The Alpha student's dorm was within the brink of chaos. That would be, if it weren't for the organization of the on site student council leaders, particularly Takeuchi Tamura and his prowess in organizing large events and crowds. Within minutes he had the students corralling themselves and keeping the present situation under control.
"Takeuchi-san wants everyone to meet in the first floor common room! Please follow his instructions and don't open any windows!"
"But who's dealing with that horrible smell? I can barely breathe!"
Yukihiro was working on just that. His input speed and technical prowess had him scrolling through several building blueprints and data articles online in search of a viable solution. He eventually found the old piping system from past renovations might be reopened to get some fresh air inside, and began preparing to do just that.
"Everyone! Akagi-san says we need to isolate the affected students!" shouted a student rushing into the common room.
Yukihiro glanced at the public announcement that Naoto had posted. The obvious threat there he was giving to Masanori was enough to make even him purse his lips.
'Ah, he really thinks this will work? Well it would, but your opponent isn't with him today."
Yukihiro took a small break from his ongoing plan of airing out the door to go to his remote access to Masanori's phone, a feature he only used in extreme circumstances.
'Which this counts as. Message unsent.'
The message was deleted from Masanori's phone approximately 20 seconds from when it was sent. Of which, Masanori hadn't even the time to properly pick up his phone and unlock it to see the message that was sent. He placed his phone down and forgot about it.
'Must have been someone's mistake.'
Satisfied and confident in himself, Yukihiro continued on.
'Only he would end up causing this much trouble in so little time, but it looks like today there's another omega that's giving him a run for the title of the most difficult omega.'
Yukihiro watched as the affected students groaned on while they were ushered out.
'What are they planning here? Not that it matters…'
Yukihiro held his nose.
'But. This isn't great for any of us… This is a little too exciting. I can't do much now…'
Tamura noticed him, and had managed to catch him sitting down looking dizzy.
Yukihiro had forgotten something in the midst of the chaos. It wasn't the impact of the paint that was affecting the Alpha students, but the smell.
…
Ren meanwhile, sat stiffly twiddling his thumbs, flushed with anger.
'How do I get out of here… what does Naoto want to do to Masanori-kun?'
Naoto was getting a headache.
'I can't think. Damn it… Sitting next to him with this omega-like scent on him, it's different…'
Naoto considered for a moment if he should give him up Nagi. He was looking for an omega sneaking around, and he had one right here. Naoto even wondered if he actually was the Kunodanshi.
But those thoughts were brief. He doubted he really was, and the thought of using Ren to further his own boiled his blood. He would never use a person like that. But what was he going to do with him if Masanori didn't show up?
He covered his nose as he couldn't take the smell anymore.
'Ugh. It's been a while since I've willingly sat next to an omega like this. It's reminding me I really hate this smell, especially this sickly sweet artificial shit.
It wasn't this bad before, I used to sneak off with an omega or two every week. But now I can't stand the substitutes anymore. When did it start? The last time I liked the scent on an omega… Ugh. Like I thought, comparing them, I'm getting naueous…'
"...Take off your clothes."
Ren lurched back from Naoto, nearly falling out of his chair.
"Huh!?!?"
…
Masanori was busy still working on locking down the dorm. This didn't include so much the actual building, but also every means of this information leaking out. Running interference on the hundred of students that might get too curious and come by despite the flood warning, but also keeping the teachers uninformed so their concerns wouldn't lead them to escalate the situation either. Though Yukihiro would be faster, there were only things Masanori could do to alleviate the minds of the other students and teachers that Yukihiro might be too abrasive to handle accordingly.
The thought of Yukihiro also made him angry. He still hadn't had the time to really process what Yukihiro had done, amd it boiled undernest the surface, churning away.
'Yukihiro was all too eager to help. I know he's normally like that but now, I just can't help but wonder… is it all just to fuck with me?'
He sighed. 'How can I think this way about my best friend? But Yuki is... not reliable anymore is he?'
Masanori was riddled with uncertainty. So, he did something he thought he would never do again. He pulled out the tablet and reapplied the archived app for camera access.
'I just need to check. He was here and I'm just letting Yukihiro handle it again. He must be by now-'
But Masanori didn't get a chance to use it properly, because a notification stopped him dead cold.
Masanori stood up.
'No…'
He rushed out of the room.
'So that's how it is. If you want me then you'll get me Naoto!!'
…
Naoto, blushing, managed a glancing glare to Ren. "That's not it! It's to get that smell off of you. Put on the spares in Nokoshi-kun's drawer over there."
Ren opened the drawer and did find a selection of spare uniform shirts and pants within.
