Chapter 45 - Kinoko RusubanHollow Night Things were going even better than expected.

  Not only had I been spared of Mizuko, Junko, and that insolent mutt, but it seemed our entourage’s ‘alliance’ had been torn apart by Furusawa’s unfortunate (but appreciated) departure.

  As such, Kozuki was practically a freebie. To have a partner so willing to obey, and serve…not so bad on the eyes, either. I had undoubtedly emerged from st night’s dumpster fire as the clear victor, and I had no intentions of stopping here.

  Not until I’d reached the very top. Not until these plebians recognized me for who I was; a shining star, risen above the filth and muck.

  But before that day came to pass, there was work to be done, and as this deteriorating body of mine kept reminding me, time was absolutely of the essence.

  As soon as the target had been picked, and I made my empty promises of coming to assist them (dream on), Red and I got to work. There was a certain someone who had had the nerve to threaten me with their filthy mouth, and they would soon learn I didn’t take threats lightly.

  “I’m not gonna warn you again,” Daisuke groaned, clutching that strange tome even tighter. “Get the fuck out.”

  While I’d expertly filtered the information I’d received from ‘Inja’ to just myself, I had no way of knowing how much Kurogane knew. About what had transpired here before we came - about what had been transpiring here years before we were even in the picture.

  In fact, the truth about our situation here was so outndish that I thought I was still dreaming.

  It was just yesterday, during our first (and only) meeting on the rooftop. As you know, I had arrived te, but not for the reasons I gave. In fact, I would argue I arrived right on time.

  As I silently crept through the flights of stairs to the rooftop, careful so as to not even allow my breathing to make a sound, I found him there.

  The school janitor, whose name I had no reason to know up until then, was peering out into the space through the ever so slightly ajar door, a sharp ray of yellow sunlight shooting through the gap and illuminating his aged features.

  My theory had been spot on.

  “Don’t move a muscle.” I instructed, low enough so that those outside couldn’t hear. I noticed the man’s muscles begin to tense.

  “Back away slowly from the door, and come downstairs. We’re going to have a little chat.”

  Making sure the hallways were absolutely clear, I gestured the janitor into an empty cssroom. The way he sauntered in, as though he’d been picked for some kind of prize, sent a chill down my spine.

  After turning the lock and pulling down the blinds on the windows, I turned around and audibly gasped. He was stood less than six feet away from me, staring me down. Was he always this tall?

  Against my will, I retreated back only to collide against the door with a rattle.

  “G-Get back!” I demanded. He continued to stare. Was he going to kill me here? If so, I’d fallen right for his trap.

  “They’re going to ask, you know.” He said suddenly. I was losing control of my breathing.

  “…Ask what?”

  He remained silent for a few seconds, observing me before finally creating distance and moving toward the other side of the cssroom, re-arranging some of the desks and chairs whilst humming a tune to himself.

  Relieved, involuntary breaths began to pour out of me. I had almost bitten off more than I could chew.

  I wouldn’t be repeating that mistake again.

  “Calm down,” He sighed upon watching me searching for the cssroom keys I’d taken from him. “I’m not going to kill you. Not here, anyway.”

  His eyes were patronizing, as though he thought of me as some kind of amateur. A spark began to light in my chest, though I halted my scrolling through the key collection.

  “As I was saying, they’re going to ask what your ability is at some point, you know. “

  In that moment, I knew for certain that I had guessed correctly. Juno themselves was stood directly in front of me.

  “I know.” I replied, keeping my voice even.

  “After that stunt you pulled yesterday, we can both agree that telling them the truth is no longer an option, yes?”

  I stayed silent, keeping my eyes on him as he meandered between rows of desks, straightening them and wiping off any debris.

  Now that I considered it, it was strange that Tensei had a full-time janitor in the first pce. Most schools hire maintenance staff, yes, but a lot of the cleaning would get done by the students on duty and some of the staff.

  What made this school so special?

  “What do you pn on doing about that?”

  “None of your business,” I reminded.

  In response, he ughed a ugh so hearty and carefree I began to genuinely fear for my life. As ashamed as I am to admit, I wished the others were here.

  “If you insist, Cordyceps.”

  There it was. That name again. Oh God. I had gone over again and again what I would do, what I would say, if I ended up being correct in my assumptions that Juno was at our school and watching us; yet in the moment, I was more useless than a sitting duck.

  I took a deep breath and started again from the top.

  “You’re Juno, aren’t you?”

  They gave me a look that was difficult to decipher - equal parts puzzlement and amusement, with a dash of…pride? Either way, they remained silent.

  “I figured out your identity before anyone else,” I continued. “ And after only one night. For such a dispy of initiative and astuteness, I believe a reward is in order.”

  I waited for any sort of recognition at my words, but they kept looking at me with that strange expression. I needed to do some more convincing – luckily for me, I was quite the skilled negotiator.

  “Don’t you want someone like me, who can make the game more interesting?” I offered, recalling Juno’s unsettling words from yesternight. “I can bring a new kind of intensity to the Hollow Night; if only you’ll let me.”

  Finally, Juno raised an eyebrow curiously, a small smirk pying at their lips. Despite finding out their identity, I was still in the deep end and they knew it.

  Even if I reported my findings back to my ‘comrades’, who would believe us? Bckmail was out of the question.

  I had to appeal to Juno’s twisted sense of showmanship in order to make something out of this discovery.

  After what felt like an eternity, they finally replied, “State your terms.”

  I wasted no time and held out my index finger.

  “First, I ask that you provide me with a secondary power.” I demanded. “I’m sure I don’t need to expin why.”

  They stroked their chin curiously, closing their eyes and nodding to themselves as though they were weighing up the request.

  “And second?”

  I took a deep breath and let loose the words that had been forming themselves in my chest. I flexed my middle finger.

  “I want to know the truth about the Hollow Night. Everything there is to know about it.”

  At that request, Juno dispyed a grin so wide and sinister I immediately regretted asking.

  “I accept your terms.” They whispered.

  It was then that I was given my second ability – the very same that had been ravaging my body and fighting for dominance. According to Inja, this was the ability – the EXS - of Asahi Yoshida, one of the previous game’s pyers.

  As of recent, I’d even been hearing voices. Murmurings and whispers that vanish into thin air the moment I focus on them. By harbouring his EXS, I had introduced a tug-of-war between my soul and his, with my body suffering colteral damage all the while.

  Of course, I had also been told the haunting truth about the Hollow Night.

  About why we had been brought here to suffer so. It was that knowledge that kept me going, and hastened me to carry out my pn quickly – before it was too te.

  With my attention back on the present, I continued watching as Miharu advanced toward Daisuke.

  “Fine…” He spat as a distinct red glow radiated from his direction. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  As if in response, Kozuki’s body also began to glow a faint red. Ah, to have an ability as convenient as that, to predict the very future! Even more fortunate to have the user of said ability as an underling.

  I began to ready my abilities – both of them – and kept an eye on the book that Kurogane was clinging to so dearly. It was the key to everything, and I was determined to cim it, no matter the cost.

  Soon, I would stand on the brink of destiny, ready to seize control of my fate and carve out my dominion.

  The greatest act was about to begin.