Yukihiro was on his computer in his dorm room, only the pale light of the screen cast over him. Night on the school grounds past curfew were quiet, uneventful. But he was waiting for something. Until then he just flipped through cameras, stifling a yawn behind his hand.
'...well, things didn't work out with my plan to cause conflict between them. I'm a little less confident that it would work now anyway. He's not convincing Masanori he's guilty of anything. He's too consumed with his crazy delusions… There's Ryusei, but he took the easy way out already, I can't use him. If anything he's going to make things worse… oh!'
On the cameras a truck pulled into the school from the gates, a typical early morning delivery.
He turned his chair and shouted. "Ne-mu-raa!! Go sign for the package!"
He heard only silence so he yelled again.
"I know you're still here! Hand me my package then get back to your room!"
He heard something fall over in the center room, then the front door open and close. He sighed and returned to the monitor.
'I'll get it working this time, even better with the omegas undoing their leash. What a lucky find that Idoru was… I should have everything I need now. Is there anything I'm missing…'
He glanced over at the desk, to the small gift box.
"...right. There's that little errand for Nori."
Yesterday, Masanori was more than a little despondent. He mumbled at his desk fiddling with his pen over unfinished work, longingly sighing and lost deep in his omega-ridden thoughts.
"...should I have signed it after all?"
Yukihiro replied immediately with a brusque agitated. "You're asking this now? It's too late, I already sent it off."
"Before, I thought he might get mad if he knew it was from me, but…" Masanori slumped in his chair. "I don't know."
That afternoon after class Masanori went to Yukihiro's room since he wasn't present, both to whatever he had gathered from the roommate last night, and something else.
"I need a hand. Someone needs to mend the situation over at the omega dorm. It might be worse than I thought."
"Do you? They seem fine to me. But I suppose the call to his roommates could have gone better."
Yukihiro had gone to them himself, but once they realized it was about Masanori he became less than favorable to answering questions, instead wanting to relay some choice words about the conduct of the student council.
Needless to say, he wasn't going to get much help from him anymore.
"Yeah. His roommates… aren't exactly cooperative." Masanori sighed, quietly lamenting.
Yukihiro leaned back in his chair with a troubled expression. "It's pretty bad. They were already on edge when Naoto went off the deep end and started his reign of terror, but then you came along and-"
"I know," Masanori rudely cut him off. "We have to do something. If this keeps growing, the teachers might start to question how well we're handling things here."
Yukihiro chuckled. "You weren't at sports day. They already know it's bad. They only haven't done anything because of Sunaeda-Sensei," He leaned forward. "You know what he's been doing, don't you?"
"Yeah. I know," Masanori answered, eyes darkening. "Iwashiro Eita has been up to something. I think he's working with Sunaeda-Sensei somehow. My guess is he's going to try something in the student election next term, after summer break."
"Ha," Yukihiro shook his head with a disappointed snickering. "Et tu, Brutus? I thought Iwashiro respected you, but he's a shill like the rest of them."
"Brutus? What, does that make me Caesar?" Masanori asked jokingly.
"But even if he's going behind your back like this, wouldn't you prefer it?" Yukihiro continued. "Council work's made you too busy for anything. You let all of your duties over to me and you get more time to hang out with me."
"Not like this…" Masanori just sighed. But more time would mean he'd have an easier time keeping track of Takeshita Akira. But Akira wasn't the only omega he had to keep track of these days.
They already dealt with him and the situation between the omegas and the delinquents from before, but he had no leads. Not only was it impossible to properly gather any information from the students, whoever got those omega students in that situation in the first place did their job well. But they were all a lidded pot going to boil over at any time. He needed Yukihiro's help again.
"Look, I'm gonna be busy: can you deliver something else for me later?" Masanori then pulled out the box from the desk and slid it to him.
"It's the last thing. It's, well…"
That's when Yukihiro lifted the box's top to peek inside.