Ren looked up and pointed down to the drawer. "Why does the Alpha dorm leader have a bunch of spare uniforms in here? Wouldn't any student that need to change just go to their dorm room? Or why not keep them in the laundry room?"
"Stop asking stupid questions. Change."
But Ren shook his head. "No way. It's too suspicious to make me change right now! You're keeping something from me…"
'Like I would just follow what you say, then you won't tell me anything! You're not invincible, so I'll prod you until I find a way out of here. I WONT let myself be the reason Masanori is led here!'
Naoto angrily stood. "Listen up!"
He stomped over and glared down at him.
Ren glared back, defiantly standing there.
Naoto loudly groaned. He began to pull up Ren's shirt, heating up like a furnace.
"Fine! I'm doing this because you reek!! If Masa took one whiff of you like this, he'd probably go and attack you again! Don't you understand that, you freak!"
Ren gaped. 'Attack? Is he saying he knows why Masanori attacked me then!? No, even worse. Is it possible, right now, that I…!'
Ren grabbed Naoto. "What do I smell like right now!? Tell me!!"
'I have to know what it is! I have to know what I did to make Masanori attack me!'
"Let go of me…!!" Naoto pushed him back.
But Ren held on. Rather than letting himself be pushed back, Ren grabbed Naoto, intending to take him with him if he did get shoved.
Because of this, Naoto had to quickly reajust himself so he didn't accidentally shove Ren into the wall. Even in a panic, he couldn't go through with actually hurting him.
But because of this, rather than Ren falling back, Naoto instead fell forward, his face falling conviently onto Ren's shoulder.
When the shock and rattling from his chin colliing with the bone of his shoulder blade wore off, the smell that surged into his nose was nearly blinding. Dizzing, his nose sunk into the fabric...
The hairs on Ren's neck stood on end. He didn't know why, but somewhere briefly, deep inside his body he felt he had felt a sense of danger. Even mroe oddly was a sense of familiarity, like a dream he had the night before that was forgotten im the morming that was suddenly recalled. Like when Masanori had attacked him in the locker room. The sudden tension he hadn't even realize was there.
It sent a shock through him and Tlthis time it wsd Ren thay was the one who pushed him away. But since Ren was as frail as a pile of sticks he failed to move him ajd only fell back himself, falling against the drawer. He steadied himself from falling over and solidified his resolve.
"I-!"!
Naoto grabbed the water bottle from the desk and just poured it over his head, the last drops dripping down, glaring at the ceiling as he still fought his own embarrasment. For a moment he had slipped away. He wouldn't let it happen again.
"There. Now that your clothes are all wet, will you change? You'll get too cold to think soon in this air conditioned room, so do it for your health."
Ren's shoulder shook with anger.
'This bastard…!'
He shook his head. "Try to mind control me again with that bullshit! I'm stronger now! I'll, I'll definitely win…!"
Naoto rilled his eyes. 'Stronger, sure… hn?'
He suddenly broke a sweat. Suddenly…The
smell on his clothes grew stronger.
He pulled back. 'What the-? Is it because he got wet? What is this?!''
Ren unaware, then took a large breath. 'He won't give in that easily! Then, I have to bring out the big guns!'
Ren looked away to take a breath, then, turned back with the cutest pout he could muster.
"Y-You're so mean… P-Please, let me go…?"
Naoto hiccuped. His body shook and, red in the face, backed away, tripping. He fell back into his chair, still alive, but too stunned to move, and covered his eyes with his arm in shame.
'S…Stupid omega…! Fuck, with just his face, I'm.…'
It was all too much, and Naoto was paralized by Ren's fatal move.
Ren stealthily leaned down over him.
'I think I did too much. He's completely unresponsive now… gasp!'
Ren side stepped him and quickly made his escape.
He sprinted out the door without stopping. The students waiting outside the hall shouted as they spotted him.
"What?? H-He's escaping!! Akagi-san, we'll get him for you!"
As Ren was making his speedy escape Ren was suddenly pulled away behind one of those comically large plants. As the Alphas passed Ren met the sudden helping hand.
"Huh? Oh it's you again! Nemura Piko, right? Are you here helping Yuki-kun?"
They shakily nodded. "Y-Yes. I was. But I was caught up in these events recently before I could leave…"
"Then, thanks for getting me out of there… any chance you can help me out?"
"Help you?" He repeated.
"Yeah. Naoto's not going to listen to me, so I need to find another student council member to help me."
Piko meekly pressed his fingers together. "An-Anyone… m-maybe… Imada-kun can?"
Ren crossed his arms and grumbled. "Is Imada-kun here already? That means Naoto summoned him after all. Does Piko-kun know where? I have to let him know I escaped so he go to Naoto-kun and doesn't get led into his trap."
