This was a terrible idea, I don’t even have to explain what could go wrong here, but screw it this might be fun!

  Jak: “So this one single chair is going to stop anyone from getting in?”

  Haru had propped the backside of one of the dining room chairs under the door knobs.

  Haru: “Yep! This will totally stop anyone from getting in!”

  Oscar: “We’re going to die… it’s over… this is the end…”

  Cain: “Man if you have time to worry about that then why don’t you just go back to the meadows?”

  Oscar: “Because I left without permission to dumbass!”

  Cain: “Oh right, right… well I guess we can all throw you under the bus then if we’re caught.”

  Oscar: “YOU LITTLE CUN-“

  Lapti?a: “Shhh quiet… this whole thing is stupid but if you actually want to hide, then stop being so loud.”

  We all sat around the coffee table, well everyone but Lapti?a who was sulking in the back.

  Haru: “So how we doing?”

  Cain: “How we doing?”

  Haru: “Yeah! How are my favorite guys doing?”

  Cain: “You have favorite guys?”

  Haru: “I don’t know.”

  Cain: “What do you mean you don’t know you just said you did!”

  Haru: “Look I’m an intelligent enigma, my mind is a wonder of chaos!”

  Cain: “Girl that doesn’t even make sense.”

  I’m surrounded by idiots…

  ~Tap Tap Tap~

  I felt Lapti?a tapping my shoulder, I mean who else rhythmically taps my shoulder like that but him?

  Jak: “What’s up Lappy?”

  Lapti?a: “Look…”

  Lapti?a pointed towards the valves.

  Jak: “What’s wrong with the valves?”

  That was a stupid question on my part because Lapti?a dragged me from my chair to examine it like he did.

  Lapti?a: “These valves are stiff… I tried moving them but I couldn't get them to budge.”

  I tried turning one, and he was right, the valves were stuck in place and wouldn’t twist left or right.

  ~Bang Bang Bang~

  Juno: “Hey! Open up!”

  Oscar: “AH!”

  Lapti?a quietly moved towards the vent and crouched against the wall, hiding? I don’t really know to be honest I simply moved over back with the others.

  Juno: “Yoshiharu isn’t mad with you Oscar, just disappointed.”

  Oscar: “Well tell her I’m sorry! … Actually it’s not even my fault! I didn’t even want to participate in the first place!”

  Haru: “Boo hoo no one cares Green Day, anyways just come and get us! I’ve fortified this room and there's no way you can get in!”

  ————

  Juno got in and manhandled Haru and Oscar carrying them with her.

  Cain: “…Heh… Funny.”

  Lapti?a: “Time wasting is what that was…”

  Cain: “Well then why’d you even bother joining us?”

  Lapti?a: “…Why would I tell you that?”

  Lapti?a fidgeted with his lab coat sleeves, and moved closer towards me.

  Lapti?a: “Anyways, come on, I wanna show you something in my room.”

  Cain: “Hey wait a minute I was going to show him something first before you butted in!”

  Lapti?a: “Can we just go?”

  Lapti?a completely ignored Cain and spoke directly to me.

  Jak: “Well-“

  Cain: “SNEAK ATTACK!”

  Cain jumped to tackle Lapti?a, and I got caught in the crossfire. Together all three of us fell… well it’s more fitting to say that the two of them fell on top of me.

  Lapti?a was relatively close to my face as his surgical mask loosened, falling to one side as he simply stared at me with the same deadpan eyes he always had, but his eyes were a lot more dilated than last time. Cain meanwhile looked over Lapti?a’s shoulder and had his right hand pinned to the floor right above my left shoulder, the same big grin and puppy eyes, he looked like he was always under the influence of sugar.

  Lapti?a: “Was that really necessary?”

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Cain: ~Giggling~ “Well now I have the upper hand, if you get up then I have Jacky all to myself.”

  Lapti?a: “And if I don’t?”

  Cain: “Oh trust me… you will… probably.”

  Wait don’t I get a say in this?

  Jak: “You guys are gonna cave my chest in… Look how about I just visit both of you until 9:00AM, thirty minutes each for both of you.”

