The New Girl 11

>You are Anon, the tired highschool student.
>And you are being questioned rather vigorously.
>"Anon isn't a very Japanese name, what's the deal with that?" Asks the short pink haired girl you have now correctly identified as Nonon.
>Her inquisitive glare pressures you for an answer.
"My father isn't from japan. He picked my name."
>"And that's what he picked?"
"Yes"
>Nonon chortles in her nasal voice
>"Guess he thought you'd be a nobody. Not too far off."
>You roll your eyes, unamused with the diminutive girl's comment.
>"Already making an impression on our guest I see, eh Jakuzure?"
>Looking towards the source of the voice intruding into your rather one sided conversation reveals a thin, blue haired young man, his lower face concealed by an impossibly stiff turtleneck collar.
>Hōka Inumuta if you recall correctly.
>At his entrance Nonon shrugs her shoulders.
>"Just getting to know Matoi's new friend."
>"And flexing your wit. Tell me, does having a serpents tongue make it hard to chew?"
>Nonon blows an apathetic raspberry at Hōka.
>"Seems the dog is barking again, don't worry though Anon, he's not one to actually bite."
>With that Jakuzure saunters out of the room, humming Beethoven's Ninth, though not without shooting a knowing glance at Hōka.
>"Enjoying the Snake's company I see."
"You could say that."
>Inumuta gives a sort of half laugh followed by an awkward pause.
"So..."
>Inumuta stares at you behind his glasses.
"It's been a hell of a night. For me I mean..."
>Another distanced stare comes your way.
>"Indeed, you must've been rather shocked that a piece of fabric was actually a living being."
"Oh yeah."
>You sip from a nearly full can of ginger-ale as your conversational partner taps away at a tablet produced from under his clothes.
>"Tell me Anon, how did Senketsu come into your possession?"
>The tone in Hōka's voice made you slightly uncomfortable with the question.
"Oh, you know... Found him laying in the street, picked him up, took him home."
>"Of course." Inumuta says matter-of-factly.
>He continues to stare at you through the lenses of his glasses.
>The glint of the lights obscuring his expression.
>You awkwardly sip from your can o' Canada Dry as Inumuta relentlessly drums his fingers across the screen of his tablet.
>Abruptly Inumuta stands up, tucking his tablet under his arm and turns to leave the room.
>"Sanageyama... Do be gentle, we don't need him injured."
>Your open your mouth to question what was said.
>You are silenced however by a loud yell from behind you.

>"面!"
>"(Face)"

>And suddenly the room goes black.

>You return to consciousness sitting upright in an uncomfortable wooden chair.
>Looking around gives you know clues as to your location.
>It's too dark.
>You try to move, but find you're unable to do so as your arms and legs have been bound to the chair with rope.
>"Oh my, it looks like the nobody has woken up."
>You look around in the darkness for the source of the voice, but see nothing.
>"See, I didn't hit him THAT hard."
>"Then I guess I owe the dog 2000¥"
>A solitary light comes on about 10 feet away from you, providing some illumination.
>Basking in the glow of the light with smug grins were Uzu Sanageyama, and Nonon Jakuzure.
"What the hell... What the fuck is going on here?"
>"Lady Satsuki has some questions for you." Nonon says in her obnoxious nasal tone.
>"We were here to make you don't do anything until she returns."
>You sit in silence trying to comprehend what is going on.
>From behind you can hear a door opening and several persons entering the room.
>"Lady Satsuki, he's awake!" Shouts Nonon.
>"Good."
>The clack of Satsuki's footwear against the wooden floor rings out as whet gets closer to you.
>"Now..." she says, venom dripping from her words.
>"You are going to tell us exactly who you are, and where you found that godrobe."
>Satsuki steps in front of you, a look of menacing determination burned into her face.
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
>You glare up at the scowling woman.
>Her expression remains unchanged.
>"Don't play stupid with me Anon. Did you really think I wouldn't catch on to you? Taking Ryūko as your partner, your babble about goku uniforms, and now your convenient possession of Senketsu."
>Satsuki's words get louder and louder as she continues her rant.
>"What sort of fool do you take me for ! Now tell me, what are you playing at?!" Satsuki bellows as she grabs your shirt collar, pulling you towards her.
>Your sleep deprived brain is currently on MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE as you take in what's going on.
>But from what little sense you can make of the situation it seems that Satsuki isn't too keen on chalking this week up to coincidence.
>Now normally you'd try and defuse a situation like this, however a lack of sleep doesn't exactly leave your brain firing on all cylinders.
>As a result you instead take a more confrontational course of action.
>You decide to get lippy.
"Hold the phone, the lettuce, the mayo, and the onions sister!"
>Satsuki releases her grip on your shirt.
"You seriously think I set all this shit up? Wow, you sure you haven't been drinking from the wrong punchbowl?"
>Satsuki is taken aback by your sudden outburst.
"Hey, FYI I didn't pick Ryūko, she picked me! I was asleep when the assignment was given out."
>From across the room you can hear Nonon snickering.
>"A nobody, AND a slacker?! Hahaha."
>A steely glare from Satsuki shuts her up.
>With your tirade finished Satsuki folds her arms and 'hmphs'.
>"I'd be tempted to believe you, if it weren't for one thing..."
>Satsuki looks off to someone out of your field of view and gives a confirmatory nod.
>Inumuta and an unidentified gentleman step into view.
>He seems older, likely in his mid twenties with deep blue hair swept back, and a loose white button up shirt with its collar popped hanging from his frame.
>For a second you could have sworn you saw light coming from under his shirt, but you pay it no mind.
>"So, this is the one you told me about?"
>Satsuki nods.
>"He's not exactly what I would've pinned as Ryūko's type." He says with a laugh.
>You can already tell you don't particularly like this guy.
>"Aikurō, back on topic please." Satsuki spits.
>"Right, right..."
>Inumuta brings a laptop out from behind him and quickly opens it, angling it towards you.
>"With the data Hōka gave me I was able to determine two things."
>As Aikurō speaks his shirt begins to slide off his shoulders, revealing his toned chest.
>"One: our friend here has an affinity for terrible soft drinks."
>The shirt continues to slide down, stopping at his waist.
>"And two: His whole body is radiating with life fiber energy. More than his supposed limited contact with Matoi's godrobe could have provided in its current state."
>With that Aikurō strikes a pose straight from an Araki manga and throws his shirt to the floor, his nipples emitting a vibrant pink-purple light.
>Satsuki turns back towards you and smirks.
>"Now Anon tell me why I should believe you."

