𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐜 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞

Prologue Part 2: Introductions

When me and Makoto open the gym doors, we discover a room full of people. They look over at us as we walk inside. Are these the other Ultimates?

???: "Woah, hey! Two more new kids?"

Makoto: "Huh? Then you guys are...?"

???: "Yeah... we're new here. Today's supposed to be our first day of class."

???: "So counting them, that makes fifteen. Seems like a good cut-off point, but I wonder if this is everyone."

Sayaka: "Sorry we're late! If you don't know me, I'm Sayaka Maizono, and this is my friend Makoto Naegi."

Makoto: "Yeah, a bunch of stuff happened, and then all of a sudden I was just...asleep. Sayaka said the same happened to her..."

???: "Whoa, you guys too?"

???: "Things just keep getting curiouser and curiouser..."

???: "So strange... I declare beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is a strange situation indeed!"

Sayaka: "What are you talking about?"

Makoto:  "I honestly have no idea what's going on right now..."

???: "Just a moment! There's something else we must address! Makoto! Sayaka! Your tardiness is unacceptable! Surely you were aware the meeting was to start at 8 a.m. sharp! To be late on your first day is unspeakable! I must report you, and you must accept your due punishment!"

???: "What's your problem? It's not like they wanted to be late. They didn't have any control over it."

???: "Everyone just calm down! Listen, why don't we all go around and introduce ourselves?"

???: "The hell!? Now's no time for friggin' introductions!"

???: "Maybe, but it may be good to at least find out who we all are before digging into the bigger problems here. I mean, how are we even supposed to talk to each other if we do not know each other's names?"

???: "That's a good point..."

Sayaka: "Okay, so let's get introductions out of the way, then we can move on to whatever else. Sound good?"

Most of the others in the room nod in agreement, with only a few seeming annoyed. I think I'll start with the guy who was yelling at us for being late, who's at one end of the gym, watching the others disperse to go talk to one another. I approach the boy who yelled at us, and he immediately begins speaking. 

???: "I'm Kiyotaka Ishimaru. I believe in bold simplicity! Let's work together on our educational crusade!"

So that's Kiyotaka. I heard that he went to a famous private school and won top honors every year. He's basically a flawless honor student... He's also known for the work he's done with his community's Public Morals Committee. They say he respects rules above all else, earning him the title of Ultimate Moral Compass!

Kiyotaka: "Anyway, you can call me Taka. You said your name was Sayaka Maizono, right?"

Sayaka: "Yep, that's correct!"

Kiyotaka: "That's a good name, a strong name! You should thank your parents for giving you such an excellent name. And to keep that name from losing its value, you must devote yourself every single day! Life is worth putting every ounce of effort into it! Right?"

Sayaka: "Right! Well, it was nice meeting you, Taka!"

I then walk over to a girl with braids, who seems to be keeping to herself. She seems annoyed with me already, and I haven't even said anything yet...

???: "N-not that you'll remember my n-name anyway, but... I'm T-Toko... Toko Fukawa."

Yeah, I heard lots of chatter about a novel she wrote when she was ten that got everyone talking and launched her literary career. Then two years ago she released "So Lingers the Ocean," a love story said to be her masterpiece. The book was such a hit with women that fishermen quickly shot to the top of every "Hottest Men" poll.

Despite her age, she's won countless literary prizes and all her books are instant best-sellers. Which is why she's come to be known as the Ultimate Writing Prodigy. What else would you call such a young and talented author? But I figured she'd be a lovey-dovey type, what with her masterpiece being a romance and all...

Toko: "..."

Sayaka: "Oh! I'm Sayaka Maizono! I look forward to-"

Toko: "Wh-why were you looking at me like that?!"

Sayaka: "Huh?"

Toko: "You were staring at me... l-like I'm some filthy creature!"

Sayaka: "What? No, that's not what I was thinking at all, I promise!"

If I'm being honest, I wasn't even staring. I was just looking at her to see if I recognized her. But I suppose that maybe she doesn't like to show her face publicly that often.

Toko: "I-I know your type... you're just thinking about how much prettier you are... and that y-you've never seen someone so ugly before!"

Sayaka: "Really Toko, you've got it all wrong!"

Toko: "Don't bother trying to l-lie to me! I know it's true. Otherwise, you... I know you can't stand looking at me!"

I try to explain that wasn't it at all, but she just dismissively walked away from me, clearly upset. I sigh, and then see a spunky redhead run up to me.

???: "Yo! The name's Leon Kuwata. What's up?"

Oh, I recognize that name! He played for the national high school champs as their cleanup hitter. The Ultimate Baseball Star, a superb athlete! But still...

Leon: "Not what you were expecting, right?"

Sayaka: "Ah, I suppose I'm just... surprised. I figured with you being the Ultimate Baseball Star and all..."

Leon: "What, were you expecting, some kid with a shaved head?"

Sayaka: "Shaved head...? No, I was just expecting more of a, you know, sporty-looking traditional baseball player type. I mean, with the pictures that were going around online, that's how you looked then."

Leon: "What!? Aw man, you found those old pictures of me playing baseball? Seriously!? I hate those pictures!"

Leon looks clearly embarrassed. 

Leon: "And THE Sayaka Maizono found them...! Guess that kinda throws my chances out the window..."

Sayaka: "Huh? Chances of what...?"

Leon: "Sayaka, can I be totally honest with you?"

Sayaka: "Of course!"

Leon: : "I don't like baseball. Like, at all. I've never gone to a single practice."

He's never practiced, and he was still his team's star player? He's some kind of prodigy...

Leon: "And as soon as I got accepted here, I quit baseball for good! I have my own dream for the future!"

Sayaka: "Really? Wow, that's a big decision... what about your dream for the future?"

Leon: ": My only path in life is getting into music! You can feel that star-quality aura I have, right?"

Sayaka: "Music? That's great, just a bit surprising, I suppose."

Leon: "I'm gonna be a singer, so all I need is a songwriter and someone on guitar, and we're set! I figured since you're already super popular in the music world, you could help me out! Maybe later you could listen to me perform!"

Sayaka: "Oh, uh, sure! I'd love to!"

Leon: "Sweet! This new version of me that's chasing after my dream is, like... super cool to the max!"

Sayaka: "Good for you! It was nice meeting you, Leon."

I step away from him, and look on to the others. So far, the other Ultimates aren't much like I expected, but that's okay! I step over to my next classmate...