden Throne, that I could not have stood at the peak. She, the Omega candidate, had not afforded me even a modicum of the respect that I, the Alpha, so rightly deserved.

    "If that isn''t the pinnacle of hubris, what is?" I whispered.

    I wanted to laugh. The corners of my mouth turned upright, but just as soon stalled. The laughter would not come, no matter how hard I forced it. Instead, I could only confront the words she had spoken. My gaze turned to the palm of my hand, which fell from my face.

    Have... I gotten weaker?

    It could not be true. Certainly, in the grand scheme of this existence, I was perhaps in my weakest state. Certain foes would assuredly present a tougher fight, but my defeat was still impossible. I was the strongest, so the logical conclusion was that I would never lose, no matter the circumstances. I had not lost. I had never lost, not in a fair fight. It had always been this way, and it would continue to be this way in the future. And yet, my mind wandered.

    "You''re that guy''s magnum opus, so he doesn''t want you wasting away in a corporate office."

    The odds were astronomically low. Near impossible, even.

    "Yes, you and your unruly bunch of comrades wasted valuable potential in petty squables whilst others prepared for the future."

    But... they were not zero.

 PART ONE, CHAPTER SIXTEEN

    PART ONE, CHAPTER SIXTEEN: "GRIND"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    The moon, smashed to bits with only a ring of rubble to show for its trouble, peered out from behind the afternoon clouds. Its massive form hung high in the sky, as it was wont to do on relatively clear days. The air had started to cool, no doubt Niflheim''s return to form. And yet, none of it mattered.

    I don''t know how long I lingered on the roof, but eventually the bells began to ring. Perhaps An hour after the fourth, I came to the realization that it had been the last bell. Classes had finished. All throughout, I had given in to the one question that consumed my focus: had I gotten weaker? Thus, it stood to reason that the question lingered even as I left the roof, as I continued down the stairs, and even as I exited the school building. So lost in thought I was that I almost missed the call of a classmate as I approached the front gates.

    There stood a familiar shark-toothed girl, hunched in her usual gremlin posture, and waving her long, gangly fingers in my direction, perhaps hoping to get my attention. It didn''t warrant much thought, so I walked past. Or rather, I had intended to do so, yet she hastily stepped in front of me, ensuring that I could not miss her. Her dark, dead, fish-like gaze looked me up and down, no doubt admiring my form. I had no patience for her, not today, though this assuredly did not matter to the fish. She turned her eyes up to meet mine, and despite a small wince, she began to speak.

    "Earlier I, uh, said I wanted to talk to you," said Rurisaki. She gave a thoughtful pause. "But if you''re busy, or not in the mood, I can... ask you later, or something."

    It was true, she had mentioned something along those lines during our exercise. I hadn''t given a particularly definitive answer, though I had to admit the answer I had given leaned closer to a maybe than it did to a no. If I had been in a clearer state of mind, I''d have no doubt given a clear denial. But I had not been, and that meant I had chosen a regrettable selection of words. I clicked my tongue.

    "I am busy, and I most certainly am not in the mood. But if you''re insistent on wasting my time and energy, then by all means, talk away." I checked the time on my phone. A bit late, but I could catch the next train if I hurried. "You have five minutes," I warned.

    "Five? Well..."

    "Four minutes, fifty-seven seconds."

    I heard Rurisaki gulp. "F-five is enough. I had a few questions, since you mentioned going to I.K. Middle School. You don''t mind, do you?"

    "Depending on what you ask, I might not answer. It''s natural to seek divine insight into my past, but do not think for a second that it''s any of your business. Four minutes, thirty-four seconds."

    "Even though you talk so much?"

    "Of course. My divulging my past isn''t making it your business, it''s merely the act of shedding light upon an age of legend. The closest approximation, I believe, would be the act of unearthing artifacts from ages past. I doubt pondscum such as yourself would appreciate the splendor." I paused for a moment to peek at the time. "Three minutes, forty-nine seconds."

    "Fine, I''ll get to the point. Just stop counting, it''s... really irritating. Besides, it''s not like I wanted to bother you or anything, it''s just¡ª" She stopped mid-sentence, perhaps seeing that I had begun to tap my foot, and gave a small sigh. "You said you went to I.K. Middle School? In the Gekko District?"

    "As we''ve established."

    "What''s school like over there? Um, in the outer circle, I mean. Is it anything like the schools here?" Rurisaki scratched her mop of long, seaweed-coloured hair. "Most teachers tell us it''s... really bad over there, so I was just wondering."

    "I can''t speak for other schools, but it would not be false to state that Irving Kweisenveil Middle School was frustrating. The building was of a slightly smaller size compared to this one, but there were far too many fools. Day in and day out, meandering through hallways like a child lost in the market," I shivered at the thought. "What an atrocious experience," I spat.

    As bitter as I was, there was nothing hyperbolic about this assessment. The nature of schooling in the inner circle meant less students, and by extension, higher quality tutelage for each pupil. It was a system designed for an entirely different purpose, to teach superhumans in a highly monitored environment. This being the case, there were bound to be differences in learning quality.

