In a dimly lit room, there were several figures. One sat on the bed, another on a wooden chair, so on the floor, while the rest were standing.
They weren't from Vale City, and thus they rented out an inconspicuous room far out in the slum area of the city.
A man with dark onyx hair and green eyes leaned on the wall with his arms crossed. But he wore an ink black mask, the others didn't know his identity.
Just that he was a high ranking mber of the syndicate. He was the group's current advisor.
Zed Alistar. One of the Twilight Syndicate heads. A high ranking mber, but a low ranking head due to inactivity.
Today would mark the full fruition of their plans.
But that was what the group around him thought.
For Zed, it would be his last gig.
There was no way this ragtag group of new syndicate mbers could successfully attack the academy.
Their plan was sloppy, and there were no goals to it at all.
It was all for the purpose of having the credentials of successfully obstructing the most influential academy of the century.
Yes.
That was it.
All so they could gather the other head's attention.
And Zed was the one assigned to observe this batch.
Why?
Because if they did fail, then there was a chance the organization could be leaked.
He couldn't allow that.
The organization couldn't allow that.
If they failed, then he would end them.
But for so reason, their plans were going smoothly.
There was soone from the inside helping them.
An image of a man overlapped in Zed's mind.
And he smiled at the thought.
"Could it be him…?"
He muttered.
He didn't expect that man to help out.
Maybe…
Maybe this plan was going to work.
Flip—
He flipped a coin in the air and caught it.
"Nah."
He shook his head.
It would be too good to be true for this sloppy plan to actually pull off.
The only reason the organization even allowed for it was because of its beliefs.
Freedom.
Each mber, be it high ranking or not, were free to do as they wished.
"...?"
Zed looked ahead.
The group got up and were about to head out for the door.
"Is it ti?"
"Yes. Our contacts just inford us that the talent show was about to start."
"Ah."
"Will you help us, Sir?"
"No."
Zed shook his head.
He wasn't part of the upcoming attack. Just a re observer.
Flip—
Zed flipped a coin and gazed at the man in front of him.
"Get going now."
And he caught it as the moonlight reflected from the coin.
Staring at the door slowly closing, Zed stared at the coin on his palms.
The corner of his lips pulled up shortly after.
"Are you the one pulling the strings, Ripper?"
***
6:00 PM.
Finally, it was ti for the long awaited talent show.
Audience quickly filled the seats and their chatter filled the entire room.
Judges were seated in front consisting of Professors and student council mbers.
The only ones Raven was familiar with were Evelyn, Vanessa, Gavin, Oscar, Belle, and Adrien.
There were a total of 12 judges. For the rest, he didn't know.
According to the posters, there were over 27 participants that passed the screening test. With one secret participant that didn't undergo the said test.
Why?
Because this mysterious participant's talent was superb. Vouched by the student council, as well as several professors.
Whoever this participant was, everyone was excited. The main attraction, and therefore he or she was last.
"Woooh…!"
Cheers resounded throughout the entire theater room.
Flick!
The lights went out and the curtains closed shut.
Crunch!
Seated in his seat, a crunching sound echoed from beside Raven.
"Wantsh sho?"
Two dark crimson eyes t his gaze as her cheeks were puffed from stuffing it with popcorn.
It was Amy.
"Thanks."
Raven accepted the gesture, and turned his attention back towards the stage. Without looking, he reached out inside the popcorn bag.
"Ah–"
"Eeek—"
A certain squeal escaped Amy's lips and Raven pulled his hand back abruptly as he realized he had touched sothing else.
Though what it was, he wasn't sure.
Just that…
Squeeze. Squeeze.
It was soft.
Looking at his palms, he closed and opened his hand repeatedly.
Turning his head to the side, Amy was wide eyed and her face seed to flush red.
Flustered, Raven tried to clear it up before it got worse.
"S-sorry. It was an accident…"
Not sparing him a single glance, Amy dismissed him.
"I-it's fine. It was an accident…. An accident."
Amy turned to the side as she continued averting her gaze. For a second, Raven felt like he had heard her mutter in a barely audible voice, 'You don't have to apologize though.'
Raven was flustered even more.
Surely, he heard it wrong.
