Chapter 3:
What? I turned myself into a human? Now it's my quest to become the most popular person in school!
I see Gabu Gabuya flying at me, with her mouth wide open. Since I don't have claws anymore, I have replaced my Vigorous Claw with something else. Something better.
If she keeps accelerating at this speed, I should hit...
Right...
N-
"Everyone! Stooooop!" A pink-haired boy yells while falling from the sky. He lands gracefully in a heroic pose, right in the middle of Gabuya and me. He has a small stature, but the way he jumped into danger without fear and the determined look on his face give him a heroic aura about him. Not only that, his stats were surprisingly amazing.
HP: 70
ATK: 110
DEF: 70
MAG: 115
M.DEF: 70
SPD: 90
His name was Prota Madachi. He stood between us, gesturing us both to stop.
"Everyone! We shouldn't be fighting. Aren't we all friends?" He says, looking at both of us back and forth.
"Prota! I told you not to jump off the tables anymore!" Kentaro Yokotsu exclaims as he walks up behind Prota.
"Oh, let him have his fun, Kenny!" Haruka Dekimasu laughs while slapping Kentaro's back repeatedly.
"It is a blatant disregard of the rules!" Kentaro says annoyedly. He seems to get frustrated, but it looks like Haruka has not noticed and keeps laughing and slapping his back.
"How else am I supposed to make a dramatic entrance, Ken?" Prota whines, averting his gaze from me and Gabuya towards Kentaro.
"U-Uhm, P-Prota? There's something attached to your side." A trembling, somewhat high voice from behind Kentaro says. A small blonde boy peeks from behind his back. By his stature, you'd think he was younger than the rest of us, but I remember him from class. Kana Amari. His stats were the most pathetic out of everyone. That must be why he hangs around one of the most powerful students.
HP: 20
ATK: 10
DEF: 55
MAG: 15
M.DEF: 20
SPD: 80
Prota looks to his side and sees Gabuya hanging there.
"Eh! Gabuya?!" He yelps.
Kentaro and Haruka rush in, and each start pulling on one of Gabuya's legs. Kana, still clinging to Kentaro's back.
I should make my move while I can. Kentaro Yokotsu, one of my targets, is right in front of me. I walk over t him and clear my throat.
"Seize this behaviour already, Gabuya!" He exclaims loudly, still pulling on her leg.
He barely seemed to notice me. I clear my throat again.
"Kentaro Yokotsu! As general of the first Griffin squad, I declare us friends!" I yell out.
"I am a little busy now," he grunts, still pulling as hard as he can, "Griffin Atori, was it? Maybe we can talk some other time!"
I see... His route must not be unlocked yet. I nod and walk away from them.
I look around the cafeteria to see if I can spot any of the others. That commotion almost distracted me from my goal.
At a lone table in the back, I see Mae Samitsu. Not far from her in a corner, I can spot Mako Kakure. Near the middle is Toru Hatsusho, with the two classmates he was with before.
I first approach Mae Samitsu. Her head is engulfed in a book. How she's able to concentrate on it through the noise in the cafeteria is beyond me.
I stand in front of her and look at her for a moment. Before I can even open my mouth, she looks up from behind her book.
"Leave." She simply says before proceeding to read again.
I stare at her for a bit, then clear my throat.
"As a-" I start. Mae abruptly closes her book and stands up. As she walks away, she keeps staring at me intensely.
She must have a time-based side-quest she needs to attend to. I nod, still standing in front of the empty table.
The next person I go to is Mako Kakure. He sits alone in a corner, staring up at the ceiling.
As I approach him, he begins talking to me without looking at me.
"The stars... they look beautiful today..." His voice is wistful and a bit alluring.
A grin from on his face, and his purple eyes start to twinkle.
I ignore the fact that it's daytime and there's a roof between him and the sky and nod reassuringly.
"I wonder... Was it fate that brought us together? You and I who are from different worlds..." He finally looks down at me and smiles enigmatically.
His eyes lock onto mine as I stare at him, shocked. How did he know I'm from another world?!
His gaze simultaneously feels intense and apathetic. His eyes are the kind you can get lost in, but not in a good way. It's like a maze of stars that is hard to escape. If I didn't know better now, I would think he put a binding curse on them.
He gives off similar vibes as Shiro, but unlike his sly and playful undertone, Mako is more Absent-minded or stoic.
"It seems you and I were destined to meet here... Our fates are intertwined..." He says absent-mindedly as his gaze drifts off above me.
A big grin forms on my face. Finally, the first step to a friend! I'm glad he could recognize it too.
"That's right, Mako Kakure! I, Griffin Atori, will be-" I exclaim loudly and excitedly.
