File: Daisuke.png (644 KB, 700x933)

644 KB PNG

>18 Months Ago

“Hey Daisuke, catch!”

Akio tosses the baseball with great fury in the courtyard as the head of the class, Daisuke Hayate, speeds forward, leaping up to catch it in mid-air, landing and scraping the heel of his shoes along the ground in front of another student sitting at a bench with book in hand. “Oops, sorry Shirai-san!” he smiles. “I think Naito got a little carried away!”

Hikaru lets out a sigh as Daisuke returns to Akio and Seishiro. “Yo Daisuke, why are you wasting time talking to nerds?” Akio asks.

Daisuke shakes his head. “Have you ever actually spoken to Shirai or Mashimo or Yasukawa?”

Akio scoffs. “Nah, I'm not a big fan of being bored to death. I don't even know who that last one is, some transfer student?”

“Maybe he's got a crush!” Seishiro teases. “Nah, we all know he really has eyes for Kobashi!”

“Why?” Daisuke laughs. “Because we're next to eachother in class?”

“I couldn't imagine being into Saki Kobashi of all people,” Akio smirks. “Not when the goddess known as Sayeka Ohko exists!”

As Seishiro and Akio fawn over Sayeka, Daisuke simply waves his hand in front of his face. “Nah, truth be told I'm not interested in any of that stuff,” he explains. “Romance and relationships only get in the way of what we're doing here, in my opinion. I can't take my focus away from pushing back the Darkworld.”

“Huh, no wonder you're top of the class,” Akio remarks. “You're so lazer focused... but make no mistake! I'm gonna be top in the world soon enough! Not even you'll be able to stand in the way of my greatness!”

“Sure, sure,” Daisuke simply dismisses his classmate. “You say that every day.”

Seishiro scratches his head. “Well, don't get to focused that you become a creepy recluse like your roommate.”

“Raiden isn't creepy,” Daisuke replies. “He's just... quiet.”

“Heh, how about that Maya he's always hanging out with, though?” Seishiro smirks with the face of a deviant. “The size of her-”

“I have to say,” an interrupting Hiro adds as he passes by. “I find it remarkable that you're able to balance friendships, schoolwork and leading the charge during incursions all at once. It's pretty inspiring!”

Akio nods. “Even the pacifist is impressed, Daisuke!”

“What does Tanahashi being a pacifist have anything to do with-”

“Forget about it,” Akio interrupts. “Daisuke, the point is that you're a real warrior! A leader! An inspiration! And I don't give credit to people not named Akio Naito all that easy! Hell, even Misawa-senpai has picked you out as destined for greatness!”

File: Takaaki Yamada06.jpg (278 KB, 500x678)

278 KB JPG

Daisuke blushes. “You guys... I don't know how to handle all this praise, it's kinda embarrassing... I'm just doing everything to the best of my ability. If I don't... well, Sho died early on into our classes, I don't want to see another casualty again by the time we graduate.”

Seishiro tilts his head. “That's easy to say, but that would be a record in the school's history! It's near impossible!”

“Not if I do my job right,” Daisuke explains. “If we can all work together... then I can lead our year into a bright new future...”

>Present Day

“What happened to him?! What happened to my son?!”

“Ryoji, what's... happening?”

As Yamada's grip tightens around your neck, you struggle to kick him away.

“I was around eight and a half months ago...” Yamada mutters. “Daisuke was always a caring kid, would call his old man every single day to let me know how schoolwork was going. I was often busy so I couldn't speak to him for very long, but one day out of the blue he just... stopped. Then... then I receive the letter. A letter telling me that my son had died in a tragic accident... the letter said he saved another child from drowning in the nearby river, but he himself was washed away... they never found a body...”

That's not far from the truth... different, more supernatural circumstances, but he did die protecting another student... you.

“I was heartbroken...” Yamada replies, tears flowing down his face. “Daisuke was all I had. My ex-wives hated me, I had no true friends... but my only child, who excelled at everything. I was so proud of him. I was told he died a hero... but something seemed off. I did my research, and yes... the grounds around the school and village are filled with difficult and dangerous terrain... but not enough to justify the shocking mortality rate of that school. And then...”

Yamada's grip tightens ever more around your throat. “And then the truth came out. What this school really is... and I finally realised that I had been lied to. You people got my son killed, and you lied to me.”

You find your footing and kick away the enraged Yamada, who stumbles back into a coffee table, knocking over a framed picture Akihito had of his own family. “I didn't lie to you, I didn't even know you existed!” you point out, gasping for breath.

“Like that's better!” Yamada mutters.

You catch your breath and speak. “Look, I didn't know your son for very long at all, but he seemed like a good kid. He wouldn't want this kind of vengeance-”

“Don't you dare tell me what my son would have wanted!” Yamada screams.

“His strength...” Nina mutters. “You can sense it too, right? He's not lying when he says he listened to those whispers. He has an Archdemon inside of him.”

File: Ryo18.jpg (533 KB, 689x970)

533 KB JPG

“Just my luck...” you sigh, as Yamada charges at you once more. He tackles you, pinning you against the wall as his forearm presses against your throat.

“You say you're pretty resilient,” he mutters, using his free hand to pull out a serrated knife. “Let's test that out, huh?”

Dammit, he's intent on making you suffer... and with your classmates passed out like this... you don't have the strength to fight back.

As the knife edges ever closer to your throat, the door burst open, and Yamada in bombarded with rapid-fire bullets from some sort of turret, sending him flying across the room.

You drop to your feet and look to your side, as standing in the door-way is the pint-sized frame of Akemi. She dramatically points at Yamada as she speaks. “Stay back, evil-doer! There's more where that came from! Nobody messes with the best friends of Akemi Ibushi! Oh, hey Ryoji! Is... is everyone dead? I sure hope not!”

“Just passed out,” you explain. “Damn, I'm glad you're here... why are you here?”

Akemi laughs, as she motions to the figure coming in behind her. A blonde boy in a hood... Taiyo Izumi, The Sun. A fellow demon, though one who likes to keep to himself by the school grounds. “You see, I was on my way to class in time for the incursion tonight,” she explains. “But I was running late because I got distracted by a cool looking squirrel!”

“Not a good reason to get distracted, but I'm not complaining...”

“So anyway, Sunny here was taking care of the squirrel, but then he told me that he sensed a dangerous presence from this building, so we hurried here as fast as we could!”

Taiyo nods, pulling at his hood. “I know I said there was a potential threat here, but I did not expect her to open fire quite so readily. Someone so adorable with that ferocity...”

“Wow, even the stoic demon thinks she's adorable.”

Akemi laughs. “Don't worry, just to be on the safe side, I switched to rubber bullets! Now that we know there's a threat here, I've got the real ammunition loaded!”

Wait... the incursion... oh crap. The sun is coming down right now, which means...

Akemi is pointing her turret at Yamada as the ground crumbles beneath all of you, transporting you all to the darkworld. You collapse onto a hard floor in the middle of a red skied wasteland, picking yourself up beside Akemi.

“Oops, forgot about that!” Akemi admits. “I was too busy thinking about that squirrel! What was his name again?”

“I named him nothing,” Taiyo explains. “You named him Chongo, whatever that means.”

“Akemi, focus...” you mutter. “Yamada seems to have slithered away, but he can't be too far, probably hiding behind one of these rockfaces.”

File: Akira.jpg (211 KB, 700x976)

211 KB JPG

Taiyo nods. “I am prepared to take on this opponent. With our abilities combined, we may make short work of him, Stranger... sorry, Ryoji.”

As the three of you stand prepared, Akira and the two non-combatants rise to their feet.

“H-huh?!” Konami panics. “W-what happened? What is this place?!”

“It's so spooky!” Michiko exclaims. “I-is this where you people go all the time?!”

The two cower behind a disgruntled Akira, who growls at them. “Why me?”

“You're the giant here!” Konami points out. “Aaah! Your friend Hiro... he's dead!”

You look to the side and see Hiro still on the ground, blood dripping from his head. He's not dead... no, he's still clearly breathing, but landing while prone has caused him to hit his head off a rock. He's injured, and still unconscious.

“We've got a big bad guy on our hands!” Akemi explains to Akira. “That Yamada guy knocked you out and tried to attack Ryoji. I don't know what he's so nettled about, though...”

“He's Daisuke's dad,” you explain.

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!” Akemi gasps, cupping her face in her hands in shock. “But how can that be? Daisuke's a cat!”

“Not Nariko's Daisuke!” you explain. “The human Daisuke, the former head of class...”

“Oh, right...” Akemi nods. “Wait, whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!”

“And worse, he's accepted an Archdemon... dammit...” you mutter, as Akira readies her bayonet. “Okay... here's our gameplan...”

>Akira, you need to escort those two to the rest of the class to keep them safe and alert the others. They can't be too far. We'll keep Hiro safe while we fend this enemy off.
>We're gonna need your firepower, Akira. You two idiots hide behind that rock while we take care of things.

