Katawa Yandere - The Entire Lilly Route - Parts 21-24

Part 21
With a spine-chilling offhand comment, you become aware of Hisao’s unknowingly lethal curiosity as his hand draws closer to the psychotic weapon resting on the bed.
Rin’s evil voice whispers through the air.
‘Complete the circle… Release me from this prison… Whichactuallyisn’tthatbadaprisonsinceI’vealwayskindofwonderedwhatitwouldbeliketobealittletallers
oIcouldgetbetterdownwardsperspectivesbutyou’reaboutthesameheightasLillysoitshouldbeok-‘
You smash down Rin’s insanity with your desire to save Hisao and quickly grasp the situation.
There’s only a second remaining.
You could try to make a lunge, but you’re not sure if you could stop him in time.
If it was anyone else, you could shoot them, but that would kind of defeat the purpose here; you’d need to use something non-lethal.
No time to be clever.
With only a split-second to spare, you make your decision.
Pushing yourself to your fastest possible reaction speed, you spring from your seat at the chessboard – accidentally knocking Hanako in the jaw as you do so – and make a lunge at Hisao’s legs.
Actually, not so much of a ‘lunge’ as ‘hurling yourself with the elegance of a drunken bullfrog’ – but your sloppiness buys you initiative.
You hurdle across the room and crash into the back of Hisao’s knees.
In the instant this took – everyone plummets to the floor.
Hanako flops onto her back stunned, but unharmed, you skid into the carpet, and Hisao comes crashing down on top of you.
You wince a bit at the unpleasant indoor road rash, but the slight sting from that goes away as you realize you made it.
Hisao’s hands are empty and your cane is in its original position.
Also…
Hisao… is lying on top of you.
You flush.
Anywhere else in the world, such a thing might be written off as an easily forgettable accident, but this being Japan, the environment freezes to a deathly stillness and proximity makes your heart skip.
“Ow…” Hisao moans. “Wha… What just happened?”
“Oh…” You breathe softly, forcing your vocal chords to work. “I… tripped… trying to get up… I’m ever so sorry.”
It’s a stretch and you know it, given the speed of your dive and the distance you covered.
Thankfully, there’s no way Hisao, who was facing the other way, could have known that.
You suppose sight can be a bit restrictive at times.
“Ah!” He exclaim, quickly shuffling off you. “I… Oh… um… it’s fine…”
He stammers a bit, as if searching for the ‘right’ thing to say. “Oh! Hanako!” He seemingly decides on as he notices she’s down as well. “Are you ok?”
“…” She doesn’t say anything.
“Hanako?”
“I’m… fine…”
There’s little room for continuing that conversation tree, so he clams up and the room remains silent for a few seconds, then. “Um... Wow…” He seems a bit nervous suddenly.
So are you, but you’re not sure if it’s for the same reasons.
“Hanako?” You ask, pulling youself and edging over to her. “I’m sorry…” You embrace her as you talk.
“Really… It’s fine, Lilly…” She softly says into your ear, regaining some of her inner fire.
She nuzzles her face against you.
“Well, ok then, Lilly’s managed not to kill anyone today.” Hisao jokes.
Not at all true. But at least no one in this room.
The mood lightens and you pass the rest of the afternoon having a bit of a tea party; you whipping up your signature blends of Eldritch tea while Hanako devastates you and Hisao together at chess.
You’re wondering if you should buy her a 3D set…
That train of thought is disrupted by Hisao rising and stretching. Checking the time, you realize it’s actually grown a bit late. Strange, you don’t feel that tired…
“Well, I think I should be getting back to my room before curfew.” He announces. “I’ll see you both tomorrow morning, I guess?”
“Of course…” Hanako hums.
“Wouldn’t miss it, Hisao.”
With that, he bids you both goodnight and exits.
It’s odd that you’re not tired. Hisao certainly was and Hanako seems a bit fatigued, as well, but to a lesser extent.
You’re wondering if you should talk to her now that you’re alone…
Or you could go visit Akira.
Actually, no reason you couldn’t bring her along either if you think she’s up to it.
“So Hanako?” You say, holding her to you. “How was your day with Hisao?”
“Ehehe….” She giggles earnestly. “It was nice actually. Not really that meaningful, but nice.”
“Oh?”
“We just had some tea, talked about our favorite books, and walked around town a bit…” She trails off and makes a humming sound. “Actually… That reminds me… He was way more exhausted by that than he should have been…”
It’s a very astute observation – and it also makes you realize that Hanako doesn’t know about Hisao’s heart condition.
You’re debating telling her when-
“So Lilly… Ehehe… I saw that there was some… kind of a ‘party’ here…” She dubs your massacre.
Then she actually lifts her hand up and strokes ‘your’ hair for a change. “Are you… alright?”
“I’m quite well.” You say, ruffling her hair. “But Hanako, about the fatigue you noticed in Hisao…”
You launch into an explanation of Hisao’s arrhythmia, blending what he himself told you with the rather vast amount of illegally acquired medical information courtesy of Akira.
After some time has passed, you feel you’re able to give a decent explanation and rise to make some more tea while Hanako digests the information.
“Hm…” She muses as you hand over her teacup. She produces a bottle of your liqueur flavoring and stirs it for minute. “So that… explains a bit… About both him… and you…”
“About me?”
“Yes…” She seems a bit lost in thought. “I was wondering why you were so concerned for him… I thought it seemed a little strange… But it turns out that I just wasn’t concerned enough…” She concludes a bit gloomily and chugs the rest of her drink.
“Oh Hanako… don’t say that.” You tell her, putting your arm around her. “I don’t want you to be overly worried.”
“Are you… saying you’re not?” She questions as she declines a second cup and simply chugs the bottle straight.
