The next day Kibe would be getting ready for school, he knew in his mind that if he didn't give it his all. Bato would roll over him like a tsunami.
And yet, regardless of what was to come...Kibe felt as calm as ever. "I'm ready." He thought as he then put his shoes on with Himmy watching him from behind as she sat on the stairs.
"You sure you got this guy?" Himmy asked. Kibe didn't hesitate to answer "Yes".
"He will do anything to win, anything to put Nori Kibe down, six feet under if he needs to. I have to be willing to meet the same extremes if I'm to succeed, if I'm to win." Kibe said. Himmy just stared at Kibe as he then stood tall and grabbed the door knob.
"Once this starts theres no going back." Kibe thought as he then opened the door and left his home. He would eventually arrive at Sawa High which held the posters of the debate to come. The debate that would determine rather it would be Bato or Kibe being seen as the greater choice; for representation of course.
Kibe's eyes followed that of everyone else's, almost like they were gazing into Kibe's eyes through the silhouetted posters held along the walls. And as he closed his eyes he witnessed himself upon a stage, where he'd see them all. Yet the only one wearing a mask in the audience was them themselves. Him being the only one unmasked, at least to their best knowledge. Kibe would reopen his eyes before looking to the side and towards one of the windows on the second level of the main building. He would see none other than Cho and Katsumi staring at him from it. His eyes glimpsed them for a moment before making his way inside. Eventually as he entered he would arrive to their location, where he'd see Cho digging her hand in a small bag of gummy bears where he'd see Katsumi flipping a coin up and down.
"I'll assume you have a reason for waiting for me as you did; beside attempting to see if I came here on time." Kibe asked as he stood before them. Katsumi continued to flip the coin in his hand as Cho at one last gummy, her smile spreading as she wiped her mouth with a single finger. "What makes you think we were waiting for you?" asked Cho.
"No one stands around for nothing but two reasons, one of them being to stand itself and the other holding the place of the one who would stand beside them." Kibe answered.
"Quiet the articulate answer, even for you." Cho said, "Even for me." Kibe thought.
"Hideaki is looking for some answers from you." Cho said.
"Why didn't he come himself?" Kibe asked
"He doesn't know you as well as I've observed you, he feels you'd dance around him like a ballerina on ice. Looking to get a perfect score, but not for the judges." Cho said
"Accurate." Kibe said.
"He wants to know your stance in this all. Hes heard that you challenged Bato for the running position of Sawa High's IPOW representative. Only thing puzzling him though...is why." Cho said.
"Why does anyone do anything." Kibe said.
"..."
"...For something." Katsumi answered getting Kibe's brief attention. He then looked back to Cho.
"I enjoy word games Nori, but only after breakfast and sometimes after lunch. It is currently after breakfast and far before lunch, so please. Plain elaboration will do." Cho said as she dug in her bag of gummies once again. "I want to best Bato. That is my reasoning, nothing more." Kibe said.
"And if you don't?" Cho asked.
"I will." Kibe answered quickly.
"So certain." Cho said.
"Often am." Kibe replied.
"Bato intends to embarress you during his speech, your a nobody Nori. You haven't interacted with anyone while he has. While you have been galivanting around doing...whatever it is you do. Hes gotten to know the student body, hes touched tips with the nerds and pet the egos of the delinquents that lotter this place.
What is it you've done? Beside constantly show your face from time to time." Cho asked.
"...Nothing, which means expectations for me are at an all time high." Kibe said as he looked out the window to see Jun making her way into the building. His eye lingered on her for a moment.
"When someone does a favor for another, the reciprocate has subconsciously placed them on a pedestal. Do more and you become someone who they expect more from. Bato has made the mistake of allowing these people to gather an image about him. An image he cannot break or alter, otherwise he risks showing them a side of his canvas of a personality that no one bought tickets to see.
Me on the other hand, I am like a fresh canvas, Waiting to be painted on and shown just how creative it can be used. I will utilize the blankness of my canvas by giving them what they know not what they need.
People walk across the line of life taking and grabbing at the things that catch ther eyes, yet don't know the things they need do not come in colors, but in perquisites. Ones assigned to them far before the conception of their very birth. I will be the one to show them just what that is. Or at the most, how to attain it." Kibe said.
"And how will you be doing that?" Cho asked.
"By showing them what I have attained by doing the same." Kibe answered. That is when the school bell would ring. All three of them would look up before looking back to one another.
"Thats time." Cho said as she put her bag of treats away. Katsumi flipped the coin one last time before catching it. He'd then place it in his pocket. Kibe eyes would focus on Cho.
"Now then." Cho said
"I'm going to assume that we won't be meeting again during this." Kibe said.
