Chapter 8: A Black Pouch

The Next Day: Sector 1-Tenno Academy

"It's so rare to have you come to school so early with me, Keiko," Arisa smiled as she changed her shoes at her locker.

Keiko groaned as she bent down to change her own shoes. Her eyes were half asleep and she yawned widely, "I don't know how you get up this early everyday just to come here,"

Arisa grinned, "If I don't I won't be able to keep my place as first!!" she pouted at her, "I'm sure if you tried you would be a top student too!"

Keiko waved her hand in front of her face, "Not a chance, I like sleeping too much,"

A Few Hours Later: Class 2A

Arisa stretched her hands high up in the air as she finished her studying for the morning. She turned around to Keiko to say something but saw that she was fast asleep on her notebook, "Why even come with me if you want to fall asleep?" she stood up and left the classroom for the bathroom to splash some cold water on her face. She liked the school right before people started to arrive. The halls were quiet with only the hushed sounds of 1 or 2 students.

She looked up from the sink to see the water drip from the tip of her nose, “Kuma Arisa,” she stared into the face she no longer recognized, a face that she put on every morning, “shapeshifter…” she whispered to where only she heard those tormenting words under the dull sound of the water. As she looked into the mirror she felt that familiar bubbling sensation under her eye, “No…” she watched as tears welled into her eyes, the left one a completely different shape than the other, “Why can’t I control you….why is it only me?” her tears slid down her face as her gaze was fixed on the mix-matched face she had become. Arisa shoved her hand into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out a small black pouch. Sniffling back her tears she pulled out the small capsule pill, “MS is the only thing that will control it...” she popped the pill in her mouth and her eye stopped bubbling, her cells had calmed and she shifted her eye back to the normal look she had become accustomed to.

Arisa suddenly slapped herself on the cheeks quickly, “Come on Arisa!” she put on her best smile and made her way back to the classroom humming quietly to herself…not noticing the small black pouch that fell from her pocket.

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"Good Morning Arisa!! Oh and Keiko as well," Shoutarou walked into the classroom, his bright personality breaking through the silence.

Arisa smiled and put her finger over her lips, "Shhhhh, Keiko is asleep,"

The crouched figure of Hiroto slipped into the room behind Shou.

"Good Morning Moru-kun!" Arisa brightly whispered and waved enthusiastically.

Hiroto felt his face get red and only managed a weak wave before curling into his usual position in his desk.

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Arisa jerked her head as she heard the familiar sound of fan girls come down the hallway. She looked nervously from the sleeping Keiko to the doorway when he walked through with his large gathering.

"Ladies, ladies you know that you all are very important to me, but it would be cruel of me to leave my noble duties of mutant killing to date any of you," Seiji said with his eyes closed and his hand on his heart, "Alas, I must soldier on without love," he put his hand under a girls chin and spoke close to her face, "If I were to give in, I could put such a beautiful face in harm's way,"

The girls all squealed and praised Seiji for his valiant acts.

Arisa looked nervously at the waking Keiko.

"Ichiro Seiji!!" Keiko jumped from her seat and turned to face him, "How can you be so loud so early in the day?"

While the girls got silent in fear, Seiji smiled his play-boy smile and pushed his bangs from his face, "Oooh dear Keiko, I know it pains your heart to see me out in the field every night. But I am keeping you safe, just last night I was fighting against a black mutant all to insure your safety!!"

As the fan girls swooned at Seiji’s speech Keiko opened her mouth to scream at him but bit her tongue when a first year student walked in. She had short green hair tied back and looked cautiously around before setting an envelope down on the teacher's desk and leaving.

Keiko raised an eyebrow at the girl- her nerve connection to MRPA activated at the sight of her: a mutant. Following her instinct Keiko walked from the classroom and followed the student from down the hall. There should not be other mutants in this school.

“Kei!!” Arisa called to her from the classroom.

Keiko turned back to see the girl turn the corner and walk away. With a sigh she looked at Arisa again deciding to let the issue go, “I want some bread from the cafeteria. Wanna join?”

Arisa bounced happily beside her.

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Kyoushirou couldn't help but smile as he watched Arisa laugh and smile with Keiko. She was always in a good mood and it was her smile that made him smile- even when he was at his worst. He turned away from her and walked toward the fountain when he felt a crunch under his foot and looked down to see a small black pouch, a pouch? Kyou knelt down and picked up the small bag and peered inside.

"Watcha got there?" Aku poked her head over his shoulder to see but Kyoushirou quickly pushed the pouch into his pocket.

"Oh, nothing...it's nothing," he quickly shuffled away toward his classroom, his mind buzzing, Free....someone at Tenno is using Free...or could it be....a mutant?

Akumako glared narrowly at Kyou as he turned the corner into the classroom. Something inside of her turned, some part of her gut was telling her to find out what it was that he was hiding.

The End of the Day

Keiko didn't open her eyes as the final bell rang. She felt the gentle poke on her arm from Arisa and raised her eyebrows in acknowledgement. Arisa whispered faintly, "Aku-chan and I will go first,"

Keiko nodded slightly and felt Arisa get up from her seat.

"Oh, Arisa-chan! Leaving so soon?" Shou grinned at her.

She nodded in response, "I promised Aku-chan I'd do some shopping with her,"

As she heard Arisa leave, Keiko lifted her head from the desk and stretched her arms out above her head and let out a soft yawn.

In that moment Seiji was stunned. He had never seen something as candid and as perfect in that moment. The way the warm sun brightened her hair, the way her slender arms reached high above her, the way the tears in her eyes from yawning welled in the corners of her eyes; it was a moment that he could never forget.

"Seiji?"

The loud voice of Shoutarou brought Seiji back from his thoughts, "Huh?" he turned to Shou and started to half listen to him, but his eyes couldn't help but follow Keiko as she packed her bag and left the room.

"Oi, Seiji!"