Tsuyoi was hoping to pass through Division 2 to get to Division 1 without any worries.
Though the warning Loco had given him just wouldn't leave his head.
And apparently, he wasn't lying.
He even made a route to get to Q2 as quickly as possible, but even then, the moment he stepped into the yard of Q2, the eyes of everyone inside snapped towards him.
It felt different from the stares he got back in Q3.
At least a dozen girls swarmed him, and some even squealed like little girls. Thankfully, they didn't get too close and left him space to walk through.
[Tsuyoi: Geez… this is a bit overwhelming.] He chuckled nervously.
He had expected the women to be wary of him, especially because of the stories he'd heard about this division. To him, this didn't feel like a prison. It felt like he was back in Thalorien, where the girls around his age just couldn't get enough of him.
Elif, however, didn't get the hype. She watched carefully from a distance, eyeing Tsuyoi like prey and waiting for him to make the wrong move. Her best friend and the co-leader of the Fourways, Selma, nudged her.
[Selma: Check that out. He's new, isn't he?]
Selma was a bit shorter than Elif, with long, straight blonde hair and blue eyes. She was pretty, arguably the prettiest in the whole division, and known for her fierce, strategic leadership as well as her wildly flirty side. Elif wasn't good at what she called 'the thinking thing', so she let Selma handle all of that.
[Elif: Must be. Never seen him before.] She crossed her arms and leaned back against the wall behind her.
[Selma: He's handsome too.]
[Elif: He's alright. But instead of staring at him, don't you wonder why he's even here in the first place, you damn teenager?]
[Selma: Huh?! I'm your age!] She yelled, but hummed in understanding once she considered Elif's point.
[Selma: It's not like I haven't thought about it. Maybe he's just an attention freak.]
The two watched him make his way through the yard, until the plant in his hand caught Elif's attention and she gasped quietly.
[Selma: Something wrong?] She had instantly clocked Elif's reaction.
[Elif: That vase…]
[Selma: Elif?] She called out, but to no avail.
Almost as if she were hypnotized, Elif started approaching Tsuyoi. In contrast to Tsuyoi's awkward, embarrassed and hesitant steps, she walked with confidence. The girls immediately lowered their voices and started whispering to each other as they made way for her. The change in vibe caused Tsuyoi to stop and look around, wondering what was up.
"Elif, it's not what you think–" one of the girls said. The second Tsuyoi heard the name, the confusion on his face disappeared, replaced with intrigue and curiosity. Elif ignored the girl and finally came face to face with him.
The two met eye to eye, though Elif had to look slightly up to do it. She was a bit shorter than him, but not by enough for him to dwarf her, since she stood at 178 cm.
[Elif: Hello.] She reached out for a handshake.
[Elif: I'm Elif, Jahannam's Lion. I have fought 1237 times, won 1234 times and lost 3 times.]
Halle called out to Elif through the crowd.
[Halle: Wait, but didn't you–]
[Elif: I don't count freebies!] She snapped and turned to Halle, raising her voice without meaning to.
Then she cleared her throat and faced him once more.
[Elif: Welcome to Jahannam.]
Having heard good things about her, Tsuyoi accepted her handshake with a smile, holding Mr. Free with his other hand. He had always been the type to admire those who stood up for others, and her fighting record managed to impress him.
[Tsuyoi: Thanks! I'm Tsuyoi. I never counted how many times I fought, but–]
The moment he took her hand, she twisted his whole body upside down with a quick snap. Tsuyoi recognized the technique instantly: Aikido, using his own weight against him.
[Tsuyoi: Huh?! Why are you attacking me?! I don't want to hurt a girl!]
Tsuyoi tried to counter it with brute strength, lifting her up with the arm she was grabbing. He didn't put all of his strength into it, however.
[Elif: I don't think that's what you should be worried about.]
But she didn't move an inch. For him, it felt like trying to lift a boulder. Which, quite frankly, was something Tsuyoi had actually done before.
She added force to her throw and made him flip in the air many times before he got slammed on his face as she let go.
The impact broke his nose and almost knocked him unconscious, but he held on. And yet, the one who was shocked wasn't him… it was her.
