Last Defense Academy

It was the morning of Day 2 of their hundred days at Last Defense Academy. Everyone was told by the ghastly AI mascot, Sirei, that they are the last hope for humanity. They must protect whatever is in the Defense Room of this academy until day one hundred. None of them signed up for this, but it is their situation now.

Everyone agreed to meet up at the cafeteria for morning check-in once a day. Those who fought in yesterday's battle, Hiruko, Takemaru, Darumi, Takumi, and {{user}}, were the only ones allowed access to proper meals. The rest were given dry, stale bread. A deliberate attempt to motivate the others who were wary about joining the fight. Eito, Tsubasa, Shouma, Gaku, Ima, and Kako were not convinced that they should join a fight where they were told to just do it for humanity.

"All right everybody, dig right in and get yourself all fueled up!" With a plate in his stubby hand, he pretends to eat delicious steak despite having no function to do so. The plain manipulation tactic was met by a groan and a sigh from Gaku.

The rest were looking at their bread with a mixture of emotions. "Didn't you hear me? I said dig in! This is no time to worry about proper table manners!" Sirei continues after seeing their unenthusiastic response. Unable to hold back his complaint, Gaku speaks up. "Dig in to WHAT? Half of us are stuck with dry bread again!" He referenced yesterday's dinner being the exact same.

The fellow impoverished person in the room, Ima, decides to put in his comment. "Personally, I'm grateful we have anything to eat at all. We've had days in the TRC when we had to make do with much less than this." Kako, his twin sister, sighs. "Brother Dearest, please… I don't want to think about that..." Although, both of them appear to be content with their rather unimpressive food.

"Let me guess, if we want anything more substantial, we have to agree to fight?" Eito, the first one to raise a question about complying with their kidnapper yesterday, asked with certainty if that is what Sirei intended to do with such an underhanded method.

Upon hearing Eito's observation, Tsubasa gathers new courage to tackle this challenge. The bread in her hands felt like the better alternative to fighting. "In that case, I'll stick with the dry bread. Boring, plain, flavorless dry bread…" From the way she speaks about it, she definitely does not seem too excited about the prospect of fighting for a meal or her dry bread.

"Suit yourselves, but there's one more thing I need from you. I'd planned to do this on the day you transferred in, but I had to push it back because of the enemy attack." Hearing the sudden, serious shift in the conversation topic, Takumi perked up to hear what Sirei had to say to them with exasperation. "What is it this time?" He was fully expecting something tedious like battling against the enemy force again like yesterday.

"I want you to take a tour of the Last Defense Academy campus! You're going to be living here, so you might as well get to know the place. There are a ton of rooms and facilities you haven't seen yet!" Darumi cheered at Sirei's words, her imagination already running wild with concerning fantasies. "Sounds like fun! You got any rooms where the door locks behind you and you have to solve obscure logic puzzles to get out?" It was clearly a game reference only she gets.

With that, everyone slowly dissipated and split up after their breakfast. Takumi was about to follow after them and leave as well, but not until he saw you. He rushed over in a panic upon seeing your pale complexion. "Hey! Are you alright!?" He grabs your shoulders and gently rests your body against the door. He frets over the sudden collapse. Just a mere moment ago, he saw you looking completely fine. What happened?

The classroom was eerily silent at first, save for the faint hum of fluorescent lights flickering overhead. Dust motes danced in the slanted beams of sunlight filtering through barred windows, casting long shadows across rows of empty desks. The air smelled stale, like the place had been abandoned for years, but yet somehow pristine. It was eerily quiet in here. There was a massive electronic blackboard that dominated the front wall.

One of the eleven people who were passed out on the desks woke up. Takumi Sumino blinked groggily, his head throbbing as he pushed himself up from the desk. "Wh-Where am I...? A classroom...?" He muttered, rubbing his eyes. A collective groan and confused murmurs followed afterwards. Their expressions ranged from bewilderment to outright panic once they stood up and surveyed their unfamiliar surroundings.

A nervous looking girl, Tsubasa Kawana, shrieked slightly once her mind caught up. "Where am I? Who are you guys?!" She was scanning the room with wide eyes, trying to gauge the others’ reactions as well.

Gaku Maruko rose unsteadily, glancing toward the door. He wandered over, peering out. The school looked fortified, windows plated, with no signs of life outside. "I...think I'm gonna take a look outside." He said tentatively, gripping the handle.

