_______

It was currently a Saturday afternoon, the students had set aside this time to enjoy themselves in various ways. Whether it'd be going to the pool with their buddies, or to Keyaki Mall with their friends, or even spending time alone in the comfort of their respective rooms like a certain black-haired supposed tsundere, but not about her today.

In any case, it would seem like a normal day....

If not by a mysterious gathering in one of the seemingly empty classrooms of the Advanced Nurturing High School.

So let's take a look what's happening there shall we?

The classroom was filled with a rather small number of students from different classes, who were wearing black robes as well as hoods covering part of their faces. They each implicitly wanted to keep their identities hidden so as not to reveal themselves to other members. The classroom benches and chairs were arranged in a way that resembled a line of joined benches, where one could only walk to further rows by the sides of the classroom.

There were candles lit on the window sills, and the window horizontal blinds did their work in succession at blocking out the sun's rays.

One word could describe the group that gathered here today.

A sect.

"Silence please!" Like in an instant, the chatter between the members subsided upon hearing a commanding yet not unkind tone, with a figure dressed in a similar black cloak entering through the doorway. The person wore a peacock mask, ball-like, covering part of its face.

The person stood in the middle, no one spoke, no one laughed because everyone knew this person in the esteemed circle, everyone knew what it was capable of when interrupted.

Another figure was sitting in a chair where the teacher normally was during class, the figure indicated a female. She also had a mask, but hers was a simple black mask covering her face, with no particular significance. She was also someone important, an assistant of sorts?

The mysterious person straightened up and said as if to the audience, "Today, you have been all summoned by me to our esteemed circle due to someone's defilement of the name of our goddess!" He snorted with apparent hatred for this individual.

Then the projector that was usually used for lessons was turned on and showed a picture of a familiar brunette with golden eyes. The photo itself looked like it was taken from a hidden place, it was an unimaginable act to do.

Everyone gasped in disbelief.

"Unbelievable!"

"Someone is stalking Ayanokouji-sama."

"This must be punished by death!"

"Who did this act of impurity towards goddess?!"

The person in the middle raised his hands, encompassing the attention of the entire group; everyone knew when to hush, "I fully understand your anger! This act indeed is something that even I cannot forgive! After all, I myself witnessed the entire incident!" Once again everyone was shocked by the statement but didn't want to stop him, "I was further humiliated, ridiculed, and my pride was wounded beyond repair!"

At this the classroom turned into uproar.

"BUT." Their attentiveness was captured once again by their leader, "I, Atarih, your loyal leader handled it already." He gestured towards the mysterious female in the teacher's chair and she handed him the camera, everyone wondered about its contents.

He raised his hands where the camera lied, "Even with all that sacrifice I got my hands on the sacred material! The prove is in my hands, and the culprit has been caught in the act!"

_______

What in the actual hell.

All I wanted to do was to find Haruki since he hadn't answered my phone calls since yesterday's morning, his room was empty and there were no traces of him except for a single black cloak that was left in his room, so how the fuck did I end up at some sick cult meeting!

Okay, okay Ike Kanji calm down, just sit here quietly, pretend you care and walk out into the crowd from this sick place.

But who would have thought that on a Saturday afternoon in an empty school some whacky cult would be run! If I had known then I would never have come here! Screw loyalty and pride to being a friend of Yamauchi! I'm here because I overheard a conversation between two guys with the same black robes.

Damn it! I shouldn't have come!

Someone nudged me as he shifted.

"Hm? Oh sorry man, didn't see you there."

Ahhh, get me out of here!

Wait... this voice. No, it can't be can it?

I could see the hooded guy's face slightly.

Familiar deliquent face shape and red...

Reeeeeeeeeeed hair?!

"Sudo what the hell man?!"

I was still trying to adjust my shock to the whisper of my voice.

"Oh Ike, yo." He greeted me with wave of hand.

"Don't 'yo' me! What're you doing here?! No, don't tell me you're part of this shit!"

"Hey be more quiet dude, unless you want to be their next sacrifice."

I'm quiet- wait what sacrifice?!

"Then what are you here for?! Wait, don't tell me you think Ayanokouji is some kind of goddess too." I deadpanned.

Sudo denied it immediately, "What, no! Horikita is the only one for me!"

"Then what?"

"Don't you see that Horikita is always talking to Ayanokouji-san the most? It's probably obvious that I'm trying to learn the secret of how she does so."

"Oh."

Oh, well that... actually makes sense. Meaning, since the beginning of the year, Ayanokouji-san practically constantly seemed to occupy Horikita-san's time.

"And what are you doing here?" Sudo retorted.

"Trying to find Haruki of course!" I stated like some detective.

Sudo frowned not understanding, "Hm, wasn't he supposed rest since you-know-what...?"

"He was but I couldn't find him in his room."

I ignored the creepy guy Atarih or whatever his name was and turned to Sudo.

"So when did you last see him? Hello? Sudooo answer me!"

Sudo made no reply and stared with a horrified face at the front of the room.

"Hey Ike."

"What?"

"I think I found Haruki." He pointed straight.

"Wha--"

And then I saw it, Haruki was brought to the middle for all too see, he was settled in a chair and tied to it with ropes. His mouth was taped shut as he struggled to get something out.

Oh no, sorry Haruki but I'm not going to dig my own grave in this madhouse!

_______

Everyone looked at the newly introduced culprit with hatred, especially Atarih who was burning holes in him that could melt anyone to shame.