>>2899345
>>Akira, you need to escort those two to the rest of the class to keep them safe and alert the others. They can't be too far. We'll keep Hiro safe while we fend this enemy off.
The last thing we need is two of our biggest detractors dying under our watch

>>2899345
>>Akira, you need to escort those two to the rest of the class to keep them safe and alert the others. They can't be too far. We'll keep Hiro safe while we fend this enemy off.

Calling for
>Akira, you need to escort those two to the rest of the class to keep them safe and alert the others. They can't be too far. We'll keep Hiro safe while we fend this enemy off.

Writing now.

File: Takaaki Yamada (The_Truth(...).png (379 KB, 560x560)

379 KB PNG

>Akira, you need to escort those two to the rest of the class to keep them safe and alert the others. They can't be too far. We'll keep Hiro safe while we fend this enemy off.

“Alright...” Akira mutters, grabbing both girls under her arms with great strength. “I'll find and inform the others. I'll be as quick as possible... be safe, all of you.”

“L-let go of me!” Michiko exclaims. “W-well, don't leave me here, but... I demand a more dignified way to be carried.”

“Refused,” the strong silent Akira replies as she rushes off with the two girls in tow.

Meanwhile, you, Akemi and Taiyo move to Hiro's side, standing by his prone body as you look around. Taiyo pulls Hiro off the rock and places him gently on the ground as you summon your gauntlet, scanning the area. “Dammit, did you see him?”

“I looked hurt when I first blasted him,” Akemi explains. “He might be hiding to heal up. If rubber bullets could hurt him so much, he might not be that strong.”

“Well, you did hit him with hundreds of those things at once,” you point out. “He's probably all bruised up. He hadn't turned into a full demon form yet like the others have. But something tells me...”

“Your suspicions are correct... I can feel his power growing... and he's right behind that rock wall!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQ8VNN_j7A

You point your gauntlet towards the rocky face as you see a large figure stepping out from behind, a strong aura surrounding him. Yamada? Well, yes and no... he no longer resembles the man who attacked you, not even remotely. He has given into the demon completely, it seems... taking on a monstrous form. You're glad you don't turn into anything like that when you let out The Stranger, simply being wrapped in bandages.

The monster in question is decked out in armour, his face revealing only one massive glowing eye.

“The world is filled with lies...” Yamada mutters as he steps forward. “But with my eye... I cut through the deception, and see the true reality. I am The Truthseeker... and as I look at you, I know what happened to young Daisuke Hayate.”

“What the hell...” you mutter.

Yamada's eyes focuses and locks onto you, glowing brightly. “My son's life was sacrificed for yours. A bright, kind boy... traded in for a foul-mouthed, low-class delinquent. The world is cruel. The truth shows no mercy... and neither shall I.”

Taiyo presses to the front of the three of you, a determined look in his eye. “Get back! Both of you! He's incredibly powerful... I don't know what his abilities are, but I know that neither of you can defeat him. I will take him on myself.”

>Be my guest. Akemi, grab Hiro while we get to a safe distance.
>Wait, if we don't know his abilities we need to focus on a plan, not sheer power.

>>2899431
>>Be my guest. Akemi, grab Hiro while we get to a safe distance.

>>2899431
>>Wait, if we don't know his abilities we need to focus on a plan, not sheer power.
At the very least we should get gibbed a bit to see what he can do attack wise

>>2899431
>Wait, if we don't know his abilities we need to focus on a plan, not sheer power.
This is no time to job Taiyo.

Calling for
>Wait, if we don't know his abilities we need to focus on a plan, not sheer power.

Roll 1d100, best of 3.

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>2899519
LETS GO MEAT SHIELD

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>2899519

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2899519
Rollan

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>2899525
>>2899550
Fucking autosave

>>2899556
>>2899550
NANIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

File: Taiyo01.jpg (315 KB, 651x857)

315 KB JPG

>93+3

"With all due respect, I doubt he intends to give us time to plan things out," Taiyo explains. "It's best that I hold him off while you formulate a-huh?"

The Truthseeker moves, with amazing speed. His movement is so fluid, your eyes can barely keep track... but somehow he easily slips past Taiyo with pretty much zero effort, his focus set on you. He drives his fist into your chest, caving in your ribs as you are sent flying.

"Ryoji!" Akemi cries out as you crash into a nearby cliff-face.

"H-how did he?" Taiyo mutters. "I was watching him like a-"

"Didn't I tell you?" Yamada explains. "With this eye, I see the truth in all things. I was able to see the perfect opening to attack and I took it. I see and know the reality of every situation! With this eye, I will break through your defences! With this eye, I have no weaknesses!"

"What a power..."

"Yeah..." you say, wiping some blood from your mouth as you smirk. "Good for us that he decided to just whip out his dick and start waving it around right away."

"That's... a crude way of putting it..."

"That eye's your strength, huh?" you mutter. "Well guess what, it's also a glaring weakness, and you just revealed it."

Taiyo leaps in front of The Truthseeker, a bright orb in his hand. "Solar Flare!" Taiyo exclaims, tossing the orb into the direction of Yamada as it spreads out in a flash, briefly blinding the monster.

With the demon blinded, the three of you start moving back to clear space with the unconscious Raiden in tow. "Biding time until the others get here is good," you point out, "But clearing the distance between us is even better."

"Ryoji wait," Taiyo mutters. "I wonder if that may not be the best idea."

"Huh?" you ask. "Why? More numbers the better. Especially since Akihito-sensei should be with the rest, he's our best bet for taking this guy-"

"The reason I was able to blind The Truthseeker just now was because you did not communicate with me or see my attack coming in any way, allowing me to attack him from behind. He immediately reads the truth of whatever he sees, correct? Then if he had Ibushi in his view, he would have known I was coming and countered me, considering she was gasping and waving at me as I came."

"Ha, guilty!" Akemi admits, booping herself on the head as she carries Hiro over her shoulder.

"Bringing him to more people means bringing him to more faces to read," Taiyo explains. "Decreasing our chances of coming at him with a proper attack."

Akemi ponders for a moment. "Hey, you're right! It's kinda like if you're playing freeze tag, more players means it's easier for whoever's it, right?"

>Damn... so we should hold him off and plan to take him on with as little numbers as possible.
>I think the numbers and power advantage outweighs the sacrifice in strategy. Let's keep moving.

>>2899627
>Damn... so we should hold him off and plan to take him on with as little numbers as possible.

>>2899627
>>Damn... so we should hold him off and plan to take him on with as little numbers as possible.

>Raiden
Where did he come from?

>>2899651
My most common typo of mixing up names because >so many characters

That's of course intended to say Hiro

>>2899627
>>Damn... so we should hold him off and plan to take him on with as little numbers as possible.
TIME FOR HIT AND RUN TACTICS
ALSO
>solar flare
HAAAAAAAAAAAACKKKKKKK

>>2899655
>Booker's typos are so bad he accidentally killed off Daisuke when he was meant to off Ryoji in Episode 1

Calling for
>Damn... so we should hold him off and plan to take him on with as little numbers as possible.

Writing now.

File: Taiyo03.png (1.62 MB, 612x694)

1.62 MB PNG

>Damn... so we should hold him off and plan to take him on with as little numbers as possible.

"That is what I'm thinking," Taiyo nods.

"Good..." You remark. "Go out there and face him."

Taiyo pauses. "Alone?"

"I have a plan," you explain. "But of course, I can't tell you what it is. Just trust me."

Taiyo nods. "I see."

Taiyo makes a 180 and rushes in the direction of Yamada. You and Akemi decide to go around the rocks and take him from behind. As you're about to move, something small and yellow lands on your shoulder.

“Gah!” you exclaim, before realising what it is. A small dove... Chihiro, sending a little scout ahead. The dove chirps, as you whisper to it. “Just send one.”

The bird coos and rubs its head against your neck... reminds you of Chihiro yourself. Then again that dove is a part of her and her angel ability.

You rest Hiro down by a rock as you and Akemi move behind one of the large cliff-faces. Taiyo is going to attack him, and then when he dodges, Akemi is going to catch him with a barrage from the side to pin him down. Simple.

You hear as Taiyo steps forward to meet with the demon. “Here alone?” Yamada asks.

“I've come to hold you off while my allies flee,” Taiyo replies.

“How noble... were that true I would commend you,” Yamada notes. “Too bad it's a bold-faced lie. They're still around here somewhere, and Ryoji Shida is plotting something... yet you've been left in the dark just as much as I. Clever.”

Taiyo shakes his head. “Whatever The Stranger has planned is no matter. I will be able to defeat you myself, before anyone intervenes.”

“Oh, how confident,” Yamada replies. “Looking you I can tell... you're incredibly powerful. In terms of raw power and strength and combat skill... you alone have me beat. I'd wager that against any other demon you would have a clear advantage... but none of them have my insight. I can see your strengths, your weaknesses, I can see every move of yours before you do it. No matter your power... you can't stand against the truth.”

Taiyo launches with his attack, a ray of energy with assumedly the power of the sun, though Yamada is able to dodge it. Of course, he saw it coming. With his eyes on Taiyo, even The Sun's most powerful attack can be countered. The Truthseeker simply cannot be beaten in a fair one-on-one contest. Good thing you hate fair one-on-one contests.

“Now, Akemi!” you exclaim, as Akemi readies her turret, ready to attack from behind.