Piko adjusted his glasses. "I-I don't… but if you truly need help, I, have an idea. Those two are only going to fight because of what's happening outside… so we have to solve that first."
Ren nodded. "Ok, but what are a bunch of yankee thugs going to do to get them to stop throwing paint at the dorm?"
"The delinquents do know something useful… they know the weakness of their leader, Teru. Nagi learned it after Teru invaded his previous hideout spot earlier this month. If you could get him to tell you, we might be able to take out the omega's assault in one go. Maybe we'll have enough time to wash the paint off before the teachers realize what's happened as well."
Ren gasped. "Piko-kun, that's a brilliant plan!"
"Don't call me Piko like we're close…" Piko grumbled. "Follow me."
Ren went with Piko up the stairs to the upper dorm rooms of the Alpha dorm. The last time he was here, he had gone into Masanori's room, and he passed by the hall on the way there, but Piko continued to lead him along before he could glance at it.
"Watanabe Nagi went back to his dorm room waiting for them to bring the Kunodanshi, Piko explained. "Someone like me couldn't possibly get close, but you could get inside easily. You're mysteriously immune to the power of their pheromones. That's why he won't stop thinking about you lately…"
"Huh? Who has been thinking about me?" Ren asked.
Piko shook his head. "I just noticed… Yuki-sama, he has so much energy lately after getting involved with you. It is so much, he cannot contain it sometimes."
Ren pointed at himself. "...about me? What makes him so energetic?"
Piko looked away. "I've said too much. Time to sneak past. I'll distract them."
Ren watched as Piko slipped away, and moments later a delinquent came running talking frantically to the guards and bringing them along.
Ren then walked through easily. 'Wow, these guys are total chumps if they leave their post that easily. No wonder Yuku-kun trusts him so much. He even knows a lot about the school just like Yuki does. I wonder what he was talking about though?'
Ren finally entered Nagi's dorm room.
Nagi sat at the chair at the center of his living room couch.
"Huh? It's you… I don't know how you got in here, but this must mean you brought him, right?"
Ren gulped. "I… I didn't. But there's a good reason!"
'There actually isn't. I just know that he'll kill me if I say anything otherwise! He won't leave unless I lure him with what he wants, so…!'
He grit his teeth as he stood up. "What!? Then what reason are you even here!?"
"I-I know how to summon him!" Ren loudly proclaimed, nodding shamelessly. "Yeah! He only shows up when the closest members of the guard are in danger! So, you should target Hinaguchi Teru and he'll for sure come out!"
Nagi tilted his chin and grinned. "Hmph! I would have preferred if you brought him, but good enough for me."
Nagi stood. He grabbed Ren's arm and pulled him along, heading for the door. "You're coming too."
"Right! And then you'll tell me how to navigate the Drama Club's Closet, right?"
"After! if you're lying, you'll regret it-"
BAM!
The door to the room suddenly slammed shut.
"What!? Who is-!" Nagi stomped over and pulled off a poster on the door, revealing a small wooden sliding slot to see outside.
"It's you! Who are you?!"
The next second, a hand jabbed clean through the slot, and Nagi was knocked down.
Ren, despite seeing this, recklessly climbed over Nagi to peek out for himself.
Ren gasped. "The Kunodanshi!"
The boy in the ninja mask with the golden eyes was tying something to the door. He gave Ren a glare before he approached.
He placed a lock on the handle. He shut the latch and it clicked.
Ren pulled at the slot but couldn't open it. "Hey!"
'What's going on? Why is he doing this?'
A muffled voice could still be heard, so Ren placed an ear to the door trying to hear.
"He'll be fine. As requested, Takeshita is secure and incapable of leaving."
Ren gasped. "Y...You! N-No way. You… you're the traitor in Teru's guard! The attacks against him… you've been double crossing him!"
There was a pause before the Kunodanahi spoke again. "Oh, and Watanabe Nagi is here too… no. Not inside with him..… Well, I can't control what he does if he were. But maybe then he'd use the lesson in not meddling in things that don't concern him…. No, I understand."
There was a click, then an unintelligible whisper. Suddenly there was a tap on the door.
"I don't do this without reason. Learn your lesson this time Takeshita."
Ren sunk down to the floor as the Kunodanshi's footsteps faded. 'How can this… he's working with the school? But why lock me in here…? I just wanted him to help me.'
Nagi groaned. He rubbed his head.
"Who…? Where!? Hey!" Nagi thrashed the door. "Come back! You-! You…! I won't ever stop looking for you!!"
Ren sat against the door and sighed.
"Do you have a phone?"
Nagi looked down. "What for? You better not be thinkin' of tattling I kidnapped you or something! I didn't-!"
