Akida sat in the teacher's lounge on the 4th floor of her school building. She watched the teacher's face as she ridiculed her for her actions earlier in the day, after she had fought with one of the baseball players.
Akida: Like I told you, that guy started it. I was just gonna be the one to finish it.
Teacher: That's not an excuse, Ms.Mizuza. You had that metal bat pointed at another student's head AFTER you had already knocked him to the floor.
Akida: Yeah, because he was gonna use the bat on me. I just struck first and took it from him. Speaking of, why am I the only one in here? Shouldn't that bum be in here too?
Teacher: The baseball players had practice this morning, and the one you picked a fight with had yet to shower and change. He'll be in here later to discuss his actions. But right now we're talking about you.
Akida: There's nothing left to talk about. I did what I believed was right, and I don't regret it… But I am sorry I caused you trouble, Ms.Kitsugiya.
Ms.Kitsugiya looked into Akida's eyes and could tell that no matter what was said, the girl wouldn't even think to change her stance.
Ms.Kitsugiya: *sigh* It's fine, just be more careful, please, this is the third time I've had to talk to you this month. You're gonna scare all the boys away with that attitude of yours.
Akida: Ha! If a guy can't handle my attitude, then they don't deserve me anyway, but what's up with you, Ms.Kitsugiya? Your voice sounds a bit off, and unless I'm going crazy, this is only the second time we've talked. Do you have a cold or something?
Ms.Kitsugiya: Uhh yes…I haven't been feeling the best lately, but it's almost time for lunch, so you may go, but please don't end up back here too soon.
Akida: No Promises!
Akida closed the door to the teachers' lounge as the lunch bell rang. She looked into the 4th-floor classrooms as she passed them. Most of the students were joking and laughing with all their friends as they ate lunch. In one of the classrooms, she noticed two boys talking in the back. One boy had bright purple hair, and his back was turned to her, while the other was Akida's definition of scum on Earth. Seigan Atasa.
Akida walks down the stairs and arrives on the 2nd floor. She enters the classroom for her next class, where she normally eats lunch and joins her two friends.
Akida: Hey you two, how's it going?
The two girls look up from their book and phone respectively.
Tamiko: Good morning, Akida.
Sakiko: Akida! How're you? Why were you so late?
The Priesner twins. German sisters with golden blond hair and emerald green eyes. They transferred from Germany when they were 1st years. Sakiko, is a ball of happiness. If you saw the world through her eyes, everything would be unnecessarily bright. Tamiko, isn't the exact opposite of her sister, but they're far from the same. If Sakiko looks at a glass and says it's "half full," then Tamiko would say "it's just half a glass".
Akida: I was upstairs getting lectured by Ms.Kitsugiya cause a baseball player tried to pick a fight.
Tamiko: If you keep picking fights, you're gonna get more bruises on your face.
Akida: You sound just like her. For the record, the baseball player started it, and it's not like I got hurt, so my bruise count shouldn't be any different than last time.
Sakiko: You don't have any new bruises, but I must say Akida, that pimple is definitely a spicy new edition to your appearance
Akida: A What?!
Akida rushes to the back of the classroom and looks at herself in the filing cabinet. She analyzes her entire person, her long strawberry blond hair, her hazel eyes, even the various small bruises along her face, but she can't find a wart.
Akida turns around with a confused look on her face that quickly shifts to anger after she sees the look on the younger twin's face.
Sakiko: HAHAHAHAHA! You should see the way your face looked, it was priceless! Wasn't that funny Tamiko?
Tamiko: Very hilarious sister…Now, how exactly are you going to avoid Akida's fury? Also, please don't shake me while I'm reading.
Sakiko: Sorry, didn't mean to shake you that hard, and Akida's not mad, look she's—
Akida grabbed Sakiko and quickly positioned her into a stranglehold.
Akida: You thought that was funny, did ya, well I've got something even more funny.
Sakiko: *gasp* Akida, I'm sorry, please let me go. This hurts…I can't breathe very well. Tamiko, help me.
Tamiko doesn't look up from her book.
Tamiko: Unfortunately, these are the consequences of your actions. Akida, don't hold too tight please.
Akida: Don't worry Tamiko, I'm not, isn't that right?
Sakiko: Somebody…help…me.
Akida: What's that? You want me to hold this position until lunch is over? Well, if you insist.
Sakiko: P-Please no.
Tamiko let out a slight chuckle as she set down her book and watched her sister plead to their friend.
The bell for the next class period rang, and students started coming and going in and out of the classroom.
Akida: Alright, time's up, you're free to go now.
Akida finally releases her friend from the headlock, and Sakiko starts gasping for air the second she does.