>Roll 1d100, best of 3

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>2899733

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>2899733
DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>2899733

File: Akemi120.png (291 KB, 786x787)

291 KB PNG

>84+3

"Akemi's super special bad guy bullet takedown!" Akemi yells as she leaps from behind the rock and opens fire. "TM!"

"Hm?" The Truthseeker mutters before being caught with a hail of bullets from above by the hyperactive tech wizard. He's pinned down by the hail of fire, as Akemi continues to unload on the demon, not letting up for a second as the force of the turret keeps her propelled in the air above him.

“Take this!” Akemi exclaims, as the turret on her other wrist drops a small explosive down upon the demon, exploding as it hits the ground, causing a cloud of smoke to rise up, yet Akemi continues to fire.

Damn... she may be happy-go-lucky, but she doesn't hold in battle. As the cloud smokes, Akemi continues to yell. “Stay down there you big meanie! You deserve to... hey, he's gone!”

What? Damn... she's right. Somehow, he escaped the hail of bullets. Akemi falls landing on her feet in confusion. “I had him pinned down! How did he-”

“I can see the truth in all things,” Yamada's voice calls out. “I saw the pattern in your mechanism. So specific... so precise... I bet that even though you built that thing you never noticed it yourself. That turret's fire is not infinitely repeating. In fact, there is a split second break in fire between every hundred bullets as it prepares the next one hundred. None would ever even notice it, but I used that split second to escape. Good thing I did... as I would surely have lost if you had kept me in that position...”

File: Takaaki Yamada (The_Truth(...).jpg (734 KB, 1040x1040)

734 KB JPG

As the dust settles fully, you see a bloody Truthseeker riddled with bullet wounds... recovering with his back to a rock wall.

“He's learning from his mistakes,” Taiyo point out. “Look, he's rigidly against the wall. This way he can keep his eyes on all of us at once, and no-one can sneak up behind him.”

“Dammit...” you mutter.

Yamada raises his head. “I must admit, I'm impressed by your intelligence and tenacity. I would have written you off as an aggressive delinquent, or her off as a childish buffoon... but I see the-”

“Truth in all things, I get it,” you mutter, pissed off. “You said that one before, you know.”

“You're upset...” Yamada replies. “You're upset that your plan didn't finish me. You're upset that you now know that there's no way to stop me.”

“That's not true...” Taiyo mutters. “He may be able to see all of us right now, but he still has a blind spot. Don't look at me, you two.”

You do as complied, as Taiyo moves on the offensive. You and Akemi move in the opposite direction, forcing Truthseeker to turn his head, allowing Taiyo to slip right into his blind spot, and from there, he strikes...

Taiyo's hand comes reaching up, only to be caught by a snapping hand from Yamada as he continues to look in your direction. Yamada swings Taiyo around and smashes him into the rock wall. “But... how?” Taiyo mutters. “I was in your blind spot... Akemi and Ryoji weren't looking and didn't know where I was...”

“No,” Yamada replies. “But someone else did.”

You turn your head to see a groggy and hurt Hiro, standing in confusion at the proceeding events as he finally came to. Dammit... at the worst possible time. He didn't know the plan, so he looked at Taiyo's position, and Yamada was able to read his face...

“I... I don't know what's going on...” Hiro mutters. “But I feel like I just messed up badly. S-sorry...”

>It's okay, Hiro. You couldn't have known.
>Yeah, you kinda did. Can you move?

>>2899801
>It's fine, just get moving.

>>2899801
>Yeah, you kinda did. Can you move?
Based Yamada taking out worst Sun

>>2899814
supporting this, this is clearly not his fault

>>2899801
>It's fine, just get moving.
Remember dont break his armour, it contains his all too great power.

>>2899801
>Yeah, you kinda did. Can you move?

Calling for
>It's fine, just get moving.

Roll 1d100, BO3.

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>2899839

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>2899839
RUN HIRO RUN

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>2899839

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>2899839

File: Hiro03.jpg (107 KB, 1000x736)

107 KB JPG

>80+5

As you speak to Hiro, Yamada looks to Taiyo and drives his hand into his body, piercing right under the rib of The Sun. “I don't intend to kill you,” Yamada explains. “Not first, anyway. But this should immobilise you.”

“That voice...” Hiro mutters. “Is that Yamada-san?”

Yamada tosses the immobilised and heavily bleeding Taiyo aside as he looks to you. “That boy is ultimately innocent in the death of my son. He was not there that fateful day. You... Ryoji Shida. He died for you.”

“Wait... what is he talking about?” Hiro asks. “Died for you... i-is Yamada the father of-”

“Daisuke, yes.”

“Daisuke...” Hiro mutters.

“So you want to kill me first?” you ask. “Newsflash genius, I can't die! It's kinda my thing.”

Yamada shakes his head. “No, I intend to take away those close to you, just as you did to me. It seems you're not close to this demon here... but Saki Kobashi? Or the girl standing beside you?”

“Hey, that's me!” Akemi exclaims.

“Taiyo!” Hiro calls out. “You need healing!”

Hiro rushes to heal the strongest among you, as Yamada nods. “I see... he heals people.”

Hiro readies his healing hands, ready to restore the health of the injured Taiyo... only for Yamada to intercept, receiving the healing instead as he grabs onto Hiro's wrist. “Ahh... I needed that. Thank you, Hiro Tanahashi.”

“W-wait, I didn't mean to...” Hiro mutters, before being knocked back with a backhand from the Truthseeker.

“Hm... you had an opening for a punch and you chose not to take it...” Yamada points out. “You're... a pacifist?”

“Y-yeah...” Hiro mutters.

Yamada clenches his fist. “A pacifist... a non combatant! You mean to tell me... that while my son was fighting for his life in this hell... he had to carry people who refused to even fight?! Weaklings like you? I see... Hiro Tanahashi, you too a responsible for my son's death! Your refusal to fend for yourself and Shida's inability to fend for himself killed Daisuke Hayate!”

“N-no...” Hiro mutters. “I... I didn't-”

“His refusal to fight also made you step away from the wall and turn your back,” you point out with a smirk.

File: Akio13.jpg (113 KB, 509x500)

113 KB JPG

Yamada reacts to late, as the rock wall crumbles and crashes as a giant spear with a motor attached to it comes bursting through. Standing atop it, using it like a surfboard comes one of the strongest and definitely the showiest in your class, Akio Naito. Akio leaps off his spear as it continues to fly, piercing into the Truthseeker's back and driving him into the nearest cliff-face, causing a massive crater.

Akio lands on his feet, cutting a pose with a smirk as he looks to you. “How's that for a dramatic entrance? Heard we were fighting a big bad demon! And... he's Daisuke's dad, huh? As soon as Akira told us, I went rushing ahead. Not only was I not going to miss a fight like this... but I knew Daisuke. I gotta beat his dad and talk some sense into him.”

“That was so cool!” Akemi exclaims, jumping for joy.

Akio smirks. “Hey squirt, it's all thanks to your improvements to my spear that Akio Naito can be as cool as he is. Well, it's like fifteen percent that, ninety five percent me!”

“That goes beyond one hundred,” you mutter.

“I always go beyond one hundred percent!” Akio exclaims.

“Just admit that you're bad at math.”

“How about you admit that you're happy to see me come to the rescue!” Akio replies. “I'm just the guy to take on this demon.”

>Not quite. Your head-on aggressive style won't be any good against him.
>Yeah, I'm glad you're here. Smart attacks like that are the way to beat him.

>>2899910
>>Not quite. Your head-on aggressive style won't be any good against him.
This Drill is the drill that yada yada yada

>>2899910
>Not quite. Your head-on aggressive style won't be any good against him.
GOTTA FIGHT SMORT

>>2899910
>>Not quite. Your head-on aggressive style won't be any good against him.

>>2899910
>Yeah, I'm glad you're here. Smart attacks like that are the way to beat him.

Calling for
>Not quite. Your head-on aggressive style won't be any good against him.

Writing now.

File: Akio12.png (894 KB, 749x1200)

894 KB PNG

>Not quite. Your head-on aggressive style won't be any good against him.

"Seems to be doing well so far," Akio points out.

"Only because you caught him from behind," you explain. "Anything he looks at with that eye of his, he can see it's plans, strengths and weaknesses."

"Then I just need to stab that eye out," Akio shrugs. "Seems pretty simple. Now, return to me spear!"

Akio holds out his hand to call back the motorised spear... but it doesn't come. "Uhh... spear? Hey, don't mess around with me! For an inanimate object, you've got a hell of an attitude!"

You quickly see why the spear isn't returning to Akio as The Truthseeker steps free from the cliff rock, having dismantled the spear into pieces. "I was never good with machinery," Yamada speaks. "But now... I can see every intricate detail, and I just... know."

"Hey!" Akemi yells. "I spent all night working on that!"

"Then allow me to return it," Yamada replies, launching the sharp pieces of the spear at Akemi.

"Look out, squirt!" Akio yells, jumping in the way and taking three shards to the back, while one still slips by and pierces Akemi's leg.

Akemi winces in pain as she collapses to a knee. "Owowowowow!" she mumbles. "I don't get hurt so often! This is... owie!"

