Wishful Thinking

"So, all throughout today she's the only one you can see? You're an interesting one, Mizuki kun..." Daisuke expresses his curiosity "though that's interesting and all, for now I want you to step away from that thing. I have a pest to terminate" he says threatening. Referring to the ghost girl, making it clear that Mizuki is not his target at the moment. Mizuki just watches nervously anticipating his next move. She and the ghost girl is still on the floor, with the latter still bawling in pain from losing her hand.

"Oh and one more thing... Although I regret that we have to meet again in this kind of situation, I still have to ask for your help this time, Mizuki kun" Mizuki is quite stunned. Still in fear of the development, uncertain of what would happen to her next. His next sentence confuses her even more "can you help pass me my hand back?" he said, referring to the hand still holding to the knife he'd thrown towards the ghost girl. It's stuck on the wall right next to Mizuki.

"Please?"

Mizuki's heart rate began to simmer down. Her thoughts began to come together again. She's thinking more rationally now 'isn't this situation, just like before...? Although...' she recalls that memory

'this time, it seems that I'm not his target... or at least-' she turns to him

'that's what he wants me to see' starting to doubt his true intention, a risky idea pops into her head.

"Wait Kishimoto san! She's not dangerous!" Mizuki jumps in between Daisuke's blade and the ghost girl. "This is a misunderstanding!"

"She was once a student who died at school, because she was bullied, she jumped off the building when the pressure was too much for her to bear. However, even after her death she could not escape this place. Maybe she still has too much memories with this place, she can't leave this world" Mizuki reveals the real story about the ghost that she'd talked about with the ghost before Daisuke showed up earlier. She's betting on the off chance that she can turn him into an ally instead. Sparing both her and the girl. Surprisingly it works, Daisuke is holding his attack and listening attentively to Mizuki. Seeing that she got his attention, Mizuki continues to persuade him "that's why rather than eliminating her, we should help her with her problem so she can move on to the other side. Only after that, will she be able to truly escape this world!" She makes for a sound argument. Even the ghost girl is touched by her zealous speech. For someone to go this far and even risk their own life for her sake, even though they just met, she can't help but be moved to tears. "Wouldn't that be favorable for you too? You won't see her again after that, we can work a more peaceful way out of this!" Mizuki tries to convince him.

But Daisuke only stood there in silence. As if he's thinking more about it and considering her ideas. Mizuki sees that opportunity and figured she just need to push him just a little more to change his mind. But before she could add in some more of her suggestions, he laughs. It caught her off guard that she forgot what she was about to say. She doesn't know how to react to this. She can't read his expression anymore. He's incomprehensible.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" he laughs hysterically, like it's the most entertaining stuff he'd heard his entire life. "IS THAT WHAT SHE TOLD YOU? HAHAHAHA!! THAT'S A GOOD ONE!!!"

Again and again, his action and reaction keep stupefying Mizuki. But this one in particular irritates her so. Like he's taking her for a fool.

"That's such a wonderful story, heartrending tale, really. But, there's no way that could be true." Before Mizuki could argue his answer he adds "even now, the fact that you can see her, is on purpose. She did it to grab your attention, fully conscious of how you would react. In the first place-"

"AND WHY IN THE WORLD SHOULD I TRUST YOU OVER HER?!!" Mizuki snaps.

"The first day we met you already attacked me when I was in a pinch! And then you claim to help me in whatever that place was! But when I tried to confirm it with you, you just act like we never met! You're a bundle of lies upon lies!!!" Mizuki stands her ground, her teeth clattering, covering for the ghost girl and standing up against Daisuke's threat and flimsy explanation. And more than anything, venting her anger "the last person i should trust here, IS YOU! KISHIMOTO SAN!!!"

A moment of silence follows the outburst. Daisuke is speechless again, only this time he actually looks a bit guilty. He seems troubled to come up with an excuse for himself considering the events so far. Mizuki is still doused in a justified rage, waiting impatiently for him to defend his case and justify his inconsistent behavior till now.

At first, a heavy sigh. then, a confession "okay... I tricked you.." breaks the silence "thrice, in fact" his honesty alarms her, half of it because she was not expecting him to be this honest, half of it was her not realizing when did he does so. "But there was circumstances that forced my hand at the time, I had to do what I did. I wasn't lying when I said I needed your help. I wouldn't benefit from harming you" he holds his knife to the side, a peacemaking gesture. "It's too complicated but I'll explain everything at a better time I promise" he offers a persuading smile to her. It almost worked, she looks convinced for a second.

"Is this another one of your trickery? Hah!" She scoffs. Unconvinced, she only laughs off the idea. An ominous grin carved on her face. The situation begins to tense, it alerts Daisuke. Mizuki feels like a different person now "Look down on me would you.." her tone changes. Behind her is no longer the friendly helpless ghostly girl that he struck with his blade earlier. The ghost uncovers it's original form, a tall vengeful lady emerges from the Hokubu High's uniform. Her face distorted and contorted, an uncanny imitation of a human expression. Mizuki seems unaware of her, or perhaps, she's under her influence. That should explain her sudden changes. Shouldn't it? Mizuki is no more willing to listen to his 'explanation' or maybe she can't "..I won't take anymore of these pretense. Not from you..." Mizuki refuses his excuse.

