"Hello, are you Ouma Shu?" I asked, approaching the brown-haired boy with a light smile during the break. His head jerked up in surprise, clearly not expecting anyone to approach him out of the blue.
"Yeah, that's me," he replied, his eyes quickly scanning my face, trying to place me. "Aren't you the new senpai who just transferred to this class?" Shu's curiosity was evident, though his voice remained cautious.
"That's right," I said with a small chuckle, hoping to ease the tension. "To be honest, I'm not the most sociable person, so I tend to seek out people who share similar interests."
"Oh?" Shu raised an eyebrow, intrigued by my admission. "And what makes you think I have the same hobbies as you, senpai?"
"Just a gut feeling," I shrugged nonchalantly. "I've been trying to get tickets for Egoist's concert, but they're impossible to find. They're performing here this weekend, and I'm really desperate to attend."
His eyes widened slightly at the mention of Egoist, but he tried to hide his reaction. I could tell I was on the right track, so I continued, keeping my tone casual. "I noticed the Egoist accessory on your bag," I said, gesturing toward the small badge attached to his bag. It was Inori, dressed in her signature black dress with the red scarf which was a design I recognized immediately. It was from the cover of The Everlasting Guilty Crown, a song that hadn't even been released yet in this timeline. My knowledge of the future and from Rin gave me an edge, but I couldn't let Shu know that.
Shu glanced at the badge on his bag, then back at me. "You've got sharp eyes, senpai," he said with a smirk. "If you noticed that, I'm guessing you're a big fan of Egoist too."
"I am," I admitted, "which is why I'm hoping you can help me out. I need two VIP tickets for their concert, but they sold out before I even had a chance to try."
Shu leaned back, crossing his arms. "Two VIP tickets?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Senpai, those tickets are like 40,000 yen each, and that's without the second-hand market's markup. Are you really willing to drop that kind of money?"
I nodded, then corrected myself. "Actually, make it three tickets. I plan on bringing a couple of friends along." I smiled faintly, knowing full well that the concert would likely be canceled because of Inori's situation, but there was no need to bring that up now. I could deal with that problem when the time came.
Shu chuckled, shaking his head. "Wow, senpai, you must be loaded to even consider buying three VIP tickets." He seemed a little more comfortable now, loosening up as the conversation shifted. "But I've got to be honest, I can't help you out. I only managed to get my own tickets thanks to a friend's hard work. No secret methods here. I just got lucky."
"Is that so?" I responded, though I wasn't truly disappointed. This whole conversation had just been a pretense to break the ice. In reality, my objective was far more serious. Pulling out my phone, I glanced briefly at the message Rin had sent me just before the break. I had skimmed through Shu's background info, confirming most of what I already suspected.
"Well then," I said, slipping my phone back into my pocket and letting the casual air of our conversation drop. My tone shifted, becoming more direct as I locked eyes with Shu. "In that case, there's another matter I need to discuss with you, something much more important than concert tickets."
Shu's expression changed instantly, the lighthearted curiosity fading as he sensed the seriousness in my voice. "What do you mean?" he asked, now visibly more cautious.
"It involves a rather famous singer," I continued, watching his reaction closely. "Someone you happened to encounter yesterday."
Shu's eyes widened, panic briefly flashing across his face before he managed to hide it. He knew exactly who I was talking about. I had planned to ease into this conversation, using my supposed interest in the concert as a cover, but now that I had his attention, I decided to cut straight to the point. There was no need for pretense anymore.
"I think you know who I'm talking about," I said calmly, but with a firm undertone. "And I think it's time we discuss what really happened."
I was genuinely surprised when I discovered that the doctor who had been taking care of me during my coma, alongside my mother, was none other than Shu's mother. It was an unexpected connection, but upon learning that she was also one of my mother's colleagues, things began to make a little more sense. Still, it felt strange that such a close bond existed between our families without me knowing. On top of this surprising revelation, I was relieved to find out that Shu didn't have a sister who had succumbed to madness and psychopathy due to an alien virus infection. In a world already teetering on the brink, that was one less thing to worry about.
