"Why did you keep the victims records from me?"
Sixx blinks, in shock.
"Keep?" He asks, tilting his head.
"Oh, I see what you're asking." Sixx gets up.
Ari stares deeply at Sixx.
"I kept them because you didn't ask for them. But maybe I also wanted to see how the mind of a top Sangre De Reyes student works. I ain't disappointed." Sixx replies.
"Is that so?" Ari replies, still eyeing Sixx suspiciously.
Ari relaxes and sighs.
"So… what do you think? Is it the principal? A teacher? A student?"
Sixx straightens the big self-portrait of himself behind his desk.
"Well, since the victims have been pronounced dead shortly after the classes end, it's probably not a teacher." Sixx says.
Ari crosses his arms and nods, thinking hard.
"So you think the killer is a student?" Ari asks.
"It's looking that way… yeah."
"But If I'm not mistaken, Roxanne Bay City High-school isn't a mana school. Roxanne is predominantly a human region, with almost no mana users, right?" Ari says.
"That's right. It's rare for mana users to reside here since under the Special Abilities Registration Act, permanent residency for high-mana individuals is tightly controlled, leading most to settle elsewhere." Sixx replies.
Sixx takes a sip of his coffee.
"Only a genius could awaken mana out of thin air. You either awaken it by puberty, or you never do. It's super rare to do so later on in life." Sixx explains.
"Yeah. My father taught me your life energy opens up around ages four to seven, later on forming into what we call mana." Ari says.
"I'm sure you know this. But if it comes down to it, I won't be able to help you in a fight, as that would interfere with your mission." Sixx says, sitting himself down in the chair.
Ari scoffs,
"Don't worry, I won't need your help."
…
Saint suddenly wakes up with crippling anxiety, breathing heavy.
'Where am I?!'
He looks around to see a dark, cozy and tidy room.
'Where are Shinsei and Viola?'
Saint slowly gets up from the bed.
'What is this place?' He thinks as he carefully walks around the cozy room. It's warm and comfortable.
His eyes fall on a painting on the wall.
A beautiful portrayal of a bird flying out of its cage.
Saint stares intently at the painting.
He starts clutching his heart.
A single tear falls from his eyes.
Just then, Viola bursts into the room, skipping with excitement.
"Saaaaaaaint!" she sings,
Viola sees Saint staring at the painting.
"Oh! You're up! Hm…? Saint, look at meee! I'm here!"
She jumps, waving her arms around.
Saint turns his head slowly, Viola sees his single tear streaming down his face.
Viola blushes in shock, Saint stares back with no expression.
"Viola…" He says,
"E-excuse me." Viola says as she quickly sprints into the bathroom.
Viola supports herself on the sink, breathing heavy.
'That's the first time I've seen a man cry…'
After regaining her composure, Viola walks back outside, she sees Saint, still standing in front of the painting, eating a steamed bun.
"Viola." Saint says, still chewing.
"Saint… you're awake…" Viola says, carefully walking toward him.
"Hm? Why are you so dressed up?" Saint asks.
Viola blinks, she spins, showing Saint the rest of her outfit.
"I was at work! Did you miss me while I was gone?" She replies bubbly, she's wearing a cheetah print corset with a short black skirt and stockings.
"Tada! Look! My nails! Don't they go perfectly with my hair?" She says, showing off her red nails enthusiastically.
"Work? I didn't tell you to do anything?" Saint replies, confused.
"Not that kind of work, silly! My realwork is being a cute runway model!" She says, tilting her head.
Saint blinks in silence and confusion.
"You have a real job?" He asks, in complete confusion.
"Ehh, of course I do, we have to protect our image, right?"
"Right… I hadn't thought of that… wait, does that mean Shinsei has a job too?"
"Yup! He's a 5-star chef downtown." Viola replies
Saint pictures Shinsei being a chef. He can't see that.
"I see…"
Viola smiles warmly.
"Where are we, by the way?" Saint asks, finishing his steamed buns.
"Entoria." Viola answers, giggling.
…
Unit Zero stand in Shiawase, having defeated Tanna with teamwork.
Just then, the air starts feeling heavy.
Kevo struggles to breathe.
Beyce starts shaking, standing still,
Claire's heart starts beating faster and harder.
Plaster starts sweating.
Axia feels her chest tightening.
Niššīku calmly lands in front of them. He puts his claw onto Tanna's blue blood, splattered all over the wall.
Claire starts throwing up violently,
Unit Zero stare at her in shock.
Beyce gets on his knees,
"W-wait… Hold on. Please…" He says, begging for his life.
"Kevo… what should we do?!" Plaster says, gritting his teeth.
Axia stands frozen in place, not even daring to breathe.
Niššīku turns to them,
"Is this fear? You creatures leak it so easily." Niššīku says, in its own language.
Kevo's eyes widen in shock.
'I can't tell what it's saying, but I completely understand it?!'
"Screw this!" Plaster says,
He lunges at Niššīku with insane pace, flames scattering all over his body.
"Eat shit!"
Niššīku slits Plaster throat open faster than anyone could blink.
"You mistake my patience for mercy."
"PLASTER!" Kevo yells.
He sees Beyce still begging in fear, Axia too stunned to move, and Claire still throwing up violently.
Niššīku kicks Plaster in the abdomen, sending him flying far away.
"I can hear every breath you take." Niššīku says,
Kevo zaps his leg, shocking him briefly.
He takes off at a rapid pace and grabs Axia away from the scene.
"Axia! Axia, wake up!"
Kevo says as he carries her away into the mall.
Just then, he runs into Niššīku's abdomen.
Kevo stumbles back.
"When did he-"
Niššīku flicks Kevo away, sending him flying painfully out of the mall, he crashes against a distant wall, instantly knocking him out.
Niššīku grabs Axia by the head firmly, about to crush it.
…