"And certainly-" she holds tightly Daisuke's severed arm. It was stuck on the wall along with the knife in it's grip earlier but she grabbed it out. Her feet rotates, turning behind her in a sudden motion. Daisuke caught on to her plan, but it's also a risky one that alerts him so much as to force him back into offensive stance. "-Not from this impostor too!!" Mizuki turns towards the ghost girl.

She swings her unusual weapon behind her, attempting to catch the ghost off guard while it similarly assumes she's lowered her guard and is trying to take over her. Mizuki choose to believe Daisuke. She's also close enough to strike the ghost. Too close. But the ghost have better reaction time than she thought. It blocked the attack with it's left hand, the one still attached. Mizuki had the upper hand in surprise element, but it have the advantage in instinctual reflex.

Naturally, that upsets the ghost. It retaliates. Clawing into Mizuki with the same hand.

Having anticipated that development earlier, within that few microseconds between that exchange, Daisuke steps in.

Before the ghost's left claw could register into Mizuki's flesh, it was already detached. Daisuke steps in between and pushes Mizuki backwards with his stumped torn arm and severs the ghost's remaining arm with his other hand. Peculiarly enough despite the momentum, his quick feet did not break the window he's stepping on. Instead, it ripples, like a quiet lake bothered by nothing but a single fallen leaf. A logic defying phenomenon. But none the wiser, neither Mizuki nor the ghost could register Daisuke's flash interference in that split second, much less his paranormal feat. They couldn't even react to him until after he'd land his feet on the floor.

Mizuki's seated on the floor, fallen on her bum, not remembering how she returns on the floor when she was just about to land an attack on the ghost just now. The ghost find nothing on the other end of it's left claw, not Mizuki, not even it's remaining left arm. Only further on it's left does it find itself already on the other end of Daisuke's hostile blade, ready to dig into it on the slight hint that it upsets him.

"Now now, this has been our second meeting. If I caught you bothering her again..." Daisuke threatens the ghost, his face darkens, his eyes flash with murderous intent, the air feels heavy "I won't stop at just both your arm, I will assure you CERTAIN DEATH, a slow one! You hear me?! Limb by limb, pieces by pieces, I'll enjoy every second of it! Mark my word!" The ghost cowers uncontrollably. Between not remembering when Daisuke snatched it's other arm and being trapped under his fear inspiring gaze. It can only imagine what sort of hell this being can put the ghost through. Not even the luxury for that either, the only idea firing through every speck of it's being right now is only one, a hard wired concept built into every conscious living thing on a primal level. ESCAPE!

As Daisuke let the same ghost escape for the second time, he feel the need to offer some advice to it's returning victim. "Looks like you've been targeted for a while now. But good grief, that was too much of a close call... You have to consider how it would've reacted too, Mizuki kun.." and he still can't help but to nag at her for her carelessness. Though that may have fallen on deaf ear as said person is too preoccupied with a different idea at the moment.

"NO FUNNY IDEAS NOW!" Mizuki points her newfound weapon towards the original owner.

"Last week, what happened?! Why did you stab me? Was that you I saw in my dreams?"

"C-calm down, Mizuki ku-"

"ANSWERS, NOW!!!"

"Alright alright, so where do I start first.. I suppose..." A bit startled but still relatively relaxed at knifepoint, Daisuke starts to explain.

"You were getting possessed at the time, almost linking with the ghost so I have to sever that connection as soon as possible, hence the stab. But then due to the possession, some of your SP leaks out in the process and needs immediate action to fix so I have to wake you up from the inside and teach you how. I have no intention of endangering your life, I promise!"

Pleading for his case, persuading her to trust him.

'with his skill and that speed earlier, he can easily turn the table against me, especially now that I'm provoking him' with the blade still pointing towards him, Mizuki tries to read his intention 'but he's not retaliating... and even listens to me.. I don't even know if he's trying to manipulate me or just underestimating me, but one thing is for sure-' her threatening demeanor cools down into a more welcoming one. 'he wants me alive for now, at least there we both can agree'

Lowering her weapon, she changes back into the sweet young lady persona she usually put up. With a unsuspecting smile, Mizuki offers him back his detached arm "Okay I believe you, but don't do that to me again!"

"Ahaha..." A bit nervous but following with her terms, he cautiously holds out a friendly gesture "I didn't expect you to believe me that quick... But I hope we can get along from now on"

While receiving his arm, Daisuke thought 'she really is unpredictable.. this girl..'

"Earlier- you were saying.. that her story was impossible, what exactly do you mean by that?" Now that things have settled down, Mizuki took the chance to get an answer for his enigmatic comment earlier. This time it's Daisuke's expression that shifts dramatically, his relaxed mannerism now becomes more melancholic but also more serious. While still fixing his arm back in place, he answers in a confident tone "there's no way that could be true because... ghosts are ghosts, humans are humans, neither of them becomes the other, saying otherwise is just wishful thinking" he turn his back, hiding his face "that's just how it is in this world, that's... how it should be.." Though, that last part came out in almost a whisper. As if it's a reminder only for himself. Even still, a shaking revelation. One that invites for an intense debate. But Mizuki, still unaware of the heavy implication of that reality, is still dazed by that statement. It's a fact that contradicts her prior world view and yet she accepts it so easily. Perhaps not having any strong emotional attachment to the concept, gave her no reason to argue against it. At least, not yet.