Masanori opened the pair of dark double doors that led down into the school auditorium. He walked through the aisle passing the empty rows of seats as he neared the sounds and sights of the drama club students upon the stage, moving around props and their backgrounds as the narrator on stage was reciting some words.
Masanori approached the stage and knocked against the stage floor. "Excuse me…"
None of the students even turned his way. He knocked again. "Hello?"
One of the students below manning the soundtrack hushed him. "Shhh! No interrupting the performance, Imada-senpai!"
"But there's no one… Is Ishikuma-san still here?" Masanori asked instead.
"He's busy at the moment. And we're in the middle of a rehearsal. He won't stop even for you, senpai."
"I just need a minute. Any way I can catch him before he goes on?"
"He's in the back getting his makeup redone for the next scene. Maybe if you hurry…"
Masanori watched him leave but didn't miss the silent plea in his eyes. Still, he moved towards the back of the stage and walked into the back.
The student in question sat in his makeup chair, students with brushes and makeup meticulously working on his makeup.
Masanori cleared his throat.
"Please pardon the intrusion, I'll try to be quick."
"Five minutes, Masanori. Is this so important that it cannot wait?"
"No but…" Masanori coughed into his hand. Haruko's perfume was immense…
"I just think you might know something about some recently reported stolen objects as of late..."
Meanwhile as they talked, three figures slipped by behind the wall of curtains and dipped to the area beneath the stage.
Shino led Ren down the hall and opened up a supply closet, then pulled back a hidden pane on the side wall.
Ren's eyes sparkled. "Another hidden passage!"
"I can't imagine what you've been up to to discover one of these, but do be careful when using them. Some more unsavory characters in this school have taken it upon themselves to lay ownership of these places." Shino explained as they walked the narrow passage.
Meanwhile Haruka scoffed at Masanori. "You're here to accuse me of theft? How blatant of you."
"There's little evidence for that. But you know I respect you enough Haruka-kun to ask rather than make a big deal. Just answer me: Do you know what happened to the gift basket left for a recovering student at the long term infirmary a few weeks ago?" Masanori asked.
Haruka smiled ambiguously. "I heard somewhere you've got an eye for someone. Though you usually keep to yourself like the good little council member you are. Have you tried asking him or do you enjoy hunting from the shadows that much?"
"A-Answer the question, please."
Haruka sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Well, it doesn't matter because whoever it is must have rejected you. Because why would they settle for pretty smelling roses when they could have something to chew on?" He smiled with a sneering sort of self-importance. "Unfortunately I can't say if I'll reject their confession..."
"What do you know about the missing basket?" Masanori merely repeated.
Haruka shrugged. "Oh, that little thing wasn't much. It was here and gone in a day. Nice little snack before my council duties."
"So you DID steal it. I thought you might have just been an accomplice… why?"
"Why?" Haruka held a hand to his chest looking offended. "Who on earth is getting a gift basket and it not being mine to begin with?? When I've been injured while working what more do I get than a sparkling water and a few get well cards? Who thinks he's so special?" He looked to his hands as the fan was given back to him. "Anyway, I'll take my punishment in the form of volunteer time at the other clubs. But please, don't take my time away from helping this club. It's a nice thing I'm doing for this club by being their star in this year's cultural festival. Really, I think this year's last performance will be my greatest yet."
'He won't take anything I say seriously will he…' Masanori thought before turning to leave. 'At least the mystery is solved for one of them. Question is, can I really punish him for stealing it? Since it's tied to Takeshita, and it being Haruka…'
"Oh, and something to note, Masanori," Haruko added. "Maybe decentralize all that power you give to Hirabayashi-kun? I can't profess to his skills, but there's a limit to how much I can let him keep wiping evidence for you. As the council leader I get access to the raw logs before they're scrubbed. You know who else gets access to those logs if he were to look?"
He nodded. "I know. But that's being kept to a minimum."
"A minimum? For you maybe. But don't think yourself too special. Someone like you must be especially vulnerable to being deceived."
'Someone like me… what is he talking about…' Masanori shook his head. 'Forget it.'
He turned to leave, unaware of Haruka's eyes glued to the back of his head, nor did he see it glide down his body.
Haruka then waved his hand.
"Ah wait. Masanori-kun. There is something else "
Suddenly two students blocked the door. Masanori turned back. All of the students froze and backed up in astonishment as Haruka rose from his chair and began to walk over.
He put a hand on his shoulder and smiled.
He winked. "How do you feel about an orgy, hm?"
Masanori's eyes burned through his skull. "Disgusting. Keep your filthy mouth to yourself, or at least behind closed doors."
