Ayato walks to school alongside his two childhood friends, Kuu dere and Midori Gurinu.

Friends. The glorified word for assets.

These two in particular are asset, as he needs people that he's known long enough to display to others that he has a strong bond with them, ultimately he's a good enough friend to still have a strong connection with them after so many years. It forms a trust with everyone around him, making it easier for him to befriend them and have them all wrapped around his finger. Though, with lots off friends around school he can't afford to slip up.

Reputation can either make or break you in this school.

Horuda is the school's punching bag, water is thrown onto her, her picture while she was changing is currently being used as blackmail against her for Musume and her friends to have more power over her. It's not like bullying is taken seriously at Akademi high, take the delinquents for example, the school faculty was informed about the bullying the five students were suffering against but were unable to provide concrete evidence so the faculty refused to take action.

The bullying gradually became so severe that they considered a suicide pact yet after witnessing something phenomenal it swerved them away from a self-destructive path. Osorō had apparently offended someone from a rival school and they planned to beat him up in front of Akademi to serve it as a warning to not only him but everyone else who dared to stand up against them.

In a turn off events, Osorō single-handedly fought off the group of violent aggressors and against all odds, Osorō actually managed to defeat all of his opponents. Instantly, Osorō became an icon to them - a physical embodiment of the idea that a single person can stand against a group of tormentors and remain in top.

He had demonstrated that violence was a viable solution to their problems, and that remaining fearsome would stop the bullying. They began to dress like him, act like him and they even dyed their hair blonde as well, then built themselves a reputation to keep everyone afraid off them.

That shows this schools negligence and still they haven't learned as Horuda is going through the exact same thing but they wouldn't do anything anyways since Musume's father's reputation intimidates most of her teachers and classmates, so most faculty refuse to discipline her along with students never daring to stand up to her. Musume almost never gets in trouble as according to Y/n, her father would make the problem go away using money...or his special brand of intimidation. This just highlights the imbalance at this school but through the cracks in this system he can use it to his own advantage.

"What do you think Ayato! Magical girl Yuki or Yanvania of the night? Kuu dere won't answer my question!And I tried looking on blueit" Midori complains, drawing Ayato attention to her, Kuu dere's face remains expressionless and blank and she takes her eyes off her book for a moment before continuing to read once more, "Yanvania of the Night, I suppose."

"That's exactly what a videogame character would say! I agree! I am a npc in a videogame after all." Midori says, gluing her eyes back to her phone again. He'll never understand why people like her have emotions and he doesn't. Back to his thoughts, he recalls the information he found about Horuda, 'A shy and timid girl. Seems to be incapable of standing up for herself. For some reason, she gives me the impression that she could snap and become violent if pushed too far.'

It sounds too good to be true, she's exactly what he needs to get a few steps closer to his goal, Taeko. He walks down the school pathway, quickening his pace to get to his locker but something gets his attention, "Out the way Horuda." Hoshiko Mizudori giggles, grabbing her shoulder harshly and pulling her in to whisper something in her ear along the lines of 'lit cigarette' and 'permanent scars'.

"Musume your friends should just leave Horuda alone, you cause her enough trouble already." Y/n begins, approaching them something no one else would dare to do and as she's a Ronshaku with the scary dad people tend to avoid Y/n as well, except Kokona and Saki. "Look Horuda, your princess in trashy garments is here to rescue you!" Musume and her friends laugh as they barge past Y/n knocking her closer to Horuda.

"I don't need your fake pity." Horuda spat, walking past Y/n, Ayato sees the frown on her face and he feels something inside but he doesn't know what. "Are you alright, Y/n?" He questions, she looks up at him with a sunken expression. "Yeah, totally but be careful Ayato my dad might make you disappear if you talk to me for to long." Y/n rolls her eyes, he lets out a laugh assuming she's making a joke and after a short silence she laughs a bit as well.

"I can't believe people really think that's going to happen to them." He starts, attempting at a conversation with her, which he expected her to reject and walk off, but this time she stuck around. "I wish I could change what people think but I can't. But, as long as I've got my two friends then I'll survive." Y/n states, he notices her shoulder's relax and she loses the tension in her muscles. Okay... This is progress.

"Well, three friends now." He adds.

"I suppose but if I get bored off you I'll make sure my dad disposes you." Y/n responds, in a joking tone and they begin walking together and when their hands brushed against each other Y/n would let off a quick apology while he still could feel the specific patch off skin she touched on his hand. He felt his heart beating rapidly while being in her presence, his skin flushed a light pink hue and she asked if he was sick.

He doesn't know why he's acting like this...

