"It was so strange... Just a minute ago, we were talking like friends, and then... She just pushed me off. No grunts, no sounds. Next thing I knew, I woke up in the hospital, and Nari was sitting next to the hospital bed I was in." Callisthenes's eyes drifted around the cafeteria as he explained, trying to sugarcoat everything as much as he could.

   Explaining this to someone he barely knew... Was hard. Especially if that person seems feral and possibly have killed multiple animals by appearance and personality. However, he had no choice, It's rude to deny an invitation to lunch, after all...

   He couldn't tell him everything, however. He couldn't tell him about him being some kind of Vrontí, his thunderous prowess, nor his old friend Renee. He at least hoped that Austin wouldn't pry into things.

  Austin, the boy with extremely unkempt hair and tiny pupils across from him nodded as he listened. "Sounds insane, California," He said somewhat concerned while taking a large bite from a cheeseburger, which Callisthenes previously witnessed him steal from a trashcan.

  "I know this doesn't really sound like me, buuut... I feel like you might wanna let the council know." He was right, that definitely was foreign for Callisthenes to hear him say.

   He was a bit bothered how he wasn't taking this too seriously, but he wasn't surprised. Austin and him barely met a few days ago, and since then, it's only been on-and-off club communication.

  "Well, the hospital knows, so they might let the school know, but I'm a l-"

  "There's no need to worry, I let Arthur know. He'll be notifying the school district soon."

   He looked up surprised at the feminine, familiar voice, to see Nari. He was shocked that she was approaching him today, considering what they talked about yesterday.

  "Nari," He began, looking at her in surprise as she sat across, next to Austin. "I thought you would be working in the literary club."

  She smiled back at him and shook her head. "I'm all done with my work, and besides, I wasn't able to bond with all of my members as much as I wanted to."

  "Bonding with your members," Austin smiled with a strange gushing tone. "You truly do care about us, don't you?" He flirting-ly complimented as he slid closer to her.

  Nari laughed obliviously to his strange compliment. "Yes, I do! You're all my friends y'know, and I don't want to neglect my friendships!"

   For some reason, Austin was strangely affectionate to her. With other women, he would simply hiss at them for bothering him, or chasing them around the halls randomly because he 'is bored.' For Nari however, he seems to be very gentle towards...

   But this isn't the subject. Callisthenes needs to carry on.

  "You told Arthur?" He asked, cocking his head slightly. "What did he say?"

  "He was surprised, but told me not to worry, and he was going to let the district know." She explained vaguely but helpfully.

  "Okay, thanks for that... It would've been awkward for me to tell him that since he's been helping me so much," Callisthenes said, scratching the back of his neck. "How's the club business been doing, by the way?"

  "'Cordin' to Queen here, nothing's changed. Only you were the newest member," Austin explained, his hand on her shoulder. "But don't let that get you down, 'kay Nari? I'm sure business will be booming soon."

   Again with the strange affection. Maybe Austin is just a childhood friend?

  "Maybe. I just hope we get a few members before next month," She responded, eating her lunch, which was a plain sandwich. "You and Zoe don't really count, since Zoe and you only joined last year."

  "Really? Well, I do hope we get more members, we do need to spread your name!" Austin winked.

So he does like her. Well, good luck to them...

  "By the way Cal, I never got to ask you this," She started, putting her sandwich down on a napkin. "But have you ever provoked or angered Yanny into making her do such a thing?"

   That made Callisthenes stop for a moment and think. First time he met her was when she flirted with him, but he was quickly bailed out by Arthur... Maybe she thought they were a same-gender couple? No, that can't be it... Well, he did sometimes see her stalking him on his way to the Literary Club... Did she think Nari was his girlfriend? No, she would've killed Nari instead...

   Suddenly, a memory came back to him.

  "You think you can just slaughter the Chimera and call yourself the descendant of some legendary god?! You are a blood-stained FOOL!"

  "You killed her without a single doubt in your mind! You... Are A MURDERER!"

   ... No, he can't tell her. He can't tell them that. He'll have to make up an excuse.

  "No, I have no idea... All I did was avoid her." He lied with a hint of doubt.

  "I see... I expected that," Nari responded as she finished her sandwich.

   For a moment, he thought he saw Austin lower his eyelids at his response, but maybe that was just his imagination.

  "Looks like we'll have to play detective then! We'll have to interview Lyn and Laurette along with people who've been harassed by them." She explained, strangely determined. That was quite sudden, he was thinking of letting the police handle things.

  "Woah, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I think we should let the school handle this, since this girl literally tried to murder me, there's no doubt she would be skipping school warily--" Callisthenes cut in, explaining his point of view.

  "That is true, after all, Yanny might be craftier the she looks." Austin supported his argument. That was also strange, since he was expecting him to defend Nari's point since he liked her.

  "P.S., the members are close to her. They might trying to closet confidential information to the club only, and leaving us in the dark. They also have a strange, cult-like behavior, so it wouldn't be surprising if they bribe or blackmail people who interact with... Why are you guys looking at me like that?" He tilted his head again, breaking out of his interrogation mode on Yanny and her subordinates.

  "That was impressive Cal, but we're not looking at you," Nari began, somewhat impressed. "We're looking at that creep over there!"

   Callisthenes whipped his head around to the direction of where Nari was pointing to see a girl with a varsity jacket run away into the crowd. Same hair color, same jacket. That was in no doubt, Yanny.

  "That creepy girl over there was Yanny!" Austin exclaimed as he got up from the lunch table.

   Almost instantaneously, the bell for PhysEd clubs boomed from the intercom. Immediately, Callisthenes knew they didn't have time to chase her.

  "C'mon, we need to go after her! We only have five minutes!" Nari declared as she suddenly rose from her seat, along with other students.

   With this crowd and this much noise, chasing her would be impossible.

  "But we don't have enough time, and we can't possibly track her in this crowd." Callisthenes objected, shaking his head.

  "Now now guys, I know exactly where she is. Don't sweat it!" Austin butted in confidently, shouting over the commotion in the cafeteria.

  "But how do you--?!"

  "No time for questions, we need to make like a tree and leave this packed place!"

   The two dashed off into the crowd, Callisthenes following in their swift pursuit. He sighed to himself.

  "Jeez, what am I going to do when we confront her...?"