“Oh… it’s different for me, of course.” You tell her with a smile. After a moment, though, it fades and you sigh. “Although… It’s true… I do worry quite a bit about him…”
“Hm… Yeah...” Hanako replies airily, nuzzles up against you as if to comfort you.
“I can get that… There really has been a lot of horrible stuff going on…” She cuddles you as she talks. “I mean, at this very school… There was that terrorist bombing at the athletic field-“
“Um, Hanako? That was you.”
“Oh, right. Well… there’s also been that mass-murderer roaming around Japan-”
“That’s Akira.”
“Well how about that horrible massacre just earlier today?”
“I did that.”
“Huh... We’re bitches.”
You both go silent for a moment, then simultaneously break out laughing together. After a few seconds, Hanako passes you the bottle.
The rest of the night is passed in a more pleasant tone. Although awkward at first, the fact that you trusted Hanako doesn’t seem to be lost on her.
Sleep gradually comes onto both of you after your fifth bottle goes around.
The next morning you come to with somewhere approaching twelve empty bottles scattered around the two of you.
You’re wearing a kilt of a completely unknown origin and Hanako is curled atop the chess board wearing lamellar samurai armor.
Also, for some reason, you taste blood in your teeth.
Still nowhere near as bad as half the situations Akira’s dragged you both into.
You stagger over to the bathroom, picking feathers out of your hair, and brush your teeth.
You feel much better after all that’s done.
Checking the time, you find you still have some time to kill before you’re to meet Hisao…
Deciding that you might as well visit Akira, you make sure Hanako at least has a pulse and head out the door.
On your way to the hospital wing, you note that the school ground have been cleaned up somewhat since yesterday.
Most of the rubble is gone and the broken glass has been cleaned up, although from what you can perceive, the crucified bodies in the athletic field still seem to be untouched.
Huh. Maybe they thought it was a good aesthetic choice.
Unconcerned, you head in to the hospital wing and follow the scent of alcohol.
You find Akira in the burn unit busily replacing all the surgical outlines with concept sketches for Darth Vader.
“Good morning Akira.” You greet her.
“Hey hey! My cute baby sister! How’s it hanging?”
You decide to talk about the festival and launch into a passive explanation of the planned events and general layout of the festival.
She listens politely as you elaborate, passing a bottle back and forth.
“Seems a bit tame.” She concludes as you finish.
You give a contented sigh. “Well Akira, I’d rather avoid complete carnage if either choice is possible.”
“How come? Carnage is tastier.”
You share a laugh together.
“Although…” She muses. “Is there… perhaps a reason you want it to be tame?”
Your heart skips a beat. “Huh?”
“Well… If there was a right time for a confession… It’s usually better to have a bit of peace…” She leaves it at that.
“Ehehe… Stop it…”
She laughs, kills the bottle, and calls for a new one, carried in by a drunken slave wearing a necklace of shrunken heads.
“Seems to me like all that’s in your way is Shizune.”
Huh. Interesting choice of words.
“You don’t think Misha’s a threat to me?” You ask as Akira takes up the bottle and dismisses her attendant.
The affairs of kings are not for the ears of mongrels.
“Hm… Well, not directly, no…” She trails off in thought. “But Shizune most certainly is… And Misha’s ties to her run rather deep…”
Together, you and your sister run over possible implications of this assessment. As true royalty of the British Isles, you both have a heightened awareness for sniffing out conspiracy.
“Well… deep, yes… But as you said earlier, there’s a weariness to them.” You note.
“True. Even she’ll have limits, of course… And…” Akira takes a sip before continuing. “I don’t think Hisao is something she wants to give Shizune, either.”
You grin. “In other words, she might want to shirk on her duties.”
“And her desires might be easily tipped, as well.”
Having held a short, but productive regal meeting, you rise and head out to the festival grounds.
The school outdoor area is quite silent, although it really isn’t that early anymore. You suspect most of the student body being wounded might have something to do with that.
You wonder where you should wait; Hisao should be coming from the male dorms while Hanako should be coming from the female lodgings.
On the other hand, so should the student council.
You head towards the female dorms, not in any real hurry, as you still do have a bit of time...
With little warning, Hanako drops out of presence concealment at your side. “Lilly…” She embraces you. “Good morning… I’m not late… am I?”
You laugh a bit and ruffle her hair. “Nope. Exactly on time.”
“Good…” She snuggles against you.
Having linked up with Hanako, you both double back to the festival grounds.
“WAHAHA! HIIIII!!!” A jovial greeting rings out before you’re even marginally ‘close’
“Oh, hey you guys!” Hisao calls shortly after.
There's a third malevolent presence which is silent, but that’s hardly unexpected.
“So, for some reason, we’re not allowed to move the crucifixes.” Misha elaborates as you draw closer. “Shicchan thinks they add a nice ambiance, but it’s going to take a bit of running around to do the preparations around them.”
“I kind of like them, too…” Hanako purrs at your side.
“Um…” Hisao’s not really sure what to say to that.
“Hisao and I are working together!” Shizune speaks through Misha, producing a small sting of anger within you. You loathe the idea of turning him over… especially not to her… “Wahaha. On the other side of the field, we should ha-
“I’ll take Misha and go.” You cut Shizune off.
“Huh?” Misha, Hanako, and Hisao all say in unison. Shizune likely had a similar reaction.
“Um… Lilly… I need to stay with Shicchan to tr- Huh? ‘Hisao can do that?’ You’re sure?”
“Well…” Hisao cuts in. “I could try, I guess…”
“Um, ok then. WAHAHA!” Misha takes your arm and nearly yanks you off your feet.
“Let’s go get this over with Lilly!” She says, dragging you away.
As you’re ferried to the other side of the field by the unholy beast of pinkness, you wonder how best to strike up a conversation…
So, do you have any plans for the festival, Misha?” You ask.
