Chapter 9: Red Haired Demon Part 3

The loud sound echoed through the hallway as Yuumo used a locker door to shield himself from Hina's kendo stick strike. The gamer slammed the door onto the ground, using it to lift himself up before kicking Hina in the chest. The council president slid back slowly, stunned that Yuumo had managed to land a hit. 

As Hina slid back, Yuumo ran after her, swinging the locker door as fast as he could in an attempt to hit her. Meanwhile, Ryuji slowly got up and charged straight at Hina, hoping to land a punch. Hikaru quickly set up his bow and arrow again, firing as the arrows multiplied mid-air. Ren, recovering from the initial shock, ran towards Hina and suddenly leapt, delivering a roundhouse kick. 

All of this happened within ten seconds. Hina swiftly deflected the arrows and landed a punch to Ryuji's gut with her kendo stick, breaking it completely. Ryuji fell to the ground slowly as Yuumo followed up with his attack. Hina dodged back, leaping to avoid Yuumo's swings, but Ren's roundhouse kick connected. Hina stood up, her eyes filled with malicious intent as she threw both Yuumo and Ren aggressively into the lockers. Both were knocked out, sliding off the metal locker doors and landing harshly on the ground.

The hallway had fallen silent since the loud noise. Shoto looked around and rubbed the back of his head softly. "Did everyone go home? It's so quiet here." Neko looked around after Shoto's statement and then ran off, making a turn to the next hall. Shoto hurried to catch up with the cat. "Neko, slow down! You don't even know where—" Shoto stopped in his tracks, staring straight ahead. To him, it looked like a warzone. Hikaru had already shot another arrow, but Hina deflected it effortlessly. Yuumo lay on the ground next to Ren, both unconscious beside the lockers. Ryuji was also unconscious on the floor. Shoto's eyes widened as he saw the only person still standing: Hina Shinako. Neko glanced at Shoto, then at Hina, who was smiling, clearly enjoying the chaos.

Neko ran to Shoto's side, preparing to fire his arrow. Hina was breathing heavily, trying to catch her breath as she twirled her kendo stick faster than usual. "Another one has entered the battlefield. Are you also part of Hikaru's group?"

Hikaru glanced back quickly, noticing Shoto had arrived. He was already upset; the plan was to defeat Hina and recruit her as the final member of their group. But with Shoto now here, it seemed too late. He dropped his guard slightly, shaking as he stared at the ground, clenching his fist. "D-Damn it…"

"Y-you're Hina, right?" Shoto asked nervously. Hina smiled wickedly, more from the thrill of the fight than malice. "And you must be?" she replied, maintaining her smile.

Shoto mustered up his courage to speak to her, hoping to avoid a fight. "H-Hina, can we please talk.. it's me Shoto Kazami.."

She interrupted him, her focus only on his name. "Shoto Kazami... I've been waiting for you." She blushed slightly, stopping herself from twirling her kendo stick. "I've already joined your group, remember?. I just wanted to see how strong they were." She laughed, locking her eyes on Shoto. "Unfortunately, they didn't live up to my expectations."

Shoto sighed softly, somewhat expecting this outcome, especially with Hikaru, Ryuji, and Ren involved. He knew something was off; this wasn't how Hina usually behaved. They had met long before he had Hikaru meet him on the school's roof.

---

Shoto stood in front of the student council office, knocking on the door slowly. Hina opened it slightly, peeking out. Seeing it was Shoto, she hid herself as he walked in, noticing her sitting in the corner, hiding her face. "Um... y-you okay?" Shoto asked, approaching her. Hina peeked at him with one eye, quickly turning away. "Y-yes! P-please have a seat!" They both sat down, shy and nervous. Minutes passed before Shoto began to speak, but Hina cut him off abruptly. The conversation was filled with her panicking, but Shoto laughed a little. It was the first time he had laughed since entering the school. Hina's eyes glistened as she watched him laugh, feeling as though she was in love. "I want you to join our... um... team," he said. Hina looked at Shoto and nodded quickly, surprising him with her quick agreement, but relieved there was no conflict.

---

Shoto dropped his bags and looked around the hallway for something to defend himself with. He spotted a broomstick in the corner behind the student council office. "Neko, do it." Hikaru looked up at Shoto, anger rising, grinding his teeth. "Kazami... you damn fool! We don't need your help! Stay out of this!" Shoto ignored Hikaru, his fist shaking with fear as he glanced at Hina. Neko smiled and, on his two little paws, readied his small bow and arrow, shooting Shoto in the usual spot on his back. The arrow pierced through, and Shoto's head slumped down. Hina leaped forward, a gust of wind flowing behind her, preparing to attack Shoto with her kendo stick.

Just as she was about to thrust the wooden weapon onto Shoto's skull, he quickly grabbed Hikaru's metal bow, using it to block her attack, causing the kendo stick to break. Hikaru was shocked at how fast Shoto had taken his bow and defended himself. Shoto slowly dropped the bow, and Hina dropped the broken kendo stick soon after. She laughed hysterically, going straight for Shoto, about to land a punch. Shoto dodged, his right fist clenched so tightly it started bleeding. He prepared to punch back but stopped himself just before landing it. The student council president was shocked, expecting to be hit, but wasn't. Hina looked around the hallway at the destruction she had caused, then back at Shoto, bowing quickly. It seemed she had returned to her old self. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean t—"

Shoto reverted to normal, rubbing his hair back softly and reaching into his backpack to pull out the field trip forms. "Here," he said, handing them to her nervously. Hina jumped a little but slowly took the papers from his hands, blushing slightly before making her way back to her office. Hikaru blinked, realizing their plan to recruit Hina had failed, thanks to Shoto. Shoto walked towards the unconscious Ren and Yuumo, lifting Ren onto his back and trying to wake up Yuumo.

"What did you do? You had her! I mean, you didn't because of that short and weird conversation, but you could've convinced her with your st—"

Shoto interrupted his rival, "She's already part of us." Hikaru slowly got up. "T-That's not possible—" Shoto also put Yuumo on his back, slowly getting up but tripping a little as he lost his balance. "She joined as soon as you did." Shoto began to make his way to the nurse's office, stopping next to Hikaru. "I'll come back for Ryuji after I put these two on the nurse's beds." He walked off quietly. Hikaru slowly grabbed his bow, staring at it softly. Neko made his way to Ryuji, jumping on his back carefully. "So what are you going to do when those two arrows are gone?" Neko glared at Hikaru before closing his eyes slowly. "Don't worry about it, young Hikaru. I will figure something out soon!" Shoto's rival sighed at the cat's response. The cat was full of secrets and wouldn't explain in full detail what was happening to all of them. With this, the team was finally complete.

Elsewhere, a boy with light silver hair and a blueish school outfit, different from any middle schooler's, stood in front of the team's school gate. He smiled slightly and began to walk away with his hands in his pockets.