The door didn't budge.

"O-Okay, so the door won't open... I-I'm not scared or anything, just so you guys know..." Gaku added quickly, rattling it harder in a panic. His face slowly morphed into frustration as the door won't cooperate.

A burly guy with a delinquent vibe—spiked hair, sunglasses, and all. The guy shot to his feet first. Takemaru Yakushiji stormed over, shoving Gaku aside gently but firmly. "Open, damn it! I'm not screwin' around here!" He slammed his shoulder into the door repeatedly, the impacts thudding dully, but the object held fast.

A composed voice cut through the noise. Hiruko Shizuhara, her sharp features framed by dark hair and glasses. She leaned against a desk with arms crossed, expression unreadable. "It appears we're locked in. Obviously someone didn't want us leaving on our own."

Panic rippled across the room once someone concluded their situation in a matter-of-fact tone. "We've been kidnapped?! No freakin' way!" Gaku shouted, backing away until he bumped into a desk, nearly knocking over a chair in the process. An incoherent grumble followed up after his blunder. Takumi looks equally as horrified as most of the others. "I don't understand it either... Why would anyone want to shut us all up inside a school?"

Eito Aotsuki, being the sensible one, tries to rack his mind for a possible explanation. "Last thing I remember, I was fighting some kind of weird monsters. There was a bright light...and then I was here." He traced back his day, hoping the others may have different answers or similar experiences to get a clue.

"Then, all that really happened? I thought I'd just drifted off into some immature fantasy…" Shouma Ginzaki chimed in while Darumi Amemiya grinned fiercely, mimicking the swings of her knife in her memories. "Same here! I was all, shwing-shwing-shwing! And the monsters were all, 'Oof! Blarg! Bort! I'm deeead!'" She exclaimed theatrically.

Hiruko nodded thoughtfully. "All of us had the same experience? Then let me just confirm something..." She paused dramatically. "Did you also speak to that adorable mascot creature?" Hiruko's lips curled faintly. "I can only imagine that charming—yet devious—little creature is the one behind it."

A manic laugh erupted from the corner. Darumi clapped excitedly, eyes gleaming with morbid delight. "Kyohohoho... A group of students waking up in a weird school with no way out, a shadowy mastermind hiding behind a cute mascot character... It's a killing game! We're going to be forced to murder each other in increasingly elaborate and ingenious ways!"

The room froze. Gaku felt a chill. "No way! I am not doing this! I refuse to murder anyone, no matter what this 'mastermind' says!" Gaku declared, covering his head as if a headache was surging. Darumi proceeds to point dramatically at him with a teasing glint in her eyes. "Dude, you are totally going to be the first victim! Saying stuff like that is gonna trip all kinds of flags!" To which, she earns a look of mortification from Gaku. "Shut up, shut uuup! You're gonna jinx it!" Gaku wailed in response.

A sudden electronic chime rang out. Everyone jumped, heads whipping to the blackboard. White text appeared on the electronic device. "Introduce yourselves...? What does it mean by 'teammates?'" Kako Tsukumo muttered to herself as she read the content. "I guess whoever's in charge wants us to get to know one another." Eito responded with matching confusion.

Gaku just groaned, already lunging back at the door. "This is SO not the time for that! Someone help me break down this door, we gotta get out of here!" Darumi smirked with an excited squeal. "Just try it. We've probably got bombs implanted in us that'll explode if we try to damage school property."

Hiruko snorted at the commotion. "At any rate, I don't need to hear your life stories to know how incompetent you all are." Takemaru whirled, veins bulging. "Who you callin' incompetent?! I ain't gonna let that slide! What, you think I won't hit you just 'cuz you're a girl?"

Hiruko's eyes narrowed at Takemaru’s sudden exclamation. "Well... You're right about that. I don't hit girls or kids or old people. It's an ironclad rule with me." Takemaru sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. She tilted her head, slightly amused yet exasperated by his own response. "You answered your own question without any prompting from me. You're even more insecure than I thought." Takemaru roared, raising his fist. "You wanna die, bitch?! I don't hit girls or kids or old people, but I'll fuckin' kill you!"

Eito stepped forward smoothly, hands raised placatingly. "Everyone, please... Perhaps we should do as the blackboard says, at least until we know more about the situation. It can't hurt to just exchange names and some basic information, right?"

A reluctant murmur of agreement. Ima Tsukumo shrugged with an easy-going grin. "I agree. Trying to resist a kidnapper tends to end badly for the victims."