Sakiko: I'll never take oxygen for granted again. That was terrible. Tamiko! How come you didn't help me?!
Tamiko: Simple. You have to learn to stop messing with Akida…
Akida: Thank you, that's exactly why you're the older sister.
Tamiko:…Without a proper escape plan.
Akida: Hey! Don't encourage her. You must want a headlock too, huh?!
Sakiko: Hey guys, isn't the teacher kinda late? Class starts in a minute.
Tamiko: Only a few classrooms have teachers today; if one doesn't come, then we're expected to study on our own. Also, Sakiko, don't forget you have that phone call you have to take later.
Sakiko: Yeah, I know, I think it'll be in between classes, so I won't have any issues.
Akida: A phone call? What for?
Tamiko & Sakiko: It's family business…
Akida: [They don't ever talk about their family.]
Akida: Ok… Well anyway, since we don't have a teacher we can leave right? Today's an optional day and I wanna try this new bakery in town.
Sakiko: Ohhh that sounds good!
Tamiko: We still have more classes after this so you still won't be able to leave the scho—
The wall of the classroom exploded as what can only be described as a human cannonball crashed through.
The human unfolded into an incredibly tall and skinny man.
Akida: [Was anyone over there?]
Tamiko: [What's going on?]
Sakiko: [Wow, he's like a giraffe.]
The school building jerked again as another explosion erupted from a higher floor.
Sakiko: What was that?
Tamiko: That's not what we need to be focused on at the moment.
Tamiko nodded her head at the man standing at the back of the room. His head slowly turned as he scanned the room, his gaze came to a halt on the three girls.
Bishop: Akida Mizuza, Sakiko Priesner, Tamiko Priesner. Targets found. Capture.
Akida: F that let's go.
Akida grabbed the twins and dashed into the hallway, moving with a group of frantic students, the only thing going through her head was escaping from whatever that was back in the classroom. Sakiko abruptly yanked her arm out of Akida's grasp.
Sakiko: Wait, what about all our classmates?! We can't just leave them back there with that giraffe-looking guy! We need to go help them!
Tamiko: Didn't you hear what it said? We three are its targets, it doesn't care about them.
Sakiko: But still…
Tamkio: The best thing we can do for them is get as far away as possible.
Tamiko: [Besides…they make for a good distraction.]
Akida: We gotta hide somewhere. Which way to the storage closet?
Sakiko: Follow me, I always help staff members carry stuff there.
Sakiko led the group to the end of the hall where they reached the small room. They quickly piled inside and locked the door behind them. They huddled in the room's center under the singular lightbulb turned on and off by a flimsy string.
Akida: Alright, we should have some time to catch our breath in here; but we can't just wait around forever. That guy'll find us eventually.
Another quake pulsated through the building, it wasn't as strong as the one shortly after the girl's pursuer appeared. But it still threw all the supplies in the storage room off the shelves.
Tamiko: We've gotta leave before the building starts getting weaker.
Akida: First things first we gotta find out where that bean pole guy is. He didn't follow us when we ran out of the classroom.
Sakiko: Isn't that a good thing? Now he's got no clue where we are and we can make our escape!
Akida: That's true but we also don't know where he is, and that's a big issue. I'd much rather have a general idea of his location before we leave.
Akida walked over to the door and looked out of the circular-shaped window. The hallway was empty aside from abandoned belongings, Akida continued to survey. Just as she turned her head back to the twins she saw something move in the corner of her eye.
Akida: I must be going nuts…Hey, you two c'mere real quick.
The twins looked at each other and both made their way towards the single door. Their concern increased when they noticed Akida had yet to look away. As they arrived at the door their friend lifted her finger and pointed.
Akida: I must be going crazy…right?
Three sets of eyes were all looking out the window, and they all looked at one thing. Something that couldn't be described as human; the man was rapidly moving down the hallways…by crawling on the ceiling.
Tamiko: Well Akida, I can assure you that you're not crazy.
Sakiko: What the…this is nuts. How is he on the ceiling? Humans can't do that, this had to be some kind of prank.
Sakiko took a few nervous steps backwards. The ground rolled out from under her as she stepped on one of the miscellaneous items thrown around by the earlier tremor. Suddenly, she was looking straight up at the ceiling, she reflexively let out a high-pitched shriek.
Sakiko: Ahhh!
Their pursuer came to a sudden halt a ways down the hall, the man's head contorted and twisted to lock eyes with Tamiko through the window, he dropped from the ceiling and scurried towards the girl's refuge.
Akida: Damnit, he's coming this way! Tamiko kill the lights!
Tamiko quickly pulls the string connected to the singular lightbulb and crouches down, the girls all stare intensely at the window wondering if the owl man truly knows where they are.
