Leos: “Twenty – three thousand people, gone in a flash… it… just doesn’t make sense…!

And how are you able to walk away clean?!

What the hell happened back there!? What was that? ...Well? Answer me!”

…

…

Let’s rewind time a few bare moments.

While the girls were exploring the dormitory, the boys had a grand idea.

Leos: “Hey...Why don’t we all explore the forest surrounding?

At least, that’s what I plan on doing. We can even split up and take different paths, or something.

I just kinda wanna stay outside for a bit...we’ve been stuffed up in places and ordered around for a while now so I’m on the fence with going straight into another building, before enjoying my freedom for a bit.”

Ian: “You’d be the first member to die in a horror setting with that statement.”

Leos: “...I-”

Rise: “Honestly *Yawns* I feel the same. My body’s all stiff.”

Noel: “My back hurts from that teleportation thing Mr. Abrams keeps on doing. Also, I’m curious what the surrounding area looks like: since I’ve never been inside a forest before.”

Brennan: “You aren’t missing out on much, I assure you. It’s nothing special...not at all.”

Rise: “Bah, you people are all wusses. I grew up in places like this for most of my life – yet look at me! I’m alive, aren’t I?”

Brennan: “…”

Ian: “...Maybe a little dumber than others, but…”

Rise: “...Grr, watch what you say runt!”

Ian: “Meep!”

Noel: “Ohh~ so that’s where you learned that growling thing that you do. Hehehe~”

Elijah: “Noel, don’t instigate. If he gets mad and hits you, it’ll be too late by then to apolo-”

Contrary to the obvious, he didn’t get mad.

He didn’t suddenly go ‘Grr’ at Noel and start bickering all over again.

But what he did do, was wear the biggest, beaming and sharp-toothed smile before facing Elijah and Noel.

Rise: “Hahaha! Yep, honestly I did! The forest raised me!”

…

His smile was so honest and pure that none of the freshman gathered here today, harbored the willpower necessary to upturn it.

Nobody wanted to upturn it either. Even Noel was a tad intimidated by the smile Rise wore, temporarily stopping himself from making another remark.

.

.

His face was full of confidence! It was almost as if any sarcastic remark or quip thrown his way would only bounce off, rendering them ineffective and useless. A simple waste of breath - so Noel gave up.

That usually angsty and rebellious guy took a 180 after being exposed to the forest. Maybe this will be a good change for the group of modern society kids too used to the city life. Especially so, for the guys and gals that abhor nature, like Oliviera.

Similarly, like Brennan.

Wayne: “...Rise, can you clarify exactly...how the forest ‘raised’ you? I find that-”

Rise: “No… I don’t feel like going into that. It opens up a certain ‘can of worms’ that I don’t want touched. Y’know?”

Wayne: ”Oh, okay. I understand. Everybody has things along those lines – things that they absolutely don’t wish to…

...to remember.”

Rise: “...I’m going to the forest. See ya later!”

{...Although he moves a little slow and runs weird: his steps are obviously honed. Who is that guy?

...Is he faking it? Could he be like me?

...Hmm. I need to investigate him later.}

Elijah: “...I think I’ll choose my bedroom first. Mr. Abrams told me that our belongings were sealed in the living room of the dorm, but we need our I.D. to release them. Maybe I’ll check out the nearby trails after.”

Ian: “...You guys are weird. I’m staying inside. There’s nothing special about bugs, trees and animal droppings. Goodbye.”

Wayne: “Same. I’m not interested in the woods...but I hope you all still have fun! I’m sure there’s probably something meaningful out there, it’s just not for me.”

Noel: “Well, to each their own, I suppose. I’ll choose my room after I finish exploring.”

Leos: “Elijah, if you want to explore together, just head ‘right’ after you come out. We can meet somewhere in that direction once I’m done. I’ll find you, so don’t worry about going too far.”

Elijah: “Hmm. I was intending to go right anyways since there’s a small pathway, so this works out perfect. Okay then, I’ll accept your offer, Leos!”

Leos: “Great…”

Elijah: “Brennan? Where are you going?”

Brennan: “I’m not interested in some Dinky forest. I’m going inside to wash up and explore someplace a little more normal.”

Ian: “A forest is a pretty filthy place, I agree. It’s a disgusting gathering location for hooligans and weirdos, but I think it still qualifies as ‘normal’ to select groups of people: like tree – lovers…”

Noel: “If it’s normal to others, but not yourself...can that even still be called normal?”