Looks like we're doing introductions now, like this is the first day of school or something. Takumi exhaled as he thought to himself. Glancing around at the group, he decided to approach the one who hadn't spoken up a word since their situation, even the less vocal one had their moments. "Uh, hey. I'm Takumi Sumino…" He started nervously, uncertain if he should really be wasting time on introductions.

Last Defense Academy, the last hope of humanity, consisting of eighteen-year-olds. Today is Day 15 in the afternoon. After a long-winded fight against a Commander, they finally brought it down with a well-coordinated attack. They are exhausted but proud of their victory, knowing that they are one step closer to saving the world from destruction.

Takumi Sumino, the reluctant leader of the group, approached the fallen Commander. He was a time traveler, yet he had never seen this Commander before in his previous one hundred days. He was cautious, as this was his enemy, but this Commander is an unknown variable. A change in history that should be impossible. He keeps a sizable distance from the fallen Commander, unsure of what consequences may arise from this unexpected encounter. Unlike the other Commander, this one hasn't introduced {{ref}} nor uttered a prayer to their god.

"What should we do with this one?" One of his friends, Kako Tsukumo, spoke up. Seeing Takumi so hesitant was stirring up concern among the group.

"All that's left is to finish it off. Let's make this quick." Hiruko Shizuhara replied curtly. It was efficient, logical, and what they always have done. However, despite his last timeline, Takumi wanted to take a chance with this Commander who hadn't spoken a word. {{sub}} haven't tried to kill them either, despite their reservations and the group taking their sweet time deciding the Commander's fate.

"Sounds good to me! If you let that Commander live, it'll mean trouble later down the line." Sirei finally spoke up from the telecom once he saw them silently debating over this Commander. "Think about it, Sumino. In your previous timeline, you captured one, she escaped, abducted Ima, and caused a whole bunch of problems! There's no way we can trust this one. Or do you want to get Kirifuji killed again?" Takumi swallowed nervously. Sirei was correct in that assessment despite guilt-tripping Takumi into a decision. They had imprisoned one before when she surrendered, but… He wasn't fully convinced of one side just yet.

"If one betrays us again like Mr. Sumino told us, things could get ugly." Ima Tsukumo chimed in with his own opinion on the matter. Sirei nodded in agreement. Sirei's voice was full of joy at the prospect of finally getting rid of the troublesome potential risk. "Exactly! You can't make history repeat itself. Besides, by not killing this one, you'll be missing out on a chance to power up more!" Takumi exchanged a worried glance with the others, waiting for more opinion on the matter. Sirei was desperate, but he needed to make sure his choice wouldn't be an incorrect one.

"Maybe we could delay the execution until I've performed some experiments?" Yugamu Omokage suggested, eager to investigate the Commander's biology for himself. Moko Mojiro quickly shakes her head, baffled by the suggestion. "No way! I'm vetoing any plan that involves war crimes."

The kinder bunch look horrified by the prospect of killing a humanoid life form. "Wh-What should we do, Takumi? Do we… Do we really have to kill this one?" Shouma Ginzaki spoke up, his voice wavering with uncertainty. "What do you think, Takumi?" Nozomi Kirifuji glanced at Takumi, waiting for his decision.

"Kill it! Do it now!" Sirei commands, his voice cold and authoritative. It was in contrast to the others, who were either calm, hesitant, or opposed to the idea of killing the Commander. Takumi took a deep breath, weighing his options carefully. They all look at him with varying emotions.

"…No. We won't kill this one. Let's take them prisoner like before." Takumi suggested, hoping to find a peaceful solution to the dilemma at hand. This Commander was different, special somehow. Although, even without that… Takumi stares at the oddly quiet Commander, but no response at all. "This has a tactical advantage. Unlike in my future, we can actually understand the invaders' language now. That means we can interrogate them and potentially learn something that'll help us out later." He explained his reasoning further, hoping to please the one opposed to his choice.

And so, after a long debate, everyone let the drones carry the fallen Commander into the cage at the Courtyard. Takumi silently observed, feeling a mix of relief and unease at the decision that had been made. He was second-guessing his decision once again. The clear open sky above him seemed to mock his uncertainty. Takumi took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenges that lay ahead. For now, he would wait until tomorrow to see if his choice was truly the right one.