Masanori blushed and slammed his fists on the table. "Hey! I didn't say you could look!"
Yukihiro put the top back on and snickered. "Oh cute, but you're not exactly subtle. Want any other suggestions?"
Masanori folded his hands on the desk, his face suddenly becoming gravely serious.
"No, I've made up my mind about this. Give it to him but don't tell him what to do with it. That should be enough."
Enough for himself, anyway. Otherwise, Masanori might begin to lose it, thinking of Akira completely defenseless against all he might be up against.
"That's assuming I'll be doing it," Yuki waved his hand about. "Consider my free time here."
"Then just leave." Masanori grumbled. He expected he wasn't going to do it as easily. He knew him well and there was only so far he would take getting involved before he lost interest. Still, he had to try.
"Hmm… you got it." Yukihiro said with a grin.
Masanori looked up. "What, really?"
"Eh, I'm already on baby-sitting duty with Takeshita-kun, why not stick one on to a bunch of traitors as well? Besides…" Yukihiro grinned. "You've got me invested. He's stranger than even I anticipated! You gotta tell me what happened after I left. Who knew he'd just collapse from a cold breeze like that!"
Masanori sighed, burying his chin into his elbow against the table. "Can't you just be normal with me for five seconds? Don't make fun of his weak body."
"You either get my absolute approval or unwavering disinterest. Pick your poison."
"Fine. As long as you help me." He resigned.
Yukihiro softly laughed. "You got it. From what I've seen, it doesn't seem like he wears inhibitors at all. Seems par for the course with him, but it'll confirm he's not intentionally holding back his pheromones as a means of making them more potent during his heat. He doesn't seem capable of releasing any willingly, maybe like something is stopping him. Mental block maybe?"
"But isn't that more physiological? Well no control over his own pheromones, no wonder… another thing. Can you… figure out, why does he seem to be against talking with Fujiwara-san? He… he seemed to be friendly with him before." Masanori requested then.
He shrugged. "Eh, who knows? Maybe he got tired of that accent. Or he finally realized that he's not such a stand-up guy."
"Maybe. I, I guess so… yeah." Masanori nodded and seemed to cheer up a little. "Anyway, one more thing. Find me whatever whoever stole that gift basket from him. Akagi Naoto's clean so I need to look into thefts around the school. Still, I do think he's up to something… I won't have him trying to do something like fabricating evidence. Keep tabs on him."
"...sure. No problem." Yukihiro simply nodded. "But thieves huh… there's been some increase in that around here, hasn't there?"
"Not by much, but we should keep an eye on things."
…
Ren sat in class completely slumped over, his energy for action utterly defeated. The night and days passed, and he had nothing to show for it. He had decided to lock in and figure out how to gather evidence, but it didn't change the fact that he just didn't have any good leads. Everywhere he's gone has been dead end after dead end, stopped by Naoto and needing to be saved by Masanori or some other person.
Where else was he supposed to go? The omega guard was a couple of weirdos, his beta dorm tape was taken, and the site of the gym construction was a bust. What else was he supposed to go, exactly? Directly to the teachers? Too risky. Over to guard perimeter? Unless he had a clear plan he was avoiding it in case they chose to up security.
The only thing left then was the student council. Though he knew a few of them by now, he still hadn't figured out how to find Hirabayashi Yukihiro, and he hadn't looked into some other members directly at all.
'Hm, since I'm still outcasted by most of the school and can't ask around about the last two, I guess I should keep trying to find Hirabayashi. I think, Kokichi mentioned someone to ask the other day…'
After class slowly walked back to his dorm, lost in his thoughts.
'He might be a good guy. Otherwise why would Yuki pretend to be him? Or maybe he's just a guy with a lot of power but no presence in the school so it was convenient to impersonate him. Either way he's definitely important in some way, if only I could enter the Alpha dorm...'