"Correct, wouldn't want others to believe you can't handle anything on your own. We'll be in touch though." Cho said as she then waved Kibe away and walked down the hallway ahead, Katsumi stared at Kibe before following Cho. Kibe simply stared at them before then looking back down the hallway he came from and walking towards his classroom.
During class Kibe would be watching as his teacher went through the lesson, this one was focused on the structing of strategies pertaining to mathematical equations, solving in a method utilizing probability to determine the likeliest of answers. However he kept the lesson steady as not to travel further ahead or into the layers of skeptisism.
However Kibe found the brief summary of probability and it's usage in solving mathematical problems to be a refreshing change of pace. He saw it as a means of explaining the world at large almost, seeing the people and the many facets and choices of those facets; all of them being explained plainly as if show a complete puzzle.
As when he stared at situations he envisioned the complex decision making of others as that of a infinte railroad track. Tracks that could go on forever at times, while also intersecting with other tracks. Some even collecting more cars as they continued down their pathway. During his thinking though Kibe would overhear some of the girls talking about the recent murder from the news.
"Ah yes, the recent killer. They killed a doctor from mother's hospital." Kibe thought, he had his suspicions. He didn't believe it was possible for it to be a message from Brandon. Yet he did remain open to the possibility, he did also come to the thought that there could just be another killer on the lose.
Thinking about it did make his brain exercise a tad, as he wondered on the motive that they had. Why kill the man in such a flamboyant way, why. That was the question, why, why and why. Yet Kibe couldn't exactly put his finger on it. The motive clearly was to demonstrate the lack of intelligence that the man must have had in life, showing his beauty in death to be the only meaningful thing about his existence.
The removal of his brain to show the emptiness that laid bare inside. It was all a message, maybe even a signal. No one else he'd seen had ever killed like this. And from the police reports he read while he worked with them showed nothing of the sort either. Kibe couldn't deny the curiosity he felt towards this case. He did wonder how the police were handling, knowing their best Mr.Nakyama, they could see a success in cracking it soon.
"And remember students there is a assembly today, one going over the applicants of the IPOW, so be sure to attain and show some respect and appreciation for your school." said the techer.
"Yes sir!" replied the students. Kibe's eyes were simply focused on his own thoughts, like they swam in front of like physical imagery he could take apart and put back together. While he thought, Jun would be looking to him from afar. When Richard was speaking to Kat the other day, she would be there in the back watching it all. Hearing about Kat's words about the White rabbit. Of smoke...of the machine. Kibe would be in the library later in the middle of the school day. Everyone was getting themselves together, Kibe could hear them bringing up the debate every once in a while, as he read.
As he continued to read he'd see a book drop in front of him on the table. His eyes looked up from his and saw that it was Jun.
"Well, officer Jun. How goes the manhunt?" Kibe asked as he closed his book and looked up. "Its going as well as it can. We don't have leads, but it seems that Richard is making strides.
Says that there is a likelihood it could be someone in the building. An employee." Jun said.
"..."
"He kinda talks like you too." Jun said, Kibe looked up to her. "Richard I mean." Jun said.
"He talks like you." she said, "Uh huh. Well, be sure to let me know if its confirmed we're doppelgangers." Kibe said as he folded his arms. "You have any clues on this? I know you had a bit hand in the Alice case, but I-
I guess I'm just asking if you'll give me some hints." Jun asked.
"Hints? Like for what?" Kibe asked.
"I want to know what makes this one tick. They give us a grand spectacle and then next thing we know we don't see anything from them for nearly weeks. Somethings up. I'm not sure what it is yet." Jun said as she put her hands together. Kibe took a sigh as he looked over across the room and saw some of the students in a study group together.
"...Is there any events being held there? Something that may give us a chance to go and explore the hospital." Kibe asked.
"Actually yes. Their holding a memorial there for the man, we can attend and then ask some questions while we're there." Jun said.
"Mhmm." Kibe nodded.
"Thats brilliant! And then while there we can gather any means of evidence from that place, maybe even follow up on Richard's theory." Jun said as she began to write down what Kibe had just suggested.
"Maybe we can bring him too." Kibe said.
"Richard?" Jun asked.
"Yes, I think I'd like to meet him. See his mind at work. From what I can tell he seems to be like Brandon...well minus the fact he isn't Brandon." Kibe said. "Heheh, yea. But thats a good call too. I'll give him a heads up and see if hes down for it." Jun said as she got on her phone. Kibe watched her before looking to his book.
"An opportunity to see the one whoes hunting me and maybe even, to get rid of him altogether. That depends though...if he really is anything like Brandon. I suppose I'll see when me and him meet." Kibe said.