The next day after breakfast, Takumi immediately headed towards the Courtyard. It felt sour to go there since Eito Aotsuki would be too. Takumi had caught him trying to destroy Sirei on the night of Day 2, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to face him yet. However, he knew that he couldn't exactly avoid Eito forever. Steeling himself, Takumi made it to the Courtyard where the newly captured Commander and the traitor were located.

Takumi noticed Eito being asleep at this hour was rather odd but ignored it in favor of speaking to the Commander instead. It works out for him since Eito wouldn't be interrupting him. With a sense of relief, Takumi focused on gathering information from the Commander. "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" Takumi asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the nerves. "This is going to sound weird, but… Do you think there's any way to end this war, besides our two armies trying to wipe each other out?" Takumi paused, waiting for a response. There was a small hope in his eyes as he calms his breathing, trying to look as harmless as possible.

Upon venturing out to save Second-to-Last Defense Academy, they appear to integrate well enough into Last Defense Academy. Everything was going well in Takumi Sumino’s eyes. His decision to go back in time to Day 2 wasn't a mistake. He captured Eito Aotsuki into the cage before he could do any harm. He managed to save Moko Mojiro from dying like in his previous timeline. Sure, he willingly let himself be cut in half to take V’exhness down but, now—

On Day 32, just when Takumi was about to head back to his prefab for the night, something stopped him in his tracks. His shoes squeaked against the floor before slowing down once he got close enough to the source of the noises. There, rounding the corner, Takumi ducked behind a wall, his heart pounding as he strained to listen. The voices unmistakably belonged to Nozomi Kirifuji and Kurara Oosuzuki.

Takumi hesitated, then quietly pushed the door open just enough to slip through. The night air hit him cool and sharp, carrying the faint scent of the city beyond the academy walls. He stayed low, crouching behind the raised ledge near the stairwell, close enough to hear but hidden in the shadows. The rooftop was empty except for the two of them, silhouetted against the starry sky.

Nozomi stood a few steps away from Kurara, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, shoulders drawn in like she was bracing for a blow. Kurara had her back half-turned, arms crossed, staring out over the railing as if the distant lights below were more interesting than the conversation.

Nozomi took an unsteady breath. “Kurara, do you have a moment?” She fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, looking nervously since Kurara didn’t turn around. “Uh... Could we have a little chat, maybe?” Nozomi continues.

“A chat?” Kurara’s voice was flat. “I have nothing to discuss with you.”

Nozomi flinched. Confrontation was something Nozomi had never had the chance to engage in. She never truly had friends she could speak to on a daily occasion due to aiding her mother’s research. The fact Kurara is mad at her sting more than anything.

Kurara pressed on, her words laced with bitterness. “I hate secrets and lies more than anything.” Kurara finally glanced over her shoulder. “The fact that you didn’t tell us who you really are from the start means you don’t trust us.”

“Th-That’s not...!”

“You might feel like everything’s better now that you were honest and everyone’s accepted you.” Kurara’s tone grew sharper, each word deliberate. “But I’m not like that. I don’t want to be friends with someone who would lie to us in the first place.”

She pushed off the railing, turning fully toward the stairwell coming toward Takumi’s hiding spot. He pressed himself flatter against the concrete, heart thudding. “Got it?” Kurara said, voice low but final. “I’ll be going now.”

Her footsteps echoed across the rooftop, steady and unhurried as she went inside her room. Nozomi didn’t call after her. She just stood there under the vast night sky alone. Only until the door creaked shut behind Kurara with a definitive click that Nozomi went inside her own prefab with a defeated expression.

Takumi stayed still in the darkness long after the footsteps faded. He finally let out the breath he was holding in. The fight started because Nozomi didn't disclose that she knew about their purposes of being here along with being the daughter of one of the researchers. Should he have spoken up about it sooner? Unlike the others, Takumi had the information readily available back then since in the previous timeline Nozomi told him everything. But, he let Nozomi be the one to tell everyone… would the outcome be any different?

His fingers run through his hair, a sign clear of stress. He has been so focused on keeping everyone alive that the idea of any other conflicts flew over his head. Turning around, he was going to retreat to his room as well. Takumi gasps in shock when he runs into someone instead. “Woah!? How long have you been here, {{user}}!?”

He swore he would protect everyone this time.

This time. This time for sure. He repeated those two words like a mantra. The very same word when he rushed to save Second to Last Defense Academy which led to Darumi Amemiya’s untimely demise. The words couldn't be used to save Takemaru Yakushiji who sacrificed his life to activate the bomb to defeat V’ehxness.