    Rurisaki tilted her head. "So you don''t miss it?"

    I gave a dismissive wave. Absolutely not. At some point I could no longer count the number of insects that dared test my patience. Every day, a gnat that figured themselves a lion. Every day, a new stone to be cast." I frowned. "Fools, the lot of them. Unable to comprehend the difference between the land and the stars..." I cleared my throat. "But unfortunately, that''s none of your business. Your time is up."

    "Just one more question?" She raised a gangly index finger. Seeing my immediate scowl, she clasped both hands as if in solemn yet somehow smarmy prayer. "At least hear me out. You''re one of our twin class representatives, right?"

    I winced. "That''s an obnoxiously manipulative statement. Besides, most of the busywork is left to that stupid lightning dog. The mere idea of my existence more than pulls its weight."

    "Er¡ªgross delegations of work aside, please?"

    I could not help but scoff at the selfishness on display. I had taken time out of my day¡ªme, the illustrious and immaculate Satou S. Shibuya¡ªto address the foolish prattle of this- this confusingly well-endowed fish, yet she dared ask for more? How crude! How absolutely outrageous! It was only logical that I set her straight! In fact, it was almost as if fate had conspired in favor of such an outcome! Surely it was only natural to be turned off by such triangular and serrated teeth, right? Surely those dark, dead, and absolutely, positively fishy eyes served as sufficient reason to disregard everything below the neck line, right?!

    "H-hmph! Very well, one more question!" I felt my face flush. It was a unique flush, the sort of flush that neccesitated asking oneself several hard and deeply troubling questions. How very sinful.

    Rurisaki, who had been holding her breath, exhaled sharply. "You had a really intense look on your face for a while there," she mumbled.

    "That is categorically incorrect."

    "Anyway, my question..."

    Rurisaki gave a moment''s pause for what a cursory glance identified as careful thought. Her eyes, already dull, somehow grew even duller as she fell silent. The only motions that followed afterwards were small fidgets of the hands, clasped together at the fingers and flutting in place like a particularly daft butterfly. She remained in this stupor for perhaps ten, no, fifteen seconds before the trace amounts of life returned to her eyes.

    "It''s, well, it''s not a weird question or anything. I knew some old friends who were going to I.K. Middle School a while back, but we haven''t been in contact lately. And I was... kind of wondering if you might know one of them in particular." She scratched her head.

    I gave a triumphant huff. "It stands to reason that I might know them. Whether I''ll remember their name, or their face, who can say? But if they were present during my time at Irving Kweisenveil, then the notion of this person and I having interacted at some point is not inconceivable. Rejoice, the odds that I might know this person, and by extension, that you know a person who has interacted with me, are not zero."

    "You know, I''m¡ª" A pause. Rurisaki violently shook her head, as if realizing she had bought into the foolish idea of talking to a pet rock. How odd. "Actually, good. Did you ever¡ªI mean, have you ever met somebody named Kazuki Shiranui? He would be a year above us. Black hair?"The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Kazuki Shiranui. The name did not immediately ring a bell, so I took a moment to think on it. I had transferred into Irving Kweisenveil in the middle of the second year, after that man and I parted ways with the Kusanagi estate. So it follows that, during the remaining two and a half years I spent there, there was a window of a year and a half during which we might have complained about meandering the same halls. Next, I moved to the sole descriptors I had- male, black hair. The former could be found anywhere, but the latter proved quite the rare trait on this island. Something clicked.

    I could say with absolute certainty that Satou S. Shibuya had never, at any point interacted with this individual, but I did recognize their name. Or at least, part of it. Furthermore, I had only seen a handful of individuals with black hair on this island. Narrowing this down brought to mind the sharp features of Kawagusa General Academy''s Principal, the one known as Robin D. Shiranui. Amidst daring to order me around, she had mentioned something about Junko Shiranui having a brother.

    "As if I''d know a person like that," I scoffed.

    Rurisaki seemed very briefly taken aback by this declaration. "Oh."

    "If you''ll excuse me, I don''t have any more time to waste. Rest easy, fish, for at the very least, this conversation was not worthless. Of the handful of fish that I''ve talked to, you have certainly proved yourself the most useful." I turned to make my exit, but not in the direction of the gates. "I won''t thank you," I said.

    She squinted. "I... see."

    More importantly, there''s something I need to confirm for myself.

    <hr>

    -S0026-

    <hr>

    From the front entrance, a trip to the Principal''s very peculiar and all too anachronistic abode proved quite thetedious little journey. First, follow the leftmost fence-adjacent path for a short while, and at the first fork in the road, turn right, under the trees and their low-hanging branches. Not straight, lest you bumble your way into the groundskeeper''s shed. Past the trees, one followed the path to the left, and continued beyond the all too luxurious fountains where students were expected to find peace during lunch. In fact, no sensible human being would sit in such a spot during lunch. None but Kaede Kotobuki, rather.