“Waha-ha? Um… Not really, I guess.” She replies.
“Really? You’ve spent so much time organizing it and you don’t want to enjoy the fruits of your labors?”
“Hm…” She trails off as you two arrive at the scene. “Well, I was going to spend it with Shicchan… But she said she’s busy.”
You go about the task of setting up stands.
“Wahaha! This seems a little tame, though.”
“What?”
“These festival ideas… Shicchan didn’t seem like she wanted anything overly elaborate.”
“My, my. Akira said something similar just earlier…” You note absentmindedly, a bit distracted by the ‘busy’ bit earlier.
At this, Misha emits a hearty laugh. “Really?! Waha, what sort of events do you think she’d come up with?”
You want to get off this topic, but at the same time, you don’t want to seem like you’re prying.
You smile a bit wryly at the inquiry.
Although your senses weren’t as sharp back then, Akira’s party ideas are hardly unknown to you…
Your sixteenth birthday celebration claimed more lives than some small wars.
“Um… Trust me, Misha… You’re really better off not knowing…”
“WAHAHA! Aw… Ok! I won’t pry!”
And with that simple assessment, she goes back to working.
“Actually, Misha.” You ask before the widow’s passed. “Do you know what Shizune might be doing during the festival?”
The formerly passionate hammering stops dead.
“Well…”
“HISAO!”
A voice surprises you both. Hanako’s voice.
The girl crashes out of nowhere at a dead sprint, startling both you and Misha.
“Hanako?!” You call. It’s definitely rare to see her yell.
“Hisao!” She repeats, slamming into you and clutching your sleeve. She pants for a minute, and then tells you in a rushed but clear tone of voice:
“Hisao collapsed while he was working!”

=========================================================================================================================

Part 22
Together, you, Hanako and Misha hasten to the site where Shizune and Hisao were working.
‘If Hisao dies because of Shizune…’ You snarl to yourself.
Several cathartic activities flood your mind which involve turpentine and a pizza slicer.
Such wonderful daydreams will have to wait, however.
You need to ascertain his condition for yourself.
With a cheerful skipping pace that almost resembles a gallop, Misha easily outpaces you both – Hanako practically dragging you along, but you make fast time anyways.
All three of you seem genuinely concerned for different reasons.
“Hisao?” You call out as you arrive.
Nothing. That’s the sound you dreaded most, then Misha pipes up.
“He’s not here, Lilly. Neither is Shicchan.”
“You think she tried to get him to the infirmary?” Hanako asks.
“I would.” And without any further elaboration, Misha heads off in that direction.
“Misha! Slow down!” You call after her pounding footfalls.
“But… I’m worried about Hicchan…” She calls back.
“So are we! Now stick with us!”
“Waha…” She slows to your pace, but seems discontent for a minute, then. “Um… Oh! I know!”
Without warning, she seizes the both of you by the arms and blasts off with her extremely powerful thigh muscles.
It’s hard for blind people to balance when being dragged and you almost fall flat on your face more than once, but luckily Hanako stabilizes you.
Even borrowing Misha’s speed, your breathing becomes ragged rather quickly as you run…
Emi seriously thought this was ‘fun’?
As you approach the infirmary entrance, Misha suddenly releases the both of you and gallops ahead.
As she does so, one of her demonic drills comes alive and spirals about her fist like a gigantic drill bit.
With a battle-cry of “WAHAHA!” she blasts in the entrance.
The infirmary entrance simply ‘shatters’ as much as ‘implodes’ until the fury of the Gae Drills – blowing a crater into the side of the building, which she charges through.
She actually could have just waited a couple seconds for the automatic entrance to open, but whatever, that works too.
You enter the now battle-damaged hallway and cast about.
Misha’s already reached the admittance desk.
Deciding to keep Hanako with you right now, you head through the now-devastated hallway and catch up to Misha.
“Ok! Hicchan’s under observation now. Shicchan brought him in!”
She skips off down the hallway without saying anything else.
She seems genuinely worried, but obviously not to the same degree you are.
No one could match your concern right now…
You have to know how Hisao’s doing. This is starting to drive you insane-er…
After a moment, Misha stops without going into any room. It’s the open-area waiting room.
You and Hanako head in pursuit, then “Hi Shicchan! WAHAHA!”
Just the sound of her name, coupled with this situation, sends surges of anger through your spine.
Hisao’s heart trouble…
It’s the result of her negligence…
The psychosis of Rin’s sword flares up with your anger and speaks to you: 'Hanako’s at your side to counter Misha… She doesn’t need to kill her, just occupy her…'
Not much more needs to be said for that line of thought.
But Hisao...
Together, you and Hanako skid to a halt in the hallway right in front of Misha and your silent nemesis.

=========================================================================================================================

Part 23
You suppress your righteous urge to slay Shizune in the name of Scotland. For now.
“What happened?!”
“Oh, you certainly took your sweet time getting over here.” Shizune digs. “Aw, really Shicchan? She ran as fast as she could but she’s just out of shape.”
Not helping, Misha.
“Quiet, Misha - But then how will I talk for you?”
The two seem to be getting into a small argument which you really do not have time for at present.
“HISAO?” You state loudly, catching Misha’s attention.
Shizune apparently enjoys seeing you squirm, but Misha also seems to be genuinely concerned, so she relents.
“Hicchan and I were setting up one of the large booths – I gave him the task of dragging in the game stands. After a bit, I went to look for him and found him collapsed, so I sent your minion to go get you while I dragged him over here.”
“Minion?” Hanako echoes questioningly.
If you were hoping that explanation would assuage your fears, it really doesn’t.
“What did the doctor say?” You ask. “Is Hisao alright?”