"Hiro! Could use a healer over here!" Akio yells in pain.

Hiro reaches out to drag himself along... but Yamada leaps forward, stomping on Hiro's left arm and breaking at as the poor pacifist screams in agony. "This healer? He deserves worse for simply sitting back as my son died."

"No... you've got it wrong..." Hiro mutters.

"I am never wrong!" Yamada exclaims. "For I see the truth in all things!"

"That's enough!" you exclaim. You step forward to face the demon, who looks on in confusion.

>I'm not going to sit back and watch my friends die. I'm going to kill you.
>You can't kill me... but you can torture me. So go ahead and do it. I still feel pain, leave them alone.

>>2900011
>You can't kill me... but you can torture me. So go ahead and do it. I still feel pain, leave them alone.
Deep down Ryoji knows that he deserves it.

>>2900011
>>I'm not going to sit back and watch my friends die. I'm going to kill you.
IS IT TIME FOR STONE?

>>2900011
You may see the truth but you and and your insight are still colored by the opinions and believes of that he man you possess. What one see as ultimate truth another sees as the greatest blindness. That’s what you are, so wrapped up in your own pain you’d be making Daisuke roll up in his grave. No wonder he avoided talking about you to others!

>>2900011
Actually kinda like >>2900022 but I'm not sure about if it's a good time to say it.

>>2900011
>You can't kill me... but you can torture me. So go ahead and do it. I still feel pain, leave them alone.
Man I want Yamada to do a Hamlet routine with Ryoji's head now

Calling for
>You can't kill me... but you can torture me. So go ahead and do it. I still feel pain, leave them alone.

Writing now.

>>2900057
Isn’t it stir between that and my write in?

>>2900011
>>You can't kill me... but you can torture me. So go ahead and do it. I still feel pain, leave them alone.
MEAAAAAAAT SHIEEEEEELD

>>2900069
A tie*

>>2900069
Yes, I gave more time for a tie-breaker but ultimately decided to go with the option that had two definite votes, as the second vote for your write-in had a lot of uncertainty in it's backing. Either way, >>2900073 has since broken the tie, so all's cleared up now.

File: Takaaki Yamada (The_Truth(...).jpg (266 KB, 586x871)

266 KB JPG

>You can't kill me... but you can torture me. So go ahead and do it. I still feel pain, leave them alone.

Yamada kicks Hiro aside as he looks to you and begins approaching. "Good choice, Ryoji Shida. Let's see just how much I can make you suffer."

Yamada tosses the last shard of Akio's spear at you, piercing your heart in the process, you fly to the ground as Yamada leaps up, landing with his knee on your leg, twisting and breaking it under the pressure. You grimace and grunt in pain... it's horrific, but you've also gone through even worse punishment in the past. You can handle this... just long enough for one of the others to form a strategy...

Yamada pierces your throat with his hand, then dislocates your shoulder. With that eye of his, he's able to see every joint and weakspots and enact punishment as swiftly and painfully as possible. "I will make you suffer just as my son did..." Yamada spits with a venom in his voice.

"Then go ahead..." you reply. "Make me suffer."

Yamada's hand is about to come down upon you, when he stops just an inch from your face. "You would truly choose to sacrifice yourself than watch your friends die?"

"Yes..."

"I see... a noble act," Yamada replies. "However... I now know what hurts you more, Ryoji Shida. I think I'll take that option instead."

Yamada tosses you aside and lets out a beam of energy headed straight for Akio and Akemi. It pierces through Akio's abdomen and goes behind... catching Akemi in the chest.

"AKIO! AKEMIIIIIII!" you and Hiro both scream as your friends collapse to the ground. Damn him, he was able to see the perfect angle to hit them from...

File: Hiro06.jpg (4.94 MB, 2325x3308)

4.94 MB JPG

Akio clutches his abdomen as he looks over to Akemi. "No... you better not have killed our squirt... she's still breathing. She's alive... but I can't move! Dammit!"

"She won't be much longer," Yamada explains. "She'll soon bleed out. Her death will be slow, drawn out, painful... if only she can get a healer to her side."

An exhausted Hiro pulls himself to his feet, clutching his broken arm. "I... I'll..."

Yamada cuts Hiro off, by standing in the space between him and the two injured classmates. "Too bad that healer will have to go through me. And too bad... he can't. A simple young pacifist. He stands no chance."

"No..." you mutter, crawling along the ground. "This is sadistic... you're drawing this out so you can... I hate you..."

"Ryoji!" Hiro exclaims, cutting you off. "It... It's okay. I'll safe them... Akemi, Akio, Taiyo... and you. And I'll go through Yamada..."

"Hiro..." you mutter.

Hiro shakes his head as you see the tips of his fingers begin to glow up, a trademark of when he summons his protective barrier. "I am a pacifist, that's true... but that doesn't mean I won't protect those I care about. To save my friends... to help others... I will defeat you. And I'll do it... without even throwing a single punch."

As you are left lying on the ground, you watch in tense silence as a weakened Hiro stares down Yamada, your friends prone and bleeding out. Suddenly, Yamada begins to laugh. "You're not lying... this just got very interesting."

Hiro... he can't possibly do this on his own... can he?

Feeling under the weather, so I'll have to call the session for tonight! Join in tomorrow for the second half of this episode, and provide some discussion below until then! Thanks for playing!

>>2900123
FUCKING NO YOU CUNT WRANGILING NUT FUCK

>>2900123
Time for offensive shields.

>>2900123
A shame Raiden is comatose, he could have talked no jutsu Daisukedad about revenge on Ryoji and even shared some heartwarming moments with his roommate.

So the heavy winds in my area keep knocking out my internet, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow before properly continuing the thread. Stay tuned, I'll announce when I'm about to run on the Twitter.

File: Hiro02.png (442 KB, 700x700)

442 KB PNG

“Damn you, bastard...” you mutter, trying to crawl along the ground. You can heal up on your own, but Yamada smashed your leg up pretty badly. It's going to take some time... time you don't have if Hiro is the only one left to face The Truthseeker. “Hiro, what are you talking about!”

Hiro's fingertips glow up as he readies his shields. “Just as I said, Ryoji...” he mutters, still bleeding. “I'm going to get to Akemi and stop her bleeding, defeat this demon and get us out of here... all without throwing a single punch.”

Dammit... even if Hiro didn't limit himself with his pacifism, it wouldn't make a difference. Physically, he's nowhere close to strong enough to take on a demon. “What the hell kind of plan do you have?” you ask.

“I don't have one,” Hiro replies. “He can read our strategies... so I'm just gonna move on instinct.”

That can't work, can it?

Regardless, Hiro waits for Yamada to make the charge. Hiro steps aside and creates as shield in front of him. Yamada goes around, only to be met with another shield thrown up. Then another, then another, until Hiro is surrounded and closed in by his shields. Yamada leaps above, hoping to catch the closed in Hiro from above. Hiro gives a small smile before leaping back, fazing through his barrier and creating a new one above the demon, boxing him in around the shields.

“I see...” Yamada notes. “So you can travel through your own shields. Clever.”

Hiro looks exhausted as he keeps five shields up at once, trapping in the Archdemon. Hiro... throwing up shields and healing people puts a great physical strain on his body... you've never seen him use more than one shield at once. He must be going all out. “No... this can't be right. He was looking at you the whole time. Even if you're acting on instinct... your body still knows what you're about to do, even if you don't think it through. He knew about this trap...”

File: Takaaki Yamada (The_Truth(...).jpg (30 KB, 512x265)

30 KB JPG

Yamada turns his head towards you. “Good observation, Ryoji Shida. You certainly like to talk, don't you? I simply wanted to test this out. You see... looking at you now, I see. Hiro Tanahashi, not each of these shields holds the strength as the first you threw up. The limit of your power isn't in the number of shields, but the distribution of power among them. With each shield, the total power is divided up, and you're attempting to intimidate me by distributing power back and forth between the barrier that requires it most in that moment. For that brief moment... the other shields are almost useless, am I right?”

You don't need to have Yamada's power to see the answer on Hiro's distraught face. The Truthseeker speaks once more. “So, let's see if you can keep up.”

Yamada hits all five shields in swift combination, the final one shattering as Hiro isn't able to distribute power to it in time. Yamada charges forward, driving his hand into Hiro's shoulder, before tossing him aside once more. Hiro holds back tears as he picks himself off the ground once more.

“Attempt one is a failure,” Yamada taunts. “Maybe you're not truly determined in saving your friend?”

Dammit, this is going badly. Hiro can't do this alone... but he's not alone, is he?

>Hiro, stay behind him at all times. No matter your plan, he can't counter it if he can't get a good look at you.
>Akio and I will divert his attention while Hiro makes his move. This is still a group effort.

>>2903689
>>Akio and I will divert his attention while Hiro makes his move. This is still a group effort.

>>2903686
>>Akio and I will divert his attention while Hiro makes his move. This is still a group effort.
WE BACK BOYOS

>>2903689
>Akio and I will divert his attention while Hiro makes his move. This is still a group effort.

Calling for
>Akio and I will divert his attention while Hiro makes his move. This is still a group effort.