    In any case, the path continued straight ahead at this point, passing by several marvels which, in retrospect, were indicative of poor landscaping more than anything else. A bog, or pehaps a pond on better days, a small copse that faired poorly in its modest attempt to obscure the second and third-year buildings from the eyes of the public, and finally, a well-maintained stone path the curved to the left, tracing the way over a shallow pond and through a collection of bamboo stalks, which seemed to jut in any direction that suited their fancy. Following this contrived yet all too mundane path would lead to the very doorstep of one Robin D. Shiranui, the so-called Principal of Kawagusa General Academy.

    Considering the school funding that assuredly went into this office''s construction, I''m half-curious as to why the main building itself is so... uninspired. What terrible design sense.

    Nevertheless, I brought my knuckle to the cream-coloured metal door and rapped on it. Once, then twice. Finally, a presence spoke directly to my mind.

    "Come in, boy."

    Though I used the term ''spoke'', there was no voice attributed to the message, so to speak. It felt closer to intent given verbal form. With even an inkling of who addressed you, however, it was easy to ascribe a suitable voice to the soundless intent with which a telepathic ESPer communicated. Don''t get the wrong idea though. No matter how magnificently and eloquently I described the act, nothing was more frustrating than an unwelcome guest in one''s head.

    I turned the handle in spite of my misgivings and stepped into the Principal''s office. This time I made sure to close the door behind me before turning to face the intrusive authority that was Robin D. Shiranui. The woman, as cool and sharp-eyed as my last visit, did not greet me. She crossed one leg over the other, gesturing only to the chair on the opposite end of the glossy mahogany desk she sat at.

    "You''ve returned remarkably faster than I anticipated, and yet it''s clear you aren''t here to complain about your punishment," said the Principal.

    My back reflexively straightened at the sound of the raven-haired woman''s voice. No, maybe it was the white, crocodilian machine she commanded, which I heard slinking around behind me. A quick glance over my shoulder confirmed its placement in the corner of the room, sprawled out on its side like a tiger after a hearty meal. Surely they didn''t... eat, right? They scarcely even counted as life. In fact, the sole force that animated themachination at my back was the psionic prowess of the woman I now stared down.

    "As the Alpha, I have several questions about this punishment," I said.

    "Your first question, of course, is ''Why entrust such a personal matter to a student''," said the Principal. She once more gestured for me to sit.

    I slowly nodded, but again did not sit. I had expected her to read my mind, but I still scowled at the thought of another digging through my head, plucking my lines before I had the opportunity to read them.

    "In truth, boy, I have already given up on that girl. I cannot spare the time to bring her in line, and I certainly cannot entrust the issue to the disciplinary authorities in the outer ring. That is the nature of this punishment¡ªI have zero faith that it will be completed, so it is the ideal burden to unload upon a problem child with too much free time," she spoke in her usual frigid tone. "My expectations for your success are low. Failure itself is more than a suitable punishment for an ego as swollen as yours."

    I scowled at her. "And I suppose that if I succeed, then all went according to plan, and you would retroactively justify your words here as but an attempt to rile me up."

    Her violet eyes narrowed. "As if I would need to spin such an elaborate tale."

    As much as I wanted to snap back, it was abundantly clear that nothing I said would faze the Principal. After all, if she knew my first question, then surely she knew all the questions that would follow. This was what it meant to banter with an ESPer, all tricks and little discussion of actual merit. I clicked my tongue as I took my place in the seat across from her. "There are other ways to get under my skin."

    The Principal considered these words a little longer than usual before responding. "If your assessment of my decision suggests that my singular intent is to put a damper your mood, then I suppose you still have much to learn. You''ve surely realized this¡ªit is, after all, the reason that you''ve come here on your own terms."

    "Don''t twist my intentions." I said this with a snort.

    I needed to confirm my strength once more. There, in the Gekko District, I had reigned undefeated until my and sister dearest''s voluntary relocation to the inner circle of Niflheim. Many battles had taken place there. Even amongst the few I''d faced in the inner circle, none had matched up to the greatest foes I had faced out there. Not in power, but in tenacity. The sheer force of will with which the common man sought to rise up against the strongest superhuman, the Golden King, could not be construed as anything less than the height of idiocy. That was why I had to go.

    If it were there, I would be able to determine whether I had truly gotten weaker. Even in my weakest state¡ªno, because I was in my weakest state¡ªI would prove once and for all that the land, the sea, and the sky had but one master. It was only natural to challenge Keiko Kusanagi''s words in this condition. If I did this, then the truth would be revealed, that I had never once stepped down into the realm of mortality, even with a thousand disadvantages to my name. If that were the case¡ª

    Then Keiko Kusanagi would surely recognize me as the Alpha.

    Yes, it was obvious that I was the strongest. There was only a single fool who I had to prove it to, even if it meant shattering that empty pride of her''s to bits.

    "I just want to see that stupid Kusanagi heir in tears," I said.

    At this declaration, the Principal seemed stumped. Surely she could see the thought process, but as expected, she could not grasp the full scope on which my brain operated. She simply raised a hand to her temple and gave a small, exasperated sigh, no doubt having given up in the face of my superior intellect.

