Chapter 5 – School Smarts and Connected Friends

Chapter 5 – School Smarts and Connected Friends

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"Alright class, it's time for lunch, make sure you don't forget to do your reading assignment and the corresponding homework for chapter two." (Female teacher)

"Thank goodness" (Student 1)

"I'm starving" (Student 2)

"Can you show me your math homework?" (Student 3)

The students proceed to break for lunch, with some heading to the cafeteria while others sat at their friend's desks to chat and eat together.

However, one blue-haired girl decided to run straight to Kana's desk before jumping and landing face first on top of it. "Help me, Kana, this math homework is killing me; I don't understand it at all!"(Mika)

"Come on now Mika, you should know it's dangerous to jump around like that. I'm sure Kana would help you even if you asked normally." The purple-haired girl behind her said with an exasperated look on her face.

These are Kana's closest friends, Mika Yuminaka and Naomi Tokugawa respectively. They had gotten to know each other during their freshman year at Kyoto High school and became fast friends. As you can imagine this wasn't the first time that Mika had come to Kana for help.

"Eh-heh, you might be right, but it's more fun to do this," Mika replied with a bright smile.

"I guess your right, hitting your head a few more times won't hurt you, it might even help you out," Naomi replies with a laugh

"How could you say something so mean Naomi, must be that Tokugawa blood in you that sucks out all the fun," Mika replied sharply.

The two girls locked their eyes in a staring contest for several seconds until.

"Pfff." (Mika)

"Pfff." (Naomi)

"Ahahahahahah"(Mika and Naomi)

The two girls began to laugh quite hard. Such banter had become common between them over the last two years and was actually part of the reason they became such good friends.

"The two of you really are idiots, aren't you?" Kana says with a cheeky smile. "At this point, you should just become a comedy duo with how well you have the act down at this point.

"Sounds great, when do we start Naomi!" (Mika)

"I'll pass, I have a feeling that my ancestors would spin in their graves if I tried that," Naomi said with a smile.

"Ah yes, I'm sure Ieyasu would be angry if one of his descendants was making people laugh rather than boring them to death." (Mika)

Indeed Naomi was a proper descendant of "the" Tokugawa Ieyasu. Although her family doesn't have much in the way of direct influence it's still quite prestigious and she is treated as minor celebrity. Why this daughter of the Tokugawa clan was attending a school in Kyoto, no one knows.

"To answer your question Mika, I don't mind helping you but need I remind you of your last tutoring session with me?" Kana said with an almost sadistic grin.

Seeing the look on Kana's face, Mika shuddered remembering the almost spartan teaching method she used.

"Naomi help me instead! I forgot Kana stands far beyond us mere mortals!" Mika cried.

"Uhm.... you do remember that I'm terrible at math too? Right?" Naomi replied with an embarrassed look on her face.

"NO! I don't want to go back to the spartan training again. Wahhhh!" Mika began to flail around in a panic.

"It's either this or risk taking the make-up over and over again? Which will it be, I don't mind tutoring the both of you." On the outside, it appeared that Kana was warmly smiling, but her two friends could see the evil hidden behind it.

"Thank you so much Naomi I really appreciate this. It saves me the trouble of having to go home first and get my dad's car." (Kana)

"Still crazy that you can drive, I'm too scared to get behind the wheel." (Mika)

"I was nervous at first, but it's not too bad. I'm just thankful that traffic isn't as bad here as it is in Osaka or Tokyo." (Kana)

Outside the main gate is a small black car and an older man dressed like a butler standing in front of the passenger door.

"Hello my Lady, Ms. Yuminaka, Ms. Tomogawa how was your day today." (Driver)

"Hello, Mr. Nishizami! Did you get older? I see a few more greys hairs." Mika asked with a mischievous grin.

"If I do have more, they are likely from the extra stress I receive from you." The older man said with a smile.

"I swear, Mika has a superpower that just allows her to do those kinds of acts with anyone." Naomi.

"Yeah, that level of charisma is almost cheating." (Kana)

The three girls got into the car and headed to Kyoto Central Hospital which was quite close.

The driver parked in the adjacent lot and told Naomi to contact him when they were out front so that they could limit the distance Akagi needed to walk.

It only took a few minutes for the three of them to clear security and head up to Akagi's room.

"I don't think I've ever been in here before." (Mika)

"Really? I would have thought your brother would have been brought here like Kana's sister was." (Naomi)

Mika's expression darkened slightly

"My brother was in Osaka for University and was placed in a hospital there," Mika replied.

"That makes sense, less risk that way." (Naomi)

It was well known at this point that transporting those trapped in FWO was extremely risky, a few had even died when family or medical staff had attempted to remove the headgear. The only reason more people didn't die was that whoever trapped the players gave a short window where they could move people to hospitals. Of course, this was little consolation to the families of those who were trapped. This gave off the impression that whoever did this saw the whole ordeal as a game/entertainment.

"Here we are, room 431 my sister is in here," Kana stated

"Onee-chan we're here to pick you up. Are you...ready...to...go..?" Kana's words slowed to a crawl.

The sight that greeted the three girls was truly fantastical. Akagi was sitting on the windowsill in her traditional outfit, one she had worn so many times in FWO. She was staring out into the busy Kyoto cityscape while smoking a Kiseru. Her hair was blown back by the gentle breeze coming through the window.

To the girls, she looked elegant, like something out of one of the traditional folk tales they had heard so many times as children. Kana couldn't believe what she saw. Naomi was floored by the quality of the clothing Akagi was wearing. While Mika had sparkles in her eyes. The three girls were stunned into a silence that was only broken when Akagi said.

"What's the matter, girls? Do I look that strange?" She asked with a smile.

Spoiler

Akagi in the hospital!

Mika! (Original Image)

Naomi! (Original Image)

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