  That’s right, Haru’s entire plan folded in under 3 minutes, it was 7:59AM right now.

  Lapti?a: “I can live with that?”

  Cain: “I- … ugh fine! But I get first dibs!”

  Lapti?a: “…Sure… I guess I can clean my room then while I wait.”

  The both of them would get up and allow me to breathe properly. I’d stand up on my feet and follow Cain to his bedroom, now that he knew we’d be entirely alone.

  Cain: “Okay! No distractions, no annoying brothers, and no more walls in between us!”

  At that moment he pinned me against the wall.

  Jak: “WOAH!”

  Cain: “Hmmmm… you do look rather handsome… but I can make you even prettier!”

  Jak: “W-what’s the meaning of this?”

  Cain: “Duh! I obviously just wanted to give you a makeover! Come on, it'll be fun.”

  … a makeover? That’s it? ALL OF THIS FOR A MAKEOVER!

  Jak: “A makeover? Is that really all you wanted me here for?”

  Cain: “Well no… but because we agreed to only thirty minutes I may as well do the things we can finish in that time, now come on sit down!”

  He would tug my arm and sit me down in front of a mirror.

  Cain: “Now just sit real still… trust me I’m gonna make you look and feel great!”

  Jak: “And what does that entail exactly?”

  Cain: “Oh you’ll see!”

  I spent the entire thirty minutes being pampered by Cain as he tapped my face with brushes and such, unfortunately he has no real sense of personal space because there were moments he would sit on my lap when he needed a closer look, other times he tried convincing me to try on outfits he had in his closet. Our thirty minutes were almost up, and by then he was laying on his bed seemingly exhausted… I don’t exactly know what he was expecting but he kept his arms spread open.

  Jak: “Soooo… If you don’t mind me asking, these past couple of days you’ve been rather…”

  Cain: “Clingy? Obsessed? Majorly overbearing?”

  Jak: “Bingo!”

  Cain: “I get that a lot… I don’t mean to be weird about it, but I just find it easier to make friends like that…”

  Jak: “This is how you make friends?”

  Cain: “Well, I suppose not everyone I consider a friend…”

  Jak: “Elaborate on that, come on I know you got something more to tell me!”

  Cain: ~Chuckling~ “Wow you seem more sociable then usually Jacky, but I’m sure you can figure out what I mean by “more than just a friend”… Then again, I guess I don’t mind your naivety.”

  I felt my heart beating faster, but I slowed it down by slowing my breathing down.

  Jak: “I’ll just take away from this that I’m a really good camera man.”

  Cain: “Heh… yeah, I suppose you are.”

  Jak: “Hey, I have to ask again since you really didn’t answer me the first time, but is this really how you make friends?”

  Cain would go silent for a moment.

  Cain: “I just find it easier to be around men, I collaborate with them more often than women whenever I do sponsor deals and all the other stuff that clogged my schedule.”

  Jak: “I’m guessing there has to be more of a reason than your talent.”

  Cain: “What you expect me to share my entire life story?”

  Jak: “If it ties into this topic…”

  Cain would think for a moment, before grinning to himself.

  Cain: “Alright well, let’s see… My mother was never truly around so it was mostly my dad, my brother, and I, I guess that contributes something to it huh?”

  Jak: “I’m guessing there’s more you still aren’t telling me…”

  Cain: “You’ll just have to visit me next time…”

  He’d give me a wink as our thirty minutes were up.

  ————

  Now I was in front of Lapti?a’s door, I knocked once and waited, knocked twice and waited, when I went to knock a third time the door finally creaked open.

  Lapti?a: “Sorry… I was just preparing myself… mentally.”

  I followed Lapti?a up into his room, it looked like the inside of a lavatory, dimmed lights, white and green walls, science kits, his bed looked like an egg, and many more details. I also checked his painting, he was right, it was titled Khonsu, and he had a bull mask laying on the ground.

  Jak: “So what exactly did you want to show me?”