Shizune takes a second that seems like a year to reply through Misha.
“They took him into the OR, but didn’t need to do anything invasive, thankfully. I’ve been asking about that every two minutes.” She tosses a handful of crumpled notepad-sheets at you.
“Aw… that’s… sweet Shicchan…”
“And how is he now?” Hanako cuts in a second before you can.
“He’s stable, but they’re gonna be keeping him here for a while.” She finally gets to the point.
You breathe a HUGE sigh of relief.
“So you might want to tell that crazy sister of yours to tone it down a little while he’s here.” Shizune adds.
You furrow your brow at that. It’s a cheap shot, but still a valid point.
“Do you know when we can visit him?” You ask.
“No idea. He’s sedated right now, so likely not for a while.”
You bite your lips, forcing down the urge to hurl innumerous Scottish curses at shizune, if only because you doubt Misha could translate them well.
“Hanako?” You ask sweetly, , turning your face to her. “Would you kindly go let Akira know what’s happened?”
Two drunken nurses skid by on rollerblades, playing street hockey with a severed head in the hallway.
“And also ask her if she could quiet things down just a bit?”
“Ok…” She says dejectedly. “I’ll come right back…”
And with that, she vanishes, leaving you with Misha and Shizune.
‘Yeah. Sending away your numeric balance. That was a smart move.’ Your insanity cane echoes to you.
Suddenly, you detect a wave a malevolent energy surging into Misha’s drills. Those drills which can slay any mortal…
You grit your teeth.
Then just as suddenly, it stops, accompanied by the sound of hands cutting the air in quick signs. The drills power down and Misha then flops into a chair next to Shizune.
It seems at least one of them didn’t want to risk a fight where there was a chance of Hisao getting hurt.
You settle down into a chair across from them and wait.
Time passes rather slowly as you wait, and of course, Shizune, the person responsible for all this, is just across the room.
Your temper running a bit high, Rin’s sword of madness keeps echoing through your head, asking you what purple tastes like, how you’ll decorate the palace once you seize control of the Britons, and other such nonsense.
You sigh. It seems like nothing will happen for a while now.
“So Misha?” You ask.
“Hm?” She perks up.
“How are you going to get the stalls built now that Hisao’s out of commission?”
“Hm…” She makes a thinking noise as her hands cut the air, possibly asking Shizune for a reply in her own stead. “No idea.” Is all she comes up with after a while.
“Student Council isn’t going to keep working?” You ask.
“As if you’d be one to criticize for that.” You’re pretty sure that was Shizune. “Waha? Really? We’re out?”
A small silence as they sign to each other.
“… Shicchan says that she’s staying here to keep a watch on Hisao. Um… does that mean I’ll have to do everything? Oh, phew, thank god.”
You assume she signed a ‘no’.
Before you can comment further, a soft patter of footsteps materialize at your side. “Oh, Hello, Hanako.”
She hugs you. “Lilly…”
You take Hanako’s hand and guide her into the seat next to you, where she promptly tugs you over a bit and begins nuzzling into your arm.
“So Hanako?”
“Hm?”
“What did Akira have to say?”
“Oh…” She trails off, trying to summarize. “She says she’ll keep all the chaos out of the hospital ward, at least.”
“Um… Doesn’t that mean she’ll be subjecting all of Yamaku to it instead?” Misha asks.
“Something like that. But Hisao’ll be fine, at least.”
“WAHAHA!” She laughs, seemingly getting some energy back at that statement. “Yeah! You’re right.”
Hanako snuggles against you and Misha makes a noise of discontent. You’re about to follow up on that when the doors open.
“HISAO!”
“Hisao?!”
“Hicchan?!”
“…!”
The four of you rush over as his bed is wheeled out.
The doctor explains that he’s fine, but should be sleeping until tomorrow morning and gives you all his room number before carting him off.
A moment of silence, then -“WAHAHA! Ok then! We’ll be staying here tonight, too! Time to go get our sleeping bags, Misha! Wait, I’m Misha…”
“…”
Misha sighs. “Ok, I guess we can do that! It’ll be like camping! Yay!” And with that, the student council departs to the evil marching beat of 'WA-HA-HA' leaving you and Hanako behind, if only temporarily.
“So… What are we gonna do?” Hanako asks.
Good question.
“Let’s go set up base camp in Akira’s room.” You tell Hanako with a smile.
She seems a bit apprehensive, so you stroke her hair and smile.
“Oh, come on. Hanako. It’ll be like a slumber party! Just with a lot of gossiping, plotting murder, and philosophizing about why the world needs to burn.”
“So in other words, exactly like a slumber party.”
“Yes.”
"In."
With that, you both head on over to Akira’s room. As if expecting it, she’s quite receptive.
Actually, she seems almost too happy, almost yanking you off your feet as she hugs you.
You call for bedding from the staff and set up in no time.
Although the primitive bedding of a hospital is unbefitting of a monarch, it’ll do for now.
“So Akira.” You say as you finish. “You got the gist of the situation from Hanako?”
“An idea, yes. You’ll be staying a while, then?”
You furrow your brow. “You don’t mind, do you?”
Akira laughs. “’Mind’? Fuck that. Let’s celebrate!”
And with that, she produces a trio of forbidden liquor bottles.
The night livens up rather quickly.
Perhaps because you’re both nervous, but you and Hanako start chugging it away as soon as the bottle as passed around.
Akira is, as always, Akira.
You debate some of Akira’s carnival ideas as the second round goes out.
“So yeah, I was thinking we could have a game like, where you all fight to the death on this shifting platform…” Your sister elaborates as she tucks into her sixth bottle.
“Imnot shure…” Hanako slurs. “I kindaaaa liked your decapitation contest idea…”
You giggle. “I would’ve liked a Russian Roulette atat- attact- ‘game’.”
