Kirin High Luck Roll: 17
Kirin High...didn't look any different from when you first came here.
The students were still being held by law enforcement, and a full investigation was still being carried out.
Thus, the school was still empty and still a fucking shit hole.
Anyone else would likely write this place off. Even if there was someone here, wouldn't they have left immediately after the police showed up? And even if they managed to avoid them, what else is there to do here? Put some of the walls back together? Who, in their right minds, would stay here after everything that's happened.
Well, as it turns out...
[Perception DCs Decreased by Keishi's Information!]
[Yamato Perception: Environment: 32 VS DC 20: Success!: +5 XP!]
...One person would.
"I am honestly surprised," Hiroko admits as you all observe what your brother has found. The kumiho, disguised as a girl in a Raijin uniform, watches your brother with interest as he brings over a ladder, "I have searched through this school on my own time, yet this has always eluded me."
"Maybe it's cause no one would think anyone would make something like this?" you posit as Yamato sets the ladder up. You shrug, "I know I wouldn't. I mean, why would someone put a hidden entrance in the roof of the tech lab? Especially since there's not really much in terms of tech here."
You wave a hand at the empty room around you. The reason for the rooms barren nature becomes clear when you spot the various plugs that have been ripped from the walls. With everything even resembling technology clearly having been taken away at some point, you're surprised this place still has any wires running through the walls. But it does. And that's how your bro was able to track them to a place on the ceiling that supposedly had a secret entrance on it.
You were a bit skeptical. Still are, even as Yamato climbs the ladder up to the place where the wires converge.
Then he knocks on the area.
Dust falls down alongside the sound of clanging metal. As it does, you see the small creases that denote the edge of a door frame.
"Huh," you say with a shrug, "Nice job, bro."
"It is primarily thanks to Sakutaro's information," Yamato admits while climbing down the ladder. He looks at Hiroko and you as he pushes the ladder a little to the side, "Using everything we know about Kirin as a basis, it is clear that someone who went here and focused on studying would need someway to avoid the more violent students. A secret base that none would know about, but was close enough to the school that they could still get to classes when they needed to. If they had placed it underground, they would be covered in dust and dirt. A clear indicator that anyone who was watching them could use to discover their secret. Thus, there was one place left: The ceiling. The wires that connected to it were simply extra assistance. Brother, would you mind calling up to whoever is in there? You are better at such things than I am."
"Say no more," you step forward, turn towards the entrance, then cup a hand around your mouth.
But, you're interrupted.
By the door suddenly bursting open and disgorging four cats. They're all mewling and meowing like crazy, suddenly running around the room. You blink and put your hands up, watching with awe as each one goes and does its own thing. Two of them immediately rush over to your legs, one a pale-off white Thai cat that scratches at your pant leg. The other is a Dragon Li that is just sitting on your right shoe.
"Uh, ok. This is...uh," you are honestly floored here. You hadn't expected the door to slam open. Nor did you expect a bunch of cats to come falling out of it. You turn to Yamato, "Bro? This what you expected?"
Yamato shakes his head, holding one of the other cats, a Bobtail with brown and white fur, in his hands, "Not in the slightest. Though, I do not believe that I was incorrect. Felines tend to find strange places to sleep, but I doubt they could've created a space in the ceiling for them all to stay in."
"Huh," you say while picking up the Thai and rubbing its head with your hand. You turn over to the kumiho, "What do you think Hiroko?"
The kumiho doesn't answer. Because she's currently standing as far away from the two of you as she can. One hand is over her mouth, while the other is on her chest. Her eyes are wide open and she's got one foot up. When she notices you and Yamato looking at her with confusion, she moves her hand away from her mouth. She starts speaking, "Oh, don't mind me. I'm just...uh...feeling a bit light headed, that's all!"
"Hiroko?"
"Yes, Hayato?"
"You're drooling."
The kumiho's hand goes back to her face, covering her drooling mouth. Her eyes refuse to look at either of you as she starts explaining, "I, uh, I see. Um, I...forgot to eat my morning meal of rice and otherwise before coming here. I...don't think I should get close to any of the kittens."
"Right. Can you at least come with us up the door? To help us figure out where the girl is?"
[CSC: Perception: Environment + Supernatural: Fundamentals = 3 + 18 = 22 VS DC 35: Fail!]
[Yato CSC: Perception: Environment + Supernatural: Fundamentals = 0 + 40 = 40 VS DC 35: Success!]
[Hiroko CSC: Perception: Environment + Supernatural: Fundamentals = ??? + ??? VS DC 35: Success!]
"There's no need to head up the entrance," Yato says out loud, making the Thai leave your arms while the Dragon Li heads off with it, "Our target is close by."
"How can you tell?"
"I sense the presence of a Bakeneko. She has likely turned herself into one of these felines to avoid detection."
"The old warrior is correct. She's over there," Hiroko points at a position behind you. Both you and Yamato turn around, him placing the Bobtail down on the floor. It rushes over to the rest of the cats...who have all gathered around a single cat who managed to get passed you all. Unlike the others that are mixes of colors, this one is completely black. Sharp emerald eyes sit above four lines where its whispers should be, and they seem to carry an intelligence to them...along with some uncertainty and fear.
But there's one specific thing that tells you that the creature isn't normal.
It has two tails.
It looks at the three of you.
You all look at it.
It blinks.
You all blink.
Then it turns towards the exit door and starts running. The three other cats quickly follow after it.
"Hey, wait!" you shout, already running after it, "We just want to talk!"
By the time you get outside, the cats have split into two groups of two. One going down the western hallway and the other down the eastern hallway. They've gotten far enough that you can't tell which is which. So..
"Yato! Which way did she go?" you say to your Partner as your brother and Hiroko step out of the room.
"East, my Lord," he is quick to say.
"Thanks!" you're about to rush after her, but are stopped by Hiroko's hand.
"Hold on. If she can transform herself into a feline, she likely has other illusion focused techniques at her disposal. Chasing her down without a plan will simply let her get away from us," the kumiho posits.
"Then, does anyone have a plan?" you ask, looking between Yamato and the kumiho.
You're not shocked when Hiroko goes quiet as she begins to think.
You are shocked when Yamato does the same thing. He looks up at you and shakes his head, "None of my plans are ones that can be performed in a short amount of time. I'm afraid I can't offer any assistance here."
"Then perhaps this fox and I can," Yato appears on your arms, his voice carrying a hint of pride, "This is our area of expertise, after all. Unless this fox is incapable of thinking on her feet?"
That seems to break Hiroko from her stupor. She huffs, her disguise going down as her tails come out, "As if. I have already come up with a plan to help us catch the Bakeneko. Two, in fact."
"Then don't keep us in suspense, lay them on me! And fast!" you say, looking behind you as the cats get farther away.
[] Yato's Plan: Essentially? Just chase the Bakeneko down. Yes, Hiroko said not to do that, but Yato is confident in your abilities to resist illusions. You've trained all this time to accomplish that feat. Now it's time to put it to the test.
[] Hiroko's First Plan: The Bakeneko can use illusions. So can Hiroko. Thus, she'll match her power against the cat's. If she can manage to overpower the Bakeneko's own abilities, she could trap the cat in an illusion of her own making. This would make it much easier to catch her.
[] Hiroko's Second Plan: Hiroko's a fox. While not as good as a full dog's sense of smell, she can use it to track down other animals. This includes cats. If she can get the scent of the Bakeneko, she can lead you both to her location. Though...she did say she hadn't eaten recently. And you're not sure how well she can control herself.
For more information on the Bakeneko, please check this Omake: The Girl From Kirin High by @Qudrim8054.