In the world of Guilty Crown, Ouma Mana had been a key source of chaos and destruction, driving much of the conflict in the story. Her tragic fall into madness, caused by a virus, had a domino effect, destabilizing everything around her. I could only imagine the potential disaster that would unfold if someone like her existed in this world. Thankfully, that wasn't the case here, and the relief I felt was overwhelming. To be cautious, though, I had asked Rin to dig deeper into Shu's background. I wanted to make absolutely sure there were no hidden dangers, no secret history that could bring the same sort of disaster I saw in Guilty Crown.
Rin's investigation turned up nothing out of the ordinary. Shu, it seemed, really was just an ordinary boy, born to a regular family and living a relatively quiet life in Nagazora City. No strange occurrences or anomalies to speak of, at least in his past. His life was refreshingly normal, which, given everything else going on, was a huge relief. It felt like, for once, I could stop worrying about him being some hidden threat. However, the calm didn't last long. While Shu might not have held any secrets, I couldn't say the same for Yuzuriha Inori.
I had also asked Rin to look into Inori's background, hoping to either confirm or dispel the gnawing suspicions I had about her. So far, Rin hadn't uncovered much of substance, but what little she had found only deepened my concerns. Inori's past seemed deliberately obscure. According to Rin's report, Inori was an orphan adopted into a family registered in Tokyo, but after her adoption, she virtually vanished from all records until her sudden emergence with Egoist a year ago. The lack of information, the gaps in her history, it was all highly suspicious.
In Guilty Crown, Inori had been part of Funeral Parlor, a terrorist organization that fought against an oppressive regime. Here, it felt as though she might be connected to something equally dangerous. My instincts told me that she wasn't just an ordinary girl, there was something much bigger at play. This suspicion grew even stronger after her capture while breaking into ME Corp. The fact that she was involved in something so risky only lent more credibility to the idea that she was connected to something dark, something possibly even worse than what I had imagined. While I couldn't be entirely certain yet, I felt like my predictions about her were inching closer to the truth.
Damn it, I was going to have to discuss this with Rin in more detail. There were too many unanswered questions, too many suspicious details that didn't line up. I couldn't afford to leave anything to chance, not with everything that was at stake.
Suddenly, Shu's voice snapped me back to the present. "I don't know anything about that! What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice trembling with fear. His face had gone pale, and it was clear that he was scared, perhaps even more scared of what was happening around him than of me.
I had to admit, my plans were becoming more reckless by the day, but I felt I had no choice. My father's position was precarious and I needed to find a way to protect him from being brought down alongside Ryoma. But for my plan to work, I needed to understand who I was dealing with. Inori was a wild card, an anomaly that didn't seem to belong in this world, and that made her dangerous.
I hated the feeling of uncertainty that surrounded her. This world of Honkai already had its own share of threats and challenges, and the last thing I needed was someone with a mysterious and potentially dangerous past shaking things up even more. My instincts told me that she didn't belong here, and I was determined to find out why she was here and what her true motives were. Until I knew more, I couldn't move forward with my plans and that left me with a growing sense of frustration.
"Oh, first and foremost, I hope you'll tell your mother Haruka that Yelena's son is deeply grateful for all the care she put into treating me while I was in a coma," I said, my lips curling into a soft, appreciative smile. I wanted to start things off on the right note, acknowledging the kindness I had received.
Shu blinked at me, his expression shifting to one of intrigue, though I could sense a flicker of suspicion behind his eyes. "So, you're one of my mom's patients?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity. He studied me for a moment longer before his brows furrowed slightly, and he added in a more cautious tone, "But how do you know about what happened to me yesterday?"
His direct question hung in the air between us. It was clear that Shu wasn't the type to let things slide without answers, and his wary eyes suggested he was already piecing things together in his mind.
Before I could come up with a response, the conversation was interrupted by a gentle, feminine voice from behind. "Shu, here are the drinks I bought for you," the voice called out. It was cheerful and light, cutting through the growing tension. Both Shu and I instinctively turned toward the sound. Standing a few steps away from us was a petite girl with her brown hair styled into neat twin-tails, holding two bottles in her hands. Her large, warm eyes sparkled as she approached.
As soon as her gaze landed on me, recognition flickered in her expression. "Wait, aren't you the new senpai who just transferred into our class?" she asked, her head tilting to the side in curiosity, a small smile playing on her lips.
