Seeing the group of second-years approaching, Tsukuru narrowed his eyes, and stepped forward.
He extended his left arm in front of the other three, shielding them.
"Is there gonna be a problem here?" Tsukuru asked in a warning tone.
The six looked at Tsukuru, a look of slight nervousness flashed on their faces.
Earlier this morning, General Duke had his sergeants distribute Tsukuru's photo among all the second-year students, telling them that he was not to be messed with.
Despite that, the six held their conviction.
This was a problem that needed to be dealt with. Even if it ruffled some feathers among the higher-ups.
One of the six gulped, before he spoke.
"We have business to discuss with you four." He replied. "We highly recommend you come with us, or we'll be forced to…escalate…and bring you by force."
Tsukuru's face turned into a dangerous expression, and he opened his palm.
Instantly, the sound of electronic interference filled the area, and translucent, light-blue pixels floated in his hand.
Seeing that this could escalate into a conflict, Vorden walked up behind Tsukuru, and put his hand on Tsukuru's shoulder.
Feeling the contact, Tsukuru looked back. Vorden shot him a disarming smile.
Tsukuru let out a huff, and deactivated his Ability. The electronic interference sound faded away, and the pixels vanished.
The group of four were escorted by the second-year students to a second part of the school.
The school was split into two sections, with the second-years inhabiting the second section to minimize contact between the two.
"Should we run?" Peter asked, terrified.
"I'm not running." Tsukuru said in a defiant, determined tone.
Quinn looked at him. He knew that look. It was the same look of defiance he had worn himself multiple times in the past.
Quinn turned to Peter.
"That might just make things worse." He replied. "If they were going to do something, they would have waited until we were on our own."
They eventually arrived at one of the second-year buildings.
The four watched as second-year students walked past, minding their own business and going along on their day.
"We brought them, Mono." One of the second-years escorting the group said.
They looked ahead, and saw a tall man with brown hair pulled in a ponytail sitting on the steps.
Tsukuru looked at him, and his "scanner" function auto-activated in his vision.
[Name: Mono Black
Race: Human
Ability: Future Sight
Ability Level: 6]
"You guys can leave." Mono replied, waving his hand.
The second-years did as they were told, and scattered like rats.
Mono looked at the four.
His gaze lingered on Tsukuru for a noticeable longer amount of time, as if he was trying to decide if he should approach things more delicately.
"It has come to my attention that a high-Level student is hanging around with a bunch of low-Levels."
Tsukuru's fist clenched in anger.
"And?" He asked through gritted teeth.
Mono glanced back at him.
"'And' that's a problem." He answered.
"So what?" Vorden asked, his tone becoming more aggressive. "Is it against the rules?"
Tsukuru's gaze darkened.
"You've got a lot to learn, Vorden." Tsukuru said in a bitter, jaded voice. "There's always a set of…'unwritten rules'."
Mono laughed, but it sounded like a cruel snicker.
"That's exactly right." Mono said, as he began to walk forward. His chest collided with Tsukuru's outstretched arm like a wall.
He looked down at Tsukuru, who looked at him with a gaze that could freeze molten magma.
Mono glanced down at his watch, which read "1.3".
Mono smirked.
"This is exactly what I mean." Mono replied, as if using Tsukuru's actions as justification. "I'm standing directly in front of him, and there's not an ounce of fear. I can't wait until the next war, when we can get rid of filth like you."
Tsukuru smirked darkly.
"And let me guess, you think that you'll be able to survive the Dalki?" Tsukuru asked in a bitter tone. "What're you gonna do, be able to see their fists coming slightly sooner than the rest of us? You'll still wind up dead."
His words struck a chord in Mono. A deep anger flowed through him.
Using his Ability, Future Sight, Mono looked six seconds into the future.
He saw his fist colliding with Tsukuru's face, and forcibly turning it to the side. But he still had that look of utter hatred and disdain on his face.
Mono grit his teeth in anger.
He pulled his hand back, and threw it full force at Tsukuru's face.
However, just as his fist was about to make contact, Tsukuru activated his Ability.
The sound of electronic interference filled the area, and pixels began to appear on his forehead, clustering together like a headband. There was a bright flash that momentarily blinded Mono.
When it faded, his eyes widened in shock.
Tsukuru now wore a cloth headband with a metal plate. Multiple large, jagged, sharp spikes jutted out of the headband.
