Chapter XVII: Suspense
As the midday sun reaches its zenith, Ryujin, Okaki, Inoshiro, and Haruto finishes their game with Hageshi, and right after that, Hageshi's break is almost over.
"Alright guys, that was a good game. By the way, where will you guys head now?" (Hageshi)
"Hmm, I don't know, what time is it anyways?" (Haruto)
"It's 11:45am" (Ryujin)
"Man, almost lunch time, then let's go to the cafeteria" (Inoshiro)
"Alright, see you later dude, goodluck on the next game, Hageshi" (All of them)
Ryujin, Haruto, Inoshiro, and Okaki have their lunch in the bustling cafeteria. After a while of exchanging memes and more gaming, they finish lunch. Okaki glances at his watch, a hint of urgency in his expression.
"Hey guys, I need to see someone at the gate. I'll catch up with you later," Okaki says.
With a nod from his friends, Okaki hurries off, leaving Ryujin, Haruto, and Inoshiro to ponder their plans for the afternoon.
"How about we head over to the University Stadium? I heard Samero and the others are practicing for the upcoming games," Ryujin suggests.
"Well, maybe not the main games since the volleyball they're playing are for leisure" (Inoshiro)
"Sure, sure. How about we go play Mobile Legends with Takeshi and the others?" (Ryujin)
"Nah, me and Inoshiro suck at that game" (Haruto)
"Ok, how about we go back and see how Hageshi and the basketball are doing?" (Ryujin)
Haruto and Inoshiro agree, intrigued by the prospect of watching their classmates in action. Making their way to the stadium, they feel the excitement building in the air.
Meanwhile, in the changing room of the stadium, Hageshi and Kuebiko meet with their teammates, exchanging greetings and discussing strategy for the finals. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation as they prepare to represent the 1st years on the field, up against the upper 3rd years.
"Alright everyone, let's give it our all out there. Remember, teamwork is key!" Hageshi says.
As they gear up and get into position, one teammate stands out—an imposing figure with a chilling aura that sends shivers down the spines of Hageshi and Kuebiko.
"Did you feel that, Hageshi? Something doesn't feel right about that guy," Kuebiko says.
Hageshi nods, a sense of unease settling over him as they ready themselves for their first game against the second-year team.
Meanwhile, in the bleachers overlooking the court, Ryujin, Haruto, and Inoshiro settle into their seats, eagerly awaiting the start of the match. Excitement buzzes in the air as Hageshi's team makes their entrance, greeted by cheers and applause from the crowd.
Back at the high school faculty room, Rikiyo, Saki, and Kitsune find themselves face to face with the hooded man, their hearts pounding with fear as they back away slowly.
"W-w-what do we do now?!" Rikiyo exclaims.
Just as panic threatens to consume them, Hajime appears out of nowhere, his presence commanding and reassuring.
"Girls, what brings you he-?" (Hajime)
He pauses as he senses danger. The hooded man appears.
"Stay down and stay alert. I'll handle this," Hajime instructs.
With lightning speed, Hajime unleashes a shockwave that sends the hooded man staggering backward. As papers fly into disarray, Hajime darts around the room, effortlessly collecting and organizing them with precise efficiency.
With a steely gaze, Hajime confronts the hooded man, his grip firm and unwavering.
"You won't get away with this. What are you planning?" Hajime demands.
The hooded man struggles against Hajime's grasp, but the seasoned teacher's speed and strength prove too much for him. With a swift blow, the hooded man is rendered unconscious, subdued by Hajime's superior abilities.
Turning to the girls, Hajime instructs them to stay vigilant and make their way to the stadium to watch the basketball game.
"Go! Run! I'll handle things here," Hajime says.
As Hajime escorts the hooded man out of the faculty room, Rikiyo, Saki, and Kitsune exchange worried glances, unsure of what to make of the situation.
"What do we do now?" Saki asks.
"Let's go back to the classroom. Maybe playing video games will help take our minds off things," Kitsune suggests.