Ren wondered where Yuki was. He hadn't seen any of them all day in fact. They were different grade levels after all, all of them were his upperclassmen. He had a bit to ask Yuki about what he knew of Masanori and Naoto. Between them, Ren felt Yuki was the most normal, though perhaps because nothing "abnormal" had occurred with him so far.
'And, the beta dorm experiments. He must be reaching out because of that, so he's gotta be good. He just needed to pretend to not know Masanori so the school doesn't know that they're working together. I have to ask him when I find him again… and to ask about, if my theory was right. About my power.
Even if its true, its not helping me control it. Used to my own scent he said… but how do I get used to something I'm not sure even feels like?'
Ren entered his dorm room, but stopped a few steps inside.
"Ah. It's Kanaseki."
Kanaseki Hino was in the room today. Ren had returned earlier than normal, so he supposed it makes sense he would run into him now.
Hino turned to face him, an eyebrow raised at his unusual greeting. "Hey."
Ren looked at Hino warily.
'We haven't really talked in a while. Wasn't it when I was under my heat before? And then that happened.' Ren was still sure that Kanaseki was involved with the school, perhaps using his own mind control ability to scare him with those intrusive thoughts, forcing him to submit to the system. It was the only thing that made sense.
Kanaseki frowned at Ren's silence. He walks up to Ren and hands him a bag. "Well, I'll be on my way. I would have left earlier, but I was told to hand this to you personally. Keep them on this time, ok?" And Kanaseki left.
Ren stood there for a moment in the empty room, then quickly opened up the bag. Inside was a box. Opening that…
"...what the hell is this?" Ren held up a plain grey inhibitor, one of standard design that fitted around the neck in a very practical way that both looked and felt a bit uncomfortable for it. It was only slightly higher than the average school grade inhibitor you'd find at any nurse's office.
But Ren just stared at the object confusingly. He thought it looked familiar, but the one he picked up before was more sleek, so they barely looked similar. He looked inside the bag again. There was a note inside.
Use it until you get a better one. Stay safe and healthy.
It was unsigned. Ren looked at the note suspiciously. 'This doesn't help…Who sent this, and what is it supposed to be used for? Where would I get a better one from?'
Ren got a glint in his eye. 'Is this from… Yuki, perhaps? Does he want me to study it or something? I can't think of anyone else that would send me something to use.'
Ren frowned. 'Wait… Kanaseki definitely knew what was in the bag… he told me to keep it on. So it' from the school, trying to trick me? Gah! What if it's a listening device or something?!'
Ren promptly stuffed it back into the bag and threw it on the other side of the room, covering it in spare pillows.
'Nice try school, I'm not that easily listened to even if you say it's a gift!'
Ren dusted his hands off for a job well done and turned to leave, feeling uneasy and thinking of going to his club after all. But the moment he opened the door, he was bombarded by a new face, making him jump.
"Geez, you scared me!"
The new student bowed. "I'm Nemura Piko, nice to meet you."
'Piko? That sounds familiar…' Ren thought as he took it with a confused look. "Nice to meet you. Do you need something?" He greeted.
Piko nodded. "Also, I came to inform you that "Yuki-san" wishes to meet with you."
Ren blinked. "He does?"
...
Ren met Yuki in an emptied classroom. When he opened the door Yuki didn't make a move from his seat at the teacher's desk until Ren stood in the door too long and he waved his hand and motioned for him to close the door. When he did Yuki finally spoke.
"Sorry sorry, but Masanori said you were a little skittish. Can't have you running off when I'm tryna talk to you. Even if I need to lock you in here with me."
"Um…" Ren awkwardly trailed off.
Yuki peeked open one of his eyes and smiled. "C'mon, I'm joking. You're not scared of me right?"
"No? Um," Ren shifted his feet as he awkwardly asked. "Can I, uh, talk to Masanori-kun again? Last time didn't go so well but I still want to ask for his help. You two know each other enough to be on a first name basis, right?"
