Chapter Text
“ Hey... can you hear me?"
The boy began to open his eyes only to close them again once they were hit by the harsh sunlight. One more try...
"Are you okay? you seem kinda out of it."
The same voice as before... he began to focus his attention on the source of it. A pale figure, with white hair which was piled and curled into enough of a mess to look like clouds. He looked concerned.
"To be honest I'm also... no everyone feels the same way. Since we suddenly... got put in this weird situation."
...
"Hey... are you listening?"
"Ms. Yukizome. Good to see you remembered the location of my office."
Chisa smiled as she entered the room, making a beeline for the desk.
"It hasn't been that long since I was a student here Headmaster Kirigiri." She replied looking around the room. It was almost sensational how much everything here resembled her memories. The sunlight spilling in through a huge window, warmly colored flooring and rug, and comfy, pastel colored chairs, all set up to make the headmasters office seem like home. It was good to be back.
"So the class I've been assigned assistant teacher to is 77b correct?"
"Yes. And you'll be taking over" He told her "Normally the regular teacher would come to assist you and show you the ropes but..."
He looked towards the couch a more annoyed expression crossing his face.
"It seems that he has gotten himself drunk. Again."
Chisa looked backwards to see Koichi Kizakura. The very same talent scout who caused her to enter this school in the first place, was sitting back, his expression dull.
"Just so you know..." he told her before being interrupted with a hiccup "the attendance sheet... You're supposed to check the name... which isn't a name. Alright?"
"It's good to see things haven't changed too much since I've been gone." Chisa said looking back at the headmaster.
"Are you absolutely certain you are can handle it on your own? This is your first day on the job."
"Leave it to me!" She proclaimed hitting her chest with her fist before letting out a "Hurk!" At the pain she promptly felt. She may have hit it just a little too hard.
"Fine then. I trust you." He sighed "And I assume you know the way there."
"That I do!" She sing-songed before making her way to the door "I know what I'm doing. Honest."
"Fine. Good luck today."
"You got it!" She smiled "See you later!"
Classroom 3-B wasn't too far from where they were. Her own classroom from when she was the Ultimate Housekeeper had been on the same floor, but this was her first visit to this room in particular.
Well, no time like the present. She slammed open the door.
"Good morning!"
Immediately, a girl whose hair was filled with different colored hair dye popped in front of her.
"Whoah! Who're you?"
"I'm the new teacher." Chisa replied looking past her and into the classroom to see...
"Wait a minute, there's only 3 other students here!"
"So? What of it?" A short kid sitting at a desk in the far back of the room asked "and why do we have a new teacher?"
"A new being emerges from the darkness, unprecedented..." A boy with a scarf said "How curious.... do you perhaps always strike when your victims least expect?"
"That drunk, Kizakura must've forgot to mention it." The short one glared.
"Well, welcome here Ma'am" said a chubby kid.
"You can call me Ms. Yukizome." She told him "but... do you know where everyone is?"
"They're probably out doing their own thing." The chubby boy said "The school doesn't require attendance. You only have to sharpen your skills until the exams come."
"Ibuki likes to try and liven things up for the people who do, for whatever reason go here." The girl with hair dye said sticking her nose high in the air as she took a confetti popper out of her bag, before jumping into the back where the short boy was and popping it there. "Since Mr. Kizakura is always drunk, he's fine with it!"
"Son of a fucking-! Stop doing that!" The short kid spat out as he madly waved his arms around attempting to ward off the confetti.
"Hm..."
Chisa always tried to keep a positive attitude but, she couldn't help frowning.
It was true. Hopes Peak Academy didn't require attendance but that meant missing out on so many things. Imagine if she skipped class and never met...
"Sorry I'm late." She heard a deep voice behind her speak. Turning around she viewed the source of the voice, a muscled student "I was busy taking a shit. So, who are you?"
"My name is Chisa Yukizome. The new teacher." She told him smiling "and you're just in time for the manhunt!"
"Manhunt?" The short student asked raising an eyebrow in disdain.
"Manhunt!" Chisa repeated as she made her way to the desk at the front of the room and began to climb atop it "We're going to search for all of your missing classmates!"
"All of them?" The chubby one seemed to recoil, not too prominently, but just enough for an observant person to take notice.
"We're gonna have full attendance in this room from now on!" Chisa declared "So who wants to come and find the rest of your classmates?"
"Ibuki is in!" The girl with streaks yelled
"I'm READY!" Muscle man joined in
"I... I'll join!" The chubby boy piped up
"I believe my four dark devas of destruction will be a force to be reckoned with in searching!" The boy with a scarf declared as four hamsters leapt out of his scarf "They are skilled in the hunt, and will stop at nothing for their target!"
"They're hamsters for fucks sake!" The short kid snapped.
"Those are but, their temporary forms." The scarved boy told him "Be thankful that they have not decided to destroy you for your statement."
"Yeah, yeah." The short boy rolled his eyes "Just fucking shoot me now."
"So will you be coming with us?" Chisa asked him.
"No thanks. I don't really care about checking up on 'classmates' or whatever. I'm not here to make friends."
Oh wow. This guy was a real barrel of laughs. Well, she wasn't going to try and force someone who thought he was way cooler than he was, to do what she wanted.
For now at least.
"Duly noted. All those enrolled in the search party, to the door!"
As the students left the classroom, Chisa had jumped off the desk and stuck her landing.
"Ok. don't leave the classroom or do anything like that while we're gone." She instructed "Just act like a good student, won't you?"
"You're talking down to me an awful lot." She heard him grumble as she reached the doorway "Do you have any clue who I am?"
Without hesitation, she turned to face the back of the room where his desk was, a bright smile plastered across her face.
"Of course I do. You're my student. And I will treat you as such."
Before he could respond, she had already stepped out of the room and slammed the door shut.
"Ok crew! Let's start with names!" She smiled whipping out an attendance sheet
"First, of all, you!" She pointed to the girl with hair dye "I believe you referred to yourself as Ibuki?"
"You got it!" Ibuki said with a smirk crawling across her face "IIIIIIIBUUUUUUUKIIIIIII MIIIIIIOOOOOOODAAAAAA! The Ultimate Musician!"
"And I'm Nekomaru Nidaiiiii!" The muscle man yelled "The Ultimate Team Manager!"
