[X]Say something to your mysterious benefactor. A gut feeling points you to the guardhouse.
-[x]Thank you.
You confident that you can trust Kurumu to get Aono to the infirmary, and she'll probably debrief Moka on the way.
So on a gut feeling, you head for the guardhouse over to the side of the pool. You owe someone some acknowledgement.
You call out and say, "I didn't ask for your help back there, Shirayuki."
You hear a loud thump, and a soft "ow", before a ventilation grate in the ceiling pops loose. From it, Mizore Shirayuki falls in a heap on the ground just a few feet before you with a louder "ow."
Before she can give any further response, you tip your hat in the young lady's direction. "...but you didn't have to give it, either. So... thanks."
You turn to leave, and tell her over your shoulder: "I don't know if you「get off」on that「stalker」gig or what, but you might think about hanging around in the open once in a while."
Mizore remains silent, and you coolly make for the door. Before you can quite cross the threshold, however, she softly asks: "...is it okay, then... if I come with you?"
As you resume walking out, you sigh. It's a total pain in the ass, and you're probably going to regret this, but... "Yeah, sure. Why the hell not?"
Contrary to your expectations, you are not assaulted by a loud girlish scream of delight, nor is there a sudden impact as Mizore tries to sneak her arms around yours.
Instead, you hear a soft "...thank you."
Turning back to look at Mizore, you see her following you at a respectful distance of... about five meters? ....eh, whatever. A little creepy and bizarre, but so very preferable to the usual routine. Seriously, you're thinking to yourself that this is one wierd-ass chick you've gotten caught up with... but, hey. If it's like this, then... maybe it's not such a bad thing, really.
Once you turn back around, Mizore does a little happy dance and squees very, very quietly so you can't hear her.
___
As you leave the pool area, your hands in your pockets and Mizore trailing behind you, something Tamao said sticks out in your mind. We're just slaves to our nature.
You think about your raging fury in the face of evil, your bizarre habit of giving a speech prior to beating it into the ground... and, on taking another look at the pool area, you see again the wreckage left behind from when you administered justice today.
The perimeter safety fence is in shambles, and it'd probably take a quality work crew the better part of a day to fix up the viewing gallery... Come to think of it, didn't you wreck the art room to a similar degree, when you beat the shit out of that teacher?
...perhaps you, too, have something to learn about controlling your nature.
____
A considerable amount of time seems to pass without incident. How will you spend the months prior to summer break? (pick two)
[]Training with your Ripple.
[]Studying.
[]Hanging out with your friends.
[]Actually, something DID happen in that window of time...
If so, what? (pick one)
-[]Cats. Bags. ...They don't mix. Tsukune was outed as a human.
-[]There was this one little brat hanging around your juniors...Yukari introductory episode.
-[]Remember when you punched a werewolf in the face? Good times. Pretty self-explanatory.
-[]Something else. Some other R+V event or mini-arc that I forgot to mention.
That's right. The day after you beat the shit out of the Swimming Club, before you'd had a chance to look at some of the other clubs again, Kagome-sensei told you that someone was expecting you out around the basketball court.
You didn't have much of an interest in sports, but decided that if he couldn't sell you on joining his team, then you'd at least shut the guy down to his face.
You went down there, and found the place deserted but for this guy.
Needless to say, prooooobably not with the basketball team. Indeed, with that uniform, you find it more likely he's associated with some kind of student police....
The male student before you asks, "You are Jotaro Kujo, correct?"
You nod.
He casually smiles at you, an action which completely puts you on edge. "My name is Kuyo. I'm the leader of the Student Protection Committee. I'd explain what we do, but I can infer from your transcript-" he lazily waves his hand before him, holding a sheet of paper with your name on it- "that you aren't an idiot. With a student population like Youkai Academy's, I trust you can see why such an organization is required to exist."
Indeed, you aren't an idiot. You've seen that monsters don't normally seem to get on well with other breeds of monsters, even when they have humans as a common enemy to idealogically rally against.
"The students casually prey on each other if they think they can get away with it," you observe. You consider the incident with Ishigami-sensei. "And if I learned that the faculty weren't any different... it wouldn't surprise me."