I blinked, caught off guard by her question. She was right, I was new here, but I hadn't expected to be recognized so quickly. "Yeah, that's me," I replied, nodding politely. "And you are...?" I let the question hang in the air, my voice trailing off. There was no denying the slight embarrassment creeping up on me. "Sorry, I only just transferred, so I haven't really gotten to know all of my classmates yet," I added quickly, hoping to clarify.
Her smile widened, and she shook her head, dismissing my concern. "No problem! It's understandable," she replied brightly, stepping closer and placing the bottles she was holding onto the table in front of us. "I'm Menjou Hare. Nice to meet you!"
Her name caused a jolt of recognition to surge through me, and I could feel my heart skip a beat. Menjou Hare—the name echoed in my mind. Of course, how could I have forgotten? This girl, standing right in front of me with her bright smile and carefree demeanor, was none other than Ouma Shu's childhood friend from Guilty Crown. The very same girl whose tragic fate had been etched into my memory—the girl who sacrificed everything, even her own life, for the boy she loved. It was a fate that made her both unforgettable and heartbreaking.
I forced myself to snap out of the momentary daze and quickly returned her greeting. "Nice to meet you too, Menjou-san," I said with a polite nod, though my mind was still reeling from the unexpected encounter. After a brief pause, a teasing smirk found its way onto my face, and I couldn't resist adding, "And sorry for bothering your boyfriend."
My words hung in the air for just a split second before I noticed Hare's reaction. Almost immediately, a blush began to spread across her cheeks, painting them a soft pink that deepened with every passing second. Her ears, too, turned a matching shade of red, betraying her flustered state. She stumbled over her words, clearly caught off guard. "He... he isn't my boyfriend," she stammered, her voice shaking slightly as she tried to recover from the teasing remark.
I watched her with amusement, noticing the way her body language contradicted her words. Hare's flustered state spoke volumes, and I could tell she was struggling to keep her composure.
Still, I wasn't quite done. With a playful glint in my eye, I leaned back slightly and offered her one final tease. "You are not his boyfriend...yet," I finished her sentence, keeping my tone light, but playful, as I turned away and began heading back toward my seat. I could hear Hare's sharp intake of breath behind me, as if my words had caught her off guard once again.
----------
A blonde-haired man named Otto Apocalypse walked leisurely along a road paved with smooth granite stones, his gait calm and assured. He had a natural grace, a timelessness about him that seemed incongruent with the deep lines of experience etched into his face. Ahead of him, the grand gates of Saint Freya Academy's Far East branch loomed large against the Okinawan skyline. The school was renowned, not just for its reputation but because it had been founded and nurtured by someone precious to him—his beloved granddaughter.
The gates, carved in ornate designs, stood tall and imposing, befitting the prestigious academy they guarded. Students and teachers bustled around the grounds beyond the gate, oblivious to the presence of the man approaching. He looked around, taking in the familiar sight of the school. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of the nearby sea, and the sounds of activity hummed in the background. The man stopped just short of the gates, adjusting the small gift box he carried in his jacket pocket.
"Welcome to Saint Freya Academy, the Far East branch of Schicksal, Sir. Do you have any appointments with someone here?" came a bright voice from nearby.
A small, pink-haired girl descended from the guard post, her uniform crisp and well-kept. Her expression was professional, though her eyes quickly scanned the visitor before her fingers flew across the school's interface, searching for any information that might identify him. She glanced at the screen with slight confusion, unable to find anything that matched the man's description.
Otto smiled, the kind of warm smile that softened his otherwise strong features. He let out a sigh, as though regretting something. "Unfortunately, no. I intended it to be a surprise for my granddaughter," he said, his voice gentle but carrying a trace of melancholy. "By the way, could you tell me your name? I don't believe we've met, though I visit the academy fairly often."
The girl blinked, caught off guard by the question. She flushed slightly before quickly gathering herself, her demeanor shifting back into professionalism. "My name is Fu Xuan, Sir. I enrolled at the start of this semester, and today's my first time on guard duty," she explained, though a nervous edge crept into her voice. Her eyes flickered up at him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "But... aren't you a little young to be someone's grandfather?"
The man chuckled, the sound rich and lighthearted. "Thank you for the compliment," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "It's always a pleasure when someone recognizes how youthful I still look. Keeps me going, you know." The charm in his tone seemed to make the girl even more flustered. She looked down at the ground, her cheeks as pink as her hair.