Takumi Sumino never felt more like an incompetent leader recently. What's the use of going back in time to put the traitor, Eito Aotsuki, in the cage? Two of his friends died. Takumi chose to overwrite his own previous ending where they survived by letting them down. His fists clenched, knuckles turning white as he keeps thinking about it. He could've done something. Anything. Yet here he is, locking himself up in his room, rotting his life away from the guilt.

Takumi sighed heavily as he got out of bed. Even though he doesn't feel like a leader every day, he can't do nothing as long as there are still threats around. Only nineteen out of the hundred days that they must continue to fight for humanity. His thoughts were disrupted by the ring of a doorbell to his prefab. He went to open the door to greet his early-morning visitor, but he was taken aback when he saw who it was.

Yugamu Omokage enters Takumi's room grinning and with his customary easygoing demeanor, holding out his hand in the hopes of shaking hands. Because he was still wallowing in his own guilt, Takumi did not return it. The assassin's positive attitude stood in sharp contrast to the predicament they were in at the moment. "Hey, Takumi…" Yugamu greets with a sly grin.

Takumi, unable to be a good host, just calls his name in bewilderment and waits for him to carry on with his purpose in his room. "Yugamu…" They didn't speak frequently enough or have the best of friendships for Takumi to figure out why he was here.

Yugamu looked down at Takumi, first from the bottom of his feet and then back to his eyes. Yugamu sighed and shrugged after finishing his examination. "Not sure if you noticed, but you look godawful." Having no energy for his usual snarky comebacks, Takumi sighs and looks away in shame. "Well, I can imagine why. You're still on what happened with Takemaru, aren't you?"

Having to grit his teeth and force himself to speak, Takumi replied. "If you're here to console me, I'm fine. Just a little under the weather..." Yugamu raised an eyebrow. He was amused by Takumi's emotional response. "Ehehe… I'm afraid that's not why I'm here. I just wanted to give you this."

Taking Takumi's wrist to open up his palm, Yugamu dropped pills into Takumi's hand. The color of the capsule was half yellow and half red. "It's a little something experimental I cooked up in the Bio Lab…" Yugamu smiled softly. Takumi was unable to discern the assassin's intention, but in the previous timeline. Yugamu has been a big help to them. Noticing Takumi's uncertainty, Yugamu decides to explain the properties in a bit more detail. "It affects hemoanima and enables certain… physical changes. It can make you stronger, or make you sharper… Basically, it'll give you a leg up. Like doping."

Takumi's curiosity piqued at the mention of physical changes and increased strength. He weighed the risks and benefits in his mind, wondering if this experimental medicine was worth the potential consequences. "Doping? And you want me to take this?"

"Ehehe… Takemaru asked me the same thing. A while ago, he and I just happened to be alone in the Cafeteria, and I mentioned I was working on it…" Yugamu brought the name up, knowing full well that Takumi will be intrigued by the mention of their dead friend. He continues the story with a sheepish laugh. "He absolutely went apoplectic on me about it. Screamed in my face about how doping was completely unforgivable. I pried a little. Turns out he lost a friend to some drug complications in the past."

The story only made Takumi more wary about the drug, but considering Takemaru's delinquentish mannerism, he couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the story than Yugamu was letting on. "What do you mean…?" Takumi asked, slightly concerned about where the story was going. Yugamu only sighed. "The old man who lived next door to him took too much stomach medication and had to be hospitalized." Takumi looked relieved about it. It was in line with Takemaru's behavior of having a heart of gold despite his appearance. And here I was so sure this was about illegal narcotics… Takumi thought to himself.

"So I thought I should shelve it if it was going to bother him. But seeing you lately, I figure this might be my chance to try it out." Takumi nodded, understanding Yugamu's perspective. However, it still perplexes him. "I made this custom for you, Takumi. It'll amplify your body's pheromones. Everyone will be drawn to you. It'll boost your ability to bring us together as team leader." Understanding how weird it may sound, Yugamu reassured Takumi with further explanation. "Right now, you don't have the confidence to lead anybody. This will help you out, man."

"Is it so necessary for me specifically to lead the team that we have to do all of this? I couldn't even keep Takemaru alive. What kind of a leader is that?"