“Well, all jusht ideas now, anyways.” Akira concludes.
You bring Akira fully up to speed on the Hisao and StuCo issue to the best of your ability, but that’s a short-lived sober moment.
After drinking round number… you don’t actually know, the atmosphere has livened considerably.
You’re clad in a bedsheet wrapped around you like a cloak and are practicing your rousing pre-battle speech for when you seize the throne of Scotland, waving around your possessed scimitar.
Hanako has changed into full medieval plate armor and is seizing on the floor in a fit of giggles. Every now and again, leaps up to add another body part to her ‘patchwork doll’.
Akira’s working on a high score and has broken out a screaming demonic spellbook. She's making a grand show out of summoning demons in between chugging sessions.
Her last massive summoning to call forth the Kraken results in… nothing.
“Huh… oh… yesh…That one showsh up in the nearest body of water… What’s the nearest large body of water here, Lillyyyyy?”
“Um… The fish- phyc- ‘physical’ therapy swimming pool.” You answer.
“Huh. Sucks to be them.”
You memories of the rest of the night are rather faded, but the fragments are pleasant at least.
[Meanwhile]

Shizune and Misha are leaned up against the wall in Hisao’s room, with the orderly’s body hanging from the ceiling, eating some hastily-procured takeout food and passing a jug of whiskey back and forth.
Wrapped in at least three sleeping bags as if a caterpillar, Misha looks over to her silent friend.
[So tell me Shicchan?] Misha signs. [Why were you driving Hisao so hard?]
She pushes aside her plate of Mongolian beef and replies. [I know it’s repugnant, but I had to drive him into a corner.]
Misha looks even more confused. [A corner? What?]
Shizune grimaces at her. [His heart? You know? The one that gave out ealier?]
Misha cocks an eyebrow.
[You… ‘wanted’ that to happen?]
[Yes.]
She looks understandably horrified at that and pauses a moment before replying.
[Why?]
Shizune gives a sharp exhale. [Easy.] Her expression changes to a smile as she signs out slowly, as if savoring it. [I was there for him when she wasn’t.]
Her face takes on a catlike grin. [He’ll not soon forget that.]
Misha’s eyes widen a bit [Is that why you’ve been in such a foul mood?]
[Kind of. All just means to the same end.] She smiles at Misha and strokes her face. [You know, he’s been coming to me a lot, lately. Just hanging out, but we all know that’s just part of the courtship dance.]
Misha looks a bit forlorn. [Do we?]
[Well, an extreme version of it, at least.]
The blue-haired caster leans back and explains herself. [Stockholm syndrome is the basis of all brainwashing. Also it’s used to train Disney animators. If I kept a tight leash on Hisao, it was inevitable that we’d grow closer eventually…]
Almost as if feeling some backlashed remorse, her expression wavers.
[What I have to accept is that I’ll never have Lilly’s charisma.] She hangs her head dejectedly for a moment. [So I have to use other methods.]
[Other methods?] Misha flashes back with minimal enthusiasm. [You’ve been acting that way… for that?]
[Yes, and it worked. He’s been seeking me out all the time, hasn’t he? And now I have this to work with.] Shizune traces her finger over one of those evil drills. [I’m sorry if the game was too much for you.]
“Wahaha.”
She pats Misha for a while, then snickers to herself. [I thought he’d fight me more than he did, actually. I guess he kind of likes being dominated.]
She purses her lips and stares at the ceiling. [I wonder if he’s into bondage...]
[End meanwhile]
You awaken the next morning sitting upside-down on an easy chair wearing a crown made out of what seems to be human ears.
You cast about and find that Hanako is curled up, occupying Akira’s bed, and your sister herself is gone.
After taking the time to mix up some of your blasphemous Scottish blooddrink, you ponder what your first move of the morning will be as your hangover dispels.
It’s unlikely Hisao will be up yet, but if nothing else, you can feel his face.
Hanako will be fine if you leave her your hangover cure, but she might like it if you stayed anyways.
Also, you wonder what Akira might be getting up to since her hospital antics have been relocated.
Deciding to visit Hisao, you leave a goblet of your dark elixir on the stand by Hanako’s head.
You feel the madness of Rin calling to you to feel her scars, but you suppress it for now.
You prim yourself a bit before heading out and remove your ear-crown- Actually, nah, just leave it on.
Satisfied, you head over to Hisao’s room.
As you walk, you note that Akira seems to have kept to her word about releasing the infirmary staff. They seem to be functioning professionally and your navigational cane never once gets stuck in anyone’s entrails.
You enter Hisao’s room. “Hisao?”
No reply.
At least not from him. After second, you detect a loud yawn.
“Oh… g’mornin Lilly…” Misha replies, sleepy-voiced.
Your mood sours, but you don’t let it show. “Oh, good morning you two.”
Misha yawns again. “Just me. Shicchan went out to go get some breakfast.” She shakily rises. “Hicchan’s still here, too, but he’s not up yet.”
You beam at Misha. “Oh, why thank you for the update.”
She replies with another unenthusiastic yawn. Mornings seem difficult for her.
No one here to stop you from face-time then…
Also, Shizune’s not with her evil knight of the pink right now… A rarity.

=========================================================================================================================

Part 24
You remain in Hisao’s room with Misha and decide that later will be the proper time to deal with Shizune.
As Misha struggles to pull herself into a state approaching wakefulness, you saunter over to his bed and delicately stroke his face, taking in the details.
Rin’s touch-vision adds a new layer of detail – the tone of his skin, his hair…
You smile slightly to yourself.
It’s such a nice face… His body as a whole is nice… You’d like to feel the rest of it, but somehow you doubt that’s a good idea with Misha in the room.
