“What did you say?” Hiroshi questioned, with natural amounts of skepticism. Neither of them had any intention of helping them or siding with them. Seiji seemed to Hiroshi just as naïve as Yuki. So he didn’t know what to think of him standing before.
Looking around, Seiji found that they were starting to surround him. His first impression on them wasn’t exactly the best. So it didn’t really surprise him too much. Though he couldn’t start a fight with them when he needed them. “I said I’m going to help you.”
“And why would you do that? You’re with Yuki.”
“Because I believe – or rather I want to believe that we’re all still Yuki’s friends.” He saw Yori and Haruo in the back of the group pushed aside by those with greater suspicions, possibly even grudges. “Yuki’s right now planning on taking everything upon himself because he believes it’s his responsibility. That’s a complicated matter that is just going to be an argument that none of us wins.”
“What’s your point?”
‘Damn, this is harder than I expected. I figured this guy was still seeing Yuki as a friend and would just jump at the chance to help. Didn’t think he’d be so stubborn…’ A moment to mash his teeth together gave him the pause he needed to gather up his words. “Yuki’s got a plan to deal with everyone with his powers. But this is still an entire school we’re talking about. That’s more than he or I can handle by ourselves.”
Crossing his arms, Hiroshi shifted his weight a little, sizing up Seiji. He only had a brief introduction to him before and it was mostly through fists. So he had not really had the chance to really learn his character. “And so you want our help? Doing what? All of them are already a lost cause.”
“Yuki doesn’t believe so.”
“Yuki’s naïve.”
“He knows what Takako’s doing to everyone!”
Everyone suddenly became very still. Seiji had their attention completely for the first time. He made a bold claim. Something none of them figured out. Because they didn’t understand what happened, killing was their only option.
Hiroshi had to admit his curiosity in what Yuki had figured out that they were unable to do. He kept his stoic and unmoving stance to hold his strong position. “And what did Yuki figure out?”
“She is using mind control on everyone. That is her power, through it she is able to make everyone do whatever she wants.”
‘That seems a little obvious, but something we considered. Though we still couldn’t get to Takako to stop it anyway.’ He raised his eyebrow to Seiji as his only physical reaction to the statement. “Even if that is the case, she still controls an army. Take her out, what about the army?”
This was the part that got a little precarious when Yuki explained it to Seiji. “Yuki believes there are two possible outcomes. One, when she is shutdown, everyone is freed from her control immediately. Or two, she is unable to make new converts, but her army still is brainwashed.”
“And what does he plan to do about option two?”
“Fix them all with his powers.”
The thought of having an end and even a solution to returning peace had everyone around Hiroshi becoming visibly excited. Hiroshi almost didn’t recognize the looks on their faces. He saw hope in their eyes for the first time since this all began. Something that he had been unable to provide them. All he could give was darkness. Yet Yuki showed up and brought hope. ‘Even if it is all a lie or fails, this is the strongest that they’ve ever looked. This might be our only chance. Yuki…’ Hiroshi focused back on Seiji. “What are you offering then, you said you wanted to help. It wasn’t just this information was it?”
“No, I know what Yuki’s plans are and how we’re going to deal with Takako.” He pulled off the shielding device that Yuki made for him. Bearing it in his hand, he showed what else he offered. “And I have a way to combat her powers.”
Chapter 318 – Stolen Plans
“This is an interesting device,” remarked Phoibe, leaning over Seiji’s shoulder. She had followed him in, though kept largely an observer position.
“Can you recreate it?” Hiroshi asked.
“I’m a little insulted you’d even have to ask that question.”
“Then get it done. Yuki’s going to make his move soon, right?”
“Yeah, he’s doing some last prep work. I don’t have long before I need to be back.”
Hiroshi opened the crowd allowing Seiji in. ‘This still isn’t ideal, but I have to take the chance to finally end things. In the end, that’s all that really matters…maybe he can find a different way…one that I didn’t think was possible anymore.’
The explanation went quickly as the plan wasn’t too complex. Some found it a surprisingly bold move, but also a reckless one as well. However, Seiji convinced them that Yuki was confident in his ability to pull it off.
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As Seiji walked out, Phoibe handed over the device again. “You finish it?”
“Of course! There’ll be enough for those that are fighting.”
“Good.” He looked back at Hiroshi. Yori and Haruo stood next to him. Everyone was on different sides. It happened so quickly. He hoped things turned out for the better at the end of this. “I’ll be going now.”
Once Seiji disappeared from the hall, Hiroshi started barking out orders for everyone to get ready. The liveliness of the room quickly changed. Everyone looked ready to fight again. All they had to look forward to before was possibly finding someone that they knew trying to kill them. It wasn’t that that changed with what they were doing. In fact, it was even more likely that they would run into someone that they knew at the school. But it was the hope that they could be changed. The killing could finally end.
Yori followed up behind Hiroshi and Tatsuya waiting until they were alone. It was just him and Haruo now. “Have you thought about what happens after?”
“What do you mean?” Hiroshi questioned, a little caught up in the positivity of everyone else. He tried to keep stoic, but it was difficult.
“I mean, those people have been killing their friends against their will. Once freed from that, what do you think will happen to them?”
“If Yuki’s correct, they aren’t guilty.”
“Ignoring whether people will actually believe that, I’m not even talking about that.”
The grave tone Yori brought sobered Hiroshi up quickly. He didn’t know what he was trying to get at. “What’s your point?”
“I’m talking about the psychological damage done. Not just from being controlled, but when their conscious catches up with what they’ve done. Even if everything works out, which seems unlikely, what happens to the people permanently tormented with their deeds? No matter how things play out, this isn’t going to be a smooth or happy ending for anyone.”