Before Fu Xuan could stammer out another word, a new voice cut through the air, colder and more measured. "I never imagined you'd be the type to toy with a young girl's heart, Otto," the voice said, laced with a hint of disapproval.
Fu Xuan quickly turned toward the source of the voice and spotted a woman walking toward them. Her long, pink hair was neatly tied back, and she wore a flowing blue kimono that accentuated her grace. The most notable feature, however, were the pair of fox-like ears standing tall atop her head, which twitched slightly as she approached. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, momentarily flicked toward the grand gates of the academy before locking onto the man standing in front of them.
"Ot... Otto?" Fu Xuan stammered, her eyes widening as recognition finally dawned on her.
Otto smiled mischievously, casting a glance back at the woman. "I'm simply trying to avoid making a scene, Sakura," he said smoothly, shrugging as though the matter was trivial.
As Fu Xuan continued to observe him, the reality of who stood before her sank in deeper and deeper. Her face turned pale, a stark contrast to her earlier blush. It was hard to reconcile the man standing casually in front of her with the image of the powerful Overseer she had seen in pictures and broadcasts. Gone were his trademark luxurious robes and the long, flowing hair. Instead, Otto wore a simple purple jacket and black jeans, and his once-long hair was cropped short. She had always pictured the Overseer as an almost regal figure—distant, larger-than-life. Now, he stood in front of her looking more like a regular man on a casual outing.
"Your granddaughter is... the Headmistress?" Fu Xuan finally managed to say, her voice trembling with disbelief.
"You don't need to make a fuss, Fu Xuan," Otto replied gently, stepping forward before she could bow deeply. "You've done a fine job, really. I just wish to enter the school quietly. As I said, it's meant to be a surprise for Theresa."
"I-I understand, my lord," the petite girl stammered, feeling increasingly flustered. She quickly rushed back to the control room to open the gate. A moment later, a smaller door beside the grand gate swung open with a soft hum of machinery.
Otto approached the gate and casually pressed his finger to the biometric recognition device, logging his visit with the familiar precision of someone who had done it countless times before. The device beeped in acknowledgment, and he turned back to the young girl.
"Thank you, Fu Xuan. Keep up the good work," he said with an encouraging smile before heading toward the main building, Sakura following silently at his side. As they walked, the two of them passed several groups of students and teachers, most of whom were engrossed in their training sessions on the school's sprawling outdoor grounds. Despite their proximity, not a single person seemed to notice Otto's presence.
The academy hadn't changed much over the years. Otto's steps were sure as he knew every corner of the place. It wasn't long before they arrived at their destination, a history classroom where a lecture had just finished.
Inside, a stern, brown-haired male teacher stood at the front of the room. "Alright, class, I want an essay on the Second Eruption and its consequences. A hard copy is due on my desk by next week," he announced, his tone authoritative. The students groaned in response, shuffling their papers and gathering their belongings as they prepared to leave.
As the last student exited, Otto and Sakura slipped silently into the room. The teacher, now alone, looked up and froze, his eyes widening in shock.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Otto said, his voice smooth as he casually strolled over to the teacher's desk. With a subtle gesture, two glasses of wine appeared in his hands as though conjured from thin air. "I'd prefer not to make a fuss, Joachim Nokianvirtanen, or should I say, Welt Yang, Sovereign of Anti-Entropy," he said, extending one of the glasses toward the teacher.
Joachim's expression hardened, though he accepted the glass without a word. "So you noticed," he muttered after taking a sip.
"Using your real name deep in enemy territory is bold, Joachim," Otto remarked, sipping his own wine. His tone was casual, almost friendly, though there was a knowing edge to his words. "But I understand your reasons. My granddaughter, Theresa, was born after our... 'little disagreement' in New York. I don't interfere much with her activities here, so few people are aware of your true identity."
"Disagreement?" Joachim snorted, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes. "You threw a fucking nuke on our city and killed my father, Nancy Edison, Welt Joyce with many people more. That's not a 'disagreement.'" His voice was sharp, filled with the bitterness of old wounds.
"Wars have casualties," Otto replied calmly, unphased by the accusation. "But no matter what happens, I will always move forward." He took another sip of his wine, as though discussing something far less grave.
Joachim's lips curled into a sneer. "Right, always moving forward, for what? To bring back your dead lover? How noble of you!" he spat, sarcasm dripping from every word.