Kuyo laughs - a horrible sound. Twice, now, you've come across evil - but this man before you... his very being here rankles you like nothing before. "With such an excellent degree of insight, I'm sure you can imagine how it is that you've come to my attention."
You know damn well that this is about the Swimming Club - unless it's about the art teacher, or both - but you choose to remain silent.
After a few moments, Kuyo seems to take your silence as a confirmation, and narrows his eyes at you. "I must confess, that I was rather surprised to learn that the errant Swimming Club was dealt with single-handedly... by a student using a human fighting technique called Hamon. Would you care to explain that?"
There's a chill at the bottom of your spine, telling you that the wrong answer here is going to get you killed. And there's nothing you can do about it. What are you going to say to him?
[]"I am a human."
[]"A monster shouldn't reveal his true form. So I didn't."
[]"That was not Hamon."
[](write-in)
[X]"A monster shouldn't reveal his true form. So I didn't."
Kuyo considers that for a moment, and smiles thinly. "I see. A monster that can use Hamon... if true, then it means that you're most likely a Witch, or perhaps a Doppelgänger."
You have a very, very bad feeling about where this is going.
"Given your apparel," he continues, "I strongly doubt that you're one of those scum."
Kuyo briefly circles around you, and steadily takes one hand out of his pocket. "Go on, then, Doppelgänger. Prove that you're not a human, and imitate my form."
Despite yourself, you hesitate. You can do no such thing, of course. With the sheer evil radiating off of this guy in waves... tou're sure that there's no reasoning with someone like him.
Your only choice is to attack first, and hope for a pre-emptive strike...!
You move suddenly, and start the Hamon breathi-
Kuyo is faster, and chokeslams you with his arm, now on fire. You stumble and fall, trying to breathe. "I don't know why a Hamon user has come to my Academy," he begins, as he binds your limbs to the ground with flame, "but doing so was a severe miscalculation on your part."
Before you can attempt the Ripple breathing again, Kuyo waves his hand and sets your throat on fire from the inside. "I'll have your associates looked into as well, to determine if they might be human sympathizers. Particularly the freshman male and that Snow-Woman..."
Kuyo then flash-burns your entire body with a continuous torrent of flame, until you are reduced to nothing but ashes.
Not actually story-related, but it's worth telling you guys now while I slowly work on the proper update.
[x]Training with your Ripple.
You became more proficient in using your Ripple. Your persistent dedication to training has also made your Ripple slightly more powerful.
You also discovered a new use for your powers.
New ability GET: Zoom Punch [x]Mechanics Club.
You joined the Mechanics Club. The other members are all kind of forgettable, but you enjoy your activities, which consist of reading and analyzing technical manuals for assorted vehicles and related technologies, as well as the occasional project to build/rebuild something when the Student Council actually gets around to looking at (and approving) your club's monthly requisitions forms.
Mizore also joined, for some reason. You suspect that she merely followed you here, which aggravates the shit out of you. However, she appears to be taking a legitimate interest in club activities, asking questions to ensure she understands what everyone else is talking about, and occasionally offering her own insights when she has them.
You haven't quite managed to get a clear read on that girl just yet, but she seems to be one pleasant surprise after another...
Update 52 - Beware (not) Succubi that come bearing plot hooks
One day, as your club activities are winding down, there's a knocking on the door.
Everyone else in the club has left for today, except for you and Mizore - you're still here because you volunteered to clean shit up today, and you're stalker's still here because, well...
Since you're busy returning heavy (for normal people) equipment to its proper places, and Mizore's just taking the moment to ogle you without your jacket on, you tell her to get the damn door.
No sooner has she turned the handle, then Kurumu barges in through the door. "Hey, senpai, do you have a minute?"
You are not entirely enthused about your chesty kohai's exuberanc- hold the phone, she sounds rather subdued compared to usual. "What is it?"
Kurumu heaves a great big sigh, which does funny things to her chest.... but since the bulk of your attention is still focused on the tools, you don't actually notice. The next words out of her mouth, however, give you pause.
"It's our club president, Ginei Morioka."
You stop organizing the tools, and look directly at her. "That pathetic horndog?"