    "You seem to have done quite the series of mental gymnastics to justify lusting after the tears of a young and beautiful girl. As suspected, you are a Schneider to your very core."

    I puffed out my chest. "Of course."

    "And so?" The Principal once more trained her eyes on me. "If you intend to embroil yourself in worthless conflicts once more, you must recognize that I have all the reason in the world to find a more suitable punishment for you to occupy yourself with."

    "That''s true. Very well, what about this?"

    I climbed out of my seat. From the small shift in the Principal''s expression, I knew that she had already determined the nature of my gambit. That was fine, it meant she knew that I wasn''t lying. Granted, I never lied. I straightened my back and pressed the side of my hand to my heart¡ªthe Ironblood Salute, one of but a handful of things my mother taught me about my Schneider heritage. I had only made a promise such as this once before, and this would assuredly be the last time for a while.

    "I will go to the Gekko District, and I will do more than find your daughter. I will bring her home, kicking and screaming if I must. And in two months time, if I have failed to do so, then I will take the enlistment examination and do as you please." My hands closed into fists. "This, I am prepared to promise."

    Shequirked a brow. "That''s quite the wager, boy. For you to so readily throw away the agency that you''ve been fighting for, surely you seek something in exchange?"

    I nodded. "Correct. You''ll mind your own business while I''m over there. No matter how many complaints you receive, you''ll simply cover your ears and close your eyes."

    This, the Principal seemed to consider quite thoroughly. Just this once, I could imagine the thought process: "What could he possibly intend to do? That Satou Schneider surely intends to cause a ruckus, then he''ll strut back in once everything is said and done as if nothing had happened!" From the small twitch of her brow that I caught, I determined this assessment to be correct. The slight sneer that tugged at the corners of my mouth gave way to mild interest when she slammed a palm down on her desk.

    "Then it''s only fair that I add one more condition," she said.

 PART ONE, CHAPTER SEVENTEEN + NOTE

    PART ONE, CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: "SPARK"

    -THE GOLDEN BOY & THE INNER CITY-

    <hr>

    By the time I had gotten on the train home, the sky had turned dim, the sun having begun its slow descent towards the distant horizon to the west. As per usual, I stood alone in the middle of the train aisle. Crowded as my surroundings were, none dared linger in the one meter gulf around me¡ªthis had always been the case, no matter how the exalted Satou S. Shibuya presented himself. Thus, peculiar as it were, I had long since grown used to having ample space during public transit. Today I used the opportunity as a moment''s respite to consider what came next.

    It was within my best interest, I reasoned, to head to the Gekko District as soon as possible. There were a number of foes I sought to face. Though I had bought a respectable two month''s worth of time to find this so-called Junko Shiranui, the Principal''s terms had more than placed a dent in the amount I had to spare. This meant that my chief priority would be budgeting my time. Far from the most troublesome issue, especially for a natural genius such as myself. No, the two issues I considered proved vastly more troublesome than any conflict of scheduling.

    The first, the nature of my current weakness: backlash. A surface diagnostic of my ability''s current condition gave insight into the status of its four aspects. Reinforcement¡ªoffline. Optimization¡ªoffline. Reversion¡ªemergency standby, but effectively offline. The sole aspect I could call upon was Alteration, having booted in an incomplete state without Reinforcement to maintain and Optimization to correct. Without this triangle of functions, Reversion, a sub-branch of Alteration, could not achieve full boot.

    Optimization will surely come online next. Next, Reinforcement will follow. Then finally, Reversion. But how long will that take, I wonder?

    My recovery felt slower than usual. El-ahrairah had gone into slumber, no doubt the result of forcing itself to maximum output during our earlier bout. Ironic as it was, I tended to shorten the process through slow, constant reversion. This was the source of Satou S. Shibuya''s regenerative abilities, but such proved... troublesome this time. Though I loathed to admit it, this was undeniably the weakest state I had ever found myself in. This issue sat in direct relation to the second.

    "Sister dearest will be absolutely furious," I murmured. Just the thought made me shiver.

    After the train pulled into station, I started on my way home. There was an unfamiliar chill to the air. It had always been there, my ability simply mitigated the harshness. It was for this reason my eyes darted to the various stores on the usual trek to and from home, considering perhaps any excuse to briefly step in and warm up my hands. Perserverence fought off the cold until two blocks away from my home, when the warmth radiating off of a brightly lit establishment managed to sway me.

    There, to my left, stood a building the size of a convenience store. Below a green and white-striped awning that overlooked the entrance, nestled close to the display window, I spotted a tall rack of assorted pastries and other baked goods. These were no doubt meant to seduce the stomachs of passerbys. Next to them, a taped-on flyer that advertised a discount on delectables to be eaten on the go. It featured a rather poor drawing of a boy and a girl in a school uniform, and included such ''goodies'' as pretzels, muffins, and an assortment of different buns.

    Far from my first choice, but no matter.