Before Otto could reply, Sakura, who had been standing near the window, spoke up. "Otto, a woman is approaching the classroom. Red hair."
Otto's expression shifted slightly as he considered her words. "Red hair?" he muttered thoughtfully. "That would be Ryusuke's daughter."
"She's almost here," Sakura warned, her fox ears twitching as the sound of high-heeled footsteps echoed closer.
Otto nodded. "I know."
Just a few moments later, a striking red-haired woman entered the room, her expression curious as she glanced at the male teacher. "Joachim-sensei, why don't you head home for the day? The lessons have long finished," she said with genuine concern in her voice, completely unaware of the two additional figures standing in the room.
Joachim glanced briefly at Otto and Sakura before turning his gaze back to his colleague. "I'm still busy grading midterms, Himeko. I need to finish before I can leave," he said, gesturing to a large stack of papers piled on his desk.
Himeko's expression softened with pity. "I see… but you should take care of yourself, Joachim-sensei. You've been working late too often. It's not good for your health."
"Don't worry, I won't be here too long tonight. Have a good evening, Himeko."
"You too, Joachim-sensei," Himeko replied, her tone uncertain as she gave him a small wave before exiting the room.
The moment she was gone, Joachim turned back to Otto, suspicion in his eyes. "That's Fenghuang Down, isn't it? That's how you're keeping yourselves hidden."
Otto smiled faintly. "Yes. I have no interest in sparking another war with Anti-Entropy. I want your cooperation in this matter." He placed a small card on the desk. "This is about the information regarding the mysterious 13th Herrscher of the Previous Era, and the Herrscher of Finality in this era."
Joachim's brow furrowed. "Herrscher of Finality? You mean the Herrscher of the End?" he asked, incredulous.
"The Herrscher of the End is another matter entirely," Otto said with a small chuckle. "Believe me, I want you to continue teaching here. Theresa speaks highly of you and I trust her judgment. But more importantly, I need you to remain until the future Herrschers of Origin, Finality, and Truth have graduated."
Joachim raised an eyebrow, his skepticism plain. "Wait, you expect me to train three Herrschers, despite being your enemy? And how do you even know there will be three Herrschers attending this school?" He held up three fingers for emphasis.
"There's an anomaly, Joachim. A massive one," Otto said, his tone shifting to something far more serious. "We only have about 4 to 6 months left before the first major event. The future is more uncertain than ever before, and I believe you'll be interested in what I have to say." With that, Otto placed a small card on the table. "We'll talk more in Nagazora this weekend."
Without waiting for a response, Otto turned and headed for the door, Sakura close behind him. As they walked, Otto glanced at his companion. "Sakura, what do you think of my granddaughter's school?"
"As expected from someone raised by you," Sakura replied, her voice respectful. "It's spectacular."
Otto chuckled softly. "Then let's go meet her. I think you'll like her soon enough. After all, her origin is similar to Amber but with a twist."
"I'm not particularly fond of twists," Sakura muttered. "They rarely turn out well."
"This one," Otto said with a knowing smile, "might just surprise you."
As they left, Joachim sat alone in the classroom, his hands clasped in thought. The weight of Otto's words hung in the air, and the implications of their conversation began to sink in. The future, it seemed, was growing more uncertain by the day.
---------------
"Kazuto, how much do you really know?" The small plush figure of Higokumaru who perched beside me asked with an inquisitive tilt of her head as she munched on the bread I had just bought for her from the canteen.
I paused for a moment, momentarily distracted by her question, before responding. "What is it that you want to know?" I asked as I prepared to unwrap the bread I had just bought.
Her eyes stayed fixed on me, sharper than usual. "What are you still hiding from me?" she continued. There was no mistaking the seriousness in her voice. "First, when you realized your favorite singer wasn't going to be where you expected her to be, you seemed really panicked, as if it threw you off completely. But at the same time, it was like you already knew something else about her, something you're not telling me. Then there's Ouma Shu who is your classmate. You talk like there's more to him than what you let on too."
Her observations were precise, and as much as I had tried to keep things under control, it was clear that Rin had noticed the cracks in my facade. I hesitated, feeling the weight of her words pressing against me. How much could I reveal without giving away the full truth?
