Chapter 9 : Oopsies, reminders of that year are tooootally off limits for Yumeko...

"Ahem. Everyone here knows learning about the Zorg is useless thanks to a certain person..." Several heads turned towards the blonde girl, who was quietly munching on sweets. She looked up and tilted her head curiously, while Agito wiped out some crumbs on her cheeks. Stop acting like a married couple in public you two! " And most of you already finished your schooling, or at least are close enough. So I've decided to do some testing of your level, and should those be satisfactory, I'll find something else to occupy our free period!"

She said happily, distributing the stacks of paper to everyone. I scan those. Pretty easy, if those are what will be there in the finals, it's pretty much in the bag. The others almost looked bored about it. Now that I think about it, our troublemaker class is pretty elite from what I understand now, even in looks!

Wait a minute, isn't that.. Pretty irresponsible of you Sensei ? To let people like us to our own devices ?!

I look at my right , then down, blushing at my pale hands. After a bit of conversation, Minato-san converted to the Goddess' cult and got ' upgraded'. He refused to tell us what exactly he received, but it seems the beauty boon was included. Not that he was ugly to begin with, but something about him changed and I can't put a finger on what... Eyecandy everywhere.

I have eyes, don't blame me, it's the first time I'm included among the 'super pretty' crowd.

"I'm done."

After half an hour, Lily-san put down her... Inkpot?

Saeko-sensei went to her, took the pages and rifled through it.

"Water manipulation using the ink huh ? Well, at least the answers are correct."

Th-That's cheating ! That must be cheating! Not having to write your tests is hack! Hack!

"They can't be wrong."

Her expressionless face and flat tone made it sound absolute, and maybe it was, honestly, after speaking with Nagito-san, I agree with his stance: when Yuri's involved, everything and anything is possible. Saeko-sensei's expression stiffened a little, before she came back to her desk, followed by the watchful blue-gold eyes of the Sorano siblings. Looking at them up close, they could be easily passed off as twins right now.

Hmph, I suppose losing to a goddess isn't too bad, but still I've got my pride! Let's prove to them why I was the group's brain!

...

"Haaaaaaaa...."

I stretch, we're all going out to the cafeteria, it's been one week since Lily's transfer now. I still can't get used to people looking at me. Especially the boys, and sadly, I've learned Himeko-san was probably even more of a pervert than them, so my only option is to hide behind the only other girl. Which, of course put off her brother, but we've somehow worked out an alliance, since I'm not interested in her 'like that' or 'taking her away from him'. Himeko-san seemed to remember something and put her hands together in apology.

"Aiyaaa, sorry, go ahead without me, I need to hand the transfer papers."

"You didn't do it yet ? I did this last week."

"Well, Sei-chan, that's because your devotion to your sister gave you superpowers..."

In the end , we headed off towards the training ground, whilst repressing a laugh at how happily the blonde followed his sister. I kinda forgot who's the older one though?

Seiryuu-san is an extreme siscon and downright paranoid when it comes to her. Speaking of which...

"Hands. Off."

He was currently seething. Seriously, I think he was about to rip that guy's eyes. And hands.... Just probably tear him apart in general. Sadly, that one's MY mark, so hands off, siscon-sama.Since I was classified as 'Lily-friend' I was now under his protection. Hopefully, he wouldn't obsess over me either ?

We're currently in the training grounds, Saeko-sensei had us going through our stretches and was trying to convince Lily-san to join...And it seemed our ex classmates finally got healed. Of course, this turned into an argument pretty quickly, and attracted a lot of people.

" I just need a minute..."

"That's my sister's...friend that you're harassing. I can't stay and watch."

I kick them both.

"You two, that's enough ! Sei-kun, While I appreciate the sentiment, I'm old enough to defend myself. What do You want though? You were transferred to 1 D, so you have no business with me anymore."

I eyed his tie with disdain. He looks sad now. Well, you should!

"I'm sorry."

I raise an eyebrow, he wouldn't be stupid enough to...

His fists closed, he bowed and screamed.

"Yumeko, I'm sorry that you had to live through this by my fault , if I had been more careful, none of those pigs would ever had touched you!"

He screamed that.

In front of everyone.

I'm beyond furious.

I can't remember what happened precisely that year, because Freyja-sama erased my memory, but the emotions were beyond her current abilities.

I don't think I've ever been this angry before.