    I placed a hand on the chilly metal handle and pulled the door open. Warmth carrying the scent of butter, vanilla, and all manner of baking neccessities greeted me. Though my exalted self''s taste in confections tended towards chocolate-dipped fruits and coffee-flavoured treats, there was indeed something to be said about the mouthwatering atmosphere a half-decent bakery presented. In this sense, I gave the business full marks.

    The second matter which greeted me was a golden-haired woman behind the counter, who acknowledged my entrance with a cursory glance, a quirk of the brow, followed by a disinterested welcome. Literally. "Welcome," she said.

    What immense pressure!

    Store clerks were surely among the most powerful warriors in the world, for the mere thought of interacting with them was enough to raise tensions. Unwilling to turn down the challenge, I approached the front desk. Straight posture, clear speech, unbroken eye contact- these were the basic tenets of human interaction, especially when engaging with a worthy foe such as this.

    "I am interested in purchasing something," I stated.

    As if in response to this act of defiance, the woman seemed to train her eyes on me. In that singular instant, I felt all of the pressure in the universe bearing down from above. The world seemed to slow as I traced the movements of my opponent. The customer service smile that spread across their face, the straightening of their back; any lesser existence would have passed out in an instant. A bead of cool sweat rolled down the back of my neck as I awaited their response.

    "What would you like?" she asked.

    "Two pieces of tiramisu."

    "Will that be all?"

    Those words alone sent a chill down my spine, but I would not be defeated so easily. I nodded, and when prompted about payment, retrieved a glossy, black card from the wallet in my uniform blazer''s leftmost inner pocket. It was but an instant, but it felt as if eons had passed in the span of a second. Once the card went through, the woman turned to retrieve that which I was owed from a display case at her back. That slow, lumbering movement, as if preparing to strike, I dared not underestimate it. But despite my best efforts,things would not go smoothly.

    It became immediately clear that all was not in order, for the woman briefly looked over the glass display''s contents. She closed its lid without retrieving anything from within. Such an immediate shift in power saw me retreat, but only a single step. I could not be bested. The woman turned to face me once more, her hands clasped in destructive gesture of apology. "Sorry, just a second."

    The woman disappeared into the back, granting me a moment of much needed respite. Store clerks, cashiers, and the like had all proved worthy foes, yet this one in particular seemed far more potent that the others. I surmised this to be the result of my weakened state. I assuredly would not lose, but it would be a close battle if it dragged on any longer. I steeled my heart. When she returned, I would end this foolish bout once and for all. That was what it meant to be the strongest.

    And yet, how long had it been? I felt my fatigue build as I watched, waited for my foe''s surprise attack. This was the tactic they had chosen, to pray that I would run out of stamina before they did. A logical decision. As powerful as my foe was, they must have recognized the definitive gap in power between us. If I was nearing my limit, then my opponent had long since reached theirs. Yes, of course. It had all been a clever ruse to conserve strength while I wasted my own. What splended tactical prowess.

    Even still, my victory is assured.

    Several moments passedbefore my enemy returned to the room... no, this foe was different?! The haste of their movements, the thunderous boom of their steps- I conceded that this enemy''s brilliance far surpassed my expectations. To use oneself to wear down the divine might of my exalted self, who reigned unchallenged in heaven and earth, in hopes of weakening my assault for those who would follow. A selfless tactic, but a wise one all the same.

    "Apologies, this is among our most popular items," spoke the new arrival.

    They placed a small, white, paper box down on the countertop. Within I spotted that which I was due: a pair of small, dark brown confections topped with a thick layer of white cream and shaved chocolate. Victory lay beyond the horizon. I turned my full attention across the divide, where the menacing visage of my newest foe loomed in the warm light. That person''s name was...

    "Y-Yoshida Yamashina?!" I yelped.

    "Hm?"

    There stood the golden girl in her natural habitat, plastic bag in one hand and receipt in the other. Shocked as I was, the scene struck me as remarkably fitting. She hastily bagged both receipt and paper box before she finally glanced in my direction. Her expression cycled through surprise, then confusion, but she quickly regained her composure. She wordlessly slid the bag with my purchase across the counter. In the same way that I was assessing her, she was perhaps doing the same to me.

    In stark contrast to the Yoshida Yamashina I saw at school, from top to bottom, this one presented itself as far more casual. She wore a neat, seafoam green apron above a baggy, dark-red T-shirt that fell over a pair of gray track pants she had rolled up at the ankles. Her usual golden hair, pulled back and kept in place by the checkered scrunchie she so often wore, formed a messy tail at the nape. This, of course, revealed one crucial detail that I had somehow never taken into consideration.

    What a shiny forehead!

    The two of us stood silent for several seconds. She slowly glanced over my shoulder, and in some odd gesture whose origin I could not place, I retrieved the receipt from my bag and pretended to read it.

    "I suppose you''re on your way home?" Yamashina was first to speak.

    If my presence fazed her, she hid it well. It was only natural to stand strong in one''s own abode. Furthermore, I had a battle to finish. The last person I intended to lose to was a stupid lightning dog.

