Chapter 8 - Daisuke Kurogane???I’d never seen disguises so hollow – so easy to expose. Through each of their forced smiles, ughs, chatterings, their fear was pin as day.

  Fear of having ‘regrets’.

  Fear of being rejected.

  Fear of being alone.

  Were these the absolute shams I was to partner with? Even in this hellish shithole, I’d rather take my chances.

  As I’d recently come to learn, fear was quite the potent emotion indeed.

  Cutting my ruminations to an abrupt end, the electronic equipment around us started to buzz with life again.

  “I trust the moment of respite has served to replenish your strength,” the asshat on the monitors announced. I’d known the bastard for all of 15 minutes, and already he irritated me almost as much as Rusuban. “Now, I shall set you on your way. Listen closely, as you will now be embarking on your first mission.”

  “Mission?” Rusuban parroted. Of all the people to be stuck with in this shitshow, I wonder what I’d done to deserve this guy. Whatever that ‘Pact’ nonsense from earlier was, I pity the poor sap who entered into that shit with him.

  “He’s sending us out on errands,” I crified. “Maybe he’s too useless to get anything done by himself. He’s reminding me of a certain someone.”

  Rusuban released a rare scowl in my direction before snapping back in the direction of the giant billboards situated just before the Scramble Crossing to the south.

  I’d never seen him work that many muscles before! If he kept that up, he might actually build up a sweat! With such a profound blemish on that popur face of his, maybe he’d have a harder time smooth-talking his way into some girl’s pants.

  “Tonight, you are simply to expand your territory.” The figure began to expin.

  As if in response to the decration, a golden mppost that stood in front of Hong Kong Star fred to life, the bright blue fme within slowly expanding and enveloping the entire street in its glow.

  "These are special fmes that ward off Noise, " Our ever-gracious kidnapper expined. "By lighting these torches, you effectively create 'safe zones' in which you can congregate, rest, pn, and what have you. You're free to expand your domain as you see fit, but I will have you create at least 3 this night."

  I felt my gloved fingers brushing against my chin. This was sounding more and more organized by the minute; it began to feel less like some shitty anime and more like an even shittier game. Just what was the aim of all this?

  "You may come across some of those very same Noise on your way to those locations, in which case, you are to make quick work of them. Now, in order to complete this mission, I shall provide you with a vital piece of equipment," ‘Juno’ rambled. They must really enjoy the sound of their own demented voice.

  "A special lighter, called a Burner. This lighter will produce the special fme you need to light these torches and ward off Noise. Once ignited, however, the fme will take some time to kindle fully; during this time, do your upmost to protect it, lest the cap shuts and the process begins all over again.”

  “They want us to light that,” compined the school ape’s newest mate, gesturing toward the original mppost, “With a lighter? This is getting ridiculous.”

  Way to state the obvious.

  "With your current area, known as ‘Center Street’ now captured, you are to do the same for the next three neighbouring areas to the north; the one known as ‘AMX’ , then ‘Tipsy Tose Hall’, and ‘Spain Hill.‘ “

  Judging from the way this creep had been struggling with the names of these pces so badly, they’re either some foreigner or an old fart. Shit, maybe even some basement-dweller hikikomori who hadn’t showered in 32 days – the possibilities were endless.

  “Finally, while there is no strict time limit, I would not dilly-dally here, my young ones. Endeavor to light all the mps in good time, before the Noise realize what you're trying to do." Juno warned.

  "I've selected one among you to receive the burner, though it is ultimately up to you who is in possession of what. The one I’ve chosen should find the Burner within their possession now. For now, I bid you farewell. In case you are not familiar with your home's yout, there will be a map and mission summary dispyed on all screens you pass by. I will be watching over you, my children, and will communicate with you from time to time to ensure you remain steadfast on the right path. Until then, best of luck.”

  With that, I was finally free of their incessant prattle – even if I knew it was only a temporary respite.

  “So, who’s got it?” I offered.

  “I-I think this is it!” spoke the tall guy, the dude who literally turned into a fucking werewolf a couple minutes ago. If this was some kind of live-action Twilight fan-fiction, I’d rather get gobbled like that other guy almost did earlier.

  Regardless of his unfortunate ability, he brandished a quaint looking lighter that looked like the kind you could grab anywhere, except this one was coated in some kind of aureate material.

  “Great,” Rusuban encouraged. I could detect the sycophancy coming from a mile away. The poor guy didn’t know how to do anything else. “Now, to address the elephant in the room – are we to believe what this Juno tells us? Are we to follow his instructions like mbs to the sughter?”

  You’d think he was saying this out of genuine concern for our lives, but I know that inflection – his ego had taken a severe hit. I guess he didn’t like being the puppet for once.

  “I don’t know,” pondered Furusawa, one of Nakamura’s cronies, the nice guy. “Everything so far has been… crazy real. Maybe our best bet would be to follow their advice for now.”

  “Right, because he definitely has our best interests at heart.” Mocked Katoru, before seemingly catching himself and sighing. It seemed even our resident bathroom smoker was at a loss.

  Mizuko was the first to slice through the indecision.

  “We should go along with what we’re told to do for now.”

  Upon the eyes of the entire group falling on her, she cleared her throat before stiffening up, a behaviour I’d seen many times already.

  “It’s only the most logical choice. If this ‘Juno’ is truly the one who, somehow, dragged us here in our sleep, then it becomes crystal clear that their powers are immense. Look no further than that episode of excruciating pain that hit us before we formed our ‘Pacts’. Or even now – how did that lighter suddenly materialize in Cunningham-san’s possession?”

  She had a point. Well, unless the lycanthrope in question had that lighter in his possession the entire time – which would propose a lot more questions than answers.