"I don't even know where to begin," I finally admitted, my voice quieter than before. "As I told you before, when I was in that coma, Elysia showed me visions, glimpses of different realities, both past and future. That's how I learned about the Previous Era. It's also how I managed to release you."
I let out a slow breath, trying to keep my composure as I spoke. "But there's something Elysia warned me about. She said that those visions wouldn't be exactly the same when I returned to this world. Things would shift, details would change. That's where Yuzuhira Inori comes in. She's... an anomaly in all of this."
Rin's expression didn't soften. If anything, her gaze became even more focused as she studied my face, searching for any sign of dishonesty. I could feel her trying to peel back the layers of my words, trying to catch even the slightest hint of a lie.
Her eyes remained locked on mine, still searching for answers, but I didn't waver. I'd become good at masking the things I couldn't say. "I'm telling you everything I can," I said, my voice steady now. "But there are pieces even I don't fully understand yet."
Rin finally leaned back slightly, though her expression didn't soften entirely. It was clear she wasn't completely satisfied with my explanation, but for now, she seemed to let it go. "Alright," she muttered. "But I'll be keeping an eye on you. You always have more secrets than you let on, Kazuto."
With that, she turned her attention back to the bread, the conversation seemingly over, for now. But I knew it was not the last time she would ask.
The door to the terrace creaked open, its sound sharp against the quiet, and we both froze, our eyes widening in surprise. Rin shot me a panicked look before quickly abandoning her leftover bread. In one swift motion, she transformed into a mist, then darted toward my smartphone, disappearing inside it just as I snapped my attention back to the open door.
I could have sworn I had locked it. I felt a brief flash of alarm. Who could have come through without a key?
"Senpai?" The familiar voice of my seatmate, Raiden Mei, echoed through the doorway. She stood there, bento in hand, looking at me with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
"Can you lock the door, please? You have a key, don't you?" I said, regaining my composure as I casually took another bite of my bread.
Mei raised an eyebrow as she moved inside and clicked the door shut. "I could say the same for you, Senpai," she replied smoothly, a hint of mischief in her tone.
I shrugged, giving her a knowing look. "Good relationship with the janitor gives me some privileges."
Mei nodded, smiling slightly while I finished the last of my bread. My habit of eating quickly was a remnant of my past life. Back then, the leukemia I battled had dulled my sense of taste and stripped food of all its flavors and textures. For me, meals had turned into a chore rather than a pleasure. Even though I had left that life behind, the habit of eating quickly remained.
Mei opened her bento, delicately setting out a pair of chopsticks and a small spoon. My gaze drifted over, unable to resist peeking into her lunchbox.
Her bento was impressive—meticulously prepared and practically radiating with rich aromas that made my mouth water. It looked hearty, colorful, and as appetizing as any restaurant meal.
"Did you make this yourself?" I asked, genuinely curious. "Your bento looks incredible."
She gave a small smile, shaking her head. "No, my personal chef prepares it for me," she replied, then, noticing my lingering gaze, added, "Would you like to try some?"
I hesitated but then shook my head. "Thanks, but I'm actually full," I said, giving her a small smile in return. Just as I answered, my phone vibrated with a new notification, buzzing insistently in my pocket.
Curious, I pulled out my phone, assuming it was just a simple message from Rin. But as soon as I unlocked the screen and saw the notification, a cold feeling washed over me, and my stomach sank. My eyes went wide as I read her message, each line hitting harder than the last.
"Fuck, damn it," I muttered, unable to hold back my frustration. What on earth had happened? How had things spiraled so quickly? Rin had just sent me a detailed summary of ME Corp's current situation, particularly the thoughts and concerns circulating among the company's top shareholders. From what she had gathered, the outlook for Ryoma was bleak as hell. The situation was unraveling faster than I'd anticipated, and it wasn't looking good at all.
Noticing my outburst, Mei looked over at me, her eyes reflecting both curiosity and concern. "Senpai, is everything okay?" she asked, her voice gentle yet laced with genuine worry as she studied my expression.
I forced a smile, trying to appear calm even as a whirlwind of thoughts spun in my head. "Oh, it's nothing, really," I replied with a shrug, hoping to put her at ease. She didn't need to know about the storm brewing behind ME Corp's doors, or the potential fallout heading her way.