Kurumu appears to be surprised that you're acquainted with him, but promptly shakes it off. "Yeah, it's bad enough that he's a shameless pervert who used his authority to look up mine and Moka's skirts, but that slimy mutt had the nerve to make us think Tsukune did it!"
The way she says that, implies that she and Moka fell for his little trick. Between the one's naiveté, and the other being a total airhead, you're not surprised.
Kurumu continues, oblivious to the thoughts running through your head. "...but he's a serial peeping tom, going around campus and taking perverted secret pictures of girls in their changing rooms!"
You pause. "...and?"
The bluenette seems shocked by your standoffish attitude for a moment, before she appears to decide that you're just prompting her for further information. "...also, we've learned that he's a werewolf, a super rare S-class monster, just like Moka is. The main difference is that vampires are renowned for their strength, while werewolves are known for their speed."
You stop for a moment, and recall the morning when you bore witness to Moka's full power. The prospect of an enemy of a comparable power to that... you won't lie to yourself, you're a bit intimidated. ...but at the same time, you're curious about where you stand in comparison to that now, as a Ripple user.
Kurumu's biting her thumbnail now, a nervous tic of hers that you've noticed. "I really don't want to have to impose on you like this, senpai, but I'd really feel a lot better if we had you to back us up when we go to confront him."
[]...all right, I'm in.
[]No. It's too big a pain in the ass.
Update 53 - Kurumu exposits about the plan to confront Gin
"It's a real pain in the ass," you begin, "and quite frankly you three should be able to handle this by yourselves."
Kurumu looks shocked and betrayed, having apparently just jumped to the conclusion that you're about to tell her to screw herself.
You take out a cig, light it, and enjoy the nicotine rush for a moment.
"...but if that guy's making a nuisance of himself to my juniors, I guess I can't ignore it."
You can visibly see your words dawning on Kurumu, and she beams at you. Speaking objectively, that smile is a beautiful, beautiful thing. "I just knew we could count on you, senpai - you're the best!"
You suddenly find yourself being hugged very, very tightly. Just before you can summon the breath needed to actually tell her to screw herself, however, she backs off and is halfway to the door. ...damn that woman, you're not done with her yet!
"That said," you continue, "if he's really on the same kind of level as Moka, then only a total dumbass would try and take him on unprepared."
Kurumu nods at you, pleased with the amount of thought you're putting into this. "Yeah!, yeah!, we've already thought about that!"
Raising her index finger, as if to assume some kind of 'lecturing/explaining pose', she continues, "Werewolves are only at their strongest during a full moon, and we're almost halfway through the lunar cycle - so while it could still be dangerous to confront him tonight, I think we'll be able to get through it."
There's a bad taste in your mouth, and it ain't the cancer stick. Exhaling a cloud of smoke, you ask, "So your plan is to attack him when he's at his weakest?"
Kurumu looks positively scandalized. "What? No! We want to make him stop being a perverted sleaze, yeah, but we aren't planning on picking a fight with Morioka-senpai unless he makes us."
...Huh. You didn't expect that response. You get the sense that Aono's been rubbing off on her.
Kurumu then shifts her weight to one leg and leans forward, winking at you. You're pretty sure it's not meant to be flirtatious, though. "But just in case he does force the issue, we're planning to hit the library later to see if there's any other info we can dig up."
At this point, Mizore sees fit to remind you of her presence. "Sounds like you've got this all figured out, huh."
Kurumu taps a bicep in pride. "Of course - when it comes to journalistic investigations, you should know better than to underestimate members of the Newspaper Club!"
With hopeful eyes and a great big smile, Kurumu asks, "Soooo~, wanna come with?"
[]Go to the school library with Kurumu. You'll probably meet up with Moka and Aono on the way there.
[]Don't go to the school library with Kurumu. You'll still head out, but you feel like killing a little time, first.
You sigh. It's really bizarre, that you've let yourself get caught up in a petty little thing like this... but you also have to admit - it feels kind of good, to have your friends able to rely on you like this. ...Even if following up on those expectations can be a real pain in the ass.