    "P-perhaps," I murmured.

    "I''d assumed you lived somewhere in the area, but the last place I expected to see you was in our family patisserie. You seemed to imply that our shop wasn''t good enough for you."

    I puffed out my chest. "As if I, the illustrious and immaculate Satou S. Shibuya, would have any interest in baked goods of a stupid¡ª"

    "Wh¡ªno, no, no!" Yamashina stood bolt upright in an odd show of panic. She fell silent for a moment, as if listening for something, then cleared her throat. "S-Shibuya, my family is... very exciteable, and we Raiju enjoy vastly better hearing than even the average superhuman. I would ask that you avoid saying anything that could be taken as inflammatory on these premises." She paused. "Please."

    "W-well now, that''s very presumptuous of you! I speak only the truth, no matter how harsh it may be! And besides, you have no idea how I intended to finish that sentence."

    Yamashina squinted. "Oh. My apologies, please continue."

    My mind raced to come up with, no, to remember the kind sentiments that I''d so clearly intended to put forth, at least until this average lightning dog of hardworking yet otherwise unexceptional lineage had so rudely interrupted. From the depths of this deep, almost meditative trance, I watched as the look of skepticism on the golden girl''s face grew more and more deep-set.

    "As I was saying, I have no interest in the baked goods of a stu- stup-" I gagged, but nevertheless continued. "A stupendousestablishment such as this, with a ripe history of service on Niflheim. This indoor environment will more than satisfy my, in retrospect, woefully naive desire to spare my hands from the frigid winds that rolled in as I just so happened to find myself in front of this kind, sufficiently hospitable locale."Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    She did not seem impressed. "I''m not surprised it took you so much effort to spin together even a compliment as backhanded as that, Shibuya."

    I snorted. "As if one such as yourself could ever hope to grasp the the full scope of my kindness. A specific, time-limited brand of kindness that hinges on the questionable curation of my words. Besides, there are far worthier aspects of the day that I could mock. For instance, a certain, unnamed fool lacking the presence of mind to use batteries for their intended purpose."

    "T-the purpose of a battery is to supply energy to a wide variety of electronic devices. It''s true that this isn''t a conventional use," Yamashina opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue, atop which nestled a triple-A battery. I held back a disgusted wince at the display, but neverthess observed with mild curiousity until the girl closed her mouth. "But to us Raiju, it is their primary use."

    Reluctant as I was to admit it, my interest was somewhat piqued. Not in Yoshida Yamashina, but rather the intricacies of what it meant to lead a sad and unmemorable existence as a stupid lightning dog. "And I''m sure that, regardless of my interest, you will continue to explain. Rejoice, for my exalted self has decided to humour you."

    "I... hadn''t meant to explain, but if you''re interested..."

    "Don''t put words in my mouth. I never said I was interested, I merely suggested that if you were to speak on the matter, I would grant you but the smallest driblet of my attention." I used my thumb and index finger to demonstrate this, closing both until a half-inch separated them. "Thiiis much."

    "Truly?" Yamashina tilted her head. For the briefest moment I thought I saw a smile, but I easily explained this as a trick of the light. "It isn''t a very interesting topic, but very well. Do you remember what we touched on in class yesterday during fourth period?"

    "Nonhuman characteristics, of course."

    Our teacher had touched on the three categories of ability users: superhumans, psychics, and non-humans. As they had explained, superhumans and psychics- Homo dominus and Homo validus, respectively- represented branching paths in human evolution. Uniquely gifted as these species were, they safely remained within the boundaries of the Homo genus. The same could not be said of non-humans. The term itself functioned as an umbrella for all manner of denizenry that modern intellectuals struggled to place.

    Yamashina followed along with this line of thought. "As you already know, we Raijuu fall under the category of non-human. Though you and I resemble one another in the most superficial of senses, our bodies vastly differ. To give an example of this, we Raijuu, if we should please, can sustain ourselves on an electrical diet for months before the effects of nutritional deprivation begin to manifest. In this sense, the electrical charge we draw from batteries is a more than sufficient dietary supplement."

    "I''d more or less assumed it was something along those lines. Surely this doesn''t neccesitate putting them in one''s mouth though, does it?" I asked.

    "That is simply not the case. It''s true that physical contact is all that''s technically required to begin draining electricity from a source, but it''s very much the bare minimum." Yamashina lifted her right hand, allowing blue arcs to jump from finger to finger. "Our hide... skin, rather, is highly resistant to electricity, so charging through it is far from the most efficient method. We are taught from youth that the best way to charge is through our mouths, which are far less resistant."

    "How very, very dog-like," I murmured. The explanation made logical sense, save for one aspect that did not strike me as consistent: their skin. "If, as you say, your skin''s resistance is so high, how do you manage to discharge electricity through it? For instance, during your bout with Gen- Gekkouhara."

    "Oh, the encounter on the school''s roof?"

    "Of course."