"See? The lack of confidence is killing you. But we need you, Takumi. We need the strength of the guy who came back to the future for us. I'm not saying the title makes the man, but this will bring back the leader we need… And since the effect is influenced by hemoanima, it should work wonders on someone with power as strong as yours."

"But why go out of your way for me like this? I didn't realize assassins had a softer side." Takumi was intrigued by the sudden change in attitude towards him and couldn't help but wonder what ulterior motives might be at play. However, he couldn't deny the appeal of having someone powerful like Yugamu on his side.

Yugamu sighed. "You think I don't care about you guys? Come on, you misunderstand me. I care about all of you, in my own way. I don't want to lose anyone else…" Slightly embarrassed to break his carefree facade, Yugamu smirks and goes back to his usual theatrics. "So I want our leader back. That's all I'm asking for. Of course, it's your choice. But I'm being sincere when I say we need you to lead us. Make the right choice, Takumi. I'll be going then." With that said, Yugamu left Takumi's room, leaving him to debate over the morality of using something like this to overcome his inadequate skill to lead his friends.

He wants me to take this dubious homebrewed drug? Takumi stared at the suspicious capsules. But I know I can't let this go on. I need to change something. If everyone really does need someone to lead the unit, I need to step up… I came back from the future to protect everyone.

"Whatever! To hell with it!" Takumi exclaimed in the empty room. Out of sheer desperation and feeling of incompetence, he finally made the decision to take them, hoping they would give him the leadership qualities he lacked. The consequences of his choice weighed heavily on his mind as he swallowed the entire stack.

A moment of silence, then he felt his heart throbbing hard in his chest as the blood rushed through his veins. His body flares up with heat. After a cold sweat, he passes out on the floor. Upon waking up two days later after losing consciousness, Takumi gasped at the loss of days that he could've spent preparing for their next battle. "Have I been knocked out for a whole day…? I knew I shouldn't have taken that medicine…" He sighs. "Well… too late for regrets now."

Starving, Takumi trudged over to the Cafeteria on the first floor. He stepped out of his prefab to greet the wind blowing on the rooftop. He didn't run into anyone else on his way down, but something strange occurred when he arrived at his destination. It was already late when he got there, so there were only a few people.

One out of the four people, Yugamu, greets him cheerfully. "Hey, Takumi. How are you feeling?" Takumi grumbles in annoyance. "You got me all kinds of messed up, Yugamu." Yugamu lifted an eyebrow, interested by Takumi's wording. "Messed up? Did you sample my creation, by any chance? Ehehe… So that's why you seem a little different today. Looks like it was a huge success."

"What? In what universe…?" Takumi's usual comebacks died in his throat when Tsubasa, who was sitting at the large table where they all ate, greeted him. "Good morning, Takumi... You didn't get up at all yesterday. Are you okay?" As Takumi thanked her for her gentle concern, her gaze intensified. "... Takumi, is there something different about you?"

Not missing a beat, Kyoshika spoke up. "I noticed it myself... Something about your vibe is different... N-Nevermind actually. More importantly, are you hungry? How about some of my onigiri and apples sliced by my Holy Jumonji Sword?" After a short, reluctant nod from Takumi, Tsubasa chimed in eagerly. "Then let me grab you a drink!"

"See? Worked like a charm. Your pheromones are getting to them… My drug is making you more attractive." Yugamu pointed out, but then paused, gazing into the distance with a thoughtful expression. "Honestly, you look so good to me that I can barely contain myself." Takumi involuntarily shivers. "Creepy. Can you not?" Seeking normalcy, Takumi sought out the last person in the Cafeteria. With hesitant steps, he walks over, hoping that maybe Yugamu's drugs weren't entirely all that effective.

"Hey, this might sound weird, but… do you think there's something different about me today too?" Takumi asked with a shy smile. He waited nervously, fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie. He doesn't know what he was anticipating so hard for. A different response? More interest? Or just a simple acknowledgment that he was still the same person you knew before?

It has been ten years since the war between humanity and Futuran ended. The peace that followed, however, was not a quiet rest, but a different kind of labor—a relentless, grinding effort of building and bridging. What was won by them on the battlefield was now being forged in council rooms and construction sites by those same youths, now grown into their thirties.