As they make their way back to the classroom, their eyes catch something glinting on the floor—a small, oval bead that has fallen from the hooded man's possession.
"What's this?" Saki wonders.
"I'm not sure, but it looks important. Let's hold onto it for now," Kitsune says.
With a sense of unease lingering in the air, the girls pocket the mysterious bead and continue on their way, hoping to find solace in the familiar comforts of their classroom.
As Hajime subdues the hooded suspect and brings her to Principal Kimura's office, they waste no time interrogating her. With a firm grip, they pull back the suspect's hoodie, revealing the face of an 18-year-old female student with dark hair.
"What were you doing attacking those girls earlier?" Hajime demands.
The suspect stirs, confusion clouding her expression as she struggles to make sense of her surroundings.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Sir. I don't remember anything," she says.
Hajime's patience wears thin as he presses for answers, his tone growing more aggressive.
"Stop playing games! You were caught red-handed. Now tell us the truth!" Hajime says.
Principal Kimura intervenes, realizing that the suspect's memory loss may indicate manipulation by an external force.
"We may have been deceived. Call the guards stationed here in Sadalmelik and other surrounding buildings and initiate a search operation on all buildings in Aquarius District. Wait, no, not just these, even the other districts. I'll phone Dr. Yoshida. We need to find out who's behind this," Principal Kimura orders.
As the guards are dispatched, the suspect continues to profess ignorance, claiming she only remembers attending school before being attacked by a hooded figure who planted something in her pockets.
Meanwhile, in the Highschool library, Saki, Kitsune, and Rikiyo examine the oval bead they have found, hoping to uncover clues about its origin and purpose. Despite their efforts, their research yields no results, leaving them frustrated and perplexed.
"There must be something we're missing. Let's try using my phone to search for information," Saki suggests.
Using a specialized app on her phone, Saki takes a picture of the mysterious bead, hoping to find answers in the digital realm. However, their search proves fruitless as the app returns no relevant results.
Disheartened but undeterred, they resolve to continue their investigation, determined to uncover the truth behind the enigmatic bead.
Meanwhile, thirty minutes earlier, Hageshi and his team take to the court for their finals game against the upper 3rd year team. The atmosphere crackles with anticipation as the players square off, each determined to claim victory for their respective teams.
As the game unfolds, Hageshi seizes control of the ball, swiftly passing it to Kuebiko, who leaps into the air with astonishing force, scoring a crucial point for their team.
In the bleachers, Ryujin, Haruto, and Inoshiro cheer on their classmates, their excitement mounting with each play. Okaki returns with snacks, adding to the festive atmosphere as they enjoy the thrilling match.
"Hey, where have you've been?" (Inoshiro)
"I waited for my mom at the gate, then we went to 7/11 outside and now we all have snacks now, snackers." (Okaki)
"Snackers? Would be a nice name for someone in streams." (Haruto)
"Yeah, would be a good nickname from a Vtuber" (Inoshiro)
However, their celebration is short-lived as Hageshi and Kuebiko head to the locker room after the game, only to encounter a teammate engaged in a mysterious conversation with an unknown caller.
"What's going on here?" Kuebiko asks.
Before they can react, the mysterious teammate moves with blinding speed, knocking both Hageshi and Kuebiko unconscious and locking the room behind them.
Meanwhile, in the district conference room in Sadalsuud Building, the teachers gather as Principal Kimura briefs them on the situation, together with the different deans of that district, discussing the potential threat posed by the invaders. Suddenly, a voice crackles over the speakers, sending shivers down their spines as it declares ownership of the entire school.
With mounting dread, the teachers watch as the mysterious oval bead turns crimson, its ominous glow casting a sinister shadow over the room. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they quickly evacuate to a secure room with no ventilation, hoping to shield themselves from whatever nefarious forces are at play.
Outside, the students who have attended the basketball game fall into a deep slumber, their minds ensnared by a hypnotic spell cast by the unseen assailants. A hypnotized guard seals off the room where the teachers have sought refuge, leaving them trapped in a desperate struggle for survival.