🥀 Blinded by Rose Petals 🥀

Part 1 - What sits in his mind

{Korekiyo's POV}

It's raining today.

The busy morning streets are now surrounded with fog. Everyone is taking unconsidered steps in the puddles of water, rushing to their current destination.

Dun umbrellas are poking against each other, making a sturdy barier that protects people from raindrops above. And yet, there's one in a bright shade of red. One that belongs to someone curious of the world - standing still, looking upwards and admiring the weather; Undisturbed by anyone passing by.

That person is Rantaro Amami. From what I know, he's the Ultimate Adventurer. His curly green hair resembles vines, cut down in the middle of an escape. His viridescent eyes glow like marbles every time he looks at something new. His uniform is messily worn, suggesting that he's constantly rushing towards his next adventure. And he's just a few steps away from me; Always.

I've never actually talked to him. Well, maybe once, but he doesn't remember it for sure. I often stare into the distance in hopes of seeing him somewhere again on the school grounds. Maybe one day he will approach me again. Yet, now is not the time for wondering about that. I have to get into the school building, or else I'll be late.

. . .

My name is Korekiyo Shinguji. I am the Ultimate Anthropologist, and I attend to Hope's Peak for a second year. However, I don't have many friends, and many people find me odious. Isn't it truly ironic?

Me, a person who studies about mankind, is rejected by society itself? Pathetic. Truly, pathetic. Although, oddly enough, it doesn't feel like that at all.

I enjoy observing humanity from afar. I enjoy observing its behaviors, compulsions, incidents, hostilities, accomplishments... There is nothing more interesting than the human being.

The art of anthropology has been glorified for centuries, and many wish to know more about its dark secrets. Rituals, tribes, blasphemy, legends and folklore are all at humanity's core - and that is what interests me the most.

Ending up in Hope's Peak was just the fulfillment of fate. There is nobody else who could take the position of the Ultimate Anthropologist other than me. No one loves humanity more than I do.

And in fact, I do also love the occult. Many would say I am weird, however... I can sometimes hear my deceased sister, and feel her desires. It's not thanks to any rituals or sacrifices, but mostly to my faith in her soul lingering somewhere on earth; She influences me in a way that sometimes even I don't even realize.

I believe that I can bring her the friends that she needs. But, to do that, I need to dirty my hands a little. It's not so often that I do it, however, my current count stands at 22. My goal is to bring her a 100 friends. Yes... wonderful people shall join her soon.

. . .

Before I can realize, it is already noon - the time for lunch. I decide to wander aimlessly in the school corridors, maybe even visit the roof for a while. There's nothing else better to do anyway, since I don't eat much at all; What I usually do during those long breaks is walk around and think.

Why do I even notice him?

There's a reason why I keep spotting Rantaro everywhere. Even if I don't want to, my eyes always search for the green hair of his. My ears await the sound of his voice, and my body freezes completely whenever I finally spot him. It's something out of the ordinary.

I love observing other people, but with Amami it's just... different. In his case, I want to get near him; I want to be a part of his life, even if for a moment. I want him to have a memory of me, some sort of a special feeling whenever he sees me. I want him to... feel the same.

For the past few days, I keep wondering... Why is that the case? I never excessively try to find someone around the school grounds like this, or anywhere in general.

...

...Unless it would be for sister.

I pay a lot of attention to people who my sister could be friends with. I observe their behaviors to deem them worthy or unworthy of my sister's attention. I make sure to get to know everything about them in a short amount of time.

The same is happening with Rantaro.

I suddenly freeze in place. I stand still in the middle of an empty corridor. My mouth opens itself before I can realize.

"She wants him to be her friend...?"

This weird feeling is suddenly filling my body. The feeling of fear. Usually I enjoy it, but in this case, it feels more ominous.

The only friends that I bring to my sister are women. I stalk them down, figure out the best time to strike and help them go through the same gates my sister had passed to leave me.

Was I supposed to do the same to Amami?

Well, that would explain most of my unusual behavior. If he truly was a friend worth having, then I would have to fulfill my sister's request. She would never love anyone else more than me, right? I need to... put my trust in her.

Yes. Rantaro Amami, the Ultimate Adventurer, will be my next... target.

I continue walking down the hallway with a forced grin on my face - covered completely by the mask I'm wearing.

This is the same as always. Don't worry, Kiyo.