Haruka laughed. "Oh come on! You're as easy to trigger as Naoto is to piss off; I'm kidding. But you know," He smiled. "I heard the rose of wakai saisho finally learned the taste of lust. There must be so much you haven't tried yet…"
Coldly Masanori shook him off. "In case you've forgotten, I'm an Alpha. Even if I did things like that, I could never share a partner with another Alpha."
"Of course. It can be hard to remember sometimes though, you must admit…"
"What do you actually want?" Masanori asked as calmly as he could.
"I had some disturbances from some rather useless individuals. Now I someone that needs dealing with is all. Can you go and grab him for me? He was taken to the old wing."
"What? You locked up a student there? What did he do?"
Haruka began to list things off with his fingers. "Interrupted my performance. Snuck into my rehearsal to cause a disturbance, screamed confusing profanities at the other students. Is that not enough to warrant punishment?'
"Not really…"
"Well this is why you're the school's rule regulator. But I have to say, being in the old wing IS a cause for punishment, and he's currently there right now so you should go deal with that. You cant miss him, hes rather loud. But he has an interesting reaction to things…"
"Interesting…" Masanori slowly repeated it, but turned to leave all the same. fine ill handle it."
But then, Masanori stopped. He turned back one more time.
"...its just the one student? Earlier you said individuals."
Haruka only smiled. "Did I say that? No, it's just one."
Masanori left. 'I have other thing sto get to than to keep bothering Haruka-kun... Though i didnt expect him to have a worse vocabulary than Yuki...'
…
On the other side of the tunnel Ren and Shino entered out into a large, darkened room.
"This is in the center of the drama club's area," Shino explained to Ren. "Be careful as you move around."
"But… this isn't anywhere near the auditorium?" Ren said, looking around in confusion. Even in the darkness Ren could tell it wasn't a normal room. It was walls to ceiling mirrors and racks and racks of costumes, but behind the piles were signs of counters and cabinets, and even what looked to be a large oven.
"Where is this?" Ren asked Shino.
"Its just the old culinary club's room. It hasn't seen much use since their budget was slashed last term so the drama club made it into storage."
"It was only full of Omegas who had no focus on their skills," Ruota rudely cut in. "Only wasting time making bento or whatever. They have a kitchen in their dorm to learn their stupid decorating; why fund something of so little value?" He responded coldly as he continued to hover behind them. They did not in fact lose him to the tunnels, and Shino's expression seemed to reflect his disappointment on that.
Ren in the moment though was focused on the mission.
'Why would they bring Kokichi here?' Ren wondered.
Thinking of it, this student was kidnapping students… students that coincidentally, both happen to be betas.
'This might be the new secret location of the beta experiments. Is it possible I might find evidence here?'
"Wow…. How do you know so much about this place?" Ren asked Shino.
"I've had a few guys come to me to talk about it." He quietly answered.
Ren nodded, thinking it made sense. That was also why he was leading. He must have been told where they were holding Kokichi. Otherwise, it kinda seemed like they were wandering lost to him. He probably couldn't find his way back actually if they ended up separated.
"The guys you talk to in the club room, right? Sooo, you'd say it's pretty useful to have right? Yeah yeah?" Ren clearly pressed, his intention rather clear.
"...Well not anymore. Since a rather unwanted guest started to stink up the room with their presence." Shino answered.
That's when Ruota peered down over his shoulder again with his own smile. "Hm. Do go on. I'd love to know how you describe me to your friends."
Shino pushed past a cart of dresses that blocked the way and ignored him even as he hovered behind him.
Just as Ren started to worry they actually were aimlessly wandering, Shino walked up to the old classroom's front door. However, it was locked behind them.
"Locked. We'll have to get the key." Shino said.
Ruota leaned over. "Or we could just... break it?"
"Even if we could, this is school property." Shino was quick to reply reasonably.
Ruota rolled his eyes and leaned away. "Fine. Suit yourself."
Shino led them to a new door that seemed less They peered into the densely crowded room where the beta students had gone in. Currently they were only chatting, the other taken student nowhere to be seen. It was set up like a lounge, but with only tables and chairs instead of couches and sofas. And, it was also occupied almost entirely of Alphas, with a few betas bustling around, between them.
"What is this?" Ren muttered as his narrowed eyes looked inside in disbelief. A side room room inside an already huge club room. This place was abnormally big, wasn't it?
"It's just a side room, sorta like a small dining area for the culinary club since the cafeteria is so far away. At least when I used to come here. All this stuff is also from the old tabletop game club room… you can guess why it's gone too." Shino whispered.
Ren did notice the back walls shelves of old dusty boxes. He also noticed, they key resting on a table close by.
"The key is there," Shino continued in a whisper. "How do you suppose…"
Ruota made eye contact with Shino rather intrusively. Shino looked away. "No. Even if they end up unharmed you'll get in trouble for being here if they recognize you. You're not exempt from the rules if the teachers find out."