The madness of Rin flares up in your mind and asks what color his eyes are. It calls to you to lift up his eyelids and poke them, but you battle that urge down.
It’s harder to do when you’re actively using her power, but with a bit of mental effort, you manage to control Rin’s evil.
A few paces behind you, Misha finishes chugging her thermos of coffee, gives a sharp exhale, and turns to you.
“Hicchan seemed like he was having a nightmare earlier, but it didn’t last.” She says.
With no small measure of reluctance, you tear your attention away from Hisao for a moment and focus on Misha.
“And you?” You ask, smiling at Misha. “How are you feeling this morning?”
She yawns loudly. “Wahaha. Tired… But otherwise I’m alright I guess.”
Shaking herself up, she trudges over to Hisao. “Well, Hicchan’s alright, I guess. And that’s more than enough.” She pats his shoulder lightly.
She sighs. “I wish we’d been able to do the festival… but something tells me I wouldn’t have liked it much anyways.”
“Oh?” You emote, thinking back to the time when you two hung out regularly. “You always seemed to like parties.”
She puts a finger to her lips and hums. “Hm… I kind of do, but there always seems to be something missing…”
“What do yo-“
BLAM.
You inquiry is cut off by the door being violently blown open.
“Hi Shicchan!” Misha elaborates, mustering her pep again.
“…!”
“Wahaha! Shicchan wants to know what you’re doing here, Lilly.”
“Oh, I just came to check on you two.” You reply sweetly and make a gesture at her drilled familiar. “After all, Misha here seems a bit worn out.”
“Oh? You’re concerned about the Council’s well-being? There’s a change.” Shizune replies, walking past you and placing a stack of takeout boxes on the table.
Rin’s raspy voice echoes through your mind, telling you to rip off her face and wear it as a Halloween mask.
Maybe later.
Keeping your composure, you reply. “We’re all prone to doing things we typically wouldn’t in dire moments, aren’t we? I mean it’s rather unlike you to show concern for others.”
On the other side of Hisao’s bed, she clicks her tongue.
“And how would you know? Busy as you are playing-“
A groaning sound stops Misha’s translation in its tracks. Hisao’s.
All three of you lose interest in whatever was just happening as he stirs.
You and Shizune approach from opposite sides of his bed. Probably for the best.
“Huh? Shizune?” He mumbles, then shifts his head a bit. “Lilly? Misha?”
You all freeze as he collects himself. “What… how did I get here?”
“You collapsed working for Shizune.” You summarize quickly.
“Oh, yeah…” He trails off and groans as if remembering. “That’s right…”
You detect him shifting about as he takes in his surroundings.
“How’d I get here?” He asks.
You hesitate for a moment, then. “Huh?” He directs his voice towards Shizune.
“Oh, thanks…” He emotes, seemingly not remembering to sign it himself. Thankfully for her, though, Misha misses nothing in that regard.
You’re not sure what they signed, but suddenly he gives a dry laugh before turning back to you. “Oh… um…”
Seemingly not knowing how to deal with both you and Shizune requiring different modes of communication, he just gives up and directs his voice at Misha.
“Um… How long have I been here?”
“Half a day.” You respond.
“Oh…” He notices the sleeping bags smashed into a corner. “Were you two… Here all night?”
Misha emits her spine-chilling ‘WAHAHA’ before answering directly. “Ehe! Yup Yup! We took turns on watch, Hicchan!”
“Me and Hanako are just down the hall in Akira’s room. We’ve been making rounds, too.” You add.
He stays silent for a moment.
“Lilly…” He breathes your name in a tone that might be romantic under different circumstances.
As it is now, though, it just sounds condemned. “Misha, Shizune…” He sighs. “Sorry.”
At those words, you fluidly raise your hand and slap him across the face, producing a sharp and distinct packing sound.
Everyone falls dead silent at this action.
You detect a surge of killing intent from Shizune. And oddly, Misha seems more than a little bothered as well.
“Don’t apologize Hisao.” You breathe. “Just… never apologize for what you are.”
“…” Hisao seems in a state of shock for a minute, then-
“WAHAHA! She’s right, Hicchan!” Misha gaily cuts in. “Just keep going, right?!”
He suddenly begins laughing. “You guys…”
After a minute, he takes your hand in his… and puts his opposite hand on Shizune’s.
A beautiful moment ruined by an addendum.
You and Shizune...
You’re each holding one of Hisao’s hands… and each trying to kill the other with your mind.
He exhales fondly, not seeming to notice.
It seems you brought him out of his funk, if nothing else.
“Alright then. I’ll try to keep going. Any idea of when I’ll be getting out of here?”
You freeze, not actually knowing the answer to this question.
Shizune takes the opportunity to jerk Hisao towards her and sit down on his bed up against him, ostensibly for freeing up her hands so she can sign.
‘Die bitch. Die bitch. Die bitch. Die bitch.’ You’re not sure if this is you or your Rin-sword.
“You should get out in about three days! Just in time for the festival Hicchan! WAHAHA!” Misha interprets.
Unmoving from her perch, Shizune passes one of the takeout boxes his way.
“Oh?” He chuckles, signing something. “Thanks Shicchan!” Misha translates what he signed as if second-nature.
This is too confusing.
You realize it might not have been the best idea to try and take over talking yourself, especially given that most of your knowledge was secondhand.
“So is it alright?” He asks as he opens his newly anointed breakfast. “I mean, how’d you smuggle this in?”
“Shicchan has her ways, Hicchan.”
[Meanwhile, one of infirmary nurses has been stuffed into a janitor’s closet with all her skin ripped off.]
You simply smile, pleased that he’s come back around, but not so much with the method…
What to do, what to say…
“My, my, Hisao.” You chime in, suppressing Rin’s callings to bathe in Shizune’s blood with some reluctance. “That smells delectable. Would you like some tea with that?”
