⇲ 𝐊𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐆𝐎𝐄 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘,
𝐊𝐀𝐌𝐈 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇    〉 𝐉𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐍 !
XXXX.      ✿      CIRCA JUNE 2012.
𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐊𝐄
CREEPY NUTS.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Odette, Okarun, Aira, and Momo were finally dressed in the jogging clothes provided by the school nurse, Queen. Towels draped over their heads and shoulders, they sat huddled in the nurse's office. The room felt oddly tense, a mixture of mortification and discomfort lingering in the air.

Odette looked especially out of it, her expression distant and slightly bashful as she crossed her arms over her chest, trying to obscure her more developed areas from the lingering stares of her friends. The fluorescent lighting above didn't help her sense of vulnerability.

Queen, the school nurse, lounged in her chair, her expression one of irritation and faint disdain. Her striking appearance—shoulder-length black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a beauty mark under her lip—contrasted sharply with the ominous crack of the whip in her hand as she slapped it rhythmically against her palm.

Her lab coat, carelessly draped over her shoulders, exposed her otherwise edgy outfit, complete with black thigh-high boots.

"Are you making a fool of me?" Queen snapped, her voice dripping with venom as she turned to glare at the group. "I'll ask one more time." She leaned forward, her sharp gaze cutting through the four teens like a knife.

'I can't believe she's the same woman who let me camp out here when I wanted to skip class,' Odette thought to herself, recoiling slightly under Queen's intense glare.

'This is the school nurse?!' Okarun, Momo, and Aira thought collectively, their jaws practically on the floor.

"You guys being bullied?" Queen asked her tone a strange mixture of concern and suspicion.

"No, ma'am!" the teenagers answered in unison, their voices louder than intended. The sheer intensity of the Queen's stare made them feel like they were being interrogated under a spotlight.

Queen rolled her eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Don't hide it. Just tell me. I have zero tolerance for bullying. I'm on your side." She snapped her whip against her palm for emphasis.

"But... why do you look like you want to whip us with that thing—" Odette started, but before she could finish, Momo clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Thank you for giving us spare clothes, ma'am!" Momo interjected quickly, forcing a strained smile. Odette playfully shoved her off, though she didn't try to speak again.

Queen raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on Odette. There was a flicker of recognition, and for a brief moment, her stern demeanor softened. Odette was one of the few students Queen had a soft spot for, often letting her crash in the nurse's office during free periods.

Their tension was broken by the door creaking open. Everyone turned their heads to see a staff member cautiously peeking in.

"Queen, you have a call in the teacher's office," the staff member informed her timidly.

Queen's face twisted into annoyance. "Didn't I tell you to knock before coming in?!" she snapped, smacking the staff member on the head with her palm. The sharp sound made Odette wince in sympathy.

"Damn, baldie!" Queen growled. "Next time, knock!" With that, she shoved the poor staff member out of the room. Turning back to the teenagers, she added, "I'm stepping out for a bit. You guys can stay as long as you like." She flipped the light switch back on before striding out of the room, her lab coat billowing behind her like a cape.

As soon as the door shut, the four teens collectively let out a breath of relief.

"What am I gonna do? People saw me in such a weird situation! Miko and Muko are going to fry me!" Momo groaned, burying her face in her hands.

"My popularity! My image!" Aira wailed, pacing the room in a frenzy.

While the other two panicked, Odette and Okarun found themselves in a quieter moment. Odette draped her towel over Okarun's head, gently drying his unruly hair. "I don't know if Turbo Granny's form changed you for better or for worse," she said with a small chuckle.

Okarun stayed still, letting her work. He couldn't help but watch her as she patted his hair, her hands gentle and her smile soft. His gaze drifted to her glossy pink lips, and memories of their brief kisses flashed through his mind.

His heart thudded loudly in his chest as he quickly looked away, his face burning. The sensation of her lips on his still lingered in his memory, and the guilt from earlier in the day gnawed at him.

Clearing his throat, Okarun reached out and gently took Odette's hands in his. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at him. "Yes?" she asked, her voice soft and curious.

"I..." Okarun hesitated for a moment, gathering his courage. His grip on her hands tightened slightly as he met her gaze. "What you saw earlier... with Aira... it's not what you think. I know it's been bothering you, and I can see it in your eyes. Please, let me explain."

Odette's expression shifted, her initial hesitation giving way to quiet focus. She stayed silent, encouraging him to continue.