"If you insist, but you DO need someone to help distract them so you can grab it." Ruota countered, tilting his head judgingly. "What will you do without my help?"
"Don't." Shino let out a long sigh. "You want something so you'll tell me, don't you?"
Ruota's eyes smiled, glanced down at him with a hint of a sparkle. "Nothing but a kiss."
Ren heard this and jolted. His eyes darted between them bewildered. So they were dating after all?!
But Shino gave him the cold shoulder. "No. Either you help or leave."
Despite this Ruota had on a sneeringly brimming grin, like the entire thing was a cute joke. "So hard to please…"
Ren looked at the racks of costumes and had an idea.
"Hey, why don't we put on a disguise? Y'know, to sneak past them?"
Shino and Ruota looked at him.
"That wouldn't really work?" Shino said bemusedly.
"That would only work with you." Ruota replied instead.
Shino looked at Ruota in surprise by his response. Ruota glared back at Shino. "Even if you get past these students, there's going to be more in the way further in that will spot you. You need my help."
Shino frowned, but he didn't argue back and just turned away.
"Come on… couldn't you at least look at me?" Ruota asked.
Shino turned back, and indeed looked him in the eyes. And Ruota kept that eye contact with Shino as he pulled his phone out and sent a text.
From one of the tables one of the betas got a buzz from their phone. When they looked at the screen their face dropped and darkened. They stood up on one of the chairs and loudly declared. I…I just got the best idea! I just got their monthly allowance so let's play reverse heads up! Last one standing gets 100 thousand yen!"
"Eh, that much?! I-I can buy the new playstation pro edition with that!" One of the students shouted, and more clamored right after. Sure enough more students emerged to follow suit.
"I guess that will do," Shino whispered, quietly humming with a sour tone. "I shouldn't be surprised, but I'm worried what you had to say to have them give away that much money."
"There are many things worth more than the sum of a bank account…" Ruota replied. "In his case, his college scholarship."
"That's cruel. Please treat your fellow students nicer," Shino then nodded at Ren. "C'mon. Let's go."
"Huh? Y-Yeah!" Ren, though still confused, slipped inside the room. With everyone now distracted piling around the head bands and cards they easily slipped in and grabbed the key and met back outside.
They exited the old culinary clubroom and entered the halls. Ren could finally see what shino had meant by domain. Even the halls became storage for what looked to be endless piles of props and sets from the drama club.
"Come on Akira-kun." Shino whispered over to him.
"How did it get so messy… don't we clean the school on Saturdays?" Ren asked Shino.
"Not here. They block off sections like this that don't get a lot of use. It's meant to be left alone and cleaned only once a season. Not like anyone listens to that though…" replied Shino.
"You're saying… this part of the school is forbidden?"
Ruota snickered. "Forbidden? Does he thinks this is Hogwarts or something. It's just easier for the school to turn unused rooms into storage. Though, even being here without proper reason is worth a week's study hall, so I hope this is worth it for you." He clearly directed all of this to Shino, who continued to ignore him as before.
Ren wondered how it was blocked off, and why he never realized a section like this existed. How much of the school had he missed in his initial explorations? Of course, if the experiments were continued here they would do so in a place thats impossible to find by normal means.
Ren noticed Shino hadn't moved and paid more attention. Shino scrunched his nose.
Ruota began to lean down again but Shino held up his hand to stop him. "I have it. This way." Shino kept going.
As they went, Ren wondered about the possibilities. Continued experiments? From last he remembered about it, they used betas as test subjects.
He admittedly didnt think much of it, because the idea then was too crazy even for him. Maybe he overreacted back during the beta dorm party, but he was still certain some shady things were happening there, and was still convinced the school's mysterious motives had some connection to the students sex drive. He still didnt know why they had so much interest in it, all he had were theories. Was it really what he thought, and it was some form of punishment like his heats were? Or, was there something more to it?
Soon, Shino approached another old club room door, which they found to be also locked. Using the key Shino unlocked the door, stepping in first met with darkness and more storage.
Using his phone as a flashlight Shino illuminated the darkness. "Is it possible he's in this mess?"
Ren turned his head. "Don't you know? You led us here like you knew this was the right place."
Shino sighed. "Thats just because I-"
Ruota suddenly lifted his head, eyes turning down the hall.
"Someone's on their way... Patrol Alphas. We're out of time." He said to Shino.
'Who? I don't hear anything,' Ren thought skeptically, giving him a weird look. There's no way he actually heard anything…'
But seconds later, Ren heard what he picked up: some students were approaching.
'But he knows it's the patrol, how?' Ren still thought.
Ruota leaned down with a condescending smile. "You need someone to distract them… what will you do?"