He chokes a bit. “Aha. I guess, I mean... if you were gonna be getting some anyways...”
“But of course. I know my teas.” You reply with a smile.
Hisao can’t talk much with his mouth full, and nor can he sign, so the room falls silent as you rise and enact your ancestral Scottish rite of teaness.
Dark highland hymns flow through your mind as you call forth your alchemical tea preparation.
Misha laughs and them begins digging into her own takeout box.
After a moment, you hand him a cup and have a seat right next to Hisao, scooching up against him in a manner similar to Shizune.
Hisao chokes a bit and then accepts your cup. After dirnking, he laughs. “Um… thanks, you guys, but, um…”
He seems to have begun to feel a little crowded by you both.
"Um..."
“Hicchan-pile!” Misha calls out and then flops across his legs.
None of you know what to say anymore.
In should be noted that most hospital beds are only suited for a weight limit of about 160kg, so four people all sprawled out on it is starting to push it…
“Um… Good morning?” A familiar voice calls from the hall.
“Hey… Hanako?” Hisao replies, guessing, as his view of the hallway is obstructed by your abdomen.
Not that you mind that in the slightest.
“My, my. Let’s give Hisao a bit of space, shall we?” You say, rising.
“…” Shizune follows suit with some reluctance.
“WAHAHA! I can stay here, right?”
“…!”
“Ok, fine…”
Misha gets up also.
“Good morning, Hisao…” Hanako says, walking towards him at a shaky pace.
“Hey Hana-!” Hisao begins, but is promptly cut off by her outright tackling him.
“You idiot!” She says, starting to sob. “We… we were worried sick about you!”
She nuzzles up against him, actually shaking.
None of you seem willing to break the silence that follows. Finally Hisao raises chimes up.
“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful in the future, ok?”
Another silence as Hanako calms a bit, then-
“WAHAHA! Yeah, you better, Hicchan! Otherwise Shicchan and I are gonna kick your ass!”
“Yeah… Me too!” Hanako agrees.
“And my CANE.” You pledge.
“Ahahaha.” He chuckles a little nervously. “Well, glad to have some motivation, I guess.”
Hanako seems satisfied and gets up. She promptly takes her usual position and fastens to your arm.
“So… when are you all heading to class?” Hisao asks.
“Oh, right now, actually.” You say, running your hand over his hair. “I just thought I should wish you good morning before I went to class.”
“Lilly… You didn’t have to.”
You smile. “Yes I did, Hisao.” And with that, you bend over and give him a quick kiss on the cheek.
He flushes. Misha giggles. Hanako stays silent. Shizune telekinetically broadcasts waves of hatred into your back as you and Hanako retreat.
With that wonderful Parthian shot, you exit with Hanako at your side.
As soon as you’re out in the hallway, your smile fades. “Hanako, I need you to keep watch over Hisao while I’m gone. Stay out of sight.”
She makes a soft sound, but then agrees. “Ok…”
She releases your arm gracefully.
“And if something happens? I might be able to take Shizune, but probably not Misha. And definitely not both of them together.”
You smile and run your hand through her hair. “It’s fine. They won’t start an actual fight with Hisao in the mix. Just stay hidden, but stay close to Hisao.”
“You’re sure of that?”
You return a somewhat sour expression. “It’s how I would handle it.”
She accepts this. “Ok, stay safe, Lilly…” And with this, Hanako Ikezawa, Lord Privy Seal of the Britons, melds into concealment.
Satisfied, you head out into the morning air.
Walking about you feel… A craving… It’s not hunger… It’s as if needing a caffeine fix… But far more intense.
You do your best to suppress it, but it’s a strong and irritatingly directionless craving.
Suddenly, as you traverse the school grounds, you detect the art class having an outdoor session, seeing as Kenji destroyed their room proper.
‘They’ll do. Eat their minds.’
The voice echoes within you rather than without.
Suddenly, you realize what it is. You’ve been overusing Rin’s Scimitar of Insanity… Especially this morning, seeing as it was almost euphoric to lose yourself in the details of Hisao’s face…
That raspy inner madness is now calling to you for nourishment.
‘Eat them.’
‘No.’ You declare inwardly. ‘I decide when to feed.’
Delving into your soul, you bring forth the holy energy of the true monarch of the Britons, drowning Rin’s insidious voice in that radiant energy.
Only the voice is suppressed though, you still feel the cravings as you head off.
On your way to the school administrative office, you detect another group of mongrels outside.
Then you catch the scent of alcohol of the wind.
A second later, “Hey hey, sis!”
“My, my. Good morning, Akira.” You say, hugging your sister as she approaches you. “What might you be doing out here?”
“Oh, I’ve decided to take over your class’ history session.” She says, taking your arm. “Today I’m having them re-enact the story of William Tell.”
“Um… Akira? My class was for blind students.”
“Oh. That explains it.”
Someone screams in the background.
You both shrug.
“So how are you, Lilly? You look a bit pale.” Akira continues cheerfully.
You give a sigh. “Actually…” The two of you walk together through the school grounds as you fill your sister in on your newfound craving for souls to the melodious backdrop on your classmates killing each other in a drunken frenzy.
“Hm…” She hums in thought after you’ve finished.
“I thought that sheath was supposed to control the madness.”
“Assuming you don’t use it, it will.”
You sigh. “But it’s such a lovely experience…”
Hisao’s face… To say nothing of how you’d like to take it the rest of his body…
Akira shrugs. “Then feed it.”
You both stop and let the warm midmorning breeze flow over you for a moment. Akira gives an explanation.
“Rin possessed incredible psychosis, but the emotional intelligence of a fish. Her madness was literally trapped within her. You, on the other hand, have a genuine God-given talent for reaching into people.”