  “Simply put, if Juno wanted us dead, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. “ The Vice-President aptly observed. “Equally, it is possible that our death is still their primary goal, contrary to their previous words, and they set up this ‘game’ of sorts as some kind of sick entertainment toward that. The ck of a strict time limit makes me further doubt that time is even passing normally in the real world, if at all. Regardless, we’re at their mercy either way, so our best option is to simply do what we’re told. Are there any objections?”

  Once the Ice Queen got going, she didn’t stop until the problem, or person, had been thoroughly dismantled. It was truly a sight to behold.

  Though if that was the case, I can only wonder what she thinks of her younger sister’s new beau – there’s no way didn’t know by now.

  “Very well.” The elder Shirogetsu concluded, taking the collective silence as her answer. “Then, I have a further proposal to make. Let’s split up.”

  At the noises of discontent, worry, and bemusement arising from the collective of dolts, she simply adjusted her gsses and waited for an opportunity to continue.

  “If we take what Juno has said seriously,” She commenced, “It’s very likely we’ll encounter resistance in the form of Noise as we travel to the specified areas. Judging from our previous performance, as a cohort, we’re more than capable of dealing with them. Thus, in the interests of getting this done as efficiently as possible, I propose we split into two groups.”

  She folded her arms, gauging the reception of the party before resuming.

  “The first group’s objective is simple – they are to scout the areas beforehand, clearing out all and any Noise encountered. Once the area is secured, they will wait behind to guard the area until the second team is in close enough proximity. “

  She snapped her fingers, as if having just experienced a ‘Eureka!’ moment.

  “Even better, they may proceed to the next sector, whilst perhaps leaving a splinter of their number behind to keep the area safe until the rendezvous is complete.”

  “In other words,” chimed Hoshino thoughtfully, “You’re saying we divide and conquer.”

  “Precisely,” Mizuko confirmed. Was that the slightest glimmer of a smirk? “The second team will be responsible for actually lighting the mpposts. We have yet to see how long the fme will take to kindle, so ideally, it should be pre-lit and ready for use upon entry of the relevant area.”

  She paused, as if pondering something, before bringing her address to its conclusion.

  “I trust you see that this is the most efficient way to exit our current predicament.” She finished.

  “As expected of the Vice President!” Cheered Rusuban, eager for brownie points even in a life-or-death situation. He was true to his character, if nothing else – once you got past his endless pretences, anyhow. Most never got that far.

  “I suppose the question now is – who do you propose goes in each team?”

  At Rusuban’s question, Mizuko closed her eyes in a rare gesture of concession.

  “There is still much to learn about everyone’s abilities. While I was able to gleam a general understanding of what we’re capable of, some of the specifics are still fuzzy-“

  And they’re gonna stay that way. I don’t know what Furusawa was thinking, blurting out his whole ability for everybody and their uncle to hear, but I knew better.

  These were still the same fools that ran around in the real world. All that had changed was the setting. They weren’t to be trusted.

  By the time I had rexed my attention back to the conversation at hand, I sensed a multitude of eyes watching me.

  “Kurogane,” Mizuko repeated. “I was asking if you’d tell us what your ability does.”

  How wonderful.

  “I don’t know.” I lied, deciding to keep the sickles concealed too. “I’m surprised it came so naturally to you guys. I haven’t felt anything yet.”

  I felt her cold stare appraising me, and I was forced to return the eye contact. I’d been around her long enough to know that any other response would’ve aroused her suspicion.

  “Very well,” She conceded after a few beats. “Rusuban, you too?”

  He nodded sheepishly.

  “Then that leaves…”

  I’d even forgotten they were here, they’d been so quiet. Off to the corner was that cloaked person again. I couldn’t even tell if they were a boy or girl – when I gnced into the hood, all I saw was darkness.

  Mizuko was about to address them when, knowingly, the enigma shook their head ever so slightly, before holding up their scythe.

  Satisfied, Mizuko then nodded curtly. Somehow, they’d been able to communicate some vital piece of information wordlessly.

  “Then it’s decided. In the tter group, we’ll have Kurogane, Rusuban, Furusawa, and…”

  “Reaper, “ I said, after having interrogated the moniker in my head for a while. “They certainly look the part, no? I hope you don’t mind the name, unless you’d like to give us a better one?”

  Refusing to bite, the mystery in question simply nodded and left it at that.

  “Understood, we’ll refer to you as ‘Reaper’ from now on. The four of you will make up our second team, whilst the rest of us will clear out the areas for you.”

  Battle pn now hatched, the various members of the first team began to ready themselves to set off, their severe cases of Main Character Syndrome surely exacerbated now.

  “Furusawa.” She called. “You will hold the lighter. Cunningham-san.”

  At her gesture, the tower of a student trudged carefully over to the goril tamer, delicately handing over the package as though it contained a newborn baby, the recipient reluctantly accepting the gift.

  “Alright then,” she called to her fellow infantry. “Let’s be off. Our first stop is AMX just up ahead. Furusawa, once we vanish out of sight, begin to ignite the fme. Once you deem it sufficiently lit, start making your way over. We’ll likely have cleared out any Noise in your path, but stay vigint nonetheless. The three of you will guard him.”

  I almost wanted to ugh. I wasn’t guarding shit. I would, however, milk these guys for all they were worth while I still had ‘em, so I simply nodded along.

  With that, the six of them left, soon disappearing into the distant bckness that encircled us.

  Furusawa fumbled with the lighter until the tiniest spark of blue fire began to grow. How long until it grew into its fullest potential? I was eager to find out.

  Until then, we stood in silence.