The Crimson Thread

Chapter 1: Hey! We Match!

Honnō City. A floating artificial city located within the bay of Tokyo, Japan. The city itself is a marvel of engineering, being able to comfortably float within the bay and support not only the population that lives on it but also the world-renowned school, Honnōji Academy.

Honnōji Academy itself stands far above the buildings of Honnō, being the epicenter of the floating city. All roads that connect the city all converge on the school. The school and even Honnō City were constructed and funded by the Revocs Corporation.

But the story doesn't start within the floating city or within the Academy that acts as its heart. The story begins a few miles away on the mainland of Japan. A small upward and winding road diverges into a small dirt road. Following the road will lead you to a small manor. This was the Matoi residence, "was" being literal as the home had suffered a fire that destroyed the house.

Outside the home leans a rusted bike that had seen many better days. Inside the house, a young girl with black hair with a streak of red, wearing a letter jacket and skirt, kneels in what used to be the living room. In her hands is a sword that looks like half of a set of scissors. She has bruises and cuts all across her body, and she has a look of utter defeat on her face. Even the weather had changed to match her defeated state as rain poured down on top of her.

???: "Father...Father, I'm sorry. I was this close to finding your killer. If only I were stronger, I would beat it out of her!" She shouts into the floor of her old home.

Unaware, the floor beneath her opens up as she falls down the hole. But suddenly, she feels a hand reach out and grasp her wrist, stopping her from falling, but not her scissor blade as she watches it descend into the darkness.

???: "I got you!" She hears a boy's voice that slowly begins to pull her up. Trying to look and get a visual of the boy, she can't as the water from the rain blocks her vision.

Getting pulled up and wiping her eyes, she finally can get a good look at her savior. The young man has deep red hair tied up in a ponytail that hangs down his back. He wears a dark brown coat with a black T-shirt underneath, black pants, and grey combat boots.

Boy: "Good thing I was checking this place out and found you. You all good."

Girl: "What are you doing here? You work for that bitch Satsuki?!" She says while taking a fighting stance.

Boy: "Wow. Not even a thank you. *sigh* You alright? Why were you here?" The girl didn't relent in her stance as she almost swung at the boy.

Girl: "Answer my question, you bastard!"

Boy: "Fine! Geez. I don't know who the hell this Satsuki person is. Can you not try and beat the shit out of me and actually talk...like regular people?" The girl soon calms down as she lowers her arms.

Girl: "Okay. You don't look like one of her stiffs." She sits down underneath one of the parts of the home that isn't drenched. The boy then sits next to her.

Boy: "Look, how about we introduce each other?"

Ryuko: "Ryuko. Ryuko Matoi. This used to be my home. My father lived here, but he was murdered, and Satsuki knows who. But when I tried to find out, she had her goons do this to me. Who are you anyway?"

Hawk: "Hawk Branwen, a pleasure to meet you, Ryuko."

Ryuko: "You're not from here, are you?"

Hawk: "What gave that away?"

Ryuko: "You're too damn nice to be from Tokyo or from Japan."