Two slender hands slammed against the door, slowly a head came into view. Dead soulless eyes peered into the dark closet. None of the girls bothered to even think about breathing. The staring contest went on for what felt like forever until a noise on the other end of the hallway drew their pursuer's attention away. All three girls let out silent breaths of relief, still partially afraid the man might hear them if they're too loud.
Tamiko: Are you alright sister?
Tamiko extends a hand to help her twin back to her feet.
Akida: You don't have any injuries or anything do you?
Sakiko: I'm all good really, just lost my balance on whatever was on the floor.
As Akida cut the lights back on Sakiko looked at the floor to see what almost got them caught.
Sakiko: A Kendo Stick?! What's this even doing here?
Akida: Doesn't matter, now we have a weapon to use against that guy.
Tamiko: Give it here, I'll hold on to it.
The door shook and a voice as low as a whisper called from outside. Akida leaned in close to make out what the person was saying.
Voice: Hello, are there any students in here? If so please open the door and you need to leave the building immediately, it's not safe to still be inside.
Akida: [Wait, I know that voice.]
Akida opens the door and her eyes almost fill with tears at the sight of a familiar face.
Akida: Ms. Kitsugiya!
Ms.Kitsugiya: Are you girls alright? Are any of you injured?
The teacher stepped into the closet and slowly closed the door behind her, Akida scooped her up in a quick hug.
Tamiko: Why're you still in the building?
Ms.Kitsugiya: I came to look for stragglers after helping the main crowd get out. A few students said they saw a man on this floor and when I got up here I saw him pressed against the door. I threw a soda can to get his attention.
Sakiko: Smart thinking! But you gotta leave, that weirdo is after us, he didn't seem to care about all our classmates
Ms.Kitsugiya: I see…Well, that's even more reason to help you get away! Who knows what he'll do if he catches you? We have to get out of here, I still have to check the upper floors so let's go.
Ms.Kitsugiya slowly opened the door and looked around, she then motioned the girls out of the closet and they slowly made their way down the hall. Each one of them knew the slightest noise could mean disaster. Suddenly…All that could be heard was a cheerful tune coming from Sakiko's pocket.
Sakiko: Dammit my phone!
Sakiko quickly reached into her pocket and shut off the call but it's too late. Rapid footsteps approached from around the corner. Ms.Kitsugiya stops and turns around.
Ms.Kitsugiya: You girls keep going! I'll buy you some time.
Akida: Are you insane?! That guy isn't normal.
Ms.Kitsugiya: It'll be alright, if he's only after you then I should be able to slow him down without getting hurt.
Tamiko: She's right, that's the most logical move; Akida quit arguing you're wasting time.
Akida bit her lip as they descended down the stairway, the next thing they heard was a crash and the footsteps started again. The girls reached the 1st floor and immediately went for the exit.
A gust of air washes over their heads and the tall man lands in front of them, his soulless eyes locking in on the girls.
Sakiko: [What happened to Ms.Kitsugiya…]
Tamiko: [So much for holding him off.]
Akida: Out of the way creep! I don't know what you want with us, but I'm getting real sick of you!
Another student shouted from behind their pursuer
Takuro: Hey Asshole! Over here!
Sakiko: [Takuro?!]
The purple-haired boy Akida saw on the 4th floor leaped into the air with a metal baseball bat in hand. The lanky man's head snapped towards the boy while his body remained facing the same direction.
He delivered a strong swing to the side of the man's head. The being that had been haunting the three girls, now lay motionless against the wall.
Two more boys caught up to the girl's savior and praised his efforts.
Akida: [Great as if this day could get any better, Atasa's here.]
Takuro dropped the metal bat on the ground, it was bent at a weird angle after being used against the owl-like man. The three girls could all finally breathe sighs of relief, they walked over and joined the three boys next to the unconscious man.
Seigan: You two alright? Got any injuries?
Sakiko: We're good! Thanks a lot, no clue what that guy's problem was; he was ultra weird. He came flying in through the wall on the 2nd floor when we were in the classroom earlier, like BA-BOOM! Oh! Takuro take this, I'm sure you'll use it better than us.
Sakiko grabs the kendo stick out of Tamiko's hands and passes it to Takuro, she could tell it suited him much better than any of them just by the way he carried it.
Takuro: Hey thanks, the baseball bat worked but this is definitely more my style.
Akida: Sakiko don't say thanks to Atasa, he didn't do anything besides run over here after Takuro did all the work.
Inezo: Regardless of who did what, we've gotta go. If this guy's anything like that goliath on the 4th floor then he won't be down for long so I suggest we leave.
Tamiko: [The goliath?]