Tatsuya saw Hiroshi go quiet as the weight of it all finally hit him. He stepped in for him. “We’ll figure something out then. Right now, we’re not even there yet.”
“I’m just making sure you stay realistic, because if we do succeed. That is likely the first thing we’ll have to deal with once Takako is stopped. They won’t give you time to think.”
“We’ll come up with something!” insisted Tatsuya, trying to push Yori off. Hiroshi didn’t need anymore problems stacked up on top of him. Especially ones that he planned to shoulder himself. ‘You’re too much like Yuki at times, man… One thing at a time though…’ Turning things around, Tatsuya needed to know something as well. “While we’re talking, why are you still here? You’re part of Yuki’s group.”
It had finally come up. Yori knew that they would eventually ask. Fortunately, it was a simple answer. “I’m only here for my sister. I was never truly part of Yuki’s circle.”
“Yuki can get you to her just as much as we can.”
“But I feel like you understand reality better than him. He’s far too idealistic.”
“And what about him?” He pointed over to Haruo, who he had met only in passing before in school. The guy was a complete mystery to him before and even now. Especially now, since he never knew what he was thinking. He just stood around.
Yori shrugged his shoulders having just as much of an answer on Haruo as they did. And Haruo was clearly not giving them any answers. He succeeded better than anyone at being stoic to the point of being an extreme. “He just is. I don’t really have an answer on him, though I don’t expect that you’ll get one out of him that’ll help you either. Just trust that he’s on our side.”
“I see.” Tatsuya slapped Hiroshi on the back to knock him out of his funk. He didn’t want him stunned for too long on the deeper meanings of what their battle would mean. It wasn’t something any of them needed to think about. “We’ve got people willing to fight and a plan of our own now. It’s time to get moving. Right, man?”
There was a little hesitation in Hiroshi’s voice, but he nodded in agreement. “Right. We need to get moving soon.” It was more burdens. Ones that had to be taken.
Seiji landed back on the rooftop where Nerine stood. She kept her distance, maintaining her position as a neutral observer. “Did he notice?”
“No. He’s been busy with his plan. Do you think all of that was necessary?”
He crossed his arms and walked out towards the edge of the roof. In the distance, he could see the movement of Yuki. It was the one part of the plan that Yuki never explained to him. He just said it was important for the fight. “Having more allies is better for something like this. As exciting as I would find it fighting hundreds of people, I need to get to Saki and the others. If they can be a distraction then that’ll make it easier for us to save Saki, Yumi and Fumiko.”
Nerine stared at Seiji’s back looking a little surprised to hear such words from him. “You’re just using them?”
“You make it sound like I’m evil or something.”
“I didn’t—“
“It’s alright. I went behind Yuki’s back on this. So I’m not exactly the best friend he thinks I am. I left him alone for a year because I was afraid. Despite everything that happened, Saki’s a better friend for Yuki than I ever have been. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure I get her back for him.”
She had trouble saying anything more to him. ‘There’s a lot I still don’t know about him. He’s an idiot and yet not. He cares deeply for his friends, but is hurting himself because of them. He’s so much of a contradiction…’ Nerine walked up next to Seiji. Even though he was hurt and she could see it, there was nothing she could do for him. She barely knew him. There was nothing she could offer him. “You care. Even if you need to get a little dirty, you care. I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”
Working to keep his status, Seiji hardened his features a little. “Such things never really bothered me. I have a code and I don’t kill, but I’ve never really thought about being much of a good person. I just like fighting and testing out my strength.” He saw Yuki starting to move back towards them. It was the rendezvous point for them. “Yuki’s a lot of things. But right now how he is, he is a light that needs to be protected. It’s started to go dim once more. I’m blind on a lot of things and don’t care about anything else. That makes me pretty selfish, the one selfless thing I have is what I do for him.”
“You don’t have to justify yourself to me.”
Seiji glanced over to her, a little confused by what she was meaning. He didn’t really have much time left with Yuki almost on them. “I’m surprisingly chatty around you.” It was an odd note to leave off on, but he jumped away to meet Yuki in the middle. They were already spotted.
“How’d things look around the neighborhood?” Yuki landed on the roof and stepped a little towards the center to meet Seiji.
He had done a little scouting as promised to him. There was thankfully enough time to get both in after he returned from Hiroshi. “There’s a few groups out, but I’m guessing most of them are still hold up in the school.”
“I wonder what they’re planning now?” Glancing over his shoulder, Yuki stared back at the school. It stood in silence. A strange atmosphere came from it. They all felt the ominous aura. Their destination was an unsettling place and they had only looked at it from a distance.
Seiji didn’t know how long he could keep up his façade for Yuki. He pushed towards moving. “You ready now?”
“Yeah, that excited to fight?”
“No, I just want to rescue our friends. They’ve been in there for too long.”
“Yes, I know. We’ll save them all.” Yuki started to float both of them up leaving Nerine behind. The plan had them making an aerial assault on the school. It was the easiest way to break into the school and the least amount of students or other people that they would have to confront along the way. He would be able to drill straight down to Takako’s room without dealing with anyone else.
The one thing that he didn’t have control over was his Field. It was larger than he would want for their assault, but he couldn’t control it that well. Their approach would be spotted quickly, but he still had the first move. Lowering down overhead, he waited for his Field to collide with the school roof. He moved closer and closer.
“Yuki?”
They move closer already clearly in range of his Field and nothing changed. His Field didn’t do anything. Nothing changed. Something was wrong. “They’re blocking my power somehow.”
“What?! They knew we were coming?”