Roll 1d100 BO3

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>2903738

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>2903738
I'd say something cheesy but I don't want to jinx it.

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>2903738
EXTREMELY CHEESY LINE

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>2903738
THIS IS A HUNDO

File: Hiro05.jpg (211 KB, 720x1280)

211 KB JPG

>83+4

You can barely move... neither can Akio. But you're both still conscious. You're both still here. And Hiro needs your help. You scramble along the ground, picking up some sand and dirt and small stones, using what little is left of your energy to throw them at the demon. They simply bounce of the back of Yamada's head as he turns around to face you. "Foolish, Shida."

Akio does the same, using his little energy to toss a stone at the back of The Truthseeker's head. The Archdemon spins around to face Akio as well. "This is pathetic. Do you honestly expect to distract me?"

"We just did," you point out. "Hiro's already left your view. And that momentary lapse in focus is all it takes, right?"

Yamada's eye widens, as he spins around and moves towards you... only to get knocked back by a forcefield set up by Hiro from behind the demon. "What?!" Yamada mutters as he is sent flying back. "At full strength, those barriers pack quite the punch, don't they?"

Yamada lands on his feet with a grunt, the pupil of his eye darting around, trying to find Hiro. "Even though you're injured, you're staying just out of my eyeline..." he mutters. "It's not wise to push yourself so much. Still... I'm not going to wait until you tire yourself out..."

With that Yamada begins to dart towards Akio, ready to land the killing blow. "I'm going to force you out in the open! By ending your friend!"

Yamada takes a step forward... and in blasted upwards, propelled into the air once more. "What? But how?"

"Like you said..." Hiro mutters, staying out of his view. "It's not the size or the number of the barriers. I coated a small stone in my shield, but it still carries the power of any regular shield. You stood on it, without realising... and now you're in the air..."

Hiro darts forward, making his move towards the injured Akemi. "You can't stand in my way!"

File: Akemi117.png (1.27 MB, 1000x1414)

1.27 MB PNG

Hiro leaps towards Akemi, placing his hands on the youngest in your class, wincing as he heals up her wounds. "There... she's stable. You're gonna be okay, Akemi."

Hiro... just in the nick of time too. You were worried you were going to lose Akemi, but Hiro's smarts and bravery just saved her life.

"We're not pressed for time anymore, but Yamada is still going strong. And Hiro just exhausted himself a lot healing Akemi's wounds... there's no way he can defeat him."

As Yamada lands back, he looks to Hiro. "I must commend you. Very well... hm?"

Yamada continues to examine Hiro, tilting his head. "I see... that's surprising."

"What?" you ask.

"You don't know?" Yamada asks. "When Hiro Tanahashi heals the wounds of another, it doesn't just put physical strain on his body... he takes in every last ounce of their pain. All the sheer pain from their injuries is transferred to him... and he's recovered those close to death several times. How interesting... for the sake of others, he would allow himself to suffer at all times."

"Hiro..." Akio mutters. "Why did you never tell us?"

Hiro gives a weak, strained smile. "I didn't want to cause a fuss..."

"And yet, you weren't willing to save my son."

Hiro shakes his head. "N-no, I..."

"Don't argue with me," Yamada replies. "I see all. And I can see the guilt in your heart from Daisuke's death. You blame yourself."

No... that's probably true, but Hiro isn't responsible... he's just such an empathetic person that he would feel guilt over any death...

>Dammit, Yamada. For a guy who claims to see all, you really are blind.
>Hiro... I can't believe you'd sacrifice yourself like that for us.

>>2903831
>>Dammit, Yamada. For a guy who claims to see all, you really are blind.
Dude come the fuck on really
YOU ARE WATCHING HIM BE WILLING TO DO IT RIGHT FUCKING NOW

>>2903831
>>Dammit, Yamada. For a guy who claims to see all, you really are blind.

>>2903831
>>Dammit, Yamada. For a guy who claims to see all, you really are blind.
>>2903836 really did just say it.

Calling for
>Dammit, Yamada. For a guy who claims to see all, you really are blind.

Writing now.

File: Takaaki Yamada (The_Truth(...).jpg (451 KB, 962x1216)

451 KB JPG

>Dammit, Yamada. For a guy who claims to see all, you really are blind.

"What?" Yamada mutters.

"You heard me..." you reply. "This demon claims to see all, but it's still blinded by the hatred of one man... Takaaki Yamada. You know in your heart that Hiro isn't responsible for your sons death... but you just can't kill me, and you want someone to blame. Someone to get revenge on. It's blind vengeance, and it's pathetic."

"How dare you-"

Yamada begins to speak, but his left ear is sent flying off his body as something fast strikes it. Several fast things in fact. Bullets from Akemi's turret, which Akio has dragged himself towards and has begun firing.

"Nice moves, Akio!" Akemi notes as she comes to. "Hit the button on the side for the explosive!"

"There'll be no need for that," Yamada notes. "I'm through playing around with you children. Akio Naito, you were a friend of my son, weren't you? No... you never saw him as a friend. You saw him as a rival, one to compete with. You never cared about him... You won't hit me again. Your body is still immobile. In a few seconds... you will die."

"How about you shut up and kill men then?" Akio smirks. "If you can."

"Akio, don't!" Hiro exclaims, but Akio doesn't listen. He continues to open fire, as Yamada dodges the bullets, closing the distance between him and the mountain man. Yamada appears before Akio, and raises his hand in a piercing position, bringing it down upon Akio... but someone else leaps in the way.

At first, simply a few drops of blood fall to the ground. You still haven't registered what just happened.

It... it can't be.

No...

"Hiro..." Akio mutters, his eyes wide as before him stands his classmate... with Yamada's fist piercing clean through his chest. "Why... why would you..."

File: Hiro04.jpg (100 KB, 1280x720)

100 KB JPG

"Sacrificing to the end, I see..." Yamada notes, his fist still poking out the back of Hiro's body, his heart likely destroyed. "Well, no matter. I take satisfaction in knowing I killed one of you."

"HIRO, NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Akemi screams, reaching her hand out in fear. But it's no use. She can't stop it, nobody can. It's too late.

"Ryoji... he's..."

"Hiro, you idiot," Akio mutters, tears beginning to well in the tough guys eyes. "I could have taken the hit. I... you didn't need to..."

"Why would you do that...?" you finally mutter.

Hiro's eyes look to you, his face weak, but still smiling. "It's okay, Ryoji... it's okay..."

Hiro's eye roll to the back of his head, as his head itself tilts back.

He... he's gone.

"No..."

"Hm?"

Yamada looks confused, and you begin to see why. Hiro's body... it begins to break apart. Flaking away... disappearing and turning to dust around him. In a few seconds, what remained of Hiro is scattered to the wind.

"I could have taken it..." Akio continues to mutter. "You dumbass... I could have taken the hit... DAMMIT!"

Akio's eyes turn to fire as he spots The Truthseeker. "I... he was my friend! I'll... I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, YOU BASTARD!"

You don't know how, but Akio calls upon an amazing surge of energy, launching himself up, and delivering an earth-shattering punch to Yamada, sending the demon flying. Akio begins pursuit, continuing to unload on Yamada while screaming at the top of his lungs. He's fuelled by pure rage and adrenaline... there's no way it can last... but the strength of Akio is causing small tremors in the ground and shockwaves in the air with every punch.

"What is this?" Yamada asks, but Akio only answers in an unintelligible scream. You knew he was strong, but this...

"W-why did Hiro just disappear...?" a wide-eyed and horrified Akemi mutters in confusion, as your now mostly healed body allows you to move to her side.

>I don't know, but we need to move to the others. There's only so long Akio can hold him back.
>No... he can't be dead... we have to defeat Yamada now! Akio needs our help!

>>2903918
>>No... he can't be dead... we have to defeat Yamada now! Akio needs our help!
Not letting a second guy die. USE THE STONE, RYOJI.

>>2903918
>>No... he can't be dead... we have to defeat Yamada now! Akio needs our help!
FUCKING EH
NANI
MASAKA
BAKANA

ALSO HOPEFULLY THE FUCKING TREMORS WILL LEAD THE OTHERS HERE ANYWAY

>>2903918
I feel like that was a shadow clone. If not, fuck this dude.

>No... he can't be dead... we have to defeat Yamada now! Akio needs our help!

Because basically what >>2903923 said. Although the incursion might be causing issues.

>>2903918
>I don't know, but we need to move to the others. There's only so long Akio can hold him back.

>Hiro's body... it begins to break apart. Flaking away... disappearing and turning to dust around him. In a few seconds, what remained of Hiro is scattered to the wind.
M
"Mister Shida, I don't feel so good..."

Calling for
>No... he can't be dead... we have to defeat Yamada now! Akio needs our help!

Roll 1d100, BO3

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>2903953

Suppose I'll try...WAAAAGH!

Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>2903953
RAGE

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>2903953

File: Akio14.jpg (105 KB, 680x956)

105 KB JPG

>64

You help Akemi to her feet as you look at Akio creating a crater in the earth as her rains punches down Yamada. He's powerful, but Yamada is able to endure it, and Akio isn't going to last forever. You have to move. But what can you do?