Still staring off into the distance, Mako walks off without saying a word. Confused, I stare in front of me where he previously stood.
Uncertain of why he just left, I note down a big question mark next to his name.
The only person left is... that guy...
I have already had an encounter with him. Judging by that, he'll probably battle me again. This time I'll be prepared, and I'll win! Just wait for me, Toru Hatsusho.
I walk up to the table where Toru and his 2 companions are sitting. When I arrive, all three look at me in unison.
"Ohoho~! Look who came back for round two!" Roku Fukitsa laughs menacingly while holding her hand in front of her mouth. It feels like her intense red eyes are staring straight through me.
"Heeh?! What are you doing here? You like getting beat up, haircut?!" Toru Hatsusho growls at me. At the sight of me, his head vein started popping again.
"Toru Hatsusho! I like your eagerness to battle! You and I shall become great friends!" I declare, extending my arm to Toru.
"Haaah?! Are you stupid or something?" Toru cracks his knuckles as he stands up in front of me. He is slightly taller than me, which makes him look down on me. Kinda intimidating.
"Did you tell him your name...?" Roku mumbles from behind him.
"Wowow, Hatchan! There's no need to do that... again..." The second person with Toru says as he grabs one of Toru's shoulders. He has blue hair tied in a small rat tail, and his eyes are a warm orange. Gaido Otokami.
HP: 80
ATK: 100
DEF: 70
MAG: 50
M.DEF: 60
SPD: 45
The name "Hatchan" sounds very familiar to me, but that is probably unrelated to my story.
"Stupid?" I laugh at the thought. "My strategic intellect exceeds yours by a million! Our friendship will be purely for mutual benefits."
Rage filled Toru's eyes as he attempts to rush at me. Gaido, struggling to hold him back, wraps his arms around him.
"I see, you must want a battle to settle this dispute! Unlike last time, I am prepared! Bring it on, Toru Hatsusho!" I exclaim as I jump back and assume my battle stance.
Toru drags Gaido behind him as he inches towards me slowly, with blank eyes. Meanwhile, Roku is laughing menacingly from behind them. The same purple-like aura as with Kasuka hung around her, but hers seemed more sly and sinister.
"Hatchan! You shouldn't go around beating up your classmates! Control your anger... We talked about this!" Gaido grunts as he struggles to hold Toru back.
"You should probably go... I won't be able to hold him much longer, you know..." He calls after me. Why do people keep interrupting my battles? How am I supposed to be the most popular if I can't prove my strength?
"Very well then," I shrug as I shake my head, "we will have our battle another day, Toru Hatsusho!" I walk away to find an empty table where I can strategize my next plan of attack.
Firstly, I need to find a way to catch Kentaro Yokotsu alone. While he is with his party, he seems to be preoccupied.
New Side Quest: Get Kentaro Alone.
Secondly, I need a way to talk to Mae Samitsu. She seemed standoffish. I need to figure that out first.
New Side Quest: Talk to Mae.
Next is Mako Kakure. He was the most confusing of them all. He did say our fates were connected. Maybe he knows something. He might be a good first target if I could figure out what his deal is.
New Side Quest: Translate Mako.
Then lastly. Toru Hatsusho. How infuriating he is. Calling me stupid... Doesn't he know who I am? Either way, it seems like defeating him in battle will be the only way to get through to him. As much as I hate to admit it, I'll need to do some preparation before I will be able to. From now on, I can never lose a battle again!
New Side Quest: Battle Toru.
Suddenly, I lose my focus as I hear those strangely familiar sounds again. I look up from my notebook and around the table. Suddenly I spot Hana sitting there as well. Was she always there?
I would almost not have noticed her if it wasn't for her overly bright blue and red device and the sounds coming from it.
"Yo~," she says, without taking her eyes of the screen.
"Ah! It's you again! Aoi H- I mean Hana!" I exclaim, a little surprised.
"Yo~," she says again.
I stare at her device, wondering why it sounds so reminiscent. As curiosity gets the better of me, I decide to ask.
"What is that device you keep using?"
"Oh, my Kaztendo Swap? You've never heard of those?" She asks, still fixated on the screen.
"Kazten... What a stupid name." I state.
"Ah, it's to avoid copyright issues..." She mumbles back.
"The sounds from your 'Swap' sound very familiar... you must show me what they are!" Right as I said that, the bell rang, signifying the end of lunch break.
"Oh, uh... I can show you after school..." She mumbles as she put the Kaztendo Swap back in her bag.
Shocked, she looks at me as if she just realized what she said. I look back, equally shocked. Of course! Hana was the first to talk to me... Though her stats might not be as impressive as the rest, I'm sure...
"Aoi Hanata! I, Griffin Atori, declare you my first friend!"
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