    "That... is a lot simpler than you might think. Our skin is not one-hundred percent resistant, and by discharging a disproportionately large amount of voltage, a fraction of it- at least twenty-five percent- manages to escape the body, where I can direct it. This is because a Raijuu''s hair is comprised chiefly of various conductive materials." This aspect she seemed the most interested in explaining, for her eyes seemed to light up. "Raijuu have two types of hairs: gold hairs that store electricity outside the body, and silver hairs that hold much stronger charges."

    W-What a mundane explanation.

    At the very least, this explained the mysterious golden hair attributed to Raijuu, but I could not help feeling cheated with how little fanfare she had revealed it. Regardless, I was keen to try and mimick these hairs when I found the opportunity. If a stupid mutt could conjure such vast electrical discharges, then it stood to reason that I, in all of my immaculate splendor, could do so far better.

    "How foolish, the electrical powers of a Raijuu are nothing so complex as I initially suspected." I puffed out my chest. "In the end, you''re nothing more than a battery that won''t learn its place," I said.

    Yamashina continued as if I hadn''t spoke. "Yes, as I was saying, our silver hairs sustain damage far more easily if we don''t care for them. They grow back quickly, so the worry mostly pertains to older hairs that linger past shedding season. As far as brushes are concerned, I believe the most reliable brand is-"

    Wait, there''s more?!

    The golden girl''s prattling covered a wider array of topics, many of which I cared very little for; the importance of exercise in maintaining a good complexion, shampooing agents that were optimal for preserving the strength of metallic compounds, and other worthless tidbits. It was as she began her lecture on preventing hair splinters that the door behind the counter swung open, and the initial golden-haired cashier returned from her earlier disappearance. She pocketed an expensive mobile phone then started to speak.

    "Yoshida, I''ll take over-" She paused, her eyes darting to thesmaller golden girl, then to me, and finally to the space at my back. I peered over my shoulder, where a small line of three people greeted me. If I had any doubts as to the reason she clicked her tongue, they would have disappeared the instant she strutted over to shove the younger girl aside. The older Yamashina''s eyes trained on me. "Excuse me, I need to serve the people behind you."

    "V-very well." I was quick to make way for the clearly frustrated customers at my back.

    "Oh," said Yoshida Yamashina.

    The younger Yamashina turned a wary eye to her archetype. I heaved a sigh of relief at the thought that I might finally be free, but this proved naive. The golden girl stuck an arm into the corridor from whence her better had emerged and retrieved a familiar black and white cow-print blazer, which she slid on. She gestured for me to follow her, then stepped outside. Reluctant as I was to exit into the frigid winds outside, I had no intention of loitering. I scooped up my purchase in my arms and followed after her.

    Outside, the sky had already started to darken. I had spent perhaps thirty minutes in the Yamashina establishment, though it''d already been late during my return home. This meant that compared to before, the air had gotten much colder. I crossed my arms, half a display of pride but primarily a means to keep my teeth from chittering. To my right, standing a little ways off from the front entrance, Yamashina hailed me once more.

    "I should apologize for the scene," she said.

    I triumphantly raised my nose at the girl. "Fear not, it''s only natural that a stupid lightning dog would lose track of something as trivial as the customers in their own store."

    Yamashina frowned. "That was faster than I expected."

    "Whatever you expected was foolish. So? Why did you call me out here, mutt?"

    "That... is a very good question, actually. I hadn''t finished talking, so it made sense to continue elsewhere. I''m starting to see now, though, that you have no interest in continuing."

    "Oh? I suppose those dog-like senses of yours have their uses every so often. Would you like a treat? Shall I scratch you behind the ears? Bark once for yes, twice for no."

    She rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know, get it all out of your system."

    I gave a dismissive wave. "You seem to underestimate my restraint. I''m being quite merciful, you see. If I dared shower you with even a modicum of what I kept to myself, you would assuredly weep far more than you had earlier. Hmph."

    This statement elicited no immediate response from the golden girl. She met my gaze for a moment, then glanced at the intersection down the street, where traffic had vastly thinned out compared to earlier in the day. There was a moment''s silence before she leaned back against the patisserie''s display window. An uncharacteristically soft sigh came from her lips.

    "I put on a disgraceful display, didn''t I," said Yamashina.

    I felt a peculiartwinge in my chest, though I failed to place its origin. It did bring to mind a question I hadn''t considered: why had she cried, anyway? Logic dictated that she did so because she had failed me, and thus, those tears had been to appease my wrath. This was the reasoning that made the most sense, but I felt a mild suspicion. As if I had... perhaps misread the gesture. Unlikely. I would even venture to say impossible. The question had no purpose. Thus, asking it was a waste of time.

    "Yes, it was a disgrace. An absolute waste of the admittedly trace amounts of faith I had placed in your success. It was my mistake to assume that your odds of besting Gekkouhara had ever strayed from the zeroth percentile." I clicked my tongue at the thought. "Honestly, what a mistake!"

    She wordlessly nodded.

    "That said," I averted my gaze, "I highly doubt that you respect my authority enough to weep for it, mutt. If you intend to throw a childish tantrum in my presence, the minimum level of presentation you should afford me is explaining the nature of your stupid lightning dog turmoils."