"Ibuki Mioda, and Nekomaru Nidai." Chisa repeated to herself as she marked off both of their names "Alright next, who are you?" She asked pointing at the boy with a scarf.
"My name is Gundham Tanaka!" He bellowed "Remember it well, for it is the name that will one day rule this world!"
"Uh... guys? We're in the middle of the hallway..." The chubby boy reminded them.
"And as the Supreme Overlord Of Ice-"
"He's the Ultimate Animal Breeder." Nekomaru interrupted.
"I was getting to that."
"Well, how about you?" Chisa asked the chubby boy.
"I'm Ryota Mitarai. The Ultimate Animator." He replied.
"Got it." Chisa marked both him and Gundham as present "And can anyone identify the grouch in the classroom?"
"You mean Fuyuhiko-chan?" Ibuki asked.
"Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu." Gundham elaborated in a booming voice "That being is known here in this realm as the Ultimate Yakuza."
"Yakuza is it?" Chisa smiled "No wonder he thinks he's so cool."
"That's... not really the sort of reaction I would expect to being told that." Ryota commented.
"Well, in my days being a student at this place the school already had plenty of talents like that. Yakuza is just another mark on that list."
"You've been here before?" Ibuki asked eyes wide.
"Yes! I was a student! And I decided to come back here as a teacher since...." she looked into the distance "there were so many great memories that I made. And you certainly will too. Just being here means you have promising futures. You just need to work for them."
With that she began walking
"Now come on. The 77th class manhunt is a go!"
~
"Come on, come on, come on!" He whispered under his breath as he sprinted through the courtyard.
It was bad enough that he woke up late and seeing the time had already missed half his first period. It was worse that, unlike the main course, reserve course students required attendance. It only got better when putting into consideration that when whatever genius was deciding where exactly the school and the dorm for reserve course students should go, they decided to place the two of them on completely different sides of the campus, so by the time he'd get to class, he'd be tired, extremely late, and wouldn't be able to feel his legs. Fantastic. Well, at the very least he was able to sprint for a good amount of time. In fact, he didn't so much as slow down until he came across Hopes Peak Academy's main course building.
How was it, that looking at a building of all things, one he was literally just passing by, could make him ten times more exhausted than you already are?
Well, he was already late. What was a few more minutes of moping? Instead of going to class, he leaned against the gates and sat himself down on the pavement.
This was what he had wanted. He wanted to go to Hopes Peak, the most prestigious school in the world, where graduating guaranteed success. Where every person who attended had something special about them, an "Ultimate" talent.
Except he wasn't there because he had any talent. He was there because Mom and Dad wrote a huge check every month and let him attend the reserve course, where others like him who wanted in at Hopes Peak had THEIR parents pay to let them go there. Even at this place he was just a face in an endless crowd.
The very thought made him sink down lower. He thought being here at Hopes Peak would do something to boost his self-esteem. That was the reason he came here in the first place. But in the end, his plan backfired, and it did so in the worst way.
"Um... excuse me?"
With a start, he looked behind him to see a very small group of students and what was assumably their teacher standing on the other side of the gate. Most likely, they were annoyed that some angsty teenager was blocking the gates.
"Sorry!" He exclaimed, scrambling back into a standing position and moving out of the way. Unaffected, the teacher began dialing a code into the dashboard which allowed them to open.
"It's no problem!" She told him once the group was outside. "But... why aren't you in class? That's a reserve course uniform isn't it?"
"Oh... well, you see, I'm late so-"
"Hello, hello!" The student, who did not look like she was finished with her scene phase greeted "Whoah... that hair. Could it be the fabled protagonist ahoge?"
"The what now?"
"Guys, I... sorta think we should move on now." The ridiculously overweight person behind the scene kid interjected.
"Well we will, but wait just a second." The teacher said as she looked back at him "I'm sorry, but it's part of my job as a main course teacher to ask to see your student e-handbook."
"Don't worry. I'm plenty used to it." The boy sighed as he began going through his school bag. He didn't really see much of a purpose to the schools rule of reserve course members showing ID to staff they ran into on campus if it was class time hours, but then again, it was probably just created as an opportunity to further humble whoever was coming in late. Himself, for example.
"Wow... so expertly versed in the world of teaching after only a day." The scene kid complimented.
"You don't get to be a teacher without training to be one, and she was already a student here before." Pointed out the guy who had... hold on a second was there lightning coming out of his eyes? "So, it makes sense that she knows."
"True, true... but does she know about bofa?" Scene kid asked.
"Why yes I do!" Teacher lady replied.
He looked up from his bag, an eyebrow raised.
"What's... bofa?"
"Bofa the sofa."
"... Yeah. Ok." He sighed going through his bag again, for his ID. The sooner he found that thing, the sooner he could run over to class, like he should've been doing in the first place. There was only one problem with that. A problem that became increasingly more apparent the more he looked.
In a frenzy, he began taking any items out of his bag one by one hoping it would make the search easier. It was futile. So he took the next best step after loading it back in and checked the pockets. Nothing. Because this day couldn't get any better.
"I... think I lost it." He muttered once the teacher turned in his direction. Because hey. It wasn't like he'd now be in serious hot water for losing an expensive piece of school equipment, and have to get a new one, (when so much money had already been sunken in to him attending in the first place) Not to mention he was now pretty much locked out of the dorms now, since they required ID in order to enter. Fan-fucking-tastic.
"I see..." the teacher said "I'll have to inform your teacher you know."
"Yes ma'am..." he dreaded coming into class, late without his handbook. He was just asking for people to start staring.
"Hey, you don't have to look depressed so soon. Let me finish!"
"What?"
"I'm informing your teacher, that you're being included in our manhunt!" She smiled "Because I was thinking... it's always good to have extra help around, and we figured it wasn't a terrible idea to pull away a reserve course student for a short bit of time." She winked
Wait was he hearing right? This lady was going to call his teacher, leave out his handbook detail, and let him follow around on a...
"Manhunt...?"
"We're searching for students who skipped class." The teacher told him.
"I... thought attendance wasn't mandatory for the main course."
"I mean, technically, it isn't." The overweight one said.
Ok. Now he was confused.
"We can explain it on the way there." Lightning eyes said.