It's probably just some phase...

During their conversation, her hair clip somehow fell off while she was fixing her hair, she doesn't notice. He did.

Ring. Ring.

The bell chimed signalling the start of class, "We have to head to class." Y/n says with haste, rushing off without batting him an eye, Ayato picks up her hair clip and shoves it into his pocket. He arrives to class, thankfully not late and he can't help but wonder why she had a change of heart towards him.

Y/n was sat at the back of the class right beside the window where she'd watch the thick puffy white clouds in the vase light blue sky, the cherry blossom trees or the birds flying high and free over Akademi High with not a single care in the world. She herself is wondering why she decided to give Ayato a chance but he did give her a chance to show what's she's really like. Most people at school either fear her because of her dad or Musume yet he still tried to get to know her. She supposes it's the thought that counts.

It is also very hot today, her class was an oven slowly cooking her and her classmates alive in this blazing heat -that happened to be trapped inside her classroom- what a perfect time to not have a water bottle with you. Her face rested in her palm, the voice of her teacher yammering utter nonsense had been drowned out as her eyes were fixed on a particular streak on her wooden desk.

Her mind wandered through particular events and thoughts to distract her from the suffocating heat. She thought of Info-chan, potential suspects and most importantly who recorded that video of Osana. What was their motive? Are they possibly the same person who might kill someone?

Her eyes scanned the room and for some reason, they stopped on him. She found his eyes latched onto Taeko Yamada. He was staring at her so hard she was surprised she didn't feel eyes boring into the back of her head. He is quite different, in comparison to most off the people she's met at this school, he's charismatic a certain charm to him that pulls others in.

Taeko, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. She is your average school girl, normal grades, a bookworm and a loner yet no one seems to pay any attention to her at all. Taeko resides at the fountain, with a book in hand and she sinks into the world of fantasy and the words inside off a book; paying no mind to the people around her.

Now, some love story is blooming in front of Y/n, between Taeko and Ayato yet she remains too oblivious to notice.

She begins to think about Horuda, Horuda rightly so hates Musume but she's done nothing but tried to help Horuda out. Y/n wishes someone stood up for her when her sister bullied her at her old school so she always goes out of her way to help Horuda to only receive cold stares. She doesn't want to end up like her sister, again it's not like she's the most liked person at school and all people know her for is because of her sister.

She sometimes wishes Musume was gone forever.

Y/n knows she's her sister but she can't suppress the feeling off a strong hatred for Musume, she's been at this school for two years and nothing has changed. She tried joining the gardening club but apparently she was the reason the flowers where wilting and it would be best if she just left.

Y/n tried saving up to have a trending bracelet all for nothing as she just heard people mumbling that she was some stuck up brat that was using daddy's money. Little did they know her father hated her just as much as they disliked her. There was a high chance she'd die due to her mother's alcoholic nature but instead of Y/n dying she did and her father hates her for it.

Hates that she's a constant reminder that his wife could off been standing before him instead of her.

The sound of her teacher Miss Fukahori calling her name, instantly snapped her out of her thoughts. The abrupt silence rushed down her ear channel ; everyone turned her way except one. Her head forced its way off her palm and now she was staring into the eyes of a devil.

The impatient tapping of her teacher's foot going up and down as she glared harshly at the girl, Y/n feared a blood vessel would pop on her head since her veins bulged out in a clear annoyance plastered on her face.

"Huh?" The confusion engraved in her voice was quite clear to the ocean of staring eyes that stared into the right, left and front side of her head including her teacher. Miss Fukahori had her arms to her chest, folding them, clearly displeased with the answer she had heard from the girl's mouth.

Perhaps the tone of confusion in her voice caused her class to giggle slightly (including her friends who didn't even try to hide the fact they were laughing) she knew her friends laughed jokingly at her as she would do the same if they were called out for not paying attention.

Her friends were scattered around the classroom in Miss's clearly thought out seating plan staring at her with a grin on their face. Her head began to throb in pain as the seconds passed down and time had appeared to slow down, her nails tapped against her desk, she was really trying to rack her brain for an answer that she knew her mind wasn't going to produce.

Her heart was a drum that felt like it was going to jump out of her chest at any moment adding to the embarrassment she was already feeling. What have they even been learning in class for the past few weeks? She knows she was in lesson but none of it actually stuck with her.

Her head slowly turned to her friend, who was motioning the answer by putting up three fingers then five ; then suddenly stopping when miss's glare landed on her making her immediately face forward.

She didn't know if her friend showing 3 then a 5 met that she had to add 3+5 which is 8 of course.