  My shoulder is going to dislocate if it keeps getting tugged like this, because Lapti?a pulled me towards his bed and wrapped his arms around me.

  Jak: “ACK! Too much physical contact!”

  Lapti?a: “Sorry Jac… but I need to test a theory.”

  Jak: “For the last time it’s Jak with a K now! … also what’s this theory?”

  Lapti?a: “…This is the second time you’ve said that…”

  Lapti?a seemed to stop talking to think… before answering my question.

  Lapti?a: “The theory on human warmth… There are many ways to achieve it, one of them is intimate contact.”

  Jak: “Seriously? And this is the first thing you try?”

  Lapti?a: “Yep… because I knew out of every option this was the most convenient…”

  Jak: “…There’s no way you’re just gonna hold me for the full thirty minutes right?”

  Lapti?a: “To get the best results, I need to commit to the practice.”

  Welp… I guess we may as well talk while here.

  Jak: “So about the valves, what do you think they’re for?”

  Lapti?a: “How should I know? I think the most common conclusion to come through is that it must affect the water supply we both discovered.”

  Jak: “That’s true… You know I also have to ask you something else, what’s your deal with Cain? Not to be confrontational but you seem to really dislike whenever he’s around.”

  Lapti?a: “It’s because he prevents me from being able to conduct my investigations with you.”

  Jak: “Is that all?”

  Lapti?a: “Yes.”

  Jak: “…Right… come on I know there’s more, people aren’t the best at hiding things from me you know.”

  Lapti?a’s grip around me loosened a little…

  Lapti?a: “It’s not fair…”

  Jak: “What isn’t fair?”

  Lapti?a: “I make my first associate and it’s immediately clear I have to share them… that’s what isn’t fair.”

  Jak: “Aww so you do care.”

  Lapti?a: “Of course I care! It’s just… hard to show it…”

  Jak: “Alright keep talking, there’s no stopping now I hope you know that right?”

  Lapti?a: ~sigh~ “I’ve never actually had any friends before this… or I should say I’ve never really had any relationships before this.”

  Jak: “No parents? Or a peer at least?”

  Lapti?a: “None…”

  Jak: “Oh… sorry to hear that.”

  Lapti?a: “Don’t be, I'd rather live my life over a sheltered one, otherwise I never would’ve figured out the things I know now.”

  Jak: “But… if you’ve never experienced it before how can you know for certain?”

  Lapti?a: “That’s the fun part, I never will, but if I keep thinking about “what if”, then I’ll never be able to push through whatever it is that’s trying to stop me.”

  Jak: “And if you aren’t strong enough? If you exhaust yourself? What happens if no one’s here to help you?”

  Lapti?a: “There is nothing within science that blacklists someone’s stubbornness from keeping them alive.”

  Jak: “But we all have limits, Lappy.”

  Lapti?a: “Maybe… but I might just prove I don’t…”

  We just laid there for a while.

  Jak: “Hey Lap…”

  Lapti?a: “Yeah?”

  Jak: “This human warmth theory of yours, what is it even about?”

  Lapti?a: “…That’s confidential…”

  Jak: “Really? Or is it because you just don’t want to admit something to me?”

  I could see his eyes glance away, his face turning less pale under the surgical mask.

  Jak: “You seriously won’t tell me huh?”

  Lapti?a: “…I’m studying my own warmth if that will satisfy you…”

  Jak: “Oh really now? You’re not studying mine?”

  Lapti?a: “…When did you become so assertive…”

  Jak: “I told you, I’m Jak with a K, not a C…”

  Lapti?a: “I know, but what does that mean?”

  Jak: “Oh you’ll figure it out eventually…”

  ————

  Thirty minutes were up, and it was now 9:00AM, which meant Hikari was probably waiting for everyone to arrive at the dining hall.

  Cain: “ALRIGHT IT’S 9:00AM! LET’S GO!”

  Cain from out of nowhere immediately busted through Lapti?a’s door and pulled me by my leg out of Lapti?a’s grasp.

  Cain: “Come on let’s go!”