"And while we're searching for those kids playing hooky, you can search for your ID." The teacher replied.
"Hmph! There is no need for that!" The one who was most definitely an edgelord replied "Mirage Golden Hawk Cham-P! Your assistance is required!"
With that a hamster popped out of the edgelords scarf and hopped down.
"H-hey!" He exclaimed as edgelords hamster began crawling up his leg.
"Do not resist it welp. You should realize I am offering you my assistance, for absolutely free!"
By the time egdelord finished saying his piece, the hamster had already climbed up onto his shoulder and was sniffing around then promptly jumped down, stuck the landing and ran off.
"Hey! Your hamsters getting away!" He cried as the fuzzy creature made its escape.
"Hamsters are merely their temporary forms" edgelord replied as 3 other hamsters popped up "My Four Dark Devas of Destruction are the most ruthless hunters to exist! As of now, your scent has been traced, and it is now on the prowl searching and will not stop until it has located its target! It can even sense my presence and return to me once it has finished!"
That sounded like... it was a really well trained hamster.
"Ok, if that's it, then let's move!" The teacher declared "We'll exchange details on the way. Let's start with your name! Can we hear it kid?"
"Uh..." he rubbed the back of his head "My name is Hajime Hinata."
And at the moment, he was beginning to wonder what he had gotten himself into.
Looking through the menu was not a task that was short lived. Now what did she order? Trying out this on-campus restaurant had been but one item on her large list of things she had wanted to do at this school but only now had she gotten to it, seeing how many other attractions she had occupied herself with.
"Hm... I think I'll take one one bowl of the extra spicy ramen if you would please."
"I'm putting it down." Replied the one taking her order. As she recalled, he was the acclaimed Ultimate Waiter, and a member of the student council, Shoji Yoko "But hey. it's breakfast time now. Are you sure you don't want something more appropriate?"
"Thank you for your concern, but I'm fine."
"Alright. But how about a glass of milk to go with it? It'll help with the spiciness."
"I would prefer water if you would." She smiled back.
"Oh, actually water doesn't help with spiciness. It enflames the taste."
"I am quite aware."
The other had a look of concern on his face, but proceeded to write it down "one glass of water and extra spicy ramen for..."
"Sonia Nevermind." She smiled "good to make your aquaintance"
"Ok, coming right up!" He replied with a smile that appeared just a little forced.
Ring!
Sonia looked back at the door and took notice of four people who she recognized as her classmates, and two unidentified faces, one of a teacher she hadn't met, and the second one, a reserve course student.
"Excuse me!" The teacher said loudly "Is Sonia Nevermind here?"
"Oh!" Shoji piped up "well..."
"Yes, that's me!" Sonia replied going over to them "Nekomaru, Ibuki, Gundham, Ryota, it's a pleasure to see you. What exactly is going on here?"
"Hi! I'm the new teacher Chisa Yukizome." The teacher replied "And from now on, the 77th class has mandatory attendance."
"Really? Apologies, I didn't know." She sighed before looking over to the reserve course student "By the way, who's this?"
"My names... Hajime Hinata." The boy muttered in return "I'm from the reserve course."
"Oh, I knew it!" She exclaimed "Do you think you could get me in sometime? I'd love to see it for myself!"
"Well, I don't think it's anything you'd find exciting..." Hajime told her his facial expression going into more of a frown than it already was "It's sort of just a normal school."
"Well I've never been to a normal school before. I'm actually royalty."
"H-huh?!"
"That's right!" Ibuki cheered "Sonia-chan is our very own Ultimate Princess!"
"Excuse me..." Shoji had just approached the group "Can you keep it down? You're disturbing the other customers."
"Sorry about that." Ms. Yukizome apologized "However, by any chance could you take us to the kitchen here, in order to speak with the chef?"
"Well, there shouldn't be a problem if you're a staff member." Shoji commented "Right this way."
began to lead the group towards the kitchen Sonia slowed her pace so that she would be be walking alongside a certain person.
"Gundham..."
He seemed to almost jolt in surprise at her greeting which caused her to stifle a short laugh
"How are your Four Dark Devas of Destruction doing?" She asked him
"Hmph. They still host the same amount of power. Observe!" He yelled as he held out his arm and three hamsters scrambled onto it.
"Hm...? Where did the fourth one go?"
"He is simply on a hunt, my dark queen."
"Hunt?"
"Well, you see, this one here was careless enough to lose something he owned!"
"You know I can hear you right?" Hajime interrupted.
"So he goes in search of it. Anyone who stands in his way will cower before him, for he shall destroy any obstacle, remorselessly!"
"Wow! That sounds fantastic!" She cheered.
"You guys..." Ryota whispered "People are giving us dirty looks."
He pointed to a group of table with customers who gave them the evil eye.
"You gotta be more RESPECTFUL." Nekomaru bellowed, earning another set of glares from diners and Hajime making his hand collide with his forehead.
"Oh." Nekomaru realized "My mistake."
"Just don't do it again." Shoji told him as they came to the kitchen "Anyways... the chef is behind here but he's a little... How do I put it..."
"We can handle it." Chisa smiled.
"Even though we don't wanna." Ibuki added.
"Alright then..." he pushed the door open "Hey, Teruteru, you have a group of people who want to talk to you!"
"And who could these fine people be?" A voice from behind the stove asked
"Well... they seem acquainted with you."
A familiar face, walked into sight and smiled widely "Ah, my lovely classmates. You all look as amazing as ever. And who are these new faces?"
"I'm Chisa Yukizome the new teacher. We're here to gather all the students. Hajime over here is helping."
"Well, well, well, allow me to introduce myself. I am, Teruteru Hanamura the Ultimate Cook. Oh, but I prefer the term chef. Has a bit more of a... big city flavor to it, you know?" He smiled.
"Uh... okay?" Hajime said.
"And I'd just like to say-"
"Ok!" Chisa cheered "Sonia and Teruteru have officially been added to the team! Let's go!"
"... I need a day off." Shoji sighed
"Hey, I came as soon as you called!" Mahiru Koizumi called as she made her way up a set of steps "You said you had it fixed?"
The boy on the bench looked up flashing a genuine, cocky, sharp toothed smile.
"Yes it is!" Declared Kazuichi Souda holding up her camera.