[x] Go to the school library with Kurumu. You'll probably meet up with Moka and Aono on the way there.
You go to the library with Kurumu, Mizore tagging along behind you.
When you arrive, you find that Moka and Tsukune are already there. The vampire is the first to notice your arrival.
"Senpai, I'm really glad that you decided to help us!"
You brush off their gratitude, and just get to work researching.
_____
You spent several hours researching werewolves. Unfortunately, you don't know a whole lot more than you already knew or suspected, but every little bit helps. To offset that frustration, you looked up some other canid monsters since they were in the same reference book.
"Well," Tsukune says, "it's time. I guess we should get going."
You concur - time to get this BS over with.
_______
It's well after dark, when your party confronts Gin on the roof. The sky is totally cloudless. Hanging in the night sky, is just a tiny sliver of the waxing crescent moon.
Gin is standing some distance away, with his back to you. "So," he asks, "my adorable kohai wanted to speak with me about something?"
Moka pleads, "Senpai, we really wish that you'd stop acting like such a pervert, at least during club activites."
Kurumu dramatically points at him, and heatedly adds, "That's right! Apologize for groping us, and for trying to shift the blame to Tsukune!"
Gin contemplates you all, and strokes his chin. "An apology, hmm? I suppose that's a fair request, considering my actions of late."
Tsukune relaxes and steps forward, beginning to say something, when he suddenly doubles over in pain. You blink, and suddenly realize that there's a big f*cking wolf standing right there on its hind legs, with a fist planted firmly in Tsukune's stomach. How the-?! How the hell did he transform and move to attack so quickly...?
"But since I try not to get in the habit of lying in front of women, I really can't say that I'm sorry, can I?"
Kurumu's expression is instantly twisted with rage, as she transforms. She screams in fury as great leathery wings burst from her back and her nails extend into claws, charging at the werewolf... only to be kicked aside at high speed. She crash-lands against the door to the stairwell, knocked out.
"I'm also not fond of leaving women with bruises they won't appreciate, but when it's a night like this, well..." The arrogant smirk is even more evident in his tone than on his wolfy little face. "...that just can't be helped."
Moka backs away, beginning to cry. "Why... why are you doing this? Even with your shameless and perverted behavior, I thought we could trust you, Morioka-senpai! I thought you were our friend!"
Gin strikes an exaggeratedly casual pose, and makes a dramatic show out of thinking over what she just said. "Well, that's the problem, isn't it, Moka? I'm more interested in having you as a lover than as a friend, you see. And under this kind of light, I confess that I tend to get a little...."
He sneers, as a little drool escapes from his open muzzle, and repeatedly clenches his open hands. "...aggressive. And as for why I'm doing this?" The wolf laughs. "Because I feel like it, of course."
Something's off... you've made some horrible miscalculation, but what?!
Tsukune's beginning to get back to his feet. "You won't... get away with this..."
Wait a minute...! It's impossible, but what if...?!
Now Kurumu is recovering, and she mumbles something like, "Why the hell is this bastard so powerful? The moon's barely even a sliver...!"
Gin stops, and very slowly and deliberately turns to look down at her, smugness oozing from every hairy pore. "Is that so? The moon seems full enough to me."
You look back up, your fears confirmed. The moon that was once a tiny sliver, has now become a full and complete disc.
Reveling in his superiority, he loudly proclaims, "Anyone with authority in this school is either useless or bad enough to make me look like the Mother Theresa! So just who, exactly, are you expecting to come save you?!"
You take a deep breath, and glow with Ripple energy. "Think you've won, huh?"
For the first time, really, Gin stops to look at you. "Hm?"
Hamon and fury running through you in equal measure, you slide your hand from one side of your hat to the other.
Gin pauses for a moment, before he laughs at you. "You will judge me?"
He disappears, and then reappears not a centimeter in front of you, growling. "Bring it."
You lash out with a fist as soon as your brain can issue the command to do so, but Gin has already retreated.
From atop the stairwell entrance, your lupine foe strikes a pose, his arms folded across his chest. "That Ripple of yours is one major pain in the ass, I'll admit, since it provides「an automatic defense」- as long as you「maintain your breathing」, I can't really touch you without also hurting myself."