"I'm fixing Akio's spear!" Akemi exclaims. "Looks like he could really use it... his fists must be in horrible pain!"

As Akemi begins to quickly repair Akio's weapon, you reach into your pocket and pull out the power stone. It's been a month since it was last used, meaning it's fully recharged, but...

"Come on, Stranger..." you mutter. "You piece of shit bastard... I need you right now. I just lost a friend, and I'm about to lose another... get out here!"

You desperately squeeze the stone, but it refuses to crush and unleash the power of The Stranger like it has in the past. Dammit... where is he? Why won't it work! Damn it all!

"Ryoji... nothing's happening... you're bleeding..."

You wince as you loosen your grip, the pressure you added to the stone only succeeding in piercing your skin and drawing blood. Come on... it has to work...

Akio's offence begins to slow, and Yamada takes advantage, kicking back the exhausted warrior as he looks to you. "Something in your hand... I don't want that."

His eye glows up as a beam unleashes from his massive pupil, catching you in the wrist and severing the hand with the stone clenched inside as you let out a scream.

"AAAAAGH!" Akemi screams in fear. "He's got space ripper stingy eyes!"

"Don't call it that," you wince, looking to the hand that was removed from your body. Dammit Stranger... why didn't he come? Why did he abandon you? The one time you need him...

"It's over, Ryoji Shida," Yamada states, as he grabs Akio by the back of the neck and picks him up, holding his sharpened hand to the throat of your classmate. "Any last words before I turn another of you to dust?"

You collapse to your knees. Partly in pain, partly in sheer hopelessness. This battle is impossible... he's too powerful. Taiyo is out, Akio is out, Akemi and yourself are powerless, and Hiro... Hiro... dammit, you can cry later. Stop crying, Ryoji...

>I'm sorry, Yamada... Daisuke's death was my fault.
>Daisuke would be ashamed of you.

>>2904005
>"AAAAAGH!" Akemi screams in fear. "He's got space ripper stingy eyes!"
AKEMI NO THATS COPYRIGHTED
>Daisuke would be ashamed of you.
He already knows its our fault, or at least thinks he knows, this at least might enrage him enough to make him miss something, and as we saw earlier the self sacrafice play wont work.

>>2904005
>>Daisuke would be ashamed of you.

...Wait, HAVE we actually apologized for it yet?

Calling for
>Daisuke would be ashamed of you.

Writing now.

>>2904029
I'd argue it wouldnt matter at all if we did, he wants specifically revenge, not reparations

>>2904029
It's not even really our fault. At that time, us and Saki were bitched slapped away. We weren't even awakened at the time. And even if we did apologize, he wouldn't care, he'd just continue killing everyone, cause to him, everyone is to blame.

File: Ryo05.jpg (245 KB, 482x483)

245 KB JPG

>Daisuke would be ashamed of you.

"What?!" Yamada exclaims.

"You heard me," you mutter. "And you know it. Maybe you should take a look at yourself with that big eye of yours. Daisuke was a kind person. He believed in peace, justice, fairness... he lived for others, through sacrifice... and how do you honour your son? You murdered one of his best friends."

You take a few steps forward. "You know, at the start of this fight, I honestly did feel bad for you. But now... I don't feel a lick of remorse. You're a pathetic bastard, and a monster."

With that, Yamada bursts. A new beam comes straight from his eye, piercing your chest and sending you flying back a great distance. There really was no talking to him, huh...

You land back, crashing hard into the ground, as Yamada turns his attention away from you and back at Akio. You pick yourself up off the ground with both hands, as you-

Wait.

Both hands?

You look down, to see both hands attached to your body perfectly. Sure, you have a healing factor, but it's never this fast-acting. That hand was just severed. As a matter of fact... the hole that was just punched in your abdomen has also disappeared. You just got hit with that... actually, all your wounds are gone.

“Hand is back, not more external wounds... even the internal bleeding is gone,” Nina confirms. “But... how?”

“I... I don't know,” you mutter. You take a few steps forward... and you begin to see it. Between you and Yamada, a faint veil of light. Confused, you grab your lighter and slightly burn the tip of your thumb with the flame. You place your hand through the light and... it's healed. “What the hell?”

File: Spoiler Image (269 KB, 720x1280)

269 KB JPG

Regardless, you can't dwell on this right now. Yamada still has Akio in his grasp and he's ready to strike. Yamada gets ready to strike... when the light begins to move. It makes its way between Akio and The Truthseeker, and as soon as Yamada's finger touch the light, he is launched back, the light acting as some kind of... wait. Healing? Shield? It... it couldn't be...

“I still haven't thrown a punch yet, have I?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=030YECPqNu0

Suddenly, a face appears in the light, a very familiar one.

“Hiro?!” Akemi exclaims. “Whoa... that looks very weird! But... you're alive!”

Hiro doesn't take his attention off of Yamada as he begins to speak. “Sacrifice... to be able and willing to give it all for those you care about... for the innocents of the world... Daisuke Hayate inspired me to put my life on the line to help others. I may be a pacifist, but my fighting spirit is still strong! Violence begets more violence, so I live to protect! To protect all, without spilling a drop of blood!”

The light begins to close in once more, taking the full shape of Hiro's body. He spread out his body into some kind of veil that heals or repels anything he chooses, huh? And when he disappeared back there, he was becoming this?

“I won't kill you,” Hiro explains. “But I promised to defeat you! And that's what I'll do! You placed the lives of my friends in danger, but I will always shine over them! For I am Hiro Tanahashi, THE HEAVENLY SHIELD! THERE'S YOUR TRUTH!”

“The what?!” Akio exclaims. “Oh, I get it... should have figured Hiro could unlock Archangel powers... I'm glad you're alive.”

“I saw you crying, Akio...” Hiro smiles. “Thanks.”

“I wasn't crying!” Akio protests. “Shut up!”

Yamada grunts in pain. “Never mind that. I was taken by surprise, but now I... hm?”

Hiro's body breaks up once more, disappearing into a veil and spreading out. Of course, breaking up and moving that quick... Yamada can't see him in time. Saki was wrong... this is the ultimate shield of Class 2.

>Hiro, if you can keep him in place and heal us, we can finish him off!
>Hiro, keep him surrounded! Help will be here soon!

>>2904160
>>Hiro, keep him surrounded! Help will be here soon!

>>2904160
>Hiro, if you can keep him in place and heal us, we can finish him off!
ALL OUT ATTACK

Calling for
>Hiro, keep him surrounded! Help will be here soon!

Roll 1d100, BO3.

File: PERSONA.png (34 KB, 288x216)

34 KB PNG

>>2904160
>>Hiro, if you can keep him in place and heal us, we can finish him off!
Eh, you what, fuck it, I'm too in the mood.

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>2904209
Dammit, I was too slow.

Okay, since this >>2904210
came in just in time, switching vote to
>Hiro, if you can keep him in place and heal us, we can finish him off!

Roll 1d100 BO3 regardless.

>>2904217
Oh goddammit. I'm just gonna link my roll here. >>2904213

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>2904213
Hmph.

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>2904217

File: Taiyo33.jpg (284 KB, 550x550)

284 KB JPG

>94+10

"Can do!" Hiro's voice calls out.

The light begins to spread out, closing in around Yamada. He turns to his right, and hits the wall of Hiro. He turns to his left, and does the same. Hiro has him completely trapped in.

"This is pathetic," Yamada points out. "The weakness of your pacifism still remains! As for your friends, no matter how you heal them, they still aren't able to overcome my ability! Ryoji Shida, Akemi Ibushi, even Akio Naito are all too weak!"

"Aren't you forgetting someone?" Hiro points out. "I didn't heal just them, you know."

Yamada's eye widens, as the hallway of light Hiro has trapped him inside turns counter-clockwise, forcing him to come face to face with a fully refreshed and fully charged Taiyo, carrying a ball of energy in his hand. "Oh no..." Yamada mutters. He realises, he can see the truth. And the truth is... there's no avoiding this.

"UNENDING DAWN!" Taiyo exclaims at the top of his lungs, blasting Yamada with a stream of energy with the power of a supernova, which Hiro's heavenly shield keeps contained within, ensuring the attack doesn't spread to the rest of you. Yamada is crushed and sent back, being imprinted into the rock face... as Akemi tosses Akio a newly repaired spear.

"Done!" Akemi exclaims.

"Now, to finish this," you point out. "That eye has gotta go."

Akio nods, lining up and revving up his spear, launching himself through Hiro's veil, as his spear pierces into the eye of Yamada, and Akio pulls it out of his body with a roar of triumph. Akio falls back, as Hiro returns to his physical form, collapsing from exhaustion. He went all out there, and angel abilities are hell on the body, only able to last for a short while.

The Truthseeker begins to change form as the eyeless monster falls to the ground, reverting back to the human appearance of Takaaki Yamada. You rush to Hiro's side as Taiyo covers his face in his hood. "What a power... you're all growing stronger each day," he points out.

"Hiro..." you mutter, helping Hiro's head up.

"Hey, Ryoji..." Hiro groans with a smile.