Mahiru took back her possession and inspected it, catching no sign that it had ever been damaged.
"Pretty good huh?" Kazuichi smirked "I'm a badass aren't I?"
"The whole reason it broke in the first place was because of you screwing around and knocking it off my desk." Mahiru reminded him "So don't expect any extra compliments."
"What? After I fixed it?"
"Considering you're the Ultimate Mechanic, I think that's the least you can do." She scolded "You shouldn't have been screwing around in the first place. So maybe you'll actually try being responsible next time."
"Yeah, sure thing mother."
"Excuse me?" She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Look, I increased your film size. So you could have more photos." He said "So... can we call it even?" He offered a handshake
"...Fine." She accepted it "I'm not going to give you a free pass, but, you didn't have to do that extra. So... thanks."
"Do you mean it?"
She nodded
"Alright! Then that means Ms. Sonia will definitely think I'm cool!"
... Any semblance of respect Mahiru might've had, evaporated in an instant.
"Mahiru!"
Mahiru turned around to see Hiyoko Saionji the Ultimate Traditional Dancer scrambling up the stairs. Ever since Mahiru agreed to help her tie her kimono Hiyoko had always acted fondly towards her.
"Where were you?"
"I told you ahead of time that I'd be late Hiyoko." She sighed "I'm sorry if I made you wait too long. But I had to meet up with Kazuichi."
"Hmph..." Hiyoko stood on her tip-toes in an attempt to look at him. But Mahiru realized she was still to short to see that way, so she stepped aside.
"So you were being harrassed by old Creepo McFuckboy?"
"Now, now Hiyoko. He was just fixing my camera."
"And I am NOT a fuckboy!"
"Actually, you kind of are." Mahiru told him.
"Oh come on! Can't you just-"
"Hello up there!"
Mahiru turned her gaze to the pavement below to see-
"Ms. Sonia!"
Kazuichi jumped down in front of Sonia without using the stairs, and landed perfectly on his feet.
"He's hopeless." Hiyoko sneered and Mahiru couldn't help nodding in agreement.
Kazuichi made his massive crush on Sonia no secret. Just as much as she demonstrated her blatant disinterest. Some people might’ve felt bad for him. But all of her sympathy went towards poor Sonia trying to get this idiot to take a hint. Kazuichi didn't even seem to care for much else in her other than her looks, and the fact she was a princess.
"Say, Ms. Sonia, how are you doing?"
Sonia then proceeded to step backwards so fast, she looked like she was practically sliding away.
"I'm doing fine."
"Uh... Ms. Sonia? What are you doing?"
Another slide back
"Nothing in particular."
"Is something wrong? Does my breath smell?"
She was practically 20 feet away from him "No. It's not that."
Mahiru noticed a handful of her classmates gathering near Kazuichi as Sonia proceeded to slide away even more.
"Hey."
At the sound of the unfamiliar voice, Mahiru spun around to see a person with spiky hair, wearing a reserve course uniform.
"Are you Mahiru Koizumi and Hiyoko Saionji?"
"How do you know our names? That's pretty creepy." Hiyoko told him.
"And furthermore, shouldn't you be in class?" Mahiru asked him.
"I'm... sorta being dragged along by your class to avoid getting a detention slip."
"So in other words, you're a pathetic waste of space who's being forced to stick with us because you fail as a functioning student!" Hiyoko teased.
"W-what?"
"You heard me." She sneered "Or do you just want me to repeat it?"
"I..." the stranger gave her a lookdown "... Are you sure you're a high school student?"
Hiyoko's eyes widened, and she stepped backwards.
"I'm still growing!" She pouted "You saying that is... WAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Hiyoko wrapped her arms around Mahiru and buried her face in her side, sobbing.
"It's ok Hiyoko..." she said patting her on the head before glaring at the stranger "Nice going."
Before the stranger could say something back, another stranger arrived.
"Hajime... what's going on here?"
"Hey, I didn't-"
"So, are you two Mahiru Koizumi and Hiyoko Saionji?"
"Uh..." Mahiru began.
"I'm the new teacher, Chisa Yukizome. And the guy who made your friend start crying is Hajime. We're going to need you for class."
"I didn't get any note of needing to attend class today." Mahiru replied "Or a new teacher."
"Well...." Ms. Yukizome shrugged "Its a surprise! And from now on class requires attendance every day."
"I see..." Mahiru sighed. Of course this was the day she would pick to take care of matters before coming to class.
"Well, can we go?" Hajime asked.
"Not so fast!" Hiyoko sobbed "I want you to apologize! On your knees! Groveling!"
"I'm not doing that."
Hiyoko continued sniffling "That's not fair."
"Urrgh..." he groaned "Look, I'm sorry ok? Now can we please-"
"I didn't say on your knees groveling just for dramatic effect, scrawny."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Alright, maybe not that far." Ms. Yukizome intervened.
"Thank you." Hajime sighed
"But yeesh, what did you do?"
"I said she didn't look like a high school student."
Chisa looked back at Hiyoko.
"Well, she does have a few grey hairs..."
Hiyoko recoiled "Grey hairs?!"
"Ok, next stop! Come on students!"
Akane Owari stared at the ground which was a million miles away, a massive grin on her face.
In one, two... eh, why bother counting?
The Ultimate Gymnast let her feet rocket off from the top of the building, and began falling through the sky.
"YAHOO!"
There really wasn't anything as satisfying as the rush she felt jumping off and feeling the wind through her hair. Then something aromatic filled her nostrils.
Oh boy. There was no thing no satisfying than that.
"Hey, who's cooking food?!" She yelled. No response. As soon as she stuck her landing she began to use her nose to track the scent. Her findings looked a lot like a cookout. Although who were these guys? Oh yeah. Her classmates. She almost never went to class, so it was kinda hard to recognize them. The only one she recalled was...
"Hey, Nekomaru!" She yelled as she picked up the huge meat on the bone over the fire and took a bite out of it "Good to see you! I'm just itching for a fight!"
"Hey, we're all here too!" Said that dude with sharp teeth. What was his name again?
"I'm just surprised that actually worked." Said another kid.
"Oh hey Roy!" Akane greeted him.
"It's Ryota..."
"Right, right. My bad!" She apologized "So hey, you put on weight since I last saw you!"