He grins, which is really starting to piss you off. "Fortunately, any self-respecting monster with more than two brain cells to rub together can find an easy way to bypass that defense!"
You blink, and realize that some kind of projectile flying right toward you at high speed.
It's a surreal moment, even with your recent experiences. Rather than try to move, you find yourself idly pondering what, exactly, Gin has thrown at you.
Suddenly, you realize. "...That's a door-" CRUNCH!
The door to the stairwell slams into your chest, knocking the air out of you and sending you skidding backwards until you hit the rail at the edge of the roof. Without the regulated breathing, your Ripple turns off, and a scant second later, Gin grabs you by the ankle.
"As a classmate, it's only appropriate that I see you off... on your flight outta here!"
...You are really, really starting to hate this guy. A feeling that only intensifies as he swings you around and throws you into the air.
...yeah, that does it. If you ever manage to get a decent hold on that guy, you are going to kick. his. a--
______
You are Kurumu Kurono, a succubus attending Youkai Academy in search of your「Destined One」. Good news is, you are absolutely convinced that you've found him. Bad news is, you have to somehow win his affections away from that vampire Moka.
As much as you'd love to plot out how you're going to win Tsukune's heart, however, you are currently beset with more pressing concerns. Your senpai in the Newspaper Club is a raging horndog, and that's a depressingly literal assessment if ever you've heard one.
You've completely and totally had the stuffing beaten out of you, and for the most part, it's thinking about Tsukune that gives you the strength to rise aga-
"Back up again, hmm? I might have known better than to underestimate the stamina of a Succubus."
...reformed or not, you are going to kill Morioka-senpai for that. ...okay, no, in the grand scheme of things, an innuendo of spectacularly ill taste in context isn't really enough to literally end his life for, but figuratively? Yeah, that works. You are figuratively GOING TO KILL THAT GUY.
As you stagger back to your feet after having taken yet another highspeed kick - gawd-it-HURTS! - you desperately rack your brain, trying to figure out how things could have wound up like this. You know it wasn't supposed to be a full moon tonight, you checked and double-checked and triple-checked the calendar! Lots of calendars, just to be sure that your friends wouldn't get hurt! So why?!
At that moment, a pulse of demonic energy blasts through the entire area, almost knocking you back on your ass again. Even Gin momentarily looses his footing, and damn, if only you were in good enough condition to have caught him right then and there!
"I thought you were beautiful before, Akashiya, but... My, my, my, you're even lovelier now. The best things in life really are worth savoring, aren't they?"
The unleashed Inner Moka casually brushes a strand of hair back from her face, before dramatically stepping forward. "Hmph. You believe you're worthy to lay those filthy paws on a vampire?"
Aggressively giving the werewolf her pointer finger, Moka continues, "You'd best learn your place quickly. ...or else I'll have to teach you."
With a smirk and a fabulous pose, she concludes, "You won't be enjoying that."
Okay, so Tsukune took off the Rosary and switched Moka over to the badass side of her little personality split... except that werewolves are still faster than vampires during the full moon!
And if that weren't apparent before, it certainly is now, since it looks like Moka's using all of her concentration and reflexes to keep from being overwhelmed by Gin's sudden assault.
You look up at the clear night sky in aggravation, mentally screaming at the unfairness of there not being even one solitary cloud of hope, when something occurs to you: what happened to that stalker of a Snow-Woman that was with Kujo-senpai earlier? Despite her best efforts, you're reasonably sure you saw her skulking around behind him on the way up.
...and while you're thinking about that, doesn't it seem like the air temperature has lowered a bit?
What you need to do right now is...
[]Where the hell is that girl, and why isn't she helping?! You need to track her down and convince her do something, anything, to make her contribute here!
[]Just calm down a moment, and use your brain. ...if that stalker girl likes Jojo-senpai anywhere near as much as you like Tsukune, then you can trust that she's got「something up her sleeve」, and is「setting up for it」「behind the scenes」. In which case, you should「distract Gin」and get his attention on you, to「free up Moka to try and get an attack on him」. ...and come to think of it, you have just「the perfect tool for the job」, don't you?
