Special Alice (Gakuen Alice / Alice Academy FF)

SA 72 - Shadow Baldie

{Author}

Misaki sighed heavily as she continued following the Fuukitai. " Excuse me, are you a member of the Discipline Team no. 18?" another Fuukitai said, catching the other's attention.

" Yes, is there a problem?" the one who was holding Misaki asked.

" There was a disturbance from your work, please head to the Main Student Board since you were being summoned by your team leader," the other one explained. The Fuukitai handed Misaki over to fill in his unfinished task before leaving.

The other Fuukitai, who had just arrived, gladly helped him out. Misaki remained silent as they started walking.

" Shouldn't you be watching over Sakura?" the Fuukitai suddenly asked, surprising Misaki.

They stopped in their tracks, and the Fuukitai loosened his grip on her wrist. " Who..." Misaki muttered, looking at the face of the Fuukitai who had just removed his mask.

" Ah, you probably have no idea," he chuckled lightly before using both hands to cover his face. After a while, his original appearance was revealed.

He looked back at Misaki while smiling a little. " Student Council President, representative of the Somatic Class?" Misaki asked while blinking several times.

" Correct," he laughed briefly before pocketing the mask he was holding.

" Goshima Hijiri-san..." Misaki began, but Goshima himself shook his head at the girl.

" You must be very confused, but let's say that someone ordered me to save you," he honestly stated, further confusing Misaki.

" Who is it?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.

" I can't say anything, but please be aware that Sakurano and the others can't help you like before. That's why I was asked to be here," Goshima explained, calmly providing Misaki with information to process.

" As much as possible, stay out of trouble. But don't worry; someone's watching over you in the shadows," he reassured the girl, giving her a nod.

Misaki wasn't sure how to react after hearing that, as she was completely clueless. " Alright, go back to your class and tell them that no punishment was given. I'll handle things from here," Goshima said and started morphing his face into a different appearance. He then handed Misaki a rather familiar mask which she always wear for punishment whenever she rebels and fail a mission.

" Punishment?" Misaki asked, looking at the red panda mask on her hand. Goshima shook his head chuckling. " Nope."

" A prop. There's no punishment inflicted wearing that. It's just a replica of the original without its important punishment feature." he  explained urging Misaki to wear it for the sake of formalities which she complied. She wore the replica mask on her face, it doesn't give her migraines and electric shocks compared to what Persona makes her wear.

" I'm in a bit of a hurry and can't always come to your aid," he told Misaki, giving her a last glance before leaving while wearing his mask once again.

Misaki then walked back to her class, utterly bewildered by the recent turn of events. Students seeing her red panda mask kept murmuring how bad must she be to receive such shameful punishment.

On the other hand, Goshima Hijiri arrived at an office where a man in his twenties sat in a chair, perusing some documents. He had fair skin, light blonde hair, and blue eyes, giving him a striking appearance.

" Principal, Ashikaga Misaki has been successfully rescued," Goshima reported. The man glanced at him with a straight face but seemed pleased that the mission was executed successfully.

Meanwhile, Hotaru and Ruka were hiding behind a bush near Natsume and Tsubasa. They hadn't seen Mikan anywhere after they ran after her, but they had run into Tsubasa, who was lurking around.

" Look, if you don't have any plans, I suggest you go back now. Going against the Fuukitai means a lot of trouble," Tsubasa suggested, not wanting Hotaru and the others to get into trouble.

Natsume and Ruka looked at Hotaru, who looked away, avoiding their gazes. " I didn't expect you two to come along. I was just practicing for the marathon," she made up an excuse for not thinking of a plan.

Tsubasa suddenly sweat-dropped after hearing Hotaru. " Misaki's punishment might not be harsh, but I'll go around and ask my connections about it, there's no need to worry," Tsubasa reassured the three. Natsume's eyes suddenly widened, but Hotaru and Ruka couldn't decipher the meaning of his reaction.

" Connections?" Hotaru repeated, wanting to make sure she had heard correctly.

Tsubasa chuckled briefly and scratched his head. " Ah, you know, my friends... Oh yeah, I've got connections; I'll see what I can do about Misaki's case. Go back now, okay?" he swatted the three away. Hotaru and Ruka ran back but hid behind the bushes, knowing that Natsume had stayed behind.

Natsume suddenly placed his right hand on Tsubasa's left shoulder since the latter's back was already turned toward Natsume. " Oi," Natsume called out.

" Leave her case to me and Tono. Don't do unnecessary things," Natsume stated calmly. Tsubasa turned his head toward Natsume, who was behind him.

" Fine with that?" Tsubasa asked. Natsume pulled his hand away and pocketed both inside his side pockets. " If you do anything that'll blow your cover, Mikan will find out. You were recently transferred to the Dangerous Ability Class..." Natsume was cut off by Tsubasa.

" But she still doesn't know, does she?" Tsubasa asked out.

Natsume pursed his lips together before speaking again. " Because of the transfer student and Misaki's doings, she still doesn't notice anything," Natsume reassured the guy who felt uneasy that Mikan might find out about his transfer to the same ability class with Youichi, Natsume, and Misaki.

" I told the Special Ability Class to cover up for me. Though I may be transferred to that ability class, I still am part of the Special Ability on the outside," Tsubasa replied, not wanting Natsume to worry about Mikan discovering his transfer.

Hotaru and Ruka couldn't believe what they had heard; Tsubasa, Mikan's trusted senpai, was a part of the Dangerous Ability Class. However, they still continued eavesdropping.

" If Mikan finds out, she'll blame herself, just like Misaki did when she found out," Natsume said, looking directly at Tsubasa, who appeared equally serious.

He shook his head, indicating that he had no intention of doing anything to make those two worry or feel down again. " I don't know how to face Mikan when she finds out," Tsubasa sighed heavily, sounding stressed and frustrated.

The two fell silent for a while. "..."

" Your team hasn't caught her yet?" Natsume asked. Hotaru and Ruka gasped in shock, hearing that clearly meant Tsubasa was working undercover like Natsume.

" Yuka Azumi," Natsume stated.

Tsubasa shook his head once more, indicating that his team had failed to capture Yuka. "The move was a false piece of information," he revealed, holding his nape. " Well, considering that she's Mikan's mother, it's natural for the academy to keep an eye on her," he added.

Ruka's eyes widened. " Sakura," he mumbled under his breath. Hotaru clenched her fists tightly while they continued eavesdropping.

" If you catch her, do tell me," Natsume reminded Tsubasa, who agreed to inform him. " I know, one more thing. It seems like that woman's working with someone related to..." he stopped his sentence and stared into the air for a moment.

" With?" Natsume asked, urging him to finish his sentence, but Tsubasa just gave him a smile before shaking his head. " Nothing; I forgot that I still need to check on my girl... Tell me if something's going on around Hotaru and Ruka. I'll go ahead then." he bid goodbye and left, with Natsume walking back as well. Hotaru and Ruka returned too, promising not to mention anything about what they'd heard.