Shino lowered his head and looked away. "Everything is a currency to you…"
"Well looks like you need a little more help," Ruota whispered again to Shino. "But I've gone up from before. How is… three kisses?"
Shino crossed his arms and bit his lip, not looking at either of them. "It'll be the same as it was before. No upcharge." Shino answered sternly.
Ruota grinned at him. "Deal."
Ren blanched. What was up with him and kissing?
"No, I'll do it!" Ren then raised his hand, not liking this exchange whatsoever.
"No one asked you." Ruota sharply seethed at him, the whiplash in tone making Ren's head spin.
Shino looked to Ren guiltily. Shino then shook his head, suddenly looking less certain. "Wait, I…"
That is when Ruota picked Ren up, then without any warning tossed him through the doorway, abruptly shutting the door behind him.
Ren laid in the dark for a moment in shock. A few seconds later, the door opened again and Ruota was pushed back aside, Shino looking a little flushed and wiping his mouth.
"You have ten minutes." Ruota stated then left them alone.
Shino signed and helped Ren up. "I'm sorry he did that. He's never been nice to anyone. Not even his current toys…"
"Toys?" Ren patted his pants off a layer of dust.
Shino waved his hand dismissively, carefully asking, "Just don't tell anyone that just happened, ok?"
Ren nodded. "Ok. But, Shino-kun… I don't want you to disband the club."
Shino sighed sadly, slowly shaking his head. "Sorry Akira-kun, but I can't. Our club wasn't much to begin with, so I can help you look for something better or as uninvolved. I already have some people willing to let you join; I was going to tell you once I finished up here."
"No! You shouldn't, not just because of him! I mean, you can't let him beat you like this! And what do you mean, something better? There's no other club as good as ours!!"
"Isn't that because we don't do anything? And I've already been beaten; I've already been letting him win by keeping the club around. I know it's not ideal, but it was never meant to last forever, there isn't another choice."
"What about no other choice?! What about what you want?!" Ren began to shout. "This is your club - you're there practically every day! You shouldn't let him take something that important to you, no matter how much he bullies you! If he's that bad, then I'll help you out!"
Shino stopped then looked down. He seemed to consider something.
"Huh, that's… I've been helping others all this time," He lowered his head and very briefly, smiled, his eyes warm. "I guess, I never thought I would ever have any back someday."
"Huh? Why wouldn't anyone help you out?" Ren asked at a normal volume. "We're sorta friends now, right? Ruota thinks so anyway."
"Why aren't you a little more confident about that?" Shino asked. "Do you think we aren't friends by now?"
Ren rubbed his neck awkwardly. He never thought it would be so easy, but he'd just forgotten how easy you made friends in school and not just acquaintances you go out to drink with. It felt weird to be friends with someone so many years younger than him. But then again if that was an issue he had, he had much bigger problems…
"Shino… are, you and Ruota-kun dating?" Ren hesitantly asked.
Shino's face dropped and Rem briefly regretted asking. But then, Shino shook his head.
"...no. We're definitely not."
"Oh. But… if you aren't dating, then why's he acting like that?" Ren asked. "Asking to kiss you? And all of the gifts you hide in the closet are from him too, right?"
Shino did nod to that. "Not that hard to figure out. He's just really stubborn… let's not talk about this here," Shino shook his head. "Just don't tell anyone. I can't let this spiral out of control. You'll keep this a secret?"
Ren nodded assuredly, but inside he was more apprehensive.
'I'll do it, but even Kokichi knows something's going on. And his head is usually stuck in video games.'
He didn't understand fully, but he had the sense he was caught in some of the school's more dubious affairs. He really was a secret agent of resistance like him.
'But if anything happens because of him, I'll protect Shino-kun with my abilities…'
His ability to resist the powers of Alphas. He stayed to help the others here, didn't he?
Shino smiled then continued through the room.
Ren looked around, taking in the piles of ancient school equipment from the past.
'Some of this stuff is really old… Someone here is a real hoarder. That and the outdated computers, this school needs someone to clean things up for modern standards…'
Ren tried to peer into some of the boxes, but Shino called him over.
"I found Kokichi."
Kokichi was slumped over in a chair. Tied down, mouth gagged, and unconscious.
Ren knelt down worryingly. "Kokichi! Is he…?"
But Ren noticed he was snoring, like he took an impromptu nap. He groaned. "He's just asleep! Who falls asleep after being kidnapped!?"
Shino shushed him to whiten down, before responding. "It is weird he's asleep when it hasn't been long… we should take him to the school infirmary."
Ren poked his face. "He seems ok to me. The only thing weird here is seeing him not screaming or making that pissed off look he always has..."
"Let's just get him out of here..." Shino said and him and Ren began to undo the ropes.
But down the hall, Masanori just arrived, looking around the messy halls.
'Someone should really clean this up... where is this student supposed to be in here?'