Takashi didn't remember if there was ever a time he'd seen Takumi with such a cold gaze
But he supposed it made sense. In their previous life, Takumi had always been plagued with bad luck, always failing at critical moments
Before they died by the hands of that 'monster' that Takumi and Takashi could describe in words, he had revealed his true face to Takumi
Hearing that the 'bad luck' that seemed to cling to him was actually caused by someone he considered a brother didn't surprise Takumi
By then he had already vaguely sensed that Takashi might be sabotaging him and his plans. Takumi only snapped when he realised the reason was caused by Takashi's envy and jealousy
Takumi had considered many reasons
A family grudge
A personal grudge
A past mistakes
Or even his actions
....but hearing that Takashi threw away their bond just because of jealousy was something he couldn't accept
Takashi had done many things to Takumi
He had caused Takumi to lose many people he had sworn to protect ( Yuigahama and Yumiko ), people who had sworn to protect him ( Saeko, Rei and Yuki ) and led to the situation where they didn't even have enough manpower to fight the evolving undead outside the walls of their sanctuary
Hearing that this was all caused by something petty like jealousy was something even Takumi, the nominal Saint, couldn't accept. He died refusing to accept the absurdity of it all
But Takumi had experienced the same regression like Takashi had
Takashi saw the unconcealed hatred buried inside those heterocromatic eyes without any difficulty
Takumi had enough time to accept that so called absurdity by now. And with acceptance came the bone deep hatred for Takashi
Takumi, with a smile on his face, pointed the bloody bukkon towards Takashi and asked coldly, "Give me one reason I shouldn't cave your skull in right now."
The Adams apple of Takashi bobbed as he looked at his former friend's hate filled stare. He opened his mouth and uttered three words that made the atmosphere hit subzero temperatures
"..... because you're weak"
----
Fujimi High school, Cafeteria
"I'm honestly impressed you can eat in such a situation" Saya looked at Saeko stuffing her face despite the bloody surroundings
"What? Do you think I should first clean the whole place before I eat? Or do you just not have the appetite because of the 'bloody surroundings' "
Saeko wiped away the bread crumbs on her face and got up. She pulled the bag on her shoulders off and started to fill it with food
Saya looked at her patiently. She had already filled her bag with rations and was waiting for Saeko to finish
[ Shit What the hell did I just say? Because you're weak!? What the hell is wrong with my head!? Takumi's gaze was already terrifying enough before and now he looks like he'll skin me alive!] – Takashi
Saya's eyebrows shot up. A smile curled her lips as she sneered in her heart, 'Weren't you the protagonist? Where's your protagonist's luck now!'
"It seems Takumi got to Takashi-san sooner. Shame, I really wanted to end him myself" Saeko zipped the bag and got up
Despite her disappointment, a smile adorned her beautiful face as she looked towards Saya, "It seems Takumi-kun's really safe. Having the time to corner the 'World's darling' means he's out of danger for now"
Saya nodded as they began their walk back to the gymnasium, she pondered something before looking at the outside world, over the far wall
"I wonder if Takumi will really kill Takashi" Saya asked herself aloud. Saeko didn't turn around but still continued her thought, " Heh! It seems we both have the same idea"
Saeko swung her bukkon towards the approaching undead with renewed vigour.
Saya stood behind her, not taking any chances and looking around for any surprise ambushes, "Yeah, Takumi is the type of person who suppresses his inner desire when faced with enough profit"
Saya looked at the fluid movements of Saeko and continued, " Despite Takashi's disgusting actions towards him in the future, Takumi might let him go just because he is the only person who he knows can survive this world with total confidence"
And as if to answer their thoughts Takumi's voice rang in their heads
[As much as it pains me to admit it, but Takashi is right this time. Not that this is enough reason for me to save him but despite his disgusting personality and style, Takashi is a strong person. Even if I don't have him join me, he'll manage] – Takumi
[ Sigh! I'm also not sure if the world will go crazy if Takashi dies. Last time he was on the verge of death, the world collapsed! Despite it being his fault! I don't want to see that abomination created again. And from the way he looked back then he didn't too] –Takumi
[ Guess I'll just stick to my original thought of beating him up and leaving him to fate. After all, he's got the world in his side] – Takumi
[ Wait, what the hell! Takumi's really gonna kill me!? No don't raise the pi—] – Takashi
Saya and Saeko sighed in disappointment. Sometimes they wished they were wrong! But Takumi had a valid reason! And they didn't want to conflict with him anyway
Unless Takashi did something that broke his bottom line! They can act like he didn't exist otherwise. Besides he was basically a scout telling them what he did and encountered everyday
So when they thought about it, things weren't so bad
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Saeko looked at her buzzing phone and smiled helplessly after glancing at the content
Saya, curious, did the same and saw
Takumi Inner voice Group chat:
Rei – Onii-chan is hurt and I can't think properly! That bastard Takafish should die!
Yui – Is that really ok?
Yumiko – Yui, that Takashi could sabotage Takumi anytime! Our lives are in Takumi's hands!
Yuki – I agree with the 'sick' brocon! That failed abortion needs to go!
Saeko – It really surprises me. You two crazy girls would really do something that Takumi doesn't want? Are you not afraid he'll resent you?
Rei – Onii-chan can hate me all he wants! My love is enough for both of us!
Yuki – You have the right train of thoughts but the one whose love is enough is me!
Saeko – Still crazy as ever huh
Saya – like you're one to talk
Saeko looked at the girl beside her in amusement, "You got anything you wish to say to me Takagi-san?"