"He's looked like this for all year." Said that red-head, Molly “I cant believe how quick it happened.”
"Why? Do you think I take shame in my weight?" Ryota demanded "I've spent good time carving this image of mine to perfection! I take such remarks as compliment!"
"Man." Hayley, the short looking girl teased "You're so stupid and fat!”
"You’re kind of a bully." Said some guy who Akane didn't recognize. “There's really not much shame in-"
"Of course there isn't any shame! Didn't you hear what I just said?" Roy yelled.
"Right, right! Uh... sorry."
"How's the progress going?" Some lady who looked older than the rest of them asked coming up to the group. Maybe she got held back a few times.
"We have successfully captured the target!" Declared that princess chick, Sina.
"All thanks to my masterful cooking skills!" Said the pudgy kid. Totoro.
"Ok! Time for our next target!" Yelled the woman who'd been held back.
"Eh? What's going on?" Akane asked
"I'm Ms. Yukizome. The new teacher. And you're required to attend class now."
"Aw man... seriously?"
"You're coming to class." Nekomaru stated.
"Oh yeah? I don't think so!" She finished eating her food, before she tossed it to the wayside and began to take off, legs working fast but... for some weird reason she wasn't getting anywhere.
Oh wait. Nekomaru had picked her up by the collar.
"You're going Akane."
"Ok but," the stranger interjected "are we not going to put out the fire?"
"Of course we are!" Ms. Yukizome held up multiple buckets of water "Now let's douse this thing!"
"You think I'd use such weak instruments as that?" Megatron demanded.
"And what do you plan to use?" Molly questioned.
"An ancient chant! Behold!"
"... Give me that water." Hayley said "I'm dumping it on his head."
"Ok. I-I-I've reapplied the bandaging. The wound is beginning to heal b-b-but! Just to be safe, you should keep having these check ups with me. Is that ok?"
"Yes. I greatly appreciate the treatment you've been giving me over these past couple of weeks Mikan."
Mikan was overjoyed to hear Peko praising her for her assistance but... Something bothered her.
"I was wondering... I know I asked you this before, and you said it was a misstep while training and you simply cut yourself with the sword but... I couldn't help but notice that, well, that's a rather odd place to cut yourself... so, are you certain that's how you got that wound?"
Peko Pekoyama, the Ultimate Swordswoman looked over at her left arm that had been bandaged before turning back to the Ultimate Nurse.
"Yes it is."
"I-I-I'm sorry!" She cried "I shouldn't be so nosy! If there's anything I can make it up to you with I'll-"
It was then that the door to the infirmary slammed open revealing a woman dressed in blue
"Hiya!"
"O-o-Oh! Hello there!" Mikan greeted back, taking notice of Peko pulling her sleeve down in order to conceal the wound completely "Is there anything you need?"
"Well, that's simple." The woman smiled walking in followed by a large group of students.
"Oh my god! You're all injured?!" She stood up "I'll do everything I can! Just rely on me! Um... what's the problem?"
"No, that's not it. Don't worry." Said the girl who Mikan recognized as her classmate, Mahiru Koizumi. But if Mahiru was around that must have meant...
"I wouldn't take treatment from a trashy pig like you anyways." Hiyoko sneered.
"I'm sorry! That I'm such a trashy pig that you won't take treatment from me!"
The woman in blue looked at Hiyoko "Let's refrain from such comments shall we?"
"So who are you?" Peko asked "And why are you here with most of our class?"
"I'm Chisa Yukizome, the new teacher. We're gathering students. Attendance is mandatory from now on."
"And what is this person doing here?" Peko pointed to a boy in a reserve course uniform.
"Regretting my life decisions."
"... What?"
"That's Hajime. He's a temporary member of the class." Ms. Yukizome explained.
"Oh!" Mikan exclaimed "Um... it's nice to meet you. I hope from the bottom of my heart we can get along, for however long you're a member of our class."
"Thanks. But I'm not actually going to be here that long..."
"I'm sorry! That was weird wasn't it?" She cried "Please forgive me!"
"W-w-whoa hey! It's fine!"
"Are you sure..."
"Very."
"Alright, that's almost everybody." Ms. Yukizome said "We only have one more name and... a row of question marks for one reason."
"That's for marking an empty space." Ryota told her
"Ah. Thank you Ryota. That means our last person is Nagito Komaeda!"
"That guy?" Kazuichi recoiled.
"Why yes, 'That guy'" She imitated
"Wait a second." Peko cut in "I noticed somebody is missing. Where's-"
"He stayed in the classroom. Didn't wanna see any of his classmates."
"... I see."
"Eh, don't worry about that stick in the mud. Now class! Let's collect the final piece!" Ms. Yukizome proceeded to do a series of movements ending with a pose that made her look like something out of a magical girl series "We're the greatest class in Hopes Peak! And what are we doing?!"
"... Really regretting my life decisions." Hajime said.
Actually he took it back. It was after hearing Kazuichi complain his ear off about Ms. Yukizome's next poor victim, that he REALLY was starting to regret his life decisions.
It wasn't even actual complaints. More like a constant rephrasing of the sentence "I really don't like this particular person."
"God... why do we have to come all this way for him anyways?"
"I don't get it. What's your problem with him? He can't be that bad can he?"
"You don't understand. This guy is a magnet for bad things happening. Out of nowhere! Whenever he's around, the universe just sends random incidents out for the sake of torment. and let me tell you that I've been involved in plenty of said bad things!"
Hajime narrowed his eyes "Oh really?" Well he wanted explanation didn't he? And an explanation he got. Enough of an explanation that he was now convinced, Kazuichi was grasping at straws.
'a magnet for bad things'? That's an idea way too superstitious to entertain.
"Hey! Hajime! Kazuichi! You're falling behind!" Ms. Yukizome scolded "If I see laziness, then I'm deducting points!"
"I'm not even an actual member of the class... How are you going to deduct points from me?" Hajime questioned.
"Less talking more moving! We're burning daylight here!"
"Aw man... my legs feel like they're gonna fall off..." Hiyoko whined
"Maybe we should take a break..." Suggested Sonia.
"You're all going to stop when you've been moving so slow?" Ryota asked.