A cold dread filled Mono. It was too late. Too late to pull back his fist. All he could do was watch, as his fist impaled itself on the spikes.
"AGH!" Mono let out a scream of pain that pierced the quiet air around them, as blood sprayed out from his injured hand like a fountain.
Tsukuru bore a look of deep satisfaction.
Instantly, Mono jerked his hand back, pulling it out of the spikes, and looked at it. It was covered in multiple, circular gashes that went deep. Blood dripped down his hand at a rapid rate.
"You see?" Tsukuru said in an amused tone.
Angrily, Mono snapped his head up to him, fire in his eyes.
"You think that Future Sight makes you invincible. You can see, what? Six seconds into the future?" He asked.
Mono grit his teeth, as he knew, deep down, that the boy was right on the money.
"All that means is that I have to wait until the very last second to act." He explained, tapping the headband.
Mono growled, and turned away.
"I didn't come here to fight you lot today." Mono said in an aggravated tone. "This is a 'friendly' warning!"
He whirled around, and pointed right at Vorden.
"There are people who not even the military can touch! And if you keep acting up, THEY will get involved!"
With that, Mono walked back towards the second-year building, likely heading to their own doctor's office to get his hand healed.
"Do you think he's serious?" Peter asked, timidly.
"Deadly." Tsukuru replied, as he reached up, and untied the headband, holding it in his hand by the cloth.
"That's the way this world works!" He snapped angrily. "The strong bully the weak, and no one does ANYTHING about it, because it benefits them!"
He threw the headband hard on the ground, its metal plate bouncing a few times.
"Either the weak get stronger, or they get trampled on. It's a classical 'survival of the fittest'!"
Tsukuru started breathing deeply, before he looked up at the three. He had a look of pure hatred. "That's why I despise this world!"
The three looked at Tsukuru with new-found wariness, worried that any second, he could turn that anger on THEM.
After a second, Quinn sighed.
"I'm sorry Vorden, but maybe it would be better if we complied and went our separate ways for now?"
At his words, Vorden whirled on Quinn.
"Why should I listen to them?!" He shot in a sudden outburst.
"Because if you don't, they'll target us." Tsukuru said in a bitter tone, causing the two to turn to him. He still had that look of anger on his face, but it seemed more…icy…now. "That's the way bullies are. They're cowards. They'll target the weak who they know they can beat, and will never start a fight that there's a chance they could lose!"
Vorden stared at Tsukuru.
Quinn then spoke up.
"Vorden, he's right." Quinn replied, making Vorden glance over at him. "You've never been powerless."
Vorden had thought he was protecting them, but all he did was attract bigger fish.
"Fine!" Vorden shouted, as he stomped off, storming away. "Have it your way!"
The three watched him storm off.
"Maybe we should have explained it better?" Peter asked.
"It's probably better this way." Quinn said with a sigh.
Meanwhile, Vorden was still stomping away, angry.
But not angry at Quinn, Tsukuru, or Peter. He was angry at this system.
It seemed that no matter where he went, people dictated who he could be around, what he could do.
Still, Vorden didn't want Quinn or the others caught in the crossfire of the second-year's retaliation.
Either way, Vorden wasn't gonna take this lying down. He wasn't gonna keep letting people dictate his life. No, he was going to go after them all!
Vorden stopped moving for a second.
To those around him, it would appear that Vorden was deep in thought. However, that was untrue. Because he was no longer Vorden. For inside the dark room in his subconscious, Vorden had switched places.
Switched places with someone who not only knew how to fight, but thrived in it.
In the dark space, Raten smirked, as he took the seat.
Back in the real world, Raten cracked his knuckles.
"Alright." He replied in a dark tone. "Let's get to work!"
Unknown to him, he was being watched.
Hidden behind a wall a far distance away, Sergeant Hikiko Shizuku had followed them from the first-year building.
As soon as she had seen a group of second-years escorting her little Tsu-Tsu's group away from the school while she was on a snack break, her interest had peaked.
She had seen everything. Mono's ill-fated attack on Tsukuru. Him limping back to the second-year building with his tail between his legs. And especially his little "warning" to Vorden.
A sinister, almost amused grin appeared on her face.
"Well, well, well." She replied, tipping her hat. "Looks like Tsu-Tsu's found some rather interesting friends."