"I was on my own out back when Miss Shiratori showed up out of nowhere," he explained, his voice earnest. "She tried to kiss me, and I pulled away. We fell over, and that's when you saw us. But I swear, it wasn't anything else. I don't care what anyone else thinks about what happened. I just... I don't want you to get the wrong idea. Her kisses..." He paused, his cheeks reddening. "They could never compare to yours."

Odette's lips parted in surprise, her shoulders visibly relaxing at his words. A small smile tugged at her lips as she squeezed his hands in return. "Okay," she said softly. "I get it now. I think... it just stung because you lied to me. But I understand. You're still the sweetest, you know that?"

Relief flooded Okarun's face, his brown eyes lighting up with joy. His blush deepened, but his smile grew. "Thanks, Dot," he muttered, adjusting his glasses nervously.

Odette sat down beside him, their hands still lightly intertwined. She decided to tease him a bit, her tone playful. "So... what were you doing behind the school, anyway? Trying to impress someone?"

Okarun looked away, his blush deepening. "Maybe..." he mumbled.

Momo flopped down next to Odette with an exaggerated groan. "Those aliens are way too determined! If they keep coming after us like this, I'm gonna lose it!" She slapped her knees in frustration, her towel slipping off her head.

Odette glanced at her and chuckled. "Momo, you're the strongest person I know. You'll be fine."

"On top of that, they were targeting me," Okarun finally spoke, his voice low but steady. The girls turned their attention to him. "It seems like they were after Turbo Granny's powers."

Odette raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. Momo and Aira, however, still seemed more preoccupied with their public embarrassment. Okarun took a deep breath, trying to explain.

"They must have sensed the lingering presence of Turbo Granny's aura in me. That's why they keep showing up. It's not just random—it's targeted."

Momo groaned. "Great. So now we're just yokai and alien magnets."

"Hey, by the way..." Momo suddenly shifted her attention to Aira, her eyes narrowing. "Since when have you been able to use Acro-Silky's powers?"

Aira crossed her arms, tilting her chin up as if she'd been waiting for the question. "Just now actually. My powers awakened during the battle. I mean, I was chosen from the heavens after all."

Odette, who was drying her now curled hair, gave Aira a pointed look. "Girl that doesn't make any sense."

"It makes perfect sense when you're the chosen one!" Aira replied dramatically, flipping her hair for effect.

"Your title keeps changing so much," Momo muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. "But... we did transfer Acro-Silky's aura to you, so I guess it's expected for you to use her power."

Okarun adjusted his glasses, his mind already racing ahead. "But if that's the case, it's highly likely that Miss Shiratori will also be targeted by them."

Aira's smug expression faltered. "Targeted? What do you mean?"

Okarun tapped his temple, looking as though he were solving a puzzle. "Think about it. The aliens are after humans with yokai abilities. They're not just random attacks—they're calculated. They're interested in humans who've merged with or are connected to Yokai. Like me... and now, you."

Odette folded her arms, listening intently. "So, you're saying they're targeting people like us for research purposes? Why? To develop technology?"

"Exactly!" Okarun exclaimed, standing up abruptly. "The aliens, despite having incredible scientific advancements, aren't invading Earth outright. Something is holding them back. And I'm willing to bet it's the presence of yokai."

Momo raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Yokai? You think they're what's stopping an alien invasion?"

Okarun nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Yokai and demons have been around for centuries, guarding this planet in ways we don't fully understand. Even with their advanced tech, the aliens can't compete with the spiritual power Yokai possesses. So instead of fighting them directly, they're experimenting on humans connected to yokai to try and find a workaround."

Odette tilted her head, intrigued. "Hmm... I wonder if my connection as the bridge between life and death with Yokai has anything to do with this. Maybe I should ask Grandma Mo. She might know something."

"I'm sure it does, Dot!" Okarun encouraged. His excitement grew as he grabbed a whiteboard from the corner of the nurse's office. "Even if aliens have advanced technology, they can't beat Yokai. That's why they're attacking us—special humans—for research. They're trying to develop the means to overpower Yokai! I'm sure of it!" He began furiously scribbling diagrams on the board, his enthusiasm infectious.

When he flipped the board around, Odette burst out laughing. He'd drawn an overly dramatic depiction of his "family jewels" (balls) as part of the alien conspiracy theory.

"There's a chance they already took my missing family jewels," Okarun said with a straight face, earning him a loud groan from Momo and a wheezing laugh from Odette.

"Nice theory!" Odette said, clasping her hands together and giving him a positive smile. "We should focus on finding your missing balls, Kenny."

Her reassurance made Okarun relax a little, though Momo and Aira were still visibly distressed.