"Actually... I think you're going extremely fast." Peko told him. He was practically ten feet in front of the whole group. And didn't look like he broke a sweat.
Chisa sighed "If you all want to complain, then fine. You can have a two minute break."
The class practically collapsed at her words, a few exceptions inbound. Peko, Akane, Nekomaru and Ryota to be exact.
Thank goodness for this break... Hajime had spent his entire morning walking! It was nice being able to rest. But...
"Are you sure it's a good idea to sit there?" He asked Kazuichi. The guy was sitting on the very edge of the pavement that connected to the road.
"Don't worry. This place is actually a pretty nice spot. And besides, the place where cars actually drive is over there, so no worries."
"So that's as far as you can go." Ryota said "Skinny people always seem to have such low tolerance."
"Say what you want, but I'm pretty tired either way." Mahiru said.
"Well, at least he's defying stereotypes." Hajime shrugged.
"He has all the qualifications for running track." Nekomaru said as he went to the ground to do push-ups "With the right training he'd be a force to be reckoned with."
"Whoah! What you're doing is pretty cool too!" Ibuki marveled "All this way and you still can work out!"
Nekomaru let out a hearty laugh.
"This? This is nothing. I'm a coach. The real athletes are far better than me."
"Still. It's beyond normal standards." Peko said.
"How about you? You're one of the few people still standing." Hajime pointed out.
"My training dictates that I can't allow myself to become tired."
"And that means... what exact-"
"So hey, aren't there vending machines here?" Akane interrupted.
"I like those machines." Hiyoko said "They've got the brand of gummies that I like."
"Well, there are machines in this area." Mahiru commented "But I think you have to walk more to get to them."
"Who cares how long it takes to get to the vending machines?" Teruteru demanded "It's all junk food. A pretty fitting title because that stuff belongs in the trash!"
"Huh? What're you saying?!" Akane gaped in horror "Food is food, right?"
"Such foolishness..." Gundham scolded "If I went on believing that any food was good enough for my Four Dark Devas of Destruction, they wouldn't be as powerful as they are."
"Who gives a damn about your hamsters?" Kazuichi asked.
"Wow Gundham!" Sonia praised "You know how to raise them so well!"
"I mean... it's not that impressive." Kazuichi whimpered looking into the distance "I bet I-"
Suddenly, he let out a scream.
"What are you-" Ryota began, before he looked into the distance, eyes widening.
Hajime followed Ryota's gaze to see a truck, driving out of control and headed straight for Kazuichi.
There was no time to react. The truck that was most certainly going beyond the speed limit crashed into him and with a shriek he began soaring.
"Kazuichi!"
"It's not working..." Nagito sighed "I have no luck at all."
By the looks of it, the vending machine had taken his money for keeps without anything in return. The thing had probably broken.
"Kazuichi!"
"Hm...?" He looked over to see who was yelling, but his focus was torn away from that to see a truck that had landed right on top of the vending machine
Suddenly the machine dials went crazy before stopping at "777". A cheerful jingle rang out and the screen displayed "you win."
Within seconds, the bottom of the machine opened, unable to hold everything inside it, and started spilling out a dizzying amount of Dr. Hopper soda. More than a person would ever want.
"Well would you look at that?" The Ultimate Lucky Student said, a massive smile on his face "I really am lucky after all."
This was the second time today that the 77th class was in the infirmary.
Well, thankfully, Kazuichi's condition wasn't anything serious. Mikan, after letting everyone know his status, had him lying down on one of the beds now, and everyone else was just out in the waiting room. He was going to be just fine, thank every deity there was for that. Though, in the end, that just made way for other things to be on Hajime's mind.
"This guy is a magnet for bad things happening. Out of nowhere! Whenever he's around, the universe just sends out random incidents for the sake of torment."
Was that really true? Whatever it was that happened sure was a big bout of misfortune but... that guy couldn't be the cause of it right? How was some person able to summon a truck of all things, to come along and hit the person sitting way too close to the road?
He looked over at the last student... Nagito was it? The first thing he noticed was how he was surrounded by a ridiculous amount of Dr. Hopper. The second thing he noticed was that he was the only person by himself. Well, if nobody was going to keep him company, he figured he might as well do it.
"Hi." He greeted walking up "We haven't been formally introduced yet. I'm Hajime Hinata." He held out his hand.
Well, his expectation that the other would take his hand and shake on it was dead wrong. He just looked towards him with a sideways glance.
"I was wondering... why are you here?"
"I lost my student ID so Ms. Yukizome let me come along." He said "At least until we find the thing..."
"Well, I suppose that makes sense." Nagito replied "If she's willing to take in someone like me, she's probably fine with anyone... even reserve course students."
Was that comment really necessary? Sure, it was unusual that Hajime was being bought along but he didn't have to go out and say it. And what was that business saying 'Someone like me'? What was this guys-
"Hajime-chan! Nagito-chan!"
He jumped practically a foot into the air and whipped around to see whoever was talking.
"Ibuki... you scared me there."
"Say, you two wanna compose a song with Ibuki?"
"Huh?" Hajime asked "Well... um..."
"I insist. You're probably far better off without me." Nagito smiled "But, thanks for the offer."
"Aw..." Ibuki whined "Well, how about you Hajime-chan? You up for it?"
"Well..." He looked over at his conversation partner, who didn't exactly seem to want him around "Sure. Why not?"
"Okay! Then follow Ibuki!"
Hajime did as he was told, which landed him in the corner of the room where a few things awaited. Firstly, Hiyoko, and secondly, an electric guitar that had been plugged in.
"Hey Hiyoko-chan! Hajime-chan says he's joining the band!" She gushed
"So... you joined too?" Hajime asked Hiyoko.
"Yeah. So what, ugly?"
"Ok! Ibuki's gonna play one of her tunes to warm up! This one's called 'From the Bottom of My Internal Organs'"
It was just then that Hajime realized everyone in the room who hadn't joined in Ibuki's band was plugging their ears and looking over at them fearfully. What had he gotten himself into? Well, then again, maybe that was an over-exaggeration. How bad could it be?
Really bad.