Or if it meant she had to subtract 3-5?

She's just going to have to guess, she hopes this works.

This is so difficult, what can she even do? It wouldn't off been confusing if you had been listening, a voice in her mind said that she brushed off.

"35?" She muttered out barely in the deafening silence of the class room, the bell rang and it was clear no one, absolutely no one cared about whatever the hell she said, after the bell. Their freedom was imminent and students rushed to stand up, ignoring miss's protest in her whiny voice that the bell doesn't dismiss you I do. Everyone rushed out the class in one fell swoop belongings in their hands or sliding of their back.

She rushed out of class, following behind the raven-haired boy, she doesn't know why she's so focused on him, she doesn't know why he's so obsessed with Taeko.

She not interested in the title of their love story, in bold titled as Love At First Sight or Just A Simple Obsession?

She needed to go to her sister, she might have been sent the video at a specific time as she knows everything about the videos that surface around school.

"Where you going Y/n?" Saki asks holding onto Y/n's hand stopping her in her tracks, she froze and turned to face her blue-haired friend and looked at her purple-haired friend beside her, "I need to speak to my sister about something...I'll make it up to you guys later, okay?" Y/n spoke quickly glancing at the boy descending the stairs and then back at her two friends before backing away and quickly scurrying down the stairs like a rat.

She narrowly avoided bumping into a student and she made her way down to the courtyard in the middle of the school and she immediately sees the ink-haired boy talking to her sister. She rushes behind a tree and leans her head in their direction to hear them better.

"...Seriously? She just... Reads books? That's it?...No way. That can't be the end of it! There's gotta be something else going on here. Thanks for your help, though - now I know where to find her!" Musume replies, thanking the boy in front her, Y/n waits for him to leave and approaches her sister.

"Musume, what was he doing there?" She interrogates, feeling extremely bewildered at what she just witnessed.

"He's my errand boy?" She states as if it's the most obvious thing in the world, with her hands on her hips pretty much radiating judgemental energy.

"Errand boy?" Y/n questions.

"Is there an ECHOO?" Musume snaps, "ANYWAYS, it looks like he's trying to get on my good side or something and it's working. Where's your slut friend and the dollar store Hatsune Miku?"

"Don't talk my friends like because you do NOT want to hear what I think about YOUR friends." Y/n glares at her, she doesn't have time for this.

"Did I hit a nerve? Go give your blonde bf attitude, not me, honestly I can't believe your my sister sometimes." Musume scoffs, looking her up and down before taking out her phone to begin texting at an inhuman speed.

"You ask dad for a DNA test and it clearly says I am." Y/n responds, she remembers when her dad actually made her do one even though he knows for a fact she is his daughter whether he likes it or not. He was even in the room when his wife was giving birth to Y/n.

"I'll ask him to do another, I'm his favourite after all." Musume laughs, and then pulls Y/n into her shoulder to take a picture with her, Musume has peace signs up and Y/n looks very annoyed in the photo, "I look GORGE in this photo but I can't say the same about you. Now, what are you actually bothering me for? And, Y/n, what do I always say."

"Don't talk to me when I'm at school." Y/n recites, Musume half smiles at her but not one of those kind ones more of a warning smile. "OMG! You can actually listen? I was going to daddy to get you some hearing aids." Musume laughs at her own 'joke' and continues typing, she's texting her new boyfriend Genka.

"Did you get sent that video with Osano getting rejected?" Y/n asked, with her arms crossed and she was definitely stealing Musume's phone just to make sure.

"UM, yeah? Some unknown account, their probably ugly since they have no profile pic, like um HELLO? We aren't in the 90's?" Musume rolls her eyes and show's Y/n the message she was sent...that username.

Ackademi_123.

Click.

Her head whipped behind her, she could of swore she heard a camera snap, "What the hell is up with you miss paranoid LOL." Musume grins then wanders off.

Y/n decides to note down what she knows and what she needs to find out.

Knows:

Musume was sent a video at 11:34 No one knows who info chan is Possibly female Only people she's told about her website Fureddo, Kokona and Saki possibly Budo Could Taeko be centre cause?? Had to be on school premises at 6PM Ayato has spoken to her sister Lots of people speak to her sister Saw Amao speak with Taeko

Doesn't know:

Who info chan REALLY IS Or who might have given her information Who might get killed Motives Taeko might have something to do with it

She doesn't know what else to jot down but she does have some people in mind, whether she likes it or not someone was out for Osano and is threatening her to find out more. For now all, she can't wait for the bake sale today, maybe she'll pop down to the cooking club.

I