>Thanks, man... you really saved us out there.
>You scared the crap out of me. I really thought you were dead.

>>2904288
>>You scared the crap out of me. I really thought you were dead.

>>2904288
>You scared the crap out of me. I really thought you were dead.

>>2904288
>>You scared the crap out of me. I really thought you were dead.

Calling for
>You scared the crap out of me. I really thought you were dead.

Writing now.

File: Tekina10.gif (86 KB, 400x516)

86 KB GIF

>You scared the crap out of me. I really thought you were dead.

Hiro lets out a small laugh. "Sorry... I didn't really know what was happening myself. I'm just glad it did... but wow, it sure made Akio mad, right? I didn't know you were that strong!"

Akio keeps up his cocky facade with a smirk. "Of course I'm that strong! Did you forget who I was, Hiro? Akio Naito isn't the kind of guy who pulls punches, y'know?"

"My... my Daisuke..." Yamada mutters, as he pulls himself up off the ground. Damn, he really doesn't give up, does he?

"Don't move," Taiyo warns him. "I have you in my sights. You won't be able to move fast enough to avoid me."

Yamada picks himself off the ground... only to have some ropes spring out behind him, tying him up as another familiar face falls into view. Decked in her usual lab coat, Tekina-sensei has arrived on the scene and bound Yamada.

"Yo nurse!" Akio yells. "Could have really used your help twenty minutes ago!"

Tekina taps her head and clasps her hands together in an apologetic stance after tightening the ropes on Yamada. "I'm so sorry for my lateness! It pains me to know students had to fight such a powerful enemy on their own, but you see... lately I would wheel him off school grounds so that he isn't brought into the incursion, but you wouldn't believe it! He woke up just before sundown! He was so frantic that I couldn't lead him off campus in time, so I had to escort him and ensure his safety!"

Him? Wait... does she mean...?

Your head slowly turns around, as behind you stands a classmate, walking assisted with a crutch into view. One you haven't seen with his eyes open since the first day of this year.

"R...R..." Akemi mutters, clutching her skirt. "RAIDEN!"

Raiden seems a little out of it, understandable since he just woke up from a month-long coma. His eyes are fixed on Yamada. "It's good to see you all again... this demon you were facing, this is..."

"Takaaki-"

"Yamada," Raiden completes. "I recognise him from tv... he's Daisuke's dad."

Raiden knows? Huh... Daisuke must have mentioned it around his roommate at one point, but nobody else.

Slowly, Raiden begins to make his way towards Yamada, as Akio whispers to you. "Great, now we've got two loons obsessed with vengeance."

Wait... that's right. Raiden had made a vow to destroy all demons as revenge for his beloved Maya and his hometown being destroyed... you were so distracted by the shock of him being up and about you forgot...

Raiden continues to approach Yamada, who is apprehended and not struggling. Raiden could summon his gun any second... yes, that's why his eyes are so fixated, that's what he's planning to do, more revenge...

"Raiden, wait!" you exclaim... but Raiden simply falls to his knees and places his hand on Yamada's shoulder in a comforting fashion.

"Yamada-san..." Raiden mutters. "I'm so sorry... I know you don't know me..."

"You were my son's roommate," Yamada replies. "I can see that in you."

File: Raiden05.jpg (321 KB, 850x1234)

321 KB JPG

Raiden nods. "Then you can also see that I know the pain of loss all to well. Yamada, even then I can't claim to understand your specific suffering, and I won't claim to. But I want you to know something... Daisuke didn't just die for others. He lived for others. His one goal in life was to be a worthy protector and leader... and he did just that. All of us looked up to your son... and I regret never telling him how much he inspired me. Your son was not a victim... he was a hero. And his story didn't end with his death... his spirit has lived on, inspiring us all. Daisuke was our leader, and he has inspired us to move forward and use our powers to protect others. Everything we do... we do in his name. Until I take my last breath, I will live for him in return. That doesn't have to change your mind... but I just wanted you to know that."

Raiden grabs his crutch and carries himself up once more. He turns around... when Yamada calls out to him. "Raiden... Yoi, right?"

Raiden looks to Yamada, who is giving a small smile. "Thank you."

"No problem," Raiden says in his usual deadpan. "Excuse me, I have others to speak to who are also very important to me."

Raiden looks to Akemi, who is clutching at her skirt with tears welling in her eyes, and a massive smile on her face. "Akemi... you know, you were in my dreams..."

Akemi rushes over to Raiden as fast as she can, as Raiden is ready to meet her... and Akemi lays a hard slap right across Raiden's face. He would have collapsed if Akemi hadn't also grabbed him and kept him upright on his crutch. "DON'T EVER DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT AGAIN!" Akemi yells. "KILLING YOURSELF TO TAKE OUT A DEMON?! THERE'S ALWAYS A BETTER WAY! I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS, RAIDEN! P... Promise me..."

Raiden lets out a heavy sigh. "I'm so sorry, Akemi... I don't ever want to make you sad again..."

Akemi presses her forehead into Raiden's chest. You never expected that out of Akemi... but you know how something like that could build frustrations. She's only nearly impossible not to upset. Still, you find her dedication to always finding the happiest solution to any situation admirable, albeit naive.

"Ryoji..." Raiden adds, as he looks in your direction. "I don't know how long I've been out... or how much I missed... you don't look any older... still, I know I still have a lot of mistakes to atone for, if you'll let me."

>You don't need my permission. Or anyone's for that matter.
>How about you focus on resting up first? You can barely walk.
>You've got nothing to atone for... but we could always use a helping hand, anyway.

>>2904425
>>How about you focus on resting up first? You can barely walk.

>>2904425
>>You don't need my permission. Or anyone's for that matter.
>>How about you focus on resting up first? You can barely walk.
OHHHHH
THEY TOOK HIM OUT OF THE SCHOOOL
that makes more sense

>>2904425
>>You don't need my permission. Or anyone's for that matter.
>>How about you focus on resting up first? You can barely walk.

>>2904425
>You don't need my permission. Or anyone's for that matter.
>How about you focus on resting up first? You can barely walk.

Calling for
>You don't need my permission. Or anyone's for that matter.
>How about you focus on resting up first? You can barely walk.

Writing now.

File: Raiden06.png (304 KB, 850x1192)

304 KB PNG

>You don't need my permission. Or anyone's for that matter.
>How about you focus on resting up first? You can barely walk.

"Right, of course..." Raiden nods. "My apologies."

Raiden goes for a bow, but then straightens out his back, wincing in pain. "Ow, ow... I guess I'm too stiff to bow, sorry..."

"Then don't apologise," you reply. "You don't have to."

"How about a nice thumbs up!" Akemi asks, providing a thumbs up for reference.

"I'm not really a thumbs up guy..."

"High-five?"

"Not particularly."

"Tackling hug?"

"That's your thing, Akemi."

Akemi giggles. "Oh, that's right! And to celebrate you waking up..."

Akemi takes a few steps back, getting a running start, as a panicking Raiden protests. "Don't, slow down! My body can't take it!"

Akemi speeds regardless, but stops just as she reaches, gently hugging into Raiden's waist and letting out a small sniffle. "I knew you would wake up! I just knew it!"

"It's true," you reply. "She never lost faith, and she visited you every single day. Your sister, too."

"Akuro...?" Raiden mutters, a little surprised that his sister would care that much. She certainly doesn't show it. "Anyway, I'm sure there's much I'll need to get caught up on."

"I'll fill you in later."

The ground beneath you begins to crumble, as Tekina gives a knowing nod. "Seems whatever guardian in this area has been defeated. Back to school we go!"

You fall through the ground, as all of you appear in the courtyard of the school, reunited with the rest of your class.

"Ryoji!" Saki exclaims. "We could feel the battle as it was happening! What happened? Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah, everyone's fine, Sak..." you reply. "We're even up one angel, and another member of class..."

File: Nariko46.jpg (483 KB, 1000x750)

483 KB JPG

You motion to Raiden who gives an awkward wave as everyone looks to him with widened eyes. He's not used to having a lot of eyes on him.

"If you'll excuse me..." the still bound Yamada mutters. "But there seems to be a cat on my head."

"Oh, that's mine!" Nariko notes as she calls the academy's resident black cat to her side. "Don't go leaping on people's head, Daisuke! That's rude!"

"... Daisuke?" Yamada mutters.

Akemi waves her hands frantically as she tries to explain. "Oh, that's not an insult or anything, you see-"

"-She really loves cats," Yamada replies. "I see all. Haven't I said that enough. To her, there's no greater honour than naming one of the creatures after you... I see. You really do respect the name of my son."

"HIS SON?!" Seishiro exclaims. "Wait, Daisuke is his... what?!"

Yamada tilts his head. "You seem confused... about a lot of things..."

As Yamada rises to his feet, Hiro turns to Nariko. "Oh, that reminds me! Nariko, do you want to go out and grab lunch sometime! It could be a date!"

Nariko pauses, her eyes slowly widening. "... Wait, what?! W-wha... what was that? Where did that come from?!"

Hiro shrugs. "I don't know, really. That fight unlocked a lot of power in me, and I've been running with a new confidence ever since. I don't know why, but I really feel like asking you out, Nariko!"