Definitely.
Flick—!
His attention was soon shifted in front of him. The spotlights flickered, shining down on the center of the stage. Slowly, the curtains spread open
And shortly after, a figure beca visible.
A familiar man stood in the center. And Raven found himself wide eyed.
"Holy shit, Reinhard?!"
Even Raven couldn't contain himself as he cursed. It was too shocking.
"Greetings, my na is Reinhard. A first-year student from Class A. And today, I'll be showcasing my talent, and that is…"
Reinhard closed his eyes.
Clearing his throat, he opened his eyes.
His gaze lingered all over the audience, and for a brief second, his gaze locked on Raven whose eyes were shot wide open.
"Boo...."
"Get Reinhard out of here."
Raven could hear so of the students showing their disdain towards Reinhard.
But they were of the minority, and thus it seed like Reinhard didn't hear them.
"Stand-up cody!"
Once again, Raven cursed under his breath.
He quickly retrieved his phone and started taking a video of the entire ordeal.
"Too bad Brandon isn't here."
Disciplinary committee duties entailed that mbers peer out for any trouble. Currently, since Brandon wasn't present, he must've been stationed outside.
"He's gonna wanna see this."
And so he clicked on the record button.
Shortly after, Reinhard started his performance.
"As a kid, I was told practice makes perfect. Then I was told nobody's perfect. So I stopped practicing."
Badum… Tss!
"..."
"..."
Absolute silence.
Was that even a joke?
Wasn't he just talking about himself...?
Yet Reinhard continued.
"What did the horse say after it tripped?"
"..."
No one responded. But as his friend, Raven stood from his seat and responded loudly.
"What?"
All eyes flicked towards him. But Raven paid no heed to them and earnestly stared at Reinhard.
eting his gaze, Reinhard nodded appreciatively.
"Help! I've fallen and I can't giddyup!"
"..."
"..."
What the fuck...
Raven could feel the second hand embarrassnt from a mile away. But since he was the only supporter, he remained standing. How did he even pass the screening test?
Shortly after, he gripped his stomach.
And…
"Hahahaha~"
He was dying.
He could feel it.
Please get out Reinhard.
And yet again, Reinhard continued.
"What did the man say after getting into a traffic accident?"
"What?"
"I refuse to be reincarnated!"
"..."
...Please stop.
Soone, stop him.
"Boo…"
"Please, I want to live a long life."
"Get off the stage!"
Audience's comnts reverberated throughout the entire theater room. Unlike earlier, it wasn't just the minority.
Before he realized it, Raven was slowly sitting down.
"...You're on your own now."
He hesitantly muttered under his breath.
Yes, they were friends. He should be supportive no matter what.
But as he recalled Reinhard's jokes, Raven found himself clenching his teeth.
"Maybe I should cut him off…"
Reinhard paid no heed to the haters and continued.
"For the grand finale. Why did the bicycle fall over?"
"..."
This ti, Raven didn't respond. But shortly after, Reinhard's pleading eyes t his gaze.
Alright.
It was for his friend.
Raven scoffed at the thought of betraying Reinhard. He could do at least this much for a friend.
With such thoughts, Raven stood up with a smile.
"Why?"
Reinhard nodded at him with a smile plastered on his face.
Clearing his throat, Reinhard continued with a confident tone.
"Because it was two tired."
"..."
'Okay, I'm done.'
Silence gripped the room. No one could utter any words. Grand finale…? Bullshit.
Raven instantly sat back down as he tried to mitigate the second hand embarrassnt.
The entire session... No one laughed.
"No one."
Literally, no one.
Not a single one.
"Tough crowd…"
Reinhard scratched his cheek.
"Just get out."
And one of the panelists instructed him to go.
Just like that, the first participant of the talent show ended.
Shortly after, Raven's phone vibrated.
Retrieving it, he opened the screen and found a text ssage.
⌜Brandon Locke⌟
—It's ti.
Acknowledging the ssage, Raven stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"Bathroom."
Amy asked and Raven answered.
He made his way towards the exit, and as he opened the door, the familiar figure stood, waiting for him.
He adorned an elegant black blazer, and his hair was styled differently from the usual.
"Fancy getup."
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