She chuckles and ruffles your hair. “It’s one of your best qualities. But in this instance, it’s also the perfect vehicle for her insanity, so if you decide to use that power a bit, they’ll be some bleed-over.”
“She’s not going to take me over.” You declare.
“True. Rin’ll never win a battle of charisma against you. But if you’re going to use the sword’s power, you’ll need to feed it. Just like how athletes need to eat extra nutrition.”
You sigh to yourself and lean again Akira, pondering this.
[Meanwhile]
Shizune is nestled up against Hisao, gazing down on his sleeping face with a twinkling in her dark eyes.
[So Shicchan.] Misha signs, nestled against the foot of Hisao’s bed, kicking her feet around a little. [Do you think Lilly will get her class excuse?]
She strokes Hisao’s hair lightly, then turns. [I have no doubt she will.]
Misha cocks an eyebrow. [Is that ok with you?]
Shizune smiles. [Of course. I’d made preparations for it turning out this way.]
She goes back to playing with Hisao’s ahoge for a moment. Then she turns. [Although you did remind me.] She gives a devilish smile. [I think it’s time to go get ‘our’ class exemption]
Misha sighs. [Roger that.] She calmly walks out the door, lowering her golden eyes to half-mast.
[End meanwhile]
You smile and suppress Rin’s madness channeling the holy power of Scotland.
Your perceptions grow a bit dimmer as you drive down her insanity.
Satisfied, you turn to Akira and smile. “I’ll keep it under wraps unless I really need to.”
Your sister exhales and ruffles your hair. “Ever with the middle-ground.” She chuckles. “Well, that’s ok. Seeking compromise is a large part of nobility.”
You smile and lean again her, savoring the peace of the day, slightly interrupted by faint tortured groaning on the breeze.
“So, what were you here for, anyways?” Akira asks. “Come to play some games?” She guesses, sounding hopeful.
You giggle. “Sorry, but not now, Akira. I have to go see the administrative head about getting a pass from classes.”
“Oh, easy.” Your sister emotes before yanking out a piece of paper and scribbling on it. “There you go.”
“Um… ‘you’re’ the administrative head?”
“The old one was killed in your riot and his replacement died playing Russian Roulette earlier.” She states blandly. “So I had the surviving administrator vote me in when they were drunk.”
She hands it to you. “There you go. Pass from all your classes.”
You laugh and take it. “Thanks, Akira.”
She giggles. “So that means you’re free, right? Wanna go play a little?”
You sigh affectionately and nuzzle against your sister. “Alright, sure, we can play for a bit.”
Akira breaks out in a genuinely happy laugh and hugs you. “Alright! Glad to hear it!”
It’s genuinely a heartwarming thing to see her in such a good mood.
She takes your hand. “Ok! The Satou dynasty is in the house!”
Laughing with your sister, you head off together on a tour of your Yamaku fief.
In the cafeteria, you and Akira barge in before lunch and set about teaching them your sister’s special recipe for Las Plagas Delight.
“I learned the recipe from the strange English guy.” She explains while you encourage the staff.
You smile to yourself. You suppose it is good to get some cooking experience.
Once you’re satisfied with their performance, you head off again.
Giggling to each other, you both trot along at a merry pace and commandeer the chemistry class.
You play with them for a while, teaching your loving subjects how to build pipe bombs.
The two of you see them off with a wave and leave them to tinker around.
Akira’s genuinely happy, and you’re having a rather nice time, too.
Fucking with your subjects is an ageless pastime amongst royalty.
After that, you both make your way to the athletic department in high spirits and split up for a bit.
You coat the football player’s equipment with broken glass while Akira spikes all their Gatorade stores with Everclear.
[Meanwhile]
Mutou lurches along the path outside Yamaku, having finished class for the day.
He sighs, having expected the rest of Yamaku to have been inspired in physics by Rika’s impressive use of vector change in the massacre the other day.
Sadly, this wasn’t the case. They’re as lazy as ever.
Suddenly, he stops and looks ahead. A formidable figure bars his passage.
“Hi teacher! WAHAHA!”
He gives a disdainful look. “Misha? What is it? I’m in a hurry.”
The Pink Knight gives a wistful sigh.
“You always were like that. Always too preoccupied for little ones like me…” Suddenly, she jerks her head back and laughs. “WAHAHA! But you don’t need to be anymore.”
Misha’s drills begin spiraling as if a cyclone, pulsating with malevolent pink energy.
“You don’t need to worry about anything anymore.”
Each drill on either side of her head snakes down to her clenched hands, enveloping them and spiraling outward.
“Wahaha.” She breathes almost quietly.
Either of Misha’s hands are now covered by a structure akin to a knight’s lance – extending several meters before her and enveloping her fists with a rotating handguard.
Demonic energy of pinkness surges through the gyrating demonic weapons.
“WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!”
[End meanwhile]
Having enjoyed a lovely day of regal trolling, you and Akira stroll back together on the path back to the infirmary.
Off in the distance, you can dimly make out a horrific cacophony of explosions and a sensation of hideous evil powers.
It’s not in the direction of Hisao’s room, though, so it couldn’t matter less to you.
You'll look into it later, perhaps. For now, it's irrelevant.
Enjoyably fatigued, you smile and nuzzle into Akira’s arm. “My, my, that was quite a pleasant time.”
Your sister ruffles your hair a bit and laughs gaily. “Wasn’t it?”
You smile. “Yeah… That worked wonders for blowing off some steam.”
“It’s important to do something pleasurable whenever you can, isn’t it?” Akira states simply.
You smile to yourself.
That it is.
And heading back, your thoughts turn towards what would easily be the most pleasurable thing in the world to you.
Your lips curl into a smile and you mouth that name to yourself. “Hisao…”