"Okay, get ready everyone."
Chess remained seated while everyone else started moving. He looked lost as he followed their movements with his eyes.
"Uhm…" he was about to ask what he's supposed to do when Aoi brought him the captured man, Peterson.
"I'll bring your clothes, so just sit there and be friends with him. Okay?"
Aoi didn't even wait for his reply.
He was left together with Peterson in one couch. Others started leaving the room. The only ones left is him, Peterson, and the lazy Syn who was still lying on the couch with his eyes closed.
Of course, Peterson saw this as an opportunity.
He leaned towards Chess and said in a low voice.
"I will help you."
Hearing those words, Chess's forehead creased. He didn't understand what Peterson meant by helping him.
Help? On what?
Maybe on the mission?
Even though he didn't really understand, he just smiled and nodded his head in approval.
"Thank you, then."
'Ah! I knew it, he wanted to leave this place too!' Peterson thought.
Peterson's misunderstanding grew and grew every minute. He was so nervous that he can't help but sweat. He also started to do his habit of playing with his fingers.
The silence was making him more anxious.
He wanted to leave right now.
If you think about it, now is the best time to escape.
No one is around, except for the sleeping guy on the couch. They can just quietly exit the door and run directly to the university.
'Even though it's Sunday, I'm pretty sure there are still people around to ask help for.'
Peterson had too many thoughts in his head that he didn't realize time was running out.
When he finally made up his mind to run right now, it was already too late.
He was just about to stand and grab Chess when he saw someone on the doorway. For a moment, he thought he saw a lunatic with a bloody knife on his hand, ready to murder all of them.
At second glance, he realized it was the person he encountered earlier. The man who caught him.
Jill.
"Look what I've found!" Jill blurted out while showing Peterson the bloodied knife.
It was the knife that Peterson used earlier to cut him. He remembered that Peterson dropped it when he seized him, so he went and retrieved it on the way.
It's a good knife.
"How interesting. You've really prepared for this, huh? Even brought a professional knife with you." Jill meant that the knife was for professional usage.
It's a fixed blade combat knife. It's a blade that's really used for combat or… killing.
"I-I don't own that knife!"
"Oh?" Jill's brow shot up when he heard Peterson's voice.
Ever since earlier, he didn't really like this man. He kept on washing hands, saying that he didn't want to do it, or he was just forced to do it. He claims nothing of the blame.
Jill hated it.
Even though you were forced to do it, you still did it. Even though you didn't like doing it, you still accepted the job. At least admit that you made a mistake, and not just continue to come clean of everything just because you were clueless.
You did the job. You brought your knife and you were ready to hurt others, but you don't even dare say a single sorry?
It's hilarious.
"That k-knife was with the mail! I brought it because the mail says so!"
'There he goes again', Jill thought.
But he kept his irritation in place.
He just quietly entered the room with the knife on his right hand and a case in left hand. He went straight to an empty couch, right beside where Chess and Peterson was sitting.
Peterson flinched when he saw Jill staring at him while he was wiping the blood away from the blade of the knife. He didn't like his gaze. It was like Jill was peeling his skin off in his head.
In order to avoid Jill, he tilted his head and glanced at Chess's direction. He had even move closer to Chess.
Chess, on the other hand, just looked at him with a questioning gaze. Peterson just smiled awkwardly and didn't answer.
Jill saw everything. It looks like the captured man was being extremely close with their class rep. He looked like he was planning something. Jill thought that it was something lewd.
He can't help thinking that way because Peterson looked like an anxious criminal, while Chess looked extremely feminine. Also, Peterson kept on sticking to Chess, so he really can't help it.
Hmn…
Oh well… Syn is with them later, so there's nothing to worry about. If anything, Syn wouldn't let their class rep get raped right in front of him.
A moment later, everyone else came back. Peterson's plan of escaping now was completely ruined.
Everyone who came back had cases in their hands. Aoi, who was the last to enter, had cases on both hands, as well as Kane.
Kane gave the other case to the lying Syn, while Aoi came towards Chess. Peterson flinched when Aoi came close.
"Here! I brought yours as I promised!" he was smiling so wide that he looked like a happy doll.
Chess accepted the black case with a confused gaze. Aoi sat to the empty seat next to him. Chess was stuck in between the shaking Peterson and the delighted Aoi.
He then directed his whole attention to the case.
Aoi said that he would take his clothes for him. Perhaps this was it?
Chess opened the case and what welcomed him first was a black mask. It was a half-mask that hides the forehead, nose and the cheek. It was black with golden linings. Next in sight was the set of white classic fit suit.
It was white, but the vest was black, together with the necktie.
Chess found it confusing why he had to use this, so he turned to look at Aoi.
And to his surprise, Aoi was already changing on the clothes. Same with the others.
"Uhm… do I have to…" he didn't have the chance to finish his sentence because Aoi had already answered him with a repeated nod.
"Yes, of course!"
Chess remained silent.
He stared at the contents of the case for a minute more before finally sighing.
Then, he stood up and got ready to change his clothes. He was so immersed that he didn't even notice Prof approaching them.
Prof was already in his suit and mask. With his face hidden, he looked nothing like a woman. His build was sturdy and he was tall. Just like a fit businessman.
He had a case in a hand and was heading for Peterson.
"You. Stand up." He said.
This time, there was no hint of joke in his voice. He looked totally different from the professor earlier.
Maybe it was because of the mask, but his aura was completely different.
"W-what?" Peterson asked in nervousness.
When he realized that Prof had no intentions of repeating his words, he hurriedly stood up.
Prof gave him the case.
"Hurry up and change. I'll watch you."
He wasn't joking.
He will really watch Peterson change his clothes.
Why?
So he can make sure that there's no more knives. He saw the wound on Jill's hand and had already found out from first glance that it was a blade cut.
Everyone else knew, they just didn't care because it was Jill.
But if that were to happen again while they are in the middle of the mission… it would be bad. He can't let that happen.
Few minutes later, everyone of them had already completed the preparations. They were all standing with their white suits, and black masks. For a moment, the room had a completely different aura than before.
Peterson noticed this.
Earlier, all he can feel about this room is the aura of laziness, boredom, and gloominess. The people inside looked wild, ragged and mad, although handsome.
But now, they all looked respectable. Maybe it was because of their looks, but it really is surprising.
Just because of the change in attire, they felt like different people. But still, Peterson didn't forget the crazy look on their eyes.
He made sure to keep the plan inside his head as he glanced at the sole person who had yet to wear his mask.
Chess still hadn't put on his mask because he was still contemplating. He didn't want to remove his eyeglasses.
Prof noticed this.
"What is it?" he asked.
He was looking at the mask on Chess's hand, before looking to his eyeglasses. Then Prof felt stupid.
"Oh, I forgot you were wearing glasses…" he mumbled. He then started to think.
Chess is wearing glasses, but the mask is a must. He can't wear both at the same time… then, he remembered Reis.
"Oh, Reis!" he blurted out before turning to Chess. "If you could, then can you just use contact lenses for a while---"
"No, it's okay… I'm not particularly wearing glasses because my eyesight is bad." Chess cut him off.
Prof turned curious after hearing that.
'Then why are you wearing it?' he wanted to ask.
But he didn't get the chance to.
He saw Chess remove his glasses. It was just a split second, but he had a glimpse of Chess's eyes. It was also at the time that the sunlight had slightly reached his face.
At that moment he saw something.
And he did nothing but smile as he kept his mouth close.
'This is interesting.' He thought.