    I did not turn my head to see her response. I had no interest in doing so. Such paltry worries hardly warranted my attention, after all, so I afforded only the smallest amount of focus to what she said next.

    "I... had wanted to showcase my strengths as the Zeta candidate, so I was initially quite interested in the exercise. My original intent had been to defeat you, to prove that your besting me in the Student Council Office had been a fluke. Though I know now that it was no such thing," she said.

    "Of course."

    "When it was revealed we would face another class with powerful fighters, I instead shifted my priorities towards Gekkouhara. The Beta seat is granted only to the most nimble of fighters. We Raijuu are fast, and I, a candidate for the Zeta, convinced myself that if I could even approach the Beta''s speed, if I could simply strike him with sufficient voltage, that I would definitely be able to claim victory. That... was a very rude assumption, I think.

    "I thought the results of my hard work would manifest against him. I psyched myself up, claiming that I had struck him once, and that all I needed was another blow. But after our final match, I realized that it wasn''t just his speed. Strong, ruthless, but undeniably skilled. Genjou Gekkouhara... he has surely worked harder than me to claim the right to his seat.

    "That I had not understood this until the very end, the fact that Ihad unknowingly underestimated him... I disgraced not just myself, but the brave heroes that came before us. I''m sure that they worked hard to become so strong. Harder than me, at least, to protect this world from demons." She gave a loud, exasperated sigh. "Iwasso arrogant, I wanted to punch myself!"

    I snorted. "What a stupid reason."

    "Perhaps, but it helped me realize that I have to work even harder. Power doesn''t simply fall into a person''s lap. It is the culmination of hard work and perserverence. Gekkouhara worked hard to become the Beta, and I''m sure that you worked just as hard in pursuit of the Alpha seat. It all fell into place in my head. There''s no way I would be able to best you, the Golden King,in my current state."

    At this statement, I tensed up. I turned to glance at the golden-haired girl, who had uttered my most precious secret so casually. I became a stuttering mess as I attempted to formulate a response to this accusation.

    "I... I d-don''t know what you''re talking about. A, a normal, everyday student such as myself? The Golden King? A-as if such a thing could be true," I stammered.

    "You and Gekkouhara, the Silver Knight, he called himself, were... particularly loud during your verbal spat on the roof. If you thought I hadn''t heard, you''re doing a disservice to the impeccable hearing of a Raijuu." She stated this with a hint of unprecedented smarm in her voice.

    "S-surely you don''t believe that snake."

    "Truth or not, it doesn''t change anything."

    The golden girl turned to face me, and reluctantly, I to her. Her sharp, golden eyes swept up and down my form, as if assessing something. Not my true nature- she had already seen past my charade. Once she finished, she gave a small nod. Her eyes upward, to meet mine, and she retrieved her right hand from the pocket of her windbreaker. She stepped forward, her hand closed into a fist, and pressed it against my chestwithout consent.

    "Certainly you''re out of my league for now, Shibuya, but I''ll catch up to you one day. Perhaps not this year, or even the next. In truth, we may have already passed the enlistment examination when that time comes. We might have grown into respectable adults, pledging our futures to protect this world like the courageous heroes that did so before us." The golden girl stated thus.

    I scowled but did not retaliate. She scarcely knew my plans for the future. "If you believe we''ll meet again after the enlistment examination, you''re assuredly the biggest fool in all of the known universe."

    "Perhaps so. But if that time comes, I''ll have risen through the ranks and claimed the pinnacle for myself. I''ll have defeated far more demons than you, or even Gekkouhara. And when that happens, Shibuya. When I''ve become stronger, you''ll have to get over taking battlefield orders from a stupid lightning dog, you obnoxious megalomaniac."

    How impertinent.

    I wanted to avert my gaze, but I could not tear my eyes away from her. There was a cool glint in her eyes- nothing I said in this instant would get under her skin. I forced a sneer. Perhaps she misread this, but I assuredly saw it this time¡ªa wide smile spread across Yoshida Yamashina''s face. She underestimated the amount of ''effort'' it would take to approach the pinnacle, to stand at the top as the strongest. Or perhaps she knew and simply did not care. Either answer served as a gross act of immodesty in the presence of one such as myself, the illustrious and immaculate Satou S. Shibuya. It was only natural that I respond in kind.

    I grabbed the wrist of the fist that she pressed against my chest and brushed it aside. The mere thought of touching such a filthy hand drew an frustratedsighfrom my lips. I stepped forward to meet my foe on similar terms. This made one crucial detail abundantly clear¡ªshe was shorter than me, almost a full head so. She was a stupid mutt and woefully outclassed. I would make sure she knew.

    "I''ll be sure to thoroughly crush that ambition of yours," I warned.

    "Yes, I wouldn''t have it any other way."

    With this, the two of us parted ways. She returned to the warmth of her home. I continued on my way. The day had been complicated, and it only seemed to get more so. I clicked my tongue, uncomfortable with the heat that had taken root in my chest.