But the truth weighed heavily on my mind. How could I possibly explain to her that her father, Ryoma, was closer than ever to facing serious charges of financial fraud? I had long suspected that Cocolia would bring him down in one way or another but I hadn't anticipated things moving this fast. The shareholders were losing patience, and their doubts were becoming public whispers that could soon turn into a full-blown crisis.
I took a steadying breath, silently hoping that Ryoma could hold the line just a little longer, at least until I finished the preparations I had been working on. I knew Mei's world was about to be thrown into chaos if this went public, and I needed to be ready to act before the floor fell out. As much as I wanted to turn a blind eye and let things unfold on their own, I couldn't just walk away. My father worked at the company too, and not just in a peripheral role, he was Ryoma's most trusted confidant, his right-hand man. If Ryoma fell, my father would almost certainly be dragged down alongside him. The thought was unbearable. He was my father after all. Despite the complexity of his loyalty to Ryoma, I couldn't just watch him lose everything he had spent his life building. I knew I had to try to intervene to find some way to help him from the worst of what was coming.
I had confided in Rin about all of this, laying out the stakes and my concerns. At first, she was hesitant, seeing the risks as insurmountable. Getting involved in something as complex and precarious as a corporate scandal, especially one tied so deeply to powerful figures like Ryoma wasn't something either of us took lightly. But after we discussed it in depth, exploring every alternative we could think of, she finally agreed with me. As reluctant as she was, she understood there was no better path forward.
We needed a solid and decisive plan if we had any hope of protecting my father and, if possible, salvaging the situation before it spun entirely out of our control and more into Cocolia's hands.
If I couldn't accomplish anything here in Nagazora even with Rin's support and all my training from Elysia and God Kiana, then perhaps I truly was a wasted existence. All the preparation, all the honing of my skills, if none of it proved enough now, then what had it all been for?
-----------------------
A strange, unsettling mix of emotions filled Ouma Shu as he walked home that evening: a heavy sense of dread, a lingering surprise, and a quiet fear that gnawed at him with every step.
Today and yesterday had easily been the two strangest days of his life. In the span of just forty-eight hours, he had faced more heart-stopping, pulse-pounding moments than he had in years. It was as though his ordinary life had been cracked open, leaving him to navigate a series of unexpected twists that had thrown everything he thought he knew into question. Each event left a mark, deepening his sense of unease and making him question what lay ahead. He didn't know how to process everything, much less how to brace himself for what might come next.
As he walked, Shu wished that his childhood friend, Menjou Hare, was walking beside him. She had always been a steady presence in his life, a friend whose warmth and optimism made even the darkest days feel manageable. Her bubbly, energetic personality had a way of soothing his mind, calming the storm of thoughts that often swirled within him. Just knowing she was nearby gave him a sense of security he sorely needed now.
But tonight, he was on his own. Hare had her club activities to attend, and Shu, not being a part of any club, was left to walk home alone, carrying the weight of the past two days by himself. More than ever, he felt the absence of her laughter and her lighthearted banter, which usually kept his worries at bay. Instead, he walked in silence, trying to make sense of all that had happened and hoping that whatever awaited him tomorrow would bring some clarity, or, at the very least, some peace.
First, he had stumbled upon his favorite singer, Yuzuhira Inori, in the school's abandoned warehouse. She was there, wounded by a gunshot, looking far from the glamorous idol he'd admired from afar. Before he could process the shock, she had pressed a strange robot into his hands, urging him to hide it in his bag. He barely had time to ask questions before she was captured and dragged away by menacing figures.
The robot she had entrusted to him was still in his bag, nestled between his textbooks and notes, as though it were any ordinary object. Surprisingly compact, the robot folded itself neatly, taking up minimal space, yet its presence felt enormous. Every time he brushed against it, the memory of Inori's urgent look and the questions left unanswered surged back into his mind.
Secondly, there was the unsettling encounter with the new upperclassman, Kazuto, who had just transferred into the class but somehow knew about Shu's run-in with Inori the day before. Kazuto had approached him under the guise of discussing Egoist concert tickets, but it didn't take long for his true intentions to show. The casual conversation quickly shifted into a interrogation, with Kazuto trying to dig deeper for every detail about Shu's encounter with Inori.
Kazuto's intensity was unnerving, and Shu had felt his pulse quicken under the senpai's sharp gaze. Each question seemed like it was designed to peel back another layer, pushing Shu closer to the edge. He had almost reached his breaking point, overwhelmed and ready to buckle under the pressure, when Hare unexpectedly came to his rescue, interrupting the interrogation just in time. If she hadn't shown up, Shu felt certain he would've fainted under Kazuto's relentless probing.