Maybe Ibuki had a good singing voice. He wouldn't know. Because she didn't sing. She screamed out all the lyrics. Nothing sounded like actual music. Even the playing of the guitar was lost in the not-so-melodious sound of Ibuki's voice. His ears felt like they'd been shot. And behind him, everyone was either on the floor twitching, or just wringing their heads in fear. Then there was Hiyoko. She was smiling, ear to ear.
"That felt good!" Ibuki cheered "Now Ibuki is ready to compose with you guys! It's been so long since Ibuki was with a band!"
"You... had a band?" Hajime asked "What are they doing then?"
"We split apart. Creative differences and all."
Yeah. That made sense.
"Ugh! I'm trying to heal here! Not get more damage!" Kazuichi cried coming back into the waiting room (and wearing enough bandages to look like he'd been mummified)
"Wait, shouldn't you be resting?" Ryota asked him.
"W-well... he's able to walk around now..." Mikan stuttered entering behind him "The bandages should be able to come off in less than a week. The truck doesn't seem to have been a huge hit. B-but! I'd recommend you take it easy from now on until then!"
"He's got good endurance. That's for sure." Nekomaru said.
"Yooo! Mikan-chan!" Ibuki yelled "Wanna join Ibuki's band?"
"You want me to join your band?" Mikan asked.
"Ibuki wants you to join her band!" She echoed grabbing onto Mikan's hand.
"Thank you... thank you so much!" Mikan yelled, her eyes filling with tears.
"And thank you!" Ibuki repeated her again "Ibuki's super pumped that you're joining!"
"I'm gonna puke." Hiyoko stated.
"Huh?!" Mikan let go of Ibuki to run over to Hiyoko "Are you ok? Why are you-"
"It's a figure of speech cow-wad!" Hiyoko snapped back.
"Cow-wad?!"
What a little brat. Hajime couldn't think of any other way to describe her.
"So have we learned anything from this incident?"
Hajime looked over at Mahiru, scolding Kazuichi.
"Such as, not sitting in the middle of the road."
"Oh come on! That's not my fault! It was Nagito's!"
"I'm still pretty sure that sitting right near the road was a big factor of you getting hit." Hajime chimed in "Nagito being there or not."
"Hey, whose side are you on?"
"I... don't remember saying I was taking sides."
"Look, I'm not here for you to think I'm nagging." Mahiru told him "I'm here to make sure you don't actually get seriously injured."
"I can handle myself!"
"Talk to me when you start washing that jumpsuit of yours."
"I don't think it's possible. He just needs to wear something that looks as terrible and pathetic he is." Hiyoko teased.
"Hey!" Kazuichi snapped back "Mind showing sympathy for the guy who got hit by a damn truck?!"
"Maybe, you should try getting an apology from whoever was driving that thing." Suggested Peko.
"Actually... Ms. Yukizome and I took a look inside of the truck earlier." Sonia commented. "Nagito informed us that it had crashed so we wanted to see if the person inside was doing ok."
Hajime looked at her "Well, they're not over here in the infirmary right now, so they're fine right?"
"That's the strange part. There was no driver. The truck was completely empty."
"Wait. There was just an empty truck making its merry way down the road?" Ryota raised an eyebrow.
"With nobody to control his fury, he strikes in broad daylight!" Ibuki began to narrate "The truck vows to take victims, who sit on the road."
"... I do not think that is it." Peko said to her.
"Obviously!" Kazuichi attested "It was clearly, Nagito's weird power to attract disaster."
Ok, Hajime was on the fence about that, but hearing those words out loud made him realize just how stupid that sounded.
"Enough with that." He sighed "Nobody has weird disaster attracting powers."
"Oh, this may seem like some coincidence. But this kind of stuff happens all the time whenever he's involved! He- OW!"
Mahiru had nudged him.
"Can we not gossip about someone who's literally right over there?" She demanded, motioning to Nagito, still sitting by himself "Or in general?"
"I agree with you on that front." Sonia claimed "We should not spread rumors about disaster powers. Even though that idea is quite exciting!"
"Don't be fooled Ms. Sonia! It may sound fantastical to you, but just look what it's done to me!"
"Hm..." Sonia looked around "Did someone say something?"
"Ms. Sonia?"
"Enough of this foolishness..." Gundham said coming up to them.
"Oh, what do you want?" Kazuichi mumbled.
"To the one who's hair is sharp as a knife! I've declared the time has come! Listen to me..."
"... Are you talking about me?" Hajime asked. Ok, his hair was pretty spiky but...
"But of course! Look at me, and don't avert your gaze, or you will die!" He declared. On cue, all four of his hamsters popped back out of his scarf one of them held up...
"My student handbook!" Hajime exclaimed.
"Are you impressed?" Gundham cackled as the hamster ran down his arm and handed Hajime his ID.
"Well... yeah. I kinda am." Hajime admitted "Thanks a lot for your help."
"Well, if you're impressed now then listen here!" Gundham declared "For it was located at the time, even before we had discovered the location of the sharp toothed one."
Well that was- wait.
"You found it before we got Kazuichi?!" He shouted "And you didn't give it back?! Why!"
"Gundham Tanaka does not need to give reasons!" He declared.
Oh for the love of-
"What? Did you just keep it from him because you wanted him to stay around?" Mahiru demanded.
"Fool! Me and my Four Dark Devas of Destruction require no company! We only desire peace and solitude!" He looked down at his hamsters and sighed "Peace... and solitude."
Yeah, that was definitely someone who was lonely. Well, whether or not this guy wanted company, Hajime probably already was in deep trouble for missing part of the entire school day, manhunt or no.
"I'll tell him off." Mahiru said, almost as if she could read his mind "You just get to Ms. Yukizome and tell her your handbook is back."
"Uh... Ms. Yukizome!" He called "I found my e-handbook!"
Actually where was she?
Chisa locked the door to the woman's room, checking in all the stalls to make sure they were empty. Maybe this wasn't the ideal place, but she figured it was best to keep this call on the down-low.
"Ok, I'm alone now." She told the person on the other end of the line "So, what's the occasion Kyousuke?"
"I just wanted to check how your first day was going."
"Aw... thanks!" She smiled "It's going excellently. I've gotten to meet all my students and in addition... I think I have a head start on the investigation."
"Already? What am I going to do with you?"
"Well, you know me!"
"So... what exactly is this head-start?"
"The reserve course." She stated "I've met one of the students. If all goes well, I can try and interrogate and get information out of him."
