Mikael walked through the school halls with Hyde and Mary looking at the photo of the suspect. He had black hair slicked back and what seemed to be a streak of white. It was enough to point him out from a distance so his facial details were unnecessary yet amongst a sea of students with black hair, it was difficult to pinpoint the right one.

Hyde held up the photo next to a random student’s face. “No…” he muttered. He stopped by a short haired female and looked at the photo then back at her face and shook his head muttering “Not it either…”

Mary lowered her head embarrassed hearing the students scoff and walked past commenting quietly on how weird Hyde was. “I don’t think we’ll find him.”

Hyde rubbed his chin “We have to. If they find us first then we’ll end up like that shopkeeper.”

Mikael remembered the bloody mess that was made in the recording he saw. The man was gasping for air, vomiting blood just by being hit with some kind of slow dark bullet. Hyde was right, if they were found by the suspect first then they’ll end up in a mangled mess of flesh and limps. He shuddered at the idea of magic corrupting his veins.

So how were they supposed to find the student? They knew nobody who possessed magic. They could bait him out, but with what..? Questions led to more questions and kept leading them back to square one. Thankfully rescue came,

"Hey detectives." Cran stopped in front of them. "You look busy. What's this?" He snatched the photo out of Hyde’s hand to examine it closely. He then tossed it behind himself “Oh you’re looking for him? Yeah he hangs out in the oddest places at school.”

Hyde and Mikael scrambled for the photo Cran seemingly tossed away like trash. It wasn’t on the floor and he clearly didn’t throw it out the window.

“It’s in my hand!” Cran smiled holding up the photo. “Cool trick right? Right?”

Mikael tilted his hat downwards “Impressive, but don’t scare us like that.”

Cran handed the photo back to Hyde and motioned for them to follow him to the roof of the school.

There was nothing to be seen on the roof but there was something to be seen below. Cran leaned off the edge of the railings and told the detectives to look at a gathering of delinquent boys. They wore long coats, chains and had dyed hair color. All of which broke the school’s uniform rules but the administration didn’t care anymore, they were uncontrollable. One of them was allied with Soap and Hyde spotted him, the one with a streak of white hair.

Hyde grinned confidently “So we just have to interrogate him right?”

Cran shrugged “Sure go ahead. You’ll be beat up and left outside to rot. I’m not sure if the nurse will even help you because of the magic inflicted wounds you’ll have.”

“Huh?!” Mary's eyes widened in shock, yet she wanted him to explain what he was exactly saying. Cran moved away from the railing and explained how they normally gathered to exchange special weapons for profit to buy even stronger special weapons. Of course they sold drugs and the like, but arms dealing was the main purpose of gathering.

“How do you know all this?” Mikael had to ask.

Cran laughed “We’re detectives now. Getting information is our number one priority!”

They were all envious of the skills the Blue Corps possessed. The knights always seemed to be miles ahead while Hyde and his friends were left to struggle. Hyde placed one foot on the railing “I’ll beat it out of them!”

“Don’t you dare!” Mikael and Mary grabbed his back and pulled him back to the ground.

“Don’t be stupid Hyde! Those guys are stronger than us.” Mikael scolded.

“We need to have a plan before we approach them.” Mary added.

“Tch!” Hyde was annoyed at his weakness. He was annoyed that they were all equally weak compared to the older members in the agency. He picked himself up, brushing his uniform off, “Fine, then our plan is to take things moderately slow.”

He began to return back into the school. Mary and Mikael had no choice but to follow him because he was certainly going to get himself into trouble in one way or another.

They walked together out and back behind the school building. Passing a garden and stepping onto flat green grass. The school was really well kept for a formerly prestigious school. They stopped at a distance from the boy and his gang.

Mikael leaned closer to Hyde “What should we do?”

“Uhhh, wait for whatshisface.”

“I think his name is Cranberry. They call him Cran a lot.”

“Hey what are you guys whispering about?” Mary said loudly. Instantly Hyde and Mikael told her to shush, but they would attract the attention of the small gang. The boy they were looking for had his hands in his pocket and a cigar in his mouth, shirt untucked and so on.

“What’re you doin’ standing there? I don’t like the way you’re looking at me.” the boy glared. Hyde began to sweat nervously “Sorry, you look like you still had breakfast on your face.”

“Holy…” Mikael lowered his hat as that was possibly one of the worst responses Hyde could give. Mary doubled down and made it worse “Smoking is bad for your health and is bad for the lungs. I should report this to the principal.”

“You guys are gonna get us killed!” Mikael was then grabbed by the collar by the boy. “Ack! Why me!”

“You’re that dork cowboy I’ve been seeing in the halls. Why don’t you take that stupid hat off? It’s bad for your health.” he took Mikael’s hat and pushed him back.

“Heh yeah you tell em, Nakata!” one of his lackeys said.

He placed the hat on and began to mock Mikael “Look at me! I’m a cowboy yeehaw!” he scoffed and tossed the hat on the ground “Idiot. Go home or else I’ll kick your ass.”

“Hyde, I think we should leave.” Mary said quietly. Nakata’s eyes widened upon hearing the name. Of course Hyde was known for having excellent grades, it just came naturally to him.