The six of them moved back up the hallway and turned the corner to get to the main exit. The roof caved in behind the group and standing there was a behemoth of a man, the complete opposite of the girl's opponent from the 2nd floor.
Sakiko: [He's Massive! That's the guy they were talking about?!]
Takuro: He came through the floor?! What do they feed this guy?!
Seigan: Doesn't matter anymore, once we're outside he can't bulldoze us; there'll be too much space we'll be able to dodge around.
The group rushed through the door into the courtyard, the wide space was borderline empty. The only thing was one man…A man with crimson hair and flawless skin, he's dressed in high-quality clothing from head to toe, complemented by his gloves that exhibit the same elegance as his hair.
Prince: OK! It would seem my servants have failed me, how disappointing, outsmarted and beaten by a group of children. I know they weren't the best but I had faith in them. What. A. Shame!
Akida: [His servants?!]
Akida: So you're the one who sent that lanky bastard after us?! What's your problem? You got a bone to pick with us?!
Takuro: Don't bother, now that we know he's with them, we know he's not gonna let us just walk away.
Takuro gets in a fighting stance and prepares to charge at the man in the courtyard.
Man: OK! OK! I'd rather not have to dirty my hands let alone my clothes but you seem very eager to pick a fight with me, boy, hmmm how about this; I the great Prince Undinis will humor you just this once does that sound fair?
Prince placed both his hands in front of him, his left hand extended outward and the right hand closer to his body. His stance was strangely full of openings. Prince smiled a devilish smile as if to bait Takuro to approach.
Tamiko: [Weird…what kinda stance is that? I don't recognize it.]
Inezo: Takuro wait!
Inezo grabbed Takuro's shoulder, halting him before he could try his luck on his crimson-haired opponent.
Takuro: Inezo let me go! This isn't the time for this, I've got the best chance out of all of us to—
Takuro turned around and looked at his friend. Inezo's hair was standing on end and his hand was slightly shaking. His eyes focused solely on the crimson-haired man.
Sakiko: [He's sweating buckets!]
Inezo: This guy's different, he's not like the giant or the owl…I don't know what it is but you won't beat him!
Seigan: Well he's blocking the gate, so we might as well try our luck with him.
Inezo: No! We can't! Let's just back up into the school, regroup, and think of a plan; I'm sure we'll be able to think of something.
As Inezo backed up he was met by a brick wall. He spun around to see the behemoth towering over him. With one swipe of his massive arms, he grabbed all six of the students in his unrelenting grip.
Akida: Way to go Eye bags! Now we're caught.
Seigan: His name's Inezo, and I didn't see you offering any ideas.
Akida: Neither did you! All you did was sit and watch as Takuro did all the work!
Seigan: Well Takuro saved your ass! Maybe we should've just saved the twins and left you to deal with the bean sprout!
Prince: OK! That's enough bickering back and forth between you two, oh Bishop come over here.
The slender man rounded the corner, head still bleeding.
Prince: Ok! Now that we're all here and we have all six of the high-value targets it's time for us to take our leave. Oh! But first things first…
Prince walked over to the Bishop and dropped him to his knees with two quick kicks. The man was silent as they heard his bones shatter.
Prince: Ok! You not only failed to capture a single target but you also got beaten by them! As I said before, those who serve under me…DO.NOT.FAIL.
With a swipe from Prince's hand. The lanky man's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the ground, motionless.
The group of six still trapped in the giant man's arms all looked at the inanimate man, with a mixture of concerned and confused expressions.
Akida: The hell? What happened?
Inezo: He cut the string that was connected to that guy.
Seigan: Huh? What're you talking about?
Takuro: Shhh he's coming over here.
Prince: Ok! Now that that's taken care of I can turn my attention to you six! But, I can't have you all up and about while you're being transported can I?
Seigan: Transport? Where are you taking us?!
Prince: Ok! I know you're excited but calm down, you'll see soon enough. But before that…who should I deal with first? How about the boy who made me kill my servant
Prince approaches Takuro and sizes him up.
Prince: Ok! Seems I made the right choice, when it comes to physique you're much better than the rest of them. Thank you for volunteering
Takuro stared at Prince with a perplexed look.
Suddenly Prince cocked his hand back and delivered a devastating gut punch straight into Takuro's abdomen; rendering him unconscious.
Takuro: *gasp*
Inezo: Takuro!
Takuro's head fell and his body went limp.
Seigan: I don't know what you need us for but you're gonna pay!
Prince: OK! I like that fire behind your eyes, but don't worry the Prince treats all his guests equally.
The man swiftly incapacitated the rest of the group with four more powerful blows.
Akida: [I'm gonna kill this bastard…]
Prince: OK! I should obtain another servant on the way back since the last one was defective, but regardless; Mission Accomplished!