The sight left her in disbelief.
Instead of guarding his face, Tsuyoi held the vase up in the air so it wouldn't be crushed under him.
[Tsuyoi: Ouch…]
She towered over him and flipped him over, then grabbed him by the collar.
[Elif: Who are you? Why do you have that vase?]
Tsuyoi's robe glowed, the marvellous blue flames rejuvenating his entire body. In response to his Treasure activating, she instinctively raised her fist.
[Tsuyoi: I was about to say that before you slammed me!] He flinched at the sight of her fist.
She paused, allowing him to continue and explain himself.
[Tsuyoi: This plant belongs to–]
[Elif: I know who it belongs to. That wasn't my question.] She lowered her fist.
[Tsuyoi: Oh. I'm Loco's friend! He entrusted me with it while he was about to–]
In response, she raised her fist once more and shook him violently.
[Elif: I call bullshit. Loco doesn't have any friends. And he for sure does not entrust Mr. Free to anyone.]
[Tsuyoi: Well, he entrusted it to me! You're really starting to get on my nerves, girl or not!]
She sighed and clenched her fists, fully ready to slam his face until he begged in pain, although she wasn't aware that was something he never, ever did.
[Tsuyoi: Alright, fine. From now on… I'm going to pretend you're a guy!]
Tsuyoi placed Mr. Free on the floor next to him and pressed both of his palms against her stomach. His robe glowed.
[Tsuyoi: This is going to hurt.]
Blue flames erupted from his hands, burning her stomach and sending her flying through the air, catching her off guard and allowing Tsuyoi to get up.
She landed safely on the floor and groaned in pain, but stood her ground nonetheless.
[Elif: Pretend all you want. In the end, you'll wake up in the hospital.]
Fueled by anger, she charged at him, her speed leaving him no time to react. Right before her fist connected with his face, Selma stepped in and stood in front of Tsuyoi.
[Selma: I won't let you ruin his beautiful face!]
Elif raised an eyebrow in confusion, stopping her fist at the last possible moment.
[Elif: Selma. You're shorter than him. Your ass was not guarding shit.]
And it was true. Selma's height meant that if Elif wanted to punch him in the face, Selma wouldn't be in the way. Noticing it, Selma looked away in embarrassment and stepped aside. But her efforts weren't in vain, as Elif lowered her fist and calmed down because of Selma's request.
[Tsuyoi: I appreciate it! That was one scary-ass punch…]
Selma linked her arm with Tsuyoi's and giggled, covering her mouth as she did so.
[Selma: Don't worry, this girl is all bark, no bite! I bet her punch would just recoil off your jawline!]
Elif sighed and rolled her eyes, then crossed her arms. Despite Selma trusting him so quickly, Elif was still wary of him.
[Elif: Then I'd just punch him harder.]
[Tsuyoi: I don't know what your problem is, lady. But I ain't a liar! I'm Loco's friend! I came to visit Division 1 and talk to their leader.]
[Elif: Why?] She tilted her head.
[Tsuyoi: Uh… I dunno. I just want to get to know what this prison is all about. I don't want to cause any harm to you guys– Or gals, I guess.]
[Elif: Then you'd better get the fuck out. Go through Division 3 next time if you want to go to Division 1.]
When she said that, a collective 'awwww' rang out from the crowd. A vein popped in Elif's forehead as she turned and yelled at the rest of the inmates.
[Elif: Do something productive, you turds!]
[Tsuyoi: Okay, okay. Geez.] Tsuyoi sighed and turned around, setting his sights on the exit of the division. But before leaving, he looked at the floor to grab Mr. Free, which he had placed on the ground a moment ago.
Though something was missing.
And that something was Mr. Free. It was nowhere to be seen, and Tsuyoi remembered exactly where he'd put it. But no, it wasn't there.
His body turned pale, and his heart felt ready to give up at any moment. Despite not being affiliated with him, Elif had the same reaction, and so did Selma.
[Tsuyoi: …]
[Elif: …]
[Tsuyoi: I'm–]
[Elif: Fucked. Yeah.]