Atarih turned to face everyone and spatted, "This man, no, this blasphemous being was stalking Ayanokouji-san secretly taking these pictures of her! Violating all our codes meant to respect her privacy and observe her from afar without making her uncomfortable. However, in the classroom, I saw her mouth twitch in disgust even if it was for a moment! This is the greatest insult we have experienced since the circle was created! We must protect Ayanokouji-san from the likes of him to preserve her good-nature from perishing! THIS ACT MUST NOT BE TOLERATED LIGHTY!"

His speech ended like a great thunder from heaven or the slamming of the gavel of a judge who had already passed judgment. Everyone understood his words and the impact it had on the accused scum, but no one felt any sympathy for him.

"Mphhh!" the accused tried to scream.

This was time for-

"W-wait, maybe let him defend himself!"

Someone from the crowd suggested, everyone tried to identify the owner however without signs of success.

"Fine." Atarih snarled, "But in the end, it all comes down to one thing anyway. Take the tape off him."

"Phee! What the fuck is going on here! It's a kidnapping!"

"Speak in your defense or we'll go to verdict."

"Woah woah woah, calm down dude!" Yamauchi tried to collect his thoughts, "I guess I have the right to look at some hot chicks right!?"

The members erupted:

"How dare he!"

"Put the tape on again on this disgusting mouth!"

Atarih shook his head trying to cool down, "It seems to me that the defendant has nothing more to say except a repugnant vocabulary." He said grimly and then smiled to himself evilly.

Yamauchi shuddered suddenly, "S-seriously?! This guy probably masturbated to these pictures in a school bathroom or something. You're not even her brother and you're acting like some brocon! This is sick! And what the hell is this! Some goddamn cult! I w-will tell teachers!"

Atarih smiled sardonically, his eyes squinted mocklingy, "You don't think we'd let you do something like that, do you? You're alone against a whole group." He gestured to the listeners and Yamauchi paled but shook himself from trance.

"So what if I stalked your damn goddess! You really think you can get away with this Hira- OW!"

"PERVERT!"

The mysterious person sitting at the teacher's desk actually threw something at him, "Hey!"

Yamauchi cringed. "Wha--Who the hell throws an eggplant at someone!"

"Take him." The leader said emotionlessly.

Two cloaked people grabbed Yamauchi and started carrying him out.

"WHAT, NO! WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME! I HAVE MY RIGHTS! NOOO--" After a while, the detestable voice finally quieted down.

_______

The meeting ended, the black figures slowly exited the classroom.

One person, a female, stayed after the time and approached Atarih.

"Um, Atarih-san."

"Hm, yes Kushida-san?"

"E-eh?! How did you know??" The figure already identified as Kushida let out a squeal of surprise.

"Haha, let's say I know most of my members' identities." He chuckled but became serious not long after, "But that's only third you'd join us on the meetings, sometimes you're coming, sometimes not, I wonder why is that and what is that you need."

"Ano, could I at least have some pictures of the Ayanokouji-sama you showed today and hang them on the altar in my room!"

Atarih blinked.

Ayanokouji-sama's name seemed to break her tongue into something else and that caught Atarih(ehem aka Hirata)'s attention.

There was a reason why Kushida couldn't take sacred pictures of Ayanokouj-san herself, and it was because Hirata had forbidden bringing into cul-ehem-club members with their phones.

But this Hirata knew the truth about Kushida. Karuizawa-san told him about how Kushida wanted to blackmail Ayanokouji-san and still get her expelled from school!

It was unforgivable and Hirata was really holding back hard to keep his anger from flowing out.

"So could you let me copy them? Isn't it unfair that only Atarih-san has them!" Kushida pouted seemingly-cutely, though behind it was rooten facade.

This damn bipolar bitch.

She most likely wanted to get another material against Ayanokouji-san.

Meanwhile, Kushida thought she had already won. She would get the compromising photos against Ayanokouji and then Ayanokouji would have no choice but to take her down. She'll also show them to Ryuen and he'll add fuel to the fire. Everything was going according to plan!

Everything was fine.

Until Kushida heard that laugh and it was honestly unsettling her so much that it froze the blood in her veins.

"Ahahahahahahahaha--" She awoke to reality and saw the guy in the peacock mask laughing in echoes. He seemed as if he had just heard something hilarious, as if her very being was a joke.

After a while the mysterious guy stopped laughing and looked at her with an all-too-kind smile that didn't even reach his eyes.

His next words made her feel cold.

_______

Ibuki Mio only found herself in this madplace at first because Ryuen told her to check out what it was all about. Then she started coming here out of sheer curiosity about what those lunatics would come up with again.

Back then, she still thought Ayanokouji was an average student and these idiots were just exaggerating her every move for some grand master plan. Hypocrites.

But then the rooftop incident happened and Ibuki didn't know what to think anymore.

Because Ayanokouji Kiyone was not normal person at all.

Ibuki would come here for future meetings already even when she didn't have to do so under the orders of a C-class tyrant. But she did it anyway, something drew her to this place as if a chain that told her to learn the most about her, about Ayanokouji Kiyone.

Curiosity is the first step to hell.

Even though she didn't let it show, Ibuki wondered why Ayanokouji was doing this, who Ayanokouji Kiyone was.

Ibuki Mio considered herself a sane person.

However, she didn't consider Horikita Suzune a sane when she recognized her at one of the meetings.

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

Horikita ignored her most of the time despite the clear message from Ibuki that she knew who she was.

But once Horikita replied to her why she comes to the meetings.

"Nii-san thought Ayanokouji-san was better than himself, if I want to improve myself then I have to start by knowing what Ayanokouji-san thinks and this club is the best for that."

However, when Ibuki saw how insane this club was, she kind of lost faith in humanity. But maybe... maybe getting to know Ayanokouji from this mysterious side isn't really so bad.

Further observations and knowledge needed.