Raiden Kon's Story

Raiden flicked his pocket knife about for a bit not wanting the blood from the zombie to dry up and stick to it otherwise, that would make it rusty, and in turn not as sharp or effective should he need to use it again. He didn’t know how to feel about the current circumstances apart from deep worry. “R-Raiden y-you okay?" "Raiden, are you alright?" Raiden looked forward to where his female companions were and gave a brief nod response. That was all he could manage before the ground started to quake underneath them. "We should go. Now." Cassie said urgently to which Raiden started to run behind the rest of them. “I second that!” He replied, trying to disguise his panic when he spoke. It all happened so fast. A building was crumbling right over them caused by a gigantic creature Raiden knew a pocket knife wouldn’t be enough to handle, Mai had nearly been crushed if not for Cassie’s sacrifice and he had lost complete sight of Momo.
Raiden gritted his teeth and rushed over to analyse the debris covering Cassie’s body for a way to help her out before she was completely crushed under it. “Y-you said *hic* th-that everythin-ing would be *hic* fine. Were-Were you *hic* lying *hic* to me? Wh-Why did you even push *hic* me aside. We only just met so why? *hic* Cassiopeia do-don’t die!” Raiden looked over at his cousin as she started to cry, as she was attempting to move the rubble with her small hands and although the situation was so dire, he was a bit happy that his cousin had made a friend. And she’s not going to lose her now.. Raiden rolled up his sleeves and started to pull his own weight in helping Cassie out. He knew he wasn’t exactly strong or fit but Raiden just knew they would make it in time, somehow. There was no way Mai’s new friend was going to die on them now so soon after they had just become acquainted. "I'm glad, you're safe..." Raiden almost froze in place as he heard the girl speak. It wasn’t what he expected to hear. Maybe a ‘help me!’ or ‘hurry!’ but the girl didn’t even seem to be concerned on her own well-being. Mai continued to call out her new friend’s name as Raiden picked up the pace at moving the rocks in the way understanding that every second counted. “You shouldn’t say things like that. You’re going to be safe too!” He kept yelling over the noise for two reasons, he really believed and meant what he was saying and he wanted Cassie to stay awake. Just as he had reached out for Cassie’s arm, he awoke.

Opening his eyes, Raiden lazily turned his head to where he felt his sleeve was being continually tugged. It was of no surprise that it turned out to be his dependent cousin, Mai. Instead of being annoyed though, he gave her a soft smile that the nightmare had only just been, a nightmare. “I’m up, I’m up.” He said before sitting upright in his chair to make sure he didn’t doze off again. It finally occurred to him that they were indeed in the school. That part hadn’t been a dream he concocted from his subconscious. But then did he imagine Momo and Cassiopeia up? He slowly stood up from his chair feeling groggy from the unexpected nap before looking behind him where Mai was. His cousin looked worried for some reason but he just shrugged it off as a ‘new kid, new neighbourhood’ ordeal. “Let’s go home.” He was ready to walk out of the room with his cousin in tow before somebody familiar called out his name, causing him to stop in his tracks completely.
”R-Raiden?!" “Auh—“ Raiden let out a small sound expressing surprise as his shoes suddenly felt glued to the ground. Oh holy shit.. He stayed still in position completely with his back facing her (Arietta), not exactly prepared to see her again after everything that had happened between them last time. "What are you doing here?!" Raiden’s eyes wandered to the side for a distraction then wandered to the other side for more distraction but his imagination wasn’t good enough for him to pretend he didn’t hear her or realise her presence at all. He couldn’t just pretend she wasn’t actually there for real could he? He surely tried to. “I—“ He turned around slightly, his left side facing the familiar girl as he cocked his head at a head tilt angle before looking away again, a hand playing with the tips of his hair while he tried to think up an excuse. No excuse was coming up so he lowered his head and looked away. “I’ll be attending here as a student from now.” If Raiden couldn’t come up with an excuse, then he would just state the truth. Turning his back on Arietta again, he pocketed his hands before taking another step away from her. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep out of your way. Let’s go Mai.” He said in the most monotone voice he could muster.
Despite Raiden not having a lot to say, his emotions were torn and conflicted. He was sure Arietta was really angry at him and even angrier to be bumping into him again. If he was being entirely honest with himself though, there was a fraction of him that was relieved. A fraction that thought maybe a part of their relationship could be remedied, clarified and maybe even salvaged. At the same time, the possibility of fixing things between them was slim to nil and he understood that her wishes were if any, for him to stay away. He closed his eyes briefly as he walked deep in thought, one hand’s fist clenching in his pocket as a tension was awakening in his chest that he didn’t want anyone to read. Everything happens for a reason. I just have to believe that..

“Attention everyone!” Raiden looked over his shoulder to find that the voice was coming from an intercom speaker. The female voice coughed before continuing. “Airdalen High would like to apologise for its most recent sleeping gas incident. After thorough investigation, we have discovered the school janitor Miss Morrison had released a homemade fragrance in the ventilation systems as a quick means of performing her duties as cleaning lady, as well as to serve her own means as she has always had a strong disgust towards body odours. Unknown to her, the fragrance also served a second function as a sleeping gas that has worked on a selection of students and staff alike. This specific concoction also possessed a trace of the smell of roses..” “It is unfortunate that one of our senior students has passed away on our grounds due to his severe allergic case.”
“Airdalen High does not tolerate pranks of any sort for any reason given. As a result, the school janitor has been fired and apprehended by the police. Due to this incident, after school clubs will also be cancelled for today. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Varthur Laurence..”