Nakata cracked his knuckles “Well well well I get to meet smarty pants over here. I was told to be wary of a boy with high grades.” he took out a dagger with a silver blade and was so cold that they could see the frost aura around the weapon.

Naturally one of his friends tried to intervene “W-whoa hold on. I don’t think killing someone is worth the pay. We’ll be prisoners for life!”

“We can just bail ourselves out with the money duh!” Nakata spun the dagger in his hand “We’ll just beat them unconscious and let him take care of the rest.”

Mikael picked up his hat and turned away “Let's… let’s get the hell outta here!”

“Oh no you don’t!” Nakata aimed to slash Mikael while his back was turnt. Instead, Hoka took the blow for him, getting slashed across her neck. Hyde gasped, the girl was fast and brave. Why did she do it? That was so stupid!

She fell back into Hyde’s arms and choked on blood. His hands trembled and he had this unshakably feeling as if the girl was his best friend. He barely knew her, she was thrusted into his arms by Yamiko and now he failed to take care of her. She raised her hand to touch his face, her hands were so soft.

…..

…..

…..

Her empty words said so much…

Nakata backed away sweating “Oh h-haha!” he laughed nervously “S-see! That’s what you get for messin’ with us!”

“We’re totally going to prison dude!” one of his lackeys fell to his knees. “Shut up! Help me beat up the witnesses, I don’t care!”

Only 2 of his friends had the courage to arm themselves with wooden bats.

"Hyde up here!"

Hyde looked up at the school roof to see Cran and Ibuki. They tossed 3 katanas off the roof. How was this gonna help them at all? They didn't know how to fight.

"Kept you waiting huh?" Cran said down at the group. Hyde wanted to punch him more than Nakata for that comment. He placed Hoka away from the soon to be battlefield before taking the katana. Mikael and Mary did the same.

Holding the weapon made him feel so cool. He just had to say, "You'll pay for what you did to Hoka."

"We'll handle the others. Focus on Nakata." Mikael ran forward with Mary and began their battle.

Nakata ran towards Hyde and swiped downwards. An attack easily dodged and countered by Hyde striking his shoulder. For some reason he felt as if he fought many times before. Blocking and attacking all came naturally to him.

"Gotcha!" Hyde kicked Nakata back. He raised his arm with a dark aura around his hand. "Guess I gotta stop messing around."

Cran shouted "Watch out! He's about to use dark magic!"

Dark magic was an element that could not be learned naturally. It requires the user to inherit it by blood or possess a dark special weapon. Hyde assumed the latter. He ran forward and tackled Nakata before he could cast the spell and stabbed the katana into his arm which held the dagger. Blood splatter all over his sword.

"A-ah! Aaaaaah!" Nakata screamed in pain. Hyde cringed at his pained screams "Where did you get that dagger from?"

"Soap! He gave it to me for working with him." Nakata spilled all the information he had, "We met in an alleyway in Osaka. That's everything I know!"

Hyde removed the sword and sheathed the bloody blade. He needed to move quickly if he wanted to save Hoka. "Mary, Mikael, we need to go!"

"Right!" Mikael nodded and dropped his katana to help Hyde with carrying Hoka to the infirmary.

Ibuki let out a deep breath. "That was really worrying..."

"It's something us knights have to go through a lot. Fighting with our lives on the line. Soap is a formidable enemy." Cran smirked "Cherri could die to his hand anytime."

This hit Ibuki deeply but she tried to hide it behind an unmoving expression. She looked at the katana Mikael dropped and shook her head "I'm never going to let her die."

"That's a good resolve but foolish nonetheless." Cran moved away from the railings "Let's get out of here before a teacher notices."

What a weird question...

────── 〔✿〕──────

Luckily the girl was awake and alive. Sitting up on the hospital bed looking out the window staring at people walking by on the street. Mary and Hyde’s arrival caused her to change attention to them.

“You’re awake!” Mary smiled.

The pink haired girl didn’t smile back. Or showed any emotion at all. Seems like something Hyde would do. He dropped a sweat with a weak smile… wondering if he was truly that emotionless.

“...”

Silence spread for a bit before Mary spoke up. “S-so uh… Is your neck fine?” she asked.

The girl nodded.

“Can you talk? Take your time if you’re struggling to speak.” Mary said.

The pink haired girl’s mouth opened but nothing came out. Despite her hardest, not a voice or sound was made.

“You can’t speak huh… your vocal chords must’ve been slashed.” Mary frowned then looked around. “Hyde, do you have a pen and paper?”

Hyde dug in his pocket and took out a crumpled piece of paper and a spare pen. Items he stored away for later. He gave them to the girl and she began writing her answers right away. She was now permanently mute. Her throat was still somewhat sore and she wished to have water.

"When you put it like that, it sounds like you're demanding us." Hyde commented.

Hoka nodded with a blank expression still left on her face. Hyde could no longer tell whether she was joking or not.

"We'll get the nurse. Come on Hyde." Mary said while tugging on his sleeve.

Hyde had a feeling that he should stay by her side but allowed himself to be dragged out by Mary. It'll be a bit before Hoka fully recovers. The two waved their goodbyes and promised to return next time.