"I didn't get a word he just said but," Momo said, throwing her hands up in frustration, "People saw me naked! How am I supposed to live this down?!"

"I'm certain nobody would believe anything we say anyway," Aira said, pacing back and forth. "Oh, what should I do!"

Aira suddenly stopped, her face lighting up with an idea. "That's it!" she declared. "I'll just say that you guys made me strip down to my undergarments."

Momo's jaw dropped. "What?!"

"If you don't like that version, I can say I agreed but you were very aggressive about it," Aira said nonchalantly, shrugging. "You did tell me to strip down though. Takakura, you should go with that story too."

"Huh?!" Okarun blinked, utterly confused by her logic.

Odette stood up, her towel sliding off her shoulder as she fixed Aira with a glare. "Oh, HELL no! We're not about to look like some weirdo creeps just because you want to save face. We were all caught in an unfortunate situation, and now you're trying to spin it to make us look like the bad guys?"

Aira crossed her arms, looking smug. "Well, I'm popular. People will believe me without evidence."

Odette clenched her fists, her voice low and dangerous. "Keep talking, and the only evidence you'll have is your two front teeth knocked out."

Before things could escalate further, Momo placed a calming hand on Odette's shoulder. "Let it go, Dot. She's not worth it."

"But—"

"It's fine," Momo said firmly. "Let people believe what they want. Making excuses is a pain, anyway."

Odette reluctantly sat back down, though her glare never left Aira. "Fine. But if I hear even a whisper of slander, I'm coming for her."

Before anyone could say more, the door burst open, and Aira's friends entered the room. "Aira! Are you okay? What happened to you?"

Aira's demeanor changed instantly, her high-pitched, sugary voice returning. "Oh, you surprised me! I'm fine."

Her friends turned to Momo and Odette with accusatory expressions. "Is this your fault?"

Okarun shot Momo a look that said, Please keep Dot from committing murder. Odette, however, was already rising from her chair, her expression murderous.

"Bitch, don't you ever—" she began, but Okarun quickly intervened.

"It's not their fault!" he said, holding his hands up defensively. "They had nothing to do with it!"

Satisfied with his answer, Aira's friends led her out of the room, leaving the trio alone once more.

As soon as the door closed, Momo let out a deep sigh. "Oh well. Let them say whatever they want. I couldn't care less anymore."

Odette turned to her, still fuming. "You're just gonna let that slide?"

Momo smiled and pulled Odette into a hug. "I'll survive. But you're cute when you're ready to throw hands for me."

Odette rolled her eyes but couldn't help but laugh. "You're lucky I like you, Ayase."

Okarun, not wanting to be left out, stepped forward and hugged Odette as well. "I'm glad you two are okay."

Momo raised an eyebrow at him. "You two sorted out your drama, huh? Good. For a second there, I thought I'd have to kill you, Okarun."

The sweet moment between them was abruptly interrupted by Momo's friends, Muko and Miko, who came bursting into the nurse's office. Their energy was even more hyper than before.

"There you are, Momo!" Muko called out.

"Okarun is here, too—and Odette! Wait, were you two just hugging? Momo, you have you spill everything!" Miko teased with a grin.

"Whoa, you scared me!" Momo exclaimed, quickly covering her face in humiliation.

Muko and Miko, clearly curious, pressed on. "So, what's going on? Suddenly you disappeared on us during class!" Muko said, folding her arms. "Amira gave us a briefing. She said Odette and Okarun were hugging each other naked in front of Class D," Miko added with a knowing look.

Odette, standing close to Okarun, felt her shoulders brush against him as she instinctively took a step back. Both of their faces burned with embarrassment as they avoided eye contact.

Momo, sensing the awkwardness, decided to deflect. "It's not what you think," she said quickly. "I was there but it wasn't as dramatic as she put it."

"Yeah, nothing like that happened," Odette interjected, still not meeting their eyes.

Miko smirked. "Sure, sure. We believe you. But it's still kind of funny imagining you two like that. Anyway, we're taking Momo. You two can keep... chatting. Have fun, lovebirds!" With that, Muko and Miko left the nurse's office, leaving Odette and Okarun standing there in the now-quiet room.

Odette let out a soft chuckle, breaking the silence. "Well, that was something. Miko sure has a wild imagination, huh?" she said, trying to lighten the mood.

Okarun laughed nervously, his tone awkward. "Yeah, wild... Wild."

"But since we're on the topic of what happened earlier... What were you doing before everything went down with Shiratori?"