"Are you sure that'll be enough to work?"
"It may not be a lot. It may even be pretty inadequate. But it may just be able to be a jumping point. I could find out more from there."
"Good job. I'm counting on you Yukizome."
"Oh Kyousuke, for the last time! You can call me Chisa when we're on our own!"
"Maybe next time."
Oh, she could just see him smirking on the other end.
"Kyousuke, you meanie!"
"Sorry, can't be helped."
"So hey! I told you about my day, but what about that overseas expansion you're working on?" She asked "How's that working out?"
"So far so good." He told her "Hopefully this is a good omen!"
"Hooray! So should I tell Juzo you said hi?"
"Go ahead. As long as I don't call him up first."
"Ooooh! Is that a challenge? I accept!"
She could hear him laughing on the other end "Until next time Yukizome."
"Mm-hm!"
She let the other line go quiet and put away the phone. Then, with a hum she turned around and went back into the infirmary waiting room.
"Ms. Yukizome!"
"Hm?"
"Ms. Yukizome!"
"Hm? What is it Hajime?"
Hajime followed the voice to see where Ms. Yukizome was.
"Oh, Ms. Yukizome! Uh... Gundham found my student e-handbook."
"Really? That's great to hear!" She smiled.
"Yeah, so can you contact my teacher? Tell her I'm showing up soon?"
"Ok then." She said "It was good to meet you Hajime. And I think everyone else here enjoys your company. Let's hope you'll get to meet up with everyone here again."
He nodded and left the building. The chances of running into those guys again weren't exactly likely but... maybe a part of him wanted that too.
Ok, it was true that they were really... eccentric. Nowhere near as put together as you would expect the Ultimates chosen to attend the most prestigious school in the world to act. And also in some cases, very possibly crazy. But...
"I think everyone here enjoys your company."
Was that true? Ok, so maybe they didn't ALL like him. There was his attempt at interaction with Nagito which didn't go too well, and Hiyoko, who he just had the feeling hated everybody.
But for the most part they seemed willing to strike up conversation. They chatted with him, asked him to join in bands...
Granted he also didn't know them very well. The ones that he'd known the longest he knew for, what? 2 hours? But, after today, he felt a lot more positive than he had in a while.
Maybe that meant he had friends. That was the first good thing to happen since he arrived at this school.
"Yeah... I hope so too."
"Ok class!" Fuyuhiko looked up from his desk to see Ms. Yukizome entering, with the entire damn 77th class behind her. "We're back! And we're gonna get down to business."
"What business do you mean?" Ryota asked her.
"Well, take a look around. What do you see?"
"Uh... the classroom?" Mikan asked.
"Exactly!" She exclaimed "Look at this place! It's filthy! We're cleaning up."
"Are you fucking with me?" Fuyuhiko demanded.
"Now, now Fuyuhiko. You're in a classroom. And we don't curse in a classroom." Ms. Yukizome smiled "Now! Cleaning... start!"
Somehow, he ended up outside the classroom, sweeping up dust.
"I can't fucking believe it...." he sighed "She treats me like some damn child.... she's-"
"Young master."
He looked up to where Peko was standing
"Peko? What do you want?"
Wordlessly, she passed him a can of Dr. Hopper soda
"Nagito was passing these out to everybody as a refresher, since he has more than enough. So I decided to give you yours."
...
"How's your wound?" He asked her
"What?"
"I want to know if you're doing ok. Don't show me it if you don't want too but can you give me an update?"
She shook her head "Tools don't have wants." She stated "but it's healing."
"The tool business again?" He tried and failed to keep his voice from rising "Enough with that! We're away from the Kuzuryuu clan for now! You can stop calling yourself a goddamn tool while we're here! You're a person!"
"I am to serve as your tool wherever I am."
He was practically ready to hurl himself off a cliff. Because he knew dammit. He knew a few words wasn't gonna undo the entire lives worth of brainwashing she had received from his parents, her mentors, every single damn person in her life, who hammered in that she wasn't a person but his hit-woman. He had to watch somebody he knew his entire life, attempting to replace her emotions, her wants, her life, for the sake of being his 'tool'.
Maybe he could've done something to stop it if he noticed what was happening sooner. But he sure as hell couldn't now. As far as he knew, Peko was far gone forever.
"Why'd you let yourself take an injury like that?" He asked "You're a way better fighter than that!"
"It was to keep my young master safe."
"Enough with the young master business! I've known you since we were in diapers for fucks sake! Can't you just see me as your friend!?"
...
"We were able to deal with the people who came after you. That is a success." Peko replied "For me as a tool..."
"Fuck it... just go hang out with everyone else."
"Is that an order?"
"It's whatever you damn want it to be..."
Peko took a moment to stare at him, before trailing back into the classroom.
"God... fucking dammit."
He slammed his head against the wall. It hurt like hell, and it left his ears ringing, but he just had to do it.
"God damn fucking son of a bitch..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Good job everybody!" Ms. Yukizome congratulated them "This room is spotless!"
"So, should we check on the person outside the room?" Peko asked.
"I don't want criminal scum like him anywhere near me." Hiyoko said.
"Now, now Hiyoko he is your classmate." Ms. Yukizome said "So... Nekomaru! You go get him ok?"
"YOUUUUU GOT IT!"
Nekomaru left and a full minute later came back in with Fuyuhiko kicking and screaming.
"Let me down asshole! You wanna sleep with the motherfucking fishes, because that's where you're gonna end up!"
"I'm glad you have such a spirit for class Fuyuhiko." Ms. Yukizome cajoled as Nekomaru put him down near his desk.
"So, why the fuck do you have us gathered here? Expect us all to play tea party or some shit? In case you haven't noticed we're all Ultimates."
"Being in class is not required at Hopes Peak Academy. But from now on, in this class, I want to see you all make your best effort to come. There's more to life than just your Ultimate talents. Interacting with others will help build character and help you make memories. And from there, hope, which is more important than talent will be born."
"Hope?" Nagito began to smile brightly "That sounds absolutely wonderful. Thank you for the wonderful speech ma'am!" He began applauding her.
"Here we go again..." Kazuichi sighed.
"Well, I think we've waited long enough." Ms. Yukizome digressed "Lets begin class!"