When I made that pact, I really thought I could turn a new page on my life and blissfully forget that ever happened. My troublesome classmates all knew better than to speak of that time, instead chatting about how to counter the impending zombie apocalypse. But him...

Stolen story; please report.

There he goes, and screams my shame for everybody to hear. Whispers raise like the wind around us.

Will I ever be free of him?

I think I get why Freyja-sama left this plane.

I feel lightheaded, and I'm pretty sure I'm completely white of rage.

I can feel my fingertips seizing and getting slightly moist. It's funny, right? When you're so angry that you notice things you usually wouldn't?

I...

I want to kill him. For real.

I want to make him suffer, hear his screams, rip him out limbs by limbs and tear out his throat!

'My, my, how violent... Hardly befitting of a Valkyrie, but we thought you weren't cut for the job anyways...'

'Freyja...Sama?'

'That's not our divine name, and it really annoys us that even we are unable to find it out, but nevermind. What has you so filled with rage?'

'He... He showed it ... to everyone...'

'Indeed? Fufufu, how cruel, even after he sold you off to that country...'

'What?'

'Actively participated in this...'

'What?'

'Now now dear, some of those guys took his appearance while in the act after all, ah but you were too drugged to probably notice...'

'...'

'Well, anyways, even now, he's actively going out of his way to ruin your life....'

'...'

'And because of something as stupid as your culture, poor Yumeko-chan is the one who will pay for it.'

Each and every word of her was searing itself in my brain. One pernicious, dreadful idea creeping up in my mind.

'Aaaaaah, in the old times, that would be punishable by death, but now ? No proof.'

'... He was the father?'

'Ara, you didn't know? Yuri-chan and Lily-tan are too kind to protect you like that.... Yes he was. We were hasty and took the only proof you had to clean your name. And for that we apologize.'

Ahaha... Absurd, absurd, such hatred...

'They protected me again.'

'It is in their nature to try and protect humans from themselves. We, though? We are The Queen. We reign, judge and punish.'

'...'

'We looked at you. Culture, values strength. All of this was judged , and found wanting.'

'And the punishment?'

'Culling.'

I know the word.

I don't really care, but...

'Project Gleipnir was the project in charge of counteracting project Fenrir. That one was the creation of super soldiers using our body.'

'...You lied to Yuri.'

'No, the late Reisen did. Soon enough, mankind will collapse due to its own sins. For now, keep your anger. Feed it, make weapons, hone your skills, and soon enough, child, you will be able to slaughter to your heart's contents. Besides, is death enough for that worm?'

I can't help it.

I laugh.

In front of everyone.

I hide my tears behind a hand and collapse to the ground.

Incidentally, I notice Minato-san sending that worm flying away with a punch from a car sized ice gauntlet.

Ah, I could have done that too, instead of listening to him wasting air. Silly me.

My troublesome classmates flock around me, Lily-sama hauling me up and carrying me away bridal style.

Such a kind, naive girl...

I could tell them about what was going to happen soon...

I don't, though.

It's as Goddess-sama said, the filth needs to be purged, and what better means to do it than letting them do it?

It's okay anyways, outside of those troublesome classmates of mine, they can all burn and die, I don't care...

My mind blanks out. I'm so tired, and the day isn't over yet...

-Back to Yuri-land...-

We were currently drinking tea, with an annoying guest.

"So, R. We seem to have a lot of one-lettered guests lately. Care to explain why?"

R didn't exactly have a shape, but it emitted amused vibes.

"Well, once upon a rime, there were several worlds...."

"That will be quite enough. Keep your slandering mouth shut."

Surprise, surprise, N appeared. They really seem to want to keep us in the dark. Aaaaah, annoying. Well, considering what happened to Reisen, I think I understand what exactly is going on though.

It seems I owe an apology to Yuri too, her anger at everything is certainly warranted now. But for now, let's just continue and observe this puppet show. Or is it a tragedy ? We don't know, even we can't see the end of it, but isn't it what makes it beautiful to begin with ?

Ufufu...

I look down and instead of void, I now see frozen wastes and people imprisoned in ice.

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Now that I re-read it, it's a bit dark. I don't have the energy to write happy thiiiiings D:

Yay, the 1 C class for gifted delinquents is gaining quite the reputation !

And Yumeko's trigger has been found.

Poor, poor Hero-kun (not).