Yuki stood up a little straighter with a more serious expression.
"Right. I think there's something we have to clear up first…"
But Ren shook his head. "No It's fine, Yuki-kun. I understand why you had to lie - there's no need to explain."
Yuki stopped mid-word, mouth hanging slightly ajar with surprise. Then, he grinned.
"You really are interesting. So anyways, here you go."
Yukihiro slid the gift wrapped box to Ren, looking half between a smile and a sinister smolder. "Looks like Masa wizened up and thought this might be something you're looking for."
Ren gingerly held the box with both hands, slowly pulling the lid off.
'A… rose? Huh?'
It was just a decorative glass pin. It spun in twists of translucent pinks and reds.
It seemed completely out of nowhere and random to Ren.
But Yukihiro knew what it meant. But he was told to deliver it, not convey its meaning. He swiped at his nose with finger and sighed. "Fun, isn't he? Is this an inside joke between you two or something?"
"Um, no? Are you sure I'm the right person here?"
"Of course. Do you think Nori gives out gifts to just anyone?" He shrugged.
"Really? I…" Ren turned a little pink, and a smile grew uncontrollably on his lips. Weirdly, he sorta felt happy about that.
Yukihiro frowned, then he looked away, almost with something like guilt. He cracked his neck. "Annywaaay… There's something else, but it's been delayed. Give me some time tomorrow and I'll give it to you."
'Another gift? Hm, So what I got in the room definitely wasn't Yuki's…'
Yuki smiled with knowing plans. In truth, with seeing how Masanori was insistent on giving little gifts, Yuki had an idea to give one of his own. Though this one he thought might be more useful, but something Masanori would never approve of.
"One more thing before you go." Yuki added, and Ren looked up from his thoughts.
Yuki leaned closer. "I was told you were confused about your nature as an omega, but… aren't you in the gender studies club?"
Ren's face went blank. "Huh? What? My club?"
"Yeah. Don't tell me you don't know your own club?"
Ren crossed his arms with a pissed off little glower. "I think I would know, it's my club."
Yuki looked at him for a long moment. He then just shrugged. "Suit yourself."
Ren left Yuki and, feeling discomforted by his words, decided to go to the club room after all.
He really did need to check the sign. He walked up to the door of the club and looked up, reading, the…
'...Huh? Where's the sign that says what club this is? I swear it was here when I first joined…'
But, the name plate above the door was now empty.
He entered inside, a little confused. Inside the clubroom was the same as always, except there was actually one other student there. Shino was absent. It was weird, since he usually was always there. Ren curiously asked this student what happened to the sign.
They lightly shrugged. "I dunno. I'm just here to get my stuff since requirements have eased up."
"They did? When?"
"A few days ago. Hayashi-san updated the rules for non-competitive clubs so we only have to be here an hour once a week."
Ren frowned. "Oh, Ruota? Shino didn't tell me."
"Why would he? It's on the school site."
Ren winced. "D-Do you know where Shino is right now at least?"
He had to ask about the sign, but he also wanted to ask him about Masanori. Knowing Yuki could lie to him, even if he had told him it was fine that he did, made him feel like it was better to go off on his own and figure this out.
"No idea, sorry. See ya." The student said and left. So, Ren was alone, the club room empty and silent.
'Well, I don't have anything to go off of. I guess I'll just work on what I have about Hirabayashi and the other council members.'
Beside Masanori, Naoto and Ryusei, there were four others. The other two he only knew the names of and not much else, but he didn't exactly have all that much more on Hirabayashi Yukihiro or Hayashi Ruota. He knew Ruota ran club affairs, but Hirabayashi was so elusive even the other club members didn't know where he was sometimes. Between the two, it might be faster to start with understanding Ruota, since he-
Thud.
Ren looked up. He just heard something. Coming from…
'The closet?'
He hadn't gone in there since the day he first came into this club room, which was only about two months ago.