  I’d slowly get up after literally getting pulled to the ground, and realize that my watch was completely unscathed… wait I showered with this on how was it still operational? I suppose the kidnappers aren’t too cruel, the watch was slim and easy to sleep in, and I suppose it’s also waterproof.

  Jak: “Yeah! Yeah I’m going! Come on Lappy, let's roll.”

  Lapti?a rolled off his bed and followed after us.

  Jak: “So what’s this meeting about?”

  Cain: “Meh it’s more like a briefing.”

  Lapti?a: “That’s… still technically a meeting.”

  Cain: “Right, right, well come on let’s go in.”

  I’d venture into the dining hall, and discovered most of the students there.

  Hikari: “HA! Told you Miyata would come!”

  Jeremy: “Yeah Shichiro, look who showed up…”

  Shichiro: “I never said he wouldn’t! I just said it’s unlikely…”

  Yoshiharu: “Oh hon, it’s alright to be wrong every once and a while.”

  Shichiro: “All I said was that it was unlikely!”

  The only students that weren’t here were Penelope and Nina, which was strange because Makoto was here.

  Makoto: “AUGH! I’m not done dusting off the corners yet! Please forgive me everyone…”

  Avrom: “Hey, hey we already forgave you… this is just sad in a bad way if you keep apologizing…”

  Valentinia: “Yeah get your head screwed in straight, it’s just dust, it ain’t like it’s toxic to breathe in.”

  Makoto: “No! It’s unacceptable of me to be happy with such things being left like this!”

  Noir: “Makoto! I need help…”

  I looked over to the kitchen and saw Noir tangled up in electrical extension cords.

  Makoto: “Oh shoot Miss Badger please refrain from moving!”

  At that moment Makoto took off to help out Noir.

  Hikari: “Is that everyone?”

  Juno: “Nope, Penelope and Nina are nowhere to be found… want me to go fetch them?”

  Oscar: “H-how about Jac?! He can go get them because I- I need your help over here Juno!”

  Hikari: “Yeah good thinking, I’m counting on you to bring those two over here Jac, even if you just got here I’d really appreciate it.”

  Cain: “Field trip!”

  Hikari: “Oh no actually I need you two here to help, Abel personally requested for your assistance Cain, and Lapti?a! Could you test out our soup to make sure we didn’t unintentionally poison it.”

  Oscar clearly didn’t want Nina or Penelope to face Juno’s wrath, so he distracted her by having her help him chop carrots, meanwhile Hikari gave Cain and Lapti?a jobs… so now my job was to retrieve Penelope and Nina.

  ————

  Aw great I’m out of the dining room, can’t I just stay in one place? I moved through the halls, thinking I’d find them in the meadows… but instead I heard the faint sound of furniture. I peaked my head in the study hall…

  Nina: “…This is wrong…”

  Penelope: “Nonsense, you want your reward for praising me right?”

  Nina: “Yeah but… this isn’t exactly what I had in mind…”

  Penelope: “Oh trust me, the taste isn’t as bitter as you think it is…”

  I’d finally get a good look as I saw… Well, the best way I can explain it is that Nina was the one leaning into Penelope’s lips more than Penelope was despite the way the conversation sounded. They parted their lips for a moment… oh god they’re saliva linkers… that’s gross as hell! But then they went back at it, not passionately, but slowly and methodically. I counted six times they kissed, before I finally knocked on the doorframe causing Nina to jump.

  Jak: “Can you two do this in a more private room and get your asses to the dining room?”

  Penelope simply wiped her mouth and made a small smile.

  Penelope: “Enjoyed the show?”

  Nina: “H-hey it’s not what it looks like!”

  Jak: “I don’t care, just get to the dining room…”

  Penelope would straighten herself out and walk past me, then Nina awkwardly wobbled after.

  Nina: “I uh- … Did I look like I enjoyed it?”

  Jak: “As your friend… I just want to say I support you wholeheartedly.”

  Nina would punch my arm.

  Nina: “Ha! Ha! Very funny…”

  Clearly offended, she pouted and stormed off to the dining room.

  ————