Ian: “Tha---

.

.

.

Hm… I actually don’t know. What a strange feeling, to not know something…”

Noel: “Oh, I’m glad I could help you experience something knew.”

Ian: “…”

…

After that incident, they each went their own separate ways. The two boys Ian and Brennan ran to choose a room on the first floor. Considering how tall Brennan was for his age, and how short Ian is for 14 year a old… The race was a laughable sight.

At least it was, for Elijah. He couldn’t help release a soft chuckle at the sight, despite trying to quell it quickly so his new classmates don’t notice and take offense.

He was busy committing every single detail about the dorm building’s layout to memory. Surprisingly, there was absolutely zero mention about those pathways that lead directly into the forest. How strange...he clearly remembered seeing them all: about 12 in total, with 5 on the left and 5 on the right. Then, the final two were directly behind the dorm. Shouldn’t the staff have mentioned the trails in the building’s outline? Surrounding the “H’ shaped building is just a massive cluster of trees! How irresponsible! If somebody has trouble with directions – this sort of careless treatment may potentially get them lost forever!

He carefully walked over to the clear crate-like box that read his name on it and contained his bags. There appeared to be an odd device that worked similar to a fingerprint identification device. Instead of having to ‘swipe’ his card through it, Elijah needed to face it against the scanner like he would his own hand.

His very minimal luggage entered room #2: flying through the air before bouncing off the bed once, and hitting the wall beside it.

Elijah: “Now that that’s taken care of, I’ll check out the possible routes and see exactly which I need to take to reach the non-combatant building.

.

.

.

...Hmm… which side did Leos mention he wanted to meet..?

...Right, I think?

.

.

Or was it Left..?

.

.

.

No, I remember now, he DID say right!”

…

….

…..Elijah. Completely forgetting Leos only told him to ”go right” when he was FACING the dormitory and NOT exiting from it…

Accidentally wound up heading in the wrong direction. He took the wrong ‘right’ path...

But 5 minutes before he left…

Oliviera ran outside in a frenzy to get a phone signal.

…

Ian: “Hum… Noel hasn’t chosen a room yet, and Elijah just picked the closest one to that dorm map and also left. Rise seems like the type to not care, but we weren’t told when exactly the other classrooms are coming ove—“

*Boom!*

Ian: “Wh-What the hell..?!”

Alyandrea: “Oh, this barbell has a goo—AAH!”

Ophelia: “The whole...building…Why is it shaking so much..?”

…

???: “...Killing a bunch of children...how did we sink so low?”

??: “Kehehehe~ If you really feel that way, big sister, then why are you drooling..?”

?: “I… sense some in the nearby forest…”

????: “Grah! What the hell, are they a bunch of morons?! They get this fancy new home, and they’d rather stare at deer poop and fallen branches?!

Dammit, hold on. I’ll off ‘em for ya: be back in 5!”

*Vwish!*

???: Mmm~! Dammit, I…! I just can’t help myself…!

I KNOW that it’s wrong, but..! But I just looove their…

…

Ah~ mm~ their tender flavors – it’s like eating high quality lamb or a juicy, mouth-watering veal!!

I know that it’s wrong...but I… I…!

*Licks lips*

I want it even more~

…

I just can’t help but wanna take a bite out of them~”

?: “Remember. The boss ordered us to retrieve the heads, so don’t touch those. Everything below: neck included, is okay. Split into pairs.

3.

2.

Your orders are to kill anybody hidden inside of the girl’s dormitory. Luckily we received the override code from ‘Her’. Remember to be wary of that referee gal. I heard she’s mentally unstable so aim for that, but kill fast before she can gain a realization of our plan.

5.

6.

You both need to strike at the boys. Be careful with the ‘Prince’ just in case he’s been hiding his powers.

I will follow behind 4. We’ll come back after investigating the parameter for potential support."

2: “But 1! Doesn’t it make MORE sense to strike the girls with females and the boys with males - that way we avoid their nasty security system? Why take risks with a potential false code by pairing both of our teams with a man and woman each?!”

1: “It’s not a risk, that’s why. If we’re caught, we can turn her in. If we happen to have the right code though, then this mission will go smoothly.

Remember: Just in case there’s an unexpected situation I would like to have at least one woman in the male’s dormitory. Most guys can’t handle women and hesitate.

Hesitations give rise to openings.”

Rise: “ACHOO! *Sniffle* Wha-What the… what’s with all these dangerous smells??”

---