Melody of Love

A Deadly Trigger

Throughout the forest, many students were scattered all around. And a few minutes before Kyouka and Kota's encounter with the dangerous-looking man, they all had their own experiences.

Somewhere near the entrance of the forest, Ojiro could hear teeth chattering next to him and turned to see Toru's shoulders were crossed, most likely grabbing her arms. "Is everything okay, Hagakure? You're not scared, are you?"

"N-No! It's just freezing out here! Can't you see what I'm wearing?!" Toru defended herself, trying to look brave.

"That's all I can see..." Ojiro muttered before looking at his own clothes. "But you're not wearing that much less than I am. Only difference is that I have slee-"

Rustles were heard in the bushes and Toru let out a loud yelp as she tighlt clung onto Ojiro's arm. "WHAT WAS THAT?!"

However, only a squirrel ran out of the bushes, and Ojiro held in a laugh as he looked at the girl. "It was only a squirrel. You didn't have to be so scared and grab my ar-" He then really felt how close Toru was and felt his face getting a little hot. "You know what...It's fine."

Toru continued to keep her clutches on the boy, feeling her own face get hot as well, but still didn't loosen her hold on him. 'Oh jeez, what I do? If I let go now, he might think I'm repulsed by him. Which I'm not! But could this gesture also give him some kind of idea...?'

The two shy teenagers continued their walk through the path in front of them, not realizing that a knife was brandished by a figure watching them from the bushes, who softly giggled.

'They're so cute together! But I think I can make them even cuter~'

XXX

A little further along the path, Itsuka was covering her mouth with her arm and wrapping her enlarged hands around Yui, who was carrying an unconscious Juzo.

She was currently surrounded by this purple gas that had just knocked out Juzo. Her eyes darted around to figure out what she could do in this situation. 'There has to be someone else around here!'

A floating eye suddenly appeared in front of her, making Itsuka jump and almost let go of her own mouth before speaking in a muffled voice. "Setsuna?"

The eye only winked at her before Itsuka heard Setsuna's voice from the forest. "Over there, Awase! Honenuki's out cold!"

Soon, Awase ran over to them, wearing a gas mask with a couple of masks in hand along with more welded to his clothes. "Great find, Tokage!"

Itsuka then noticed that Tetsutetsu was welded to Awase's back, and he was knocked out and wearing a gas mask. "Tetsutetsu! Did the gas get him too?"

Setsuna's disembodied, eyeless head followed right behind Awase and Itsuka could see a sad expression under her gas mask. Meanwhile, Awase started to hand Itsuka and Yui their own masks.

"We were caught off guard by the gas coverin' the area, and Tetstetsu pushed me out of the gas before I got caught up in it...I didn't even notice it until I was out of the way, and he was out cold..." Setsuna sighed as she rubbed her arm, her eye returning to her, the guilt on her face now apparent. "I'm sorry..."

Itsuka and Yui had their masks on before Itsuka walked over to Setsuna and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Don't be sorry, Setsuna. Besides, we both know that Tetsutetsu would be chewing you out if you blamed yourself. So, try to keep your chin up and be grateful that you're safe and sound."

Yui gently sat Juzo against a tree, putting a mask on him. "Where'd you get these?"

"Yaoyorozu was nearby and made a bunch of gas masks, and I'm spreadin' them all around the forest with my body parts, in case any of our classmates or anyone from Class A needs 'em." Setsuna raised a brow. "Actually, I think there's only one mask left. So almost everyone should be-Scratch that. Everyone's safe from the gas."