Saya stuck her chest out proudly, the twin lumps of flesh bouncing as she retorted, "If your eyesight is so bad you can't read, then I'm sorry"
She adjusted her glasses and looked at Saeko provocatively, "I've only got one pair of glasses on hand!"
...
Saya and Saeko finally made it back to the gymnasium. Seeing the students talking in small groups while glancing in one direction, they didn't intervene
Instead their gaze followed the rest of the crowd abd landed on Shido.
He was conversing with another teacher, one who apparently wasn't here when they left as they didn't see her before,they recognised her immediately—
Shizuka Hiratsuka
The woman was arguing with Shido in a low voice, though the volume was small, her body's trembling revealed her anger at the man
Shido shielded a girl behind him, she was Riko Takeru, an anxious girl in Saya's class. Seeing her near a bastard like Shido Made Saya frown in confusion
Saeko noticed. Seeing that the two teachers and students were so engrossed that they lowered their vigilance, she decided to see what's going on
As she got closer she heard bits of what was being said
"You're clearly not thinking rationally Hiratsuka-sensei.
How could I let a student go towards their deaths? Did you lose even your conscience in this mess?"
Shido asked the black haired teacher with righteous tone, attempting to take the moral high ground
"Don't try your bullshit on me you four eyed creep! Do you think I'm blind? You let those two girls, Busujima and Takagi, go a moment ago and now you preach this to me!"
Shizuka clenched her fists, "Do you think you can have crooked thoughts on this student just because the world is doing its best to be an imitation of hell?"
"This girl said clearly that she wants to go fetch her little brother, she has shown the ability to think carefully and gas already made a decision " Hiratsuka looked at shido with suspicion
You're not the type to care about others unless they are of use to you! Riko Takeru wants to leave and you refuse without giving a clear answer!"
Shizuka clenched her fists before turning towards Riko and smiling sadly, "Though I don't agree with you going out there as there's a very high chance of dying"
Shizuka's face hardened in resolve, "I won't dictate how you live your life. Especially when the world has already gone crazy"
Shizuka looked at the girl, "So are you completely sure about your decision?" She asked the girl again
Riko nodded. Shido, still thinking of a way to prevent this girl from getting away from him panicked seeing this. He couldn't let such a valuable asset get away, she was his only way to guarantee survival
As he was about to say something, he suddenly felt a gaze locked in him. He turned instinctively and met those same cold eyes
?
!
!!!
'Shit! This bitch is back already!? Did she say she was going to the cafeteria? Did she come back from there already? Isn't this speed too fast!'
Shido panicked, his eyes shrinking as he looked at the girl approaching. Seeing the cold gaze in her eyes and remembering his vow not to cause trouble before, made him temporarily lose his ability to assess the situation
He launched at Riko Takeru. His left hand clamped on her shoulder as he looked at the girl. " Takeru-san, I strongly disagree with this decision! In times like this, staying in safe places is the correct approach! The government should already be dispatching units to handle the mess outside! A student like you should listen to her teachers instru—
Crack!
?
Shido looked at his left arm, vent in an awkward angle. Riko Takeru, seeing this scene, nearly fainted in fright. Stumbling into her knees before distancing herself in a flash
Saeko, who was near her raised her eyebrows in surprise. The speed with which this girl moved defied the physical appearance she possessed. Riko, while not skinny had little to no muscle in her
The movement she did completely contradicted what she should be physically capable of doing. Saeko's eyes suddenly flashed with insight as she recalled Takumi's previous inner thought
'The apocalypse had started early and the evolution of the undead was alarmingly fast. Before that Takumi-kun had said that in his previous life, humans and the undead were always evenly matched'
Saeko's mouth curled as she looked at Riko, " It seems Takeru-san was blessed by the goddess of luck"
Shizuka, snapping out of her thoughts and wanting to stop Saeko, suddenly looked confused, " What is that supposed to mean? Busujima" she asked sensing things weren't that simple
"Takeru-san's physical ability is off" Saya having watched from the sidelines, answered Shizuka's question
"From what Takumi-kun said to us when we were on our phones outside, there are people who are exhibiting enhanced abilities starting from almost when this mess began"
Saya's eyes widened as Shizuka Hiratsuka suddenly launched a punch at the crying Shido
" So you were just trying to make sure she didn't leave because of this? As expected of a piece of shit like you! Disgusting filth! So you only have yourself in your heart?! You dare lecture me on my conscience when you are this twisted"
Shizuka's voice was starting to rise in volume, overlapping with Shido's screams of pain. Saeko and Saya frowned immediately and were just about to step in when—
Creak!
The sound of a squeaky window rang out, silencing everything. They suddenly remembered that they were in a very dangerous situation. Noise did nothing but being trouble
And it seems that trouble had come because of the noise they were making
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Everyone's head swirled towards the door where the undead had gathered, they stood there in a hoard, trying to smash the door in
Shizuka stopped her beating on Shido and looked grim, she turned to Saya and Saeko wanting to ask what they should do when she noticed they're gaze
She looked towards the place they were looking at and saw a pair of familiar eyes looking at her! The gaze had lost its usual light but was still filled with strength
Takumi smiled tiredly and spoke his first words on the window frame, " It seems I came at the wrong time"
[ Damn. I just arrived and it's already a crisis! Is this the Antagonist halo or something?] — Takumi
End of chapter 8
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Sorry for the late update
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COTE: Eerie games cause the least headaches!
Playing both Vigilante and Hero in My Hero Academia!