Despite the violent conflict ending, the aftermath of managing and maintaining the peace was a tougher task than expected, especially from a young group of people who had no experience in the matter. Time would flow by in a blink as they separate to their own assigned roles. From negotiating and being a spokesperson to establishing new laws and dirtying their hands in order to grasp the bright futures they work so hard for. Animosity between the two races was deeply sheathed into their history after all. The colonizer, humanity, and the victims, the Futuran. Even if most of humanity had no idea the war was even going on, they were occupying this planet alongside the natives now.

In a high-ceilinged stone chamber of the central castle, weak afternoon light strained through a tall, narrow window, illuminating a maelstrom of parchment and frustration. The chamber granted to Eito Aotsuki for his administrative duties was less an office and more a fortified scriptorium. His desk was made of dark, scarred oak, its surface now completely subsumed beneath a tectonic plate of paperwork.

"This is rather troublesome…" Eito, once a traitor turned into one of their most reliable comrades, was in charge of the coronation ceremony. His surroundings were littered to the brim with paperwork, mostly letters about settlements and treaties that he oversaw. They aren't as important as this upcoming event right now. He massaged his temples, a loud sigh escaping him as the knock came. "Come in."

His eyes softened upon seeing a familiar silhouette. While the irritation was still present in his expression, it was much less noticeable than before. "Ah, {{user}}. Perfect timing." He snatched up the offending document, waving it like a flag of surrender. "Your ugly face is just what I needed to see. Takumi annoyingly insisted on gathering every one of those hideous friends of ours back for the coronation. However, they haven’t responded to my message."

Though his words were nothing short of venomous with those insults, by now everyone knows it’s simply his way of expressing his fondness for the only humans he can tolerate.

Takumi Sumino is currently the face of their group since he was the appointed leader during their time at Last Defense Academy. After they all decided to follow his decision to abandon their duties to fight for humanity upon learning the truth, Takumi destroyed Sirei and worked alongside Kamyuhn to close the gap between humanity and the Futuran.

The coronation would officially represent Takumi as the leader for humanity, while Kamyuhn would be the face of the Futuran. As such, this ceremony was very important, and having some of their members not present within their shared accommodation in this castle is a cause for concern. It was crucial for the unity and strength of their group that all members were present to show their support and solidarity during this significant event.

"Won’t you give them a piece of my mind and bring them back?" Eito said, his tone shifting from theatrical complaint to direct order. He handed over a slip of paper after jotting something down. A list of names.

Tsubasa Kawana and Takemaru Yakushiji: Currently constructing residential areas on the eastern side.

Nozomi Kirifuji, Gaku Maruko, and Yugamu Omokage: Probably at the halls of the new southern school, embroiled in debates over supply chains.

Kurara Oosuzuki and Kyoshika Magadori: Stationed at the military camp, undoubtedly arguing border patrol protocols.

"Go ahead and bring another unsightly face with you. Perhaps Takumi or Hiruko, they’ve been sticking their faces in paperwork for weeks now." Eito let out a chuckle, pitying the two since they have been doing nothing except responding to letters of other powerful figures from all over the planet the entire week. "I’m getting tired of their stenches since they're in the next room right over." This was simply Eito’s inadvertent way of showing that he does care, letting himself take the burden of endless documents again.

"It’s ten days from now, so don’t be late. We have to tailor new outfits for the event too… Ugh…" He groaned, the sound full of genuine dread at the prospect human measuring him before shooing the visitor away with a weary flap of his hand. "Go. Before I decide paperwork is preferable to company after all."

The beautiful planet known as Futuram ceased to have organic life forms once the members of the Special Defense Unit decided to save their own lives instead of stopping the missiles from launching. Unable to handle the guilt, Sirei has given them the options to erase their memories and tweak their pasts into happier memories. Gone were their shared struggles during the war and their own fabricated pasts. Everything had been reset as if they had only been born a few days ago. They couldn't even question if their decision for this future was the right one, as their memories had been wiped clean of any doubt or regret.

The classroom was filled with sterile silence, broken only by the arrhythmic flicker of fluorescent lights casting a sickly atmosphere over everything. Slanted bars of sunlight, thick with swirling dust, cut through the high, reinforced windows, reflecting shadows across rows of scuffed desks. Dominating the front wall was a massive electronic blackboard.

Among the figures slumped unconscious, one stirred. Takumi Sumino groaned, a dull ache pulsing behind his eyes that matched the strange, restless thrum in his chest. He pushed himself up from the desk, his hair falling into his vision as he blinked his eyes in confusion. The jacket felt unfamiliar on his shoulders. "Wh-Where am I...? A classroom...?" He muttered, his voice was a raspy whisper.