>It's been hours, and yet here you are.
>Ropes holding into an uncomfortable chair.
>Your tired, semi-functional brain constantly spouts the same answers you've been giving for god knows how long.
>Satsuki has become exasperated with your answers, her brow furrowed and arms folded as she glares at you.
>"How long are you going to keep this up?" Satsuki asks, a hint of tiredness creeping into her voice.
"Keep what up? I've been telling you the truth this whole time."
>Satsuki's cold stare doesn't waver.
>"Then explain the abundance of life fiber energy on you."
>"Lady Satsuki, if I may interrupt" Inumuta says with is hand raised.
"Provided he has been telling the truth, it's possible his exposure to Matoi is responsible for the life fiber readings we found."
>Satsuki gives Inumuta a curious look.
>"Do you think so?"
>"Possibly, from my observations there's nothing in his body language or tone of voice to suggest he's lying."
>Inumuta shrugs.
>"He has spent plenty of time with Matoi this week, in school and outside of classes."
>Well at least there's a voice of reason.
>Pity he took so damn long.
>Satsuki eyes you suspiciously, before turning back to Inumuta.
>"Fine. Release him."
>For a brief second the ropes around you tighten and then fall away.
>You rub you wrists and ankles and stretch your arms and legs.
>As the blood returns to your extremities you cast an uneasy glance towards Satsuki.
>Something tells you she's not convinced of your innocence.
>"Gamagōri," says Satsuki "Take Anon back to the main hall."
>"Yes lady Satsuki." Responds the giant as he steps out from behind you chair.
>As Gamagōri and you turn to leave Satsuki calls your name.
>"Anon,"
>You turn to look at her, her steely gaze locked onto you.
>"I've got my eye on you."
>As you and Gamagōri exit the dark room you can hear the blue haired man from earlier chuckle just as the door shuts.
>Gamagōri escorts you back to to main hall of the mansion in relative silence until you stand at the entrance.
>"Forgive Lady Satsuki for her behaviour."
>You give the hulking man a cautious look.
>"She is very concerned about anything having to do with life fibers, and with good reason. The amount of trouble they have caused for her is astounding."
>You nod your head.
"I can imagine if she gets that worked up about 'em."
>Gamagōri says nothing as you enter the foyer.

>It's 5:00AM as you drive down the road.
>The cool early morning air washes over you face as you sit on the back of Ryūko's Vespa.
>It was nice enough of her to give you a ride home.
>And you don't think riding with Gamagōri would have been very comfortable after the night's events.
>You find it difficult to stay awake, though you fight the urge to sleep as falling off the back of a Vespa isn't on your to-do list.
>Your arrival at your home is signalled by the slowing of the scooter.
>As it comes to stop you yawn and hop off.
>"Get some sleep Anon, you look like you've had a rough night."
"More than you know..."
>Ryūko smiles and waves as she turns her scooter around and drives off.
>You watch her leave before shambling to the door and unlocking it.
>You shut the door, head for the couch and promptly pass out.

>You are Kamui Senketsu, the tattered godrobe.
>The last 24 hours have been incredibly hectic.
>After months of being hung up as a decoration you finally mustered the strength to get out of your confinement, only to be creased and folded, scrunched up, shoved in a pocket, thrown onto the ground, and stepped on.
>But at least you found your way back to Ryūko.
>Overall things have gone better than expected.
>Currently you are tied around Ryūko's arm as she drives home on her motor scooter from dropping Anon off.
>On the subject of Anon, something about him had been bothering you during the ride.
"Ryūko..."
>"Yeah?" She says smiling happily.
"Did Anon seem 'off' to you during the drive to his house?"
>"Eh? He seemed tired if that's what you mean."
>You narrow your eye.
"Not tired, more like... Distraught."
>Ryūko gives you an inquisitorial glance before looking back at the road ahead.
>"As far as I could tell he was just tired."
>Again you narrow your eye.
"I've spent several months in that house. I've seen him tired plenty of times, this was more than that."
>Ryūko chuckles lightly.
>"Perhaps it's because he found out you've been watching him for all that time."
"Maybe..."

>You are the small mass of life fibers clinging to Anon's scalp.
>And you are relieved.
>If Inumuta hadn't of spoken up, you might not be here still.
>Thank god for giving you such good luck.
>Or perhaps just situational convenience.
>At any rate, you're still safe.
>And so is your unknowing host, though you'll have to be careful with Satsuki being so defensive about life fibers.
>No matter, you'll be fine as long as you don't sap too much of Anon's strength each day.
>Soon enough you'll be at full strength again, and ready to cause that godrobe wearing bitch all the trouble you can...