"Wow, even when asking her out he's oblivious to romance..." Hikaru sighs.

"That's our Hiro," Chihiro adds on.

Nariko is stunned. "That... Hiro! Pick the right time! You can't ask someone out so suddenly like that! In a completely inappropriate situation, too! I'm not going out with you until you can learn to ask correctly!"

Hiro nods with a smile. "Oh... well then I'll ask later. Will you say yes then?"

"Of course I will!" Nariko replies. "But you better ask it right!"

Yamada shakes his head. "You children are strange... but if Daisuke could accept the strange..."

Tears welling in his eyes, Yamada returns to his feet, still bound by rope. "Daisuke... I'm sorry, I owe you all an apology. I... I don't intend to use this power any further... I don't wish to hurt you all... but I doubt I'll be able to control it..."

The new members of Class 2, Nishi and Utako of the demon hunters approach the scene. "Well, if he ain't an immediate threat..." Utako replies. "What do you people plan on doing with him?"

>You've still got that strange demon removing water, right? Mind giving him a dip?
>I don't know... for now, we'll have to keep him contained in solitary.

>>2904570
>>You've still got that strange demon removing water, right? Mind giving him a dip?
As long as he remembers to take his water supplement every day he'll be fine, and if he doesnt its his own fault

AND NO NEGATIVE PRESS!

>>2904570
>>I don't know... for now, we'll have to keep him contained in solitary.

Might be useful?

>>2904570
Confine him to a life where he's forced to take pills to survive and shit that we probably don't know the full ramifications of (plus immortality until he is killed I guess), or stick him in jail for the foreseeable future, probably drugged up like Yami to prevent any incidents? Two solidly wew options.

>I don't know... for now, we'll have to keep him contained in solitary.

I suppose if he wants, he can always request to get the water shit later, but let's not make any rash decisions here and utterly change his life.

>>2904570
>You've still got that strange demon removing water, right? Mind giving him a dip?
Gets to keep the power without having The Truthseeker twisting his thoughts. Plus having someone with the power to instantly know your secrets can be handy if we're trying to find creatures that walk around in human meatsuits.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>2904578
>>2904607
>You've still got that strange demon removing water, right? Mind giving him a dip?

>>2904579
>>2904586
>I don't know... for now, we'll have to keep him contained in solitary.

Rolling to break the tie.

File: Takaaki Yamada05.jpg (108 KB, 650x743)

108 KB JPG

>You've still got that strange demon removing water, right? Mind giving him a dip?

"The what?" Yamada asks.

"They'll explain," you tell him. "Ultimately it's up to you... it isn't exactly a perfect solution."

Utako nods. "Sure, we could take care of this. If he wants."

"But Utako..." Nishi mutters. "Remember what Miyoko said? About us running low-"

"It's not a problem!" Utako interrupts her. "Our water will take care of this. Honestly, sensing the demon inside him... he could be a powerful ally."

Yamada nods. "Whatever you say... my show is so cancelled..."

You turn to Utako as Tekina begins to lead Yamada away. "By the way, I've been meaning to bring that whole magic bath up. You see-"

"You wouldn't want it," Utako replies. "Trust me... I can't say much... but it isn't what you want, or need."

"Oh... kay?" you reply, but Nishi has already teleported herself and Utako away, likely to arrange things with Miyoko and the rest of the demon hunters.

Meanwhile, you notice Akira lecturing the panicky and confused Michiko and Konami.

"That was... so cool!" Konami exclaims, her face brightened. "I mean a-awful. Yeah... awful..."

"Don't cling to me like that again," Akira explains. "I almost lost a fight to a weak demon because of you two. I had to rely on Kosuke for back-up, which is... shameful. No offence."

"None taken," Kosuke replies. "I'm just as annoyed that I actually had to do something. You two normies better not follow us in again."

"We didn't mean too!" Michiko whines. "And who are you calling normies? I'm not normal! W-wait, that's not what I meant! Oh, Akio! I didn't see you there, but... heh heh, I'm sure you noticed-"

"Aaaaaand that's our cue to go to bed," Hikaru interrupts, dragging Akio along. "Let's go."

As some of you head to bed, other classes pool out into the courtyard, fresh out of the incursion as well. It's there that Raiden's eyes meet with his sisters. "Akuro..."

"R-Raiden..." Akuro mutters. "Y-you're awake..."

"It's good to see you."

Akuro hesitates, her face welling up with emotion... before she lets out a huff, folding her arms and looking away. "Well, it isn't good to see you! You pathetic loser! You think you take down one demon and suddenly you're all noble? Please, you know how much of my time you wasted? You really shouldn't have bothered!"

Keeping up the front even now? You don't know whether to respect her willpower or consider her ice cold.

"Well, I suppose I should have expected that," Raiden shrugs it off. "Not a hug or anything... I think I've gotten more than enough hugs anyway-"

"Is that Raiden-senpai?!"

"He's awake! Hooooooooray!"

Those two voices send a shiver down Raiden's spine, as he looks blankly ahead, reliving some nightmarish memories. "Oh no... oh god no..."

File: Raiden11.jpg (71 KB, 500x753)

71 KB JPG

Mai and Ukon, your underclassmen, mob the stiff and sore Raiden with a powerful hug from each side, as he squirms in pain and discomfort. "I know you just said you've had enough hugs, but I think there's no such thing!" Ukon exclaims.

"That's what I always say!" Akemi laughs.

"You've got so much to catch up on, senpai!" Mai adds. "In fact, I'm going to sing a celebratory song right now!"

Raiden looks you dead in the eyes, his face twisted in horror. "Put me back in," he says.

"What?"

"The coma, put me back in!" Raiden frantically requests. "End it all! Let me escape from this nightmare!"

>The Next Morning

"... And so with Yamada, we've taken out six out of the twelve demons unleashed. Half way through cleaning up my mess," you explain.

Raiden scratches his head. "I see... That's a lot of information for one morning, on top of Akemi keeping me up all night-"

"-How?" you ask with a smirk.

"By explaining a lot of what I've missed around the school," he replies. "Though she was more focused on parties and personal events instead of the demons... how else would she keep me up?"

"Raiden please, we don't need two Hiros..." you joke.

You and Raiden are stopped in your tracks as Miss Hirashi rushes up to the two of you. "Hey, there's some intruders at the school gate!"

"Probably just more press or protesters," you reply. "Hopefully they die down after Yamada's tv interview. He's promised to clear the school's name of any of his accusations."

"Definitely not regular protesters," Hirashi explains. "They're kinda... you know, armed."

You sigh. "Never a dull day, huh? Okay, how many are there?"

"I don't know... forty?"

You pause.

"FORTY?!"

"That I can see..." Hirashi mutters. "It looks really bad."

You rush to the courtyard, making your way to the school gates. Raiden tries to keep up, but is too stiff and falls behind. As you arrive, you see Sora looking out over the intruders, his face not the usual calm. In his remaining eye, there's a great fear. "It's... them..." he mutters.

Them?! The hell's he talking about?!

You rush to the gate, where a wild-eyed man awaits, backed up by dozen of militaristic figures.

"What the hell are you doing at our school?"

The man at the front smirks. He speaks in a grating, nasally voice. "Y'know, I expected a warmer welcome for such a high-ranking official!"

"I have no idea who you are."

"Colonel Goa," the man replies. "We're here on long overdue special orders from one General Aoki of Rubi."

General Aoki? Rubi? Wait, you've heard of them...

Goa cracks his neck as he continues. "Y'see, we're here to collect someone. Actually... a few people. And no matter the attitude... you can't stop us."

Never a dull day... but faced with what seems to be the will of an army... this just may be the biggest threat you've faced yet.

END OF EPISODE 24

>>2904687
DAMN EVIL EMPIRE
WHAT IS THIS A FINAL FANTASY GAME
ALSO
>"The coma, put me back in!" Raiden frantically requests. "End it all! Let me escape from this nightmare!"
KEK

File: Colonel Goa.jpg (763 KB, 541x1000)

763 KB JPG

>Ending Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZLEXj52lcc

>Archive
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Dark%20Gate%20Academy

>Twitter
https://twitter.com/bookerman32

>Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/BookerMan

>Discord
https://discord.gg/yz7sDra

Thanks for playing! Next session will be sometime in the next week! Check the Twitter for any updates!

>Player Question
And so ends the Yamada arc... and begins the General Aoki arc! Fun times! What were your thoughts on Yamada, his arc, and the fight against him? And what do you expect out of this coming arc?

File: let's go.gif (566 KB, 400x300)

566 KB GIF

>>2904684
>You two normies better not follow us in again
Fucking Raiju reeeeee
>Akuro hesitates, her face welling up with emotion... before she lets out a huff, folding her arms and looking away
TSUUUUUUNNNNNN
>>2904687
>"The coma, put me back in!" Raiden frantically requests. "End it all! Let me escape from this nightmare!"
Kek
>"We're here on long overdue special orders from one General Aoki of Rubi."
>Goa cracks his neck as he continues. "Y'see, we're here to collect someone. Actually... a few people. And no matter the attitude... you can't stop us."
Time to take down a dictatorship.