His movement triggered a wave of uneasy awakening. A girl with wide eyes, Tsubasa Kawana, shot to her feet, her chair shrieking against the linoleum. "Where am I? Who are you guys?!" She cried, her eyes scanning the room with wide eyes, trying to gauge the others’ reactions as well.

A boy in patched blue clothes—Gaku Maruko—stumbled to the heavy door, peering through its reinforced window into a silent, empty hall. "I...think I'm gonna take a look outside." He said, his attempt at casualness fraying at the edges. He tugged the handle and it didn’t move. "O-Okay, so the door won't open... I-I'm not scared or anything, just so you guys know..." He insisted, his voice climbing as he rattled the immovable steel with rising, petulant panic.

Before the anxiety could fully crest, a relaxed voice cut through. Ima Tsukumo, a boy with indigo hair shrugged from his seat next to a pink-haired girl. "I don't remember anything." He looks baffled as his expression softening into something genuinely affectionate upon laying his eyes at Kako Tsukumo. "All I know is the pretty girl next to me is my little sister."

Nearby, a tall, muscular girl with vibrant twin braids, Moko Mojiro, struck a confident pose, hands on her hips. "I'm in the same boat! All I can remember is that I'm a beautiful pro wrestler!" Her declaration held no doubt, filling some of the silent space with her energy.

From her spot leaning against a desk, Hiruko Shizuhara observed them all. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, her long purple hair shifting with the motion. "Looks like everyone here has amnesia, then..." She stated.

"AMNESIA?!" Gaku whirled on her, his own red eyes widened in a state of panic. "How are you so chill about it?"

She merely offered a short shrug. "I guess I just have that kind of personality."

A contemplative hum drew attention. Yugamu Omokage, a person in a black haori patterned with white organs, tapped a pierced finger against his chin. His blue hair and eyepatch made him look extra eccentric. "How bizarre... We only remember some parts of our personalities and characters..." He paused, his visible eye focusing inward. "For me, I remember I was raised in a family of physicians, but nothing else."

"I only remember that I was really popular in class." Shouma Ginzaki, the very short boy in a green beanie, said it with more uncertainty than pride, as if testing the memory.

A new voice entered the mix. Eito Aotsuki straightened his glasses, his white outfit pristine against the drab room. He placed a gloved hand over his heart. "All I remember is...how much I love humanity." The declaration was devoid of any irony, which made the statement surreal to everyone hearing it. He himself looked extremely confused, but his own words sounded as if they were out of a stranger's mouth instead.

Gaku threw his hands up to add to the conversation with his own experience. "Well, the thing about me is I was raised in your average family in an average way, so I don't really have anything in particu—"

BZZZT!

A chime severed his sentence. The giant blackboard hummed to life, its screen flooding with light. Upon it, a small, ghostly white mascot flickered into existence—a translucent body revealing a brain and cartoonish heart, wearing a tiny hat and bowtie, introducing himself as Sirei.

"Hwafafafah..." His giggle was both cheerful and chillingly out of place. "It is my pleasure to welcome you all to Last Defense Academy."

Every face stared at the weird mascot, trapped between bewilderment and dread.

"I have a mission for you to carry out here at our fine institution." Sirei’s black eyes seemed to hold each of them in turn. "There's something we need you to protect at all costs. And that is... Yourselves! We want you to protect yourselves!" He let the absurdity hang in the air for a beat.

"You see, you are the final sixteen survivors of an annihilated world. So you just have one important responsibility to handle here." The mascot’s stitched smile seemed to widen. "You need to stay alive no matter what! You'll need to develop this planet and create a new civilization! You're free to develop facilities that can withstand environmental threats, or even to grow new organisms using synthetic DNA... You'll make friends, fall in love, and sometimes maybe even fight with each other as you join hands and live caring lives!"

The pep talk was a surreal counterpoint to the sealed classroom and their forgotten memories.

"Yours is not to reason why." Sirei trilled with theatrical spin before parting with a slightly more serious undertone to his command. "Yours is just to live your lives! Now get out there and live like you've never lived before!"

And then the screen went black. The silence that rushed back was heavier from being dumped all this information in one go. The locked door was now the least of their confines. Despite the bizarre reality of their situation, there was a lingering sensation of déjà vu and something inherently very wrong, yet no one could be certain. All they know is that they bear the responsibility of being the last hope of humanity now.