Ren shook his head. "I know you didn't lock the door! We need help. So… I should call Imada-kun. I already know Naoto-kun summoned him, so he must be here already."
Nagi whirled on him angrily. "N-No way! You have a death wish!?"
Ren blinked in surprise. "Huh? Well he might not want to help you, but he knows me well. What makes you think he'll kill you?"
Nagi grabbed Ren's shoulder blades with a tight grip.
"Because it's you, idiot!!"
Ren's cheeks heated up. "M…Me?"
"Don't play dumb! Like there was no reason why he went after you the moment his rut started - I'm not as stupid as the rest of these guys, I notice these things! Who else is sending those damn letters!!? I've heard the rumors… I've seen what he can do! You think I haven't challenged him before!? N-Never again…!"
Nagi began to tremble, and his shoulders slumped low. For once, the usually terrifying Yankee's face showed genuine fear.
Ren pulled his shoulders away. 'Ow. He's terrified. But, are we really talking about the same Imada Masanori here? He punched through that wall that one time but he seems like a nice guy. If he was so tough, why would he be so scared of the school?'
He couldn't believe it at all, so seeing Nagi shake even at the thought, gave Ren the sense more that Nagi was weaker than he seemed, rather that Masanori had some secret strength.
So he stood up and leaned against the door.
"Fine, we won't call him. But try to contact someone."
"I'm trying! No one is picking up their phones! Is this the Kunodanshi doing?" Nagi tapped at his phone with an increasing frustration, while Ren watched his efforts.
"...Hey, why are you so obsessed with this Kunodanshi person anyway? Is it because he hit you that one time on sports day?" Ren asked.
Nagi shook his head. "No… no. You wouldn't understand. No one would…" Suddenly he looked even meeker. He put his phone down.
"...you're actually kinda wimpy for the delinquent leader."
"Sh-Shaddup! You think I didn't go through hell to get to this point!? Compared to the last few years here, this is the most important thing that's ever happened to me! This is everything to me!"
Ren furrowed his brow. "Is it really that important?"
"YES!!" Nagi practically wailed it.
Ren looked unconvinced. Nagi suddenly walked over to the left bedroom door.
"It is! You wanna know why!? This is why!"
Nagi grabbed his bedroom door, briefly blushed, then ripped the shoji door open.
Seeing inside his bedroom, Ren was taken aback. Rather than the room of a grisly hardcore yankee of grease and leather, Ren saw a very boring looking room. Very boring, if it weren't for the large, prominent shrine in the center.
Ren's eyes darted over the items dotted around the display.
'Autographs? Memorial photo books? A pen light? It's… an idol shrine? No, an idol group shrine.'
Ren looked at the poster on the wall. It was a group of young boys in middle school uniforms, wearing some kind of tacky boyish accessories as he scrolled through. Pirate gear, an 80s delinquent's jacket and hairdo, ninja's mask and clearly fake ninja swords.
"...This is a bunch of kids playing dress up." Ren stated.
Nagi grew flustered. "Yeah well they made it look cool! It… It was my favorite group when I was in middle school! They were so cool… my favorite was him. Those golden eyes were so piercing… they're impossible to forget. But he got kicked from the group after they found out he was an omega! Omegas in a group of cool guys like that just wasn't feasible…!"
In a violent burst of rage, Nagi's fist went through the shoji paper door.
"But he was the coolest to ME! He stopped his idol activities and disappeared! But I haven't forgotten him! I just want to tell him how important he is to me, how I support him no matter what he wants to do now! I don't care if he's an omega!!"
Ren squinted at the complex and crowded group photo.
'So Nagi-kun's been obsessed with this boy idol? I thought only old guys and little girls liked that kinda stuff, at least that's what I think I remember from my old body… hey, wait. That guy there, he looks just like… Idoru?'
Ren shook his head. 'No way, can't be…'
"This is my deepest darkest secret, so if you tell anyone what you saw you'll pay for it, got it!" Nagi continued on. "... so don't tell the guys, ok? N-Now that you understand my passion, you'll help me meet him again. You're the only omega that can do this, that's ever Iistened to me… plus you're an outcast omega no one listens to anyway!"
'What a mean thing to say. But I guess outcast perks means befriending closeted Otakus, even if they're jerks. Didn't he want to beat me to a pulp a few weeks ago?'
"Fine. But I need something from you." said Ren.
Nagi grumbled. "You think I'm making deals with you? You made a deal with me!"
Ren stood firm, and Nagi deflated right away.
"Wh-Why are you so weird… you really can't smell my pheromones, at all?"
Ren shook his head. "Nope. And you don't scare me at all! So can't you just answer one question? What is Teru's weakness?"