Okarun froze for a moment, his hands instinctively going to adjust his glasses—a clear sign of his nervousness. He hesitated, then turned slightly away from her. "I was... working out. You know, push-ups and stuff."

"Really?"

"Yeah! I just... I want to get stronger," he admitted, his voice quieter now.

Odette smirked, nudging him gently with her shoulder. "Boy, you don't need to hide that from me or Momo. What you're doing is a good thing..you wanna get stronger to protect yourself and others...that's exactly what we're doing."

Okarun nodded, then muttered under his breath, "If I got stronger without you knowing, I thought... I thought it might make me look cooler."

Her heart gave a little flutter at his words. The sincerity in his tone, the shy way he admitted it—it was endearing in a way she hadn't expected. Her cheeks warmed as a soft, fond smile formed on her lips.

"Kenny, you'll always be cool in my book," Odette whispered, her voice soft and sincere as she leaned in just slightly closer. "You are my sweetheart."

Okarun's ears flushed a deep shade of red, and he froze, his whole body stiffening as her words sank in. A shiver ran down his spine, and his throat bobbed as he tried to swallow down his nervousness. "T-Thank you, Odette," he managed to stammer, his voice barely audible.

———

In Class 2-D, Aira was soaking up the sympathy of her classmates, putting on her best display of innocence while secretly reveling in the attention. Her wide, teary-eyed expression only added to her act as her peers flocked around her, offering comfort.

"Thank you, everyone. I'm touched that you all care so much about me," she said with a slight sniffle, dabbing at her nonexistent tears. "But I'd rather not talk about what happened. Please, just leave it alone for my sake."

Leaning casually against the wall outside the classroom door, Odette was multitasking: one ear trained on the conversation inside while she typed furiously on her phone. She sent a quick text to her grandmother, her thumbs flying over the screen.

"My grown grandchild":
"If you hear about me hugging a boy (you know who) half-naked—PLSSS DISREGARD!!!"

She snorted softly at her own bluntness before her attention snapped back to the conversation in the classroom. Aira's voice dripped with false modesty, and Odette felt her brow twitch with irritation.

Meanwhile, Aira, lost in her own smug thoughts, was basking in the illusion of her control.

'I am incredible,' she thought to herself. 'This is exactly how you handle situations like this. Let them believe you're the victim, and it'll all blow over. My popularity is truly unmatched.'

However, her classmates weren't as willing to let it slide. One of them spoke up, their voice tinged with indignation. "It's Momo Ayase and Odette Monroè, isn't it? They're the ones who did this to you, right?"

Aira blinked in surprise, her façade slipping momentarily. "Huh?" she muttered, startled.

"You've been harassed by Momo Ayase and Monroè lately," another chimed in, their tone brimming with conviction.

Odette froze mid-text, her thumbs hovering over her phone screen. Her brows knitted together as the words reached her ears. What the hell are they talking about now? she thought, her frustration building.

"I heard Momo drop a washtub on your head that one time. And that other girl? She's always weird. She doesn't even care about anyone's feelings," someone else added with a scoff.

"Yeah, like that washtub thing! It had to be her," another chimed in.

"No way! Are you serious? She's such a freak."

"They're not getting away with this!" someone declared, their tone righteous.

Odette's jaw clenched as she turned to glare at the door. She could feel her pulse quickening, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. How had these people taken everything so completely out of context in three minutes? Her anger was simmering, and she was half-tempted to barge in and set the record straight.

But then, unexpectedly, Aira's voice broke through the noise.

"I'm the one who spread that fake rumor." Her voice was quiet but clear enough to silence the room.

The chatter came to an abrupt halt, leaving a heavy silence hanging in the air. Aira's classmates stared at her in disbelief, their expressions ranging from confusion to outright shock.

"What?" one of them asked, their tone laced with doubt. "What are you talking about, Aira?"

"I'm at fault," Aira admitted, her voice shaking slightly, though whether it was from guilt or fear was anyone's guess. "I made it up. Please don't speak so badly of Momo Ayase and Odette. They didn't do anything to me."

Odette's hand, which had been gripping her phone tightly, relaxed slightly. She blinked, stunned by what she'd just heard. Aira's admission had been completely unexpected, and for a moment, she didn't quite know how to react. Her anger gave way to a strange sense of relief, but it didn't last long.

With a quick shake of her head, she turned on her heel and took off down the hallway. She needed to find Momo, and she needed to find her now. There was no time to process Aira's sudden burst of honesty.

As she sprinted through the corridors, a small smile tugged at her lips. Well, at least she told the truth this time, she thought. For once.