He slowly approached and quietly pulled opened the door. As the light washed across the inside of the closet it revealed something unexpected. Within the close was mountains upon mountains of boxes inside, large and small, tall and narrow. And, right in the middle of the box hoards was Kokichi, playing his computer game with his headphones. He had turned the boxes into something like a desk.
"Kokichi?!" Ren cried out. "Have you been here the entire time!?"
"Huh?" Kokichi looked up and pulled back one side of his headphones. "Oh, it's you," He looked back down at his game. "Go away"
"No, hold on. Do you know where Shino-kun is?" Ren asked. When Kokichi didn't reply he repeated it louder.
"Beats me, probably hanging out with his boyfriend." Kokichi groused.
"But he's always here. I'm getting a little worried…"
"Don't be. You're not always here. I've had enough of those two and whatever it is they're doing anyway! One too many times of coming around at the wrong time, having to act like I don't know what it is they've been doing," He grumbled. "And him not opening any of the stuff he was giving him like he's ashamed of it. It's a good thing he's finally ending things."
"Ending things? He said that?"
"Yeah, before he left earlier. Not like I care."
"That sounds bad! Ruota is bad news, what if Shino is in danger?!"
'He's only a beta, he has no powers to stop Ruota if he does have powers!'
Ren grabbed Kokichi's arm. "You're helping me save him!" He then tried to drag him, but Kokichi resisted.
"What for? He got himself into his own mess! What's it to you? It's not like you cared to do anything before!"
"Shino always told me he was fine…" He yanked on his arm again. "We need to both do right by him and do something now!"
"Buzz off!"
Ren growled, then he suddenly grabbed Kokichi's headphones off his head. He rushed to the door holding them triumphantly. "Ha! If you want your headphones back then you better- h-huh!?"
Ren balked as Kokichi had just pulled out a new pair of headphones and acted completely unbothered, aside from the smug smile that snuck on his face.
Ren gnashed his teeth. He then threw the headphones at him. It collided with the side of his head and he fell down over the pile of boxes.
Ren yelled out. "Will you consider anything but yourself for once!? Shino might be in danger!!"
Kokichi sighed and raised his head out from where he fell. "Fine! I know where he probably went. Then will you leave me alone, you crazy omega!?"
Ren dragged him out and pulled him out the door before he could change his mind.
Where it was Kokichi knew, turned out to be the school auditorium. Walking in, they could see that the stage was currently busy, with what looked to be rehearsal for some play.
Hiding behind some of the seats Ren whispered to Kokichi. "Why would Shino-kun come here? He probably didn't come to be in a play."
"He's probably in the back stage. Now, are you done dragging me here?" Kokichi hissed to him.
Ren continued to force him along, dragging him along and towards the back stage door.
Backstage many students ran around. Even if it wasn't too chaotic and crowded for Ren to figure out who was who, they also had on makeup and costumes.
'With everyone wearing crazy disguises, I can't tell who's an Alpha or otherwise here.'
"You haven't told me. Why would he come here?" He asked Kokichi.
Kokichi crossed his arms and huffed. "Duh! This is where-"
"You two!"
Someone called to them, then suddenly something was shoved into his hands.
"We don't have time for lollygagging, get moving!! Curtain call in T-minus, TWO MINUTES!!"
Ren shook his head and tried to explain. "H-Hold on, we're not-!"
The student dropped some props in Ren's hand before he could finish. "Even background extras need to work backstage," He then handed something to Kokichi. "Move this newbie! Go!!"
Kokichi scoffed. "I'm not doing anything." He dropped the stuff on the ground.
The student snapped the prop fan in their hand with a loud crack. Next thing he knew, Kokichi was being dragged off by his leg without a shred of remorse.
Kokichi held a hand out, wailing towards Ren.
"Takeshitaaa! You gotta saave meeee!!"
Ren stood there watching him leave, frozen in place. Then he was shuffled along as the students got busier.