Without warning, a deafening explosion shattered the quiet around him, the air filled with a powerful shockwave and blinding light. Just fifty meters ahead, a massive fireball bloomed, illuminating the street in a fierce, orange blaze. Shu instinctively threw his arm up to shield his eyes, but the light was so intense it seemed to pierce through, burning itself into his vision even as he turned away.
A sudden, overwhelming wave of hot energy tore through his body, catching him off guard. It was like nothing he had ever felt, a searing heat that seemed to reach into his bones, setting every nerve on edge. His heart pounded furiously in his chest as his entire body felt charged, almost electrified, by the sheer force of it. He barely had time to widen his eyes in stunned disbelief before a strange, disorienting numbness spread through him.
Then, his vision began to blur, and his balance wavered. His knees gave out, and he stumbled, the strength draining from his limbs. With a heavy, resounding thud, Shu collapsed onto the cold sidewalk, his body limp against the pavement. His mind swam, consciousness slipping like water through his fingers until there was nothing but silence and darkness.
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"Damn it," I muttered, clenching my fists as I fought to steady myself. "How the hell is Honkai energy leaking through here?" The sensation was unmistakable; this dense, oppressive energy was eerily identical to what I had felt before being thrown into a coma by a Honkai beast.
"Rin, can you pinpoint the source of the Honkai energy?" I asked, addressing my ever-watchful companion residing as a digital presence within my smartphone. Her voice, transmitted directly through my earphones, responded immediately.
"Seventy meters away at your ten o'clock. Right at that corner," Rin reported. Instantly, my phone's display lit up, projecting a map of the exact location. I gripped my phone and moved cautiously toward the corner, my heart pounding as I peered around to survey the scene.
The coma I had endured had left me changed; I had gained a degree of Honkai resistance that most others lacked. While it wasn't enough to grant me full stigmata powers, it gave me just enough tolerance to handle some doses of Honkai energy without collapsing or transforming into one of the mindless zombies that Honkai corruption created. Rin's influence was vital here, too. Her unique viral abilities had essentially inoculated me, infecting me with controlled, tiny amounts of the Honkai virus over time, like a series of Honkai "vaccines." I had adapted, built up a resistance. But it was a fragile balance, one I couldn't afford to take lightly.
I scanned the street and saw bodies scattered in various states of stillness. Some lay entirely motionless, and I knew right away these were the ones without any Honkai tolerance, the unlucky majority who would have succumbed instantly. Others stirred slightly, infected but not completely gone, likely zombified by the lower levels of resistance they possessed. Then there were those who seemed trapped in their suffering, fighting a slow death as Honkai corruption took its toll. They had a stronger tolerance but weren't resistant enough to survive.
Only the rarest few, less than one percent of the population, had enough natural resistance to develop stigmata, enabling them to fight against the Honkai infection without succumbing. For everyone else, this street was a death trap.
"Kazuto, your new friend Ouma Shu was here. I can sense his presence, but I can't see his body anywhere," Rin reported through my earphones. Her words left me stunned, confusion prickling at the back of my mind.
What was that supposed to mean? Shu was here, but his body was nowhere to be seen?
"What do you mean, Rin?" I asked, feeling a sense of urgency creeping in.
"I left a trace of my virus on him to monitor his location and status, as you requested," Rin explained. "The virus is still here, which should mean he's nearby. My virus can't detach from him that easily unless something exceptionally powerful interferes."
I could hear her pause, as though carefully considering her next words. Then she added, "Only something at least as powerful as a Herrscher could force my virus to detach and flee."
The words hit me like a jolt. Herrscher-level power? That was on an entirely different scale from anything I had anticipated. If Shu had indeed encountered a Herrscher, or even something close to that level of strength.
It meant he was likely in far more danger than I'd realized.
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PS: As for Shu and Inori, yes, I'll admit it—I'm a massive fan of Egoist, so I couldn't resist incorporating them into the story! Their roles in this fic won't mirror Guilty Crown directly, but you'll definitely see some fun references and parallels. But don't worry, my fic will always stay rooted in the Honkai Impact 3rd story and setting.