School came back around soon enough. Jayce was better by then, but Yuriko still had not talked to her grandfather. He seemed to be giving her space – and a lot of it, which she needed. Nothing special came about the first day coming back to school, and after lunch came, Jayce decided to hang out with Vinhatri off in another class. They had usually been eating together at their desks lately, but not that time. So, she went up to the roof.
However, as she was walking down the hall, she wasn't really paying attention as she headed upstairs for her usual daily lunch. She didn't stop until she passed a certain door – 301 – and paused. Narrowing her brow, she realised there were voices inside. Usually nobody occupied that room for lunch, and all of them had Japanese thoughts, so it was not Vinhatri or Jayce. Stepping back, she glanced at the crack in the door, peering in.
What beheld her was confusing enough. Three girls – all of which she knew, but only one in the school uniform. Mystic, Flower, and Petal. Mystic was sitting in a chair, while Flower hovered above her with her hands on her hips, and Petal stood with her back to the door. The timid black-haired twin seemed nervous, looking off to the side anxiously and playing with her skirt. However, Flower was her usual dominating self, staring down at the girl below her with a smile. Mystic was sitting with her legs and arms crossed, glaring.
"Why did you two drag me in here?" Mystic finally spoke.
"Isn't it obvious, Naomi?" Flower tilted her head, brushing her white hair back.
She paused, frowning. "How do you know that name?"
"Again, Naomi, we know lots of things about you," The girl continued to smile.
"Don't call me that," Mystic hissed.
"Or what?" Flower leaned forward, saying it slowly. "Na-o-mi."
"Just tell me what you want or I'm leaving," She demanded.
"Fine," The woman stood up fully once more. "We want you."
"Obviously," Mystic rolled her eyes. "That's why I'm here."
"Well, not you," Flower sneered. "We want the other part of you."
"Other part of me?" She seemed worried, shifting. "You don't mean-"
"Oh yes, we do," The girl placed her hand on her shoulder.
"Um, Flower?" Petal spoke up carefully, and she received a harsh glare that made her flinch. "I don't know if we should do this-"
"You already agreed to it, Petal," The twin hissed. "There is no turning back."
"I am not letting you do that," Mystic chirped up, slapping Flower's hand from her shoulder and standing.
However, Flower was quick to react, shoving her back down. Mystic gasped and almost slipped out of the chair, gripping it as she looked up fearfully. Flower hovered over her, a dark glare in her pale blue eyes that started to shimmer a strange yellow. She rested her hand on the back of the chair and leaned forward, a horrid smile creeping across her face.
"You don't exactly have a choice," She seethed.
It was then that Yuriko realised the danger of the situation at hand. Swallowing back the concern, she proceeded to burst into action. Slamming the sliding door open, Petal turned to face her. Yuriko threw her lunch at her face, making her stumble backwards and hold her nose. The box fell open to the ground, spilling out the rice and other well-prepared foods in a mess.
Flower stood up straight, but Yuriko did not give her any time to react. She walked straight up to her, and with a quick punch to the face, made her topple over backwards. Yuriko glowered down at her as Mystic scrambled to her feet, looking between them. She turned to look at her, grey eyes scanning her form for any further injuries but finding none.
"Are you alright?" Yuriko asked.
"Yes," Mystic swallowed.
"You bitch," Flower growled from below, wiping her face. "What right do you have to intervene?"
"My friend," Yuriko looked down at her. "My responsibility."
"Your friend?" The girl stood up, checking her bleeding split lip. "I thought you were some loser without friends. That makes none of this your business."
"If you really believe so," Yuriko stepped towards her. "Then why don't you try saying that again?"
Flower glared down at her with a fiery wrath, being a few inches taller than the girl but very well aware she was not stronger. Petal came forward, starting to say something as she touched Flower's shoulder, but the white haired woman smacked her hand away. With a final feral growl, she stormed towards the door.
"This isn't over!" She yelled over her shoulder before disappearing into the hall.
The three stood there silently for a time, before Yuriko turned to Petal. "Why?"
"What?" She squeaked.
"Why did you want to split Mystic?" She demanded.
"Um…" Petal hummed, looking around rather nervously. "I, uh… um… I should go."
"Petal-" Yuriko stepped towards her.
She yelped in fear before turning and running for the door, almost tripping before being gone in seconds. Yuriko watched the spot she had disappeared in for a second, then sighed, turning to Mystic. She still seemed startled and shaken, wringing her hands together in a worried manner.
"I wonder why…?" Mystic didn't finish her sentence.
Yuriko didn't need her to. "I don't know. I was unable to glean anything from her mind."
She shifted uncomfortably. "So, how much of that did you hear?"
"All of it," She answered.
Mystic laughed lightly. "I guess you know my real name now, huh?"
"I always knew your name," Yuriko hummed.
"Oh," She flushed. "Well then…"
"I can still call you Mystic," She assured her.
"Yeah…" She nodded. "I would also appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone. Only Matsuda knows, and apparently those two."
"Of course," Yuriko said.
"And sorry about your lunch," Mystic looked over to the ruined box.
"It's fine," She waved it off, walking over and beginning to clean it up.
"Hey, uh, Yuriko?" She stopped and turned to look at her. "Me and the others are going to see the firework festival tomorrow. It was a club activity, but I'm sure the twins won't show up now. Do you want to come?"
Yuriko stared at her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."
Mystic smiled and came up beside her, helping her clean up. "Good. I'm sure Jayce was already going to ask you, but oh well."
"He will just be glad I am coming," She replied, standing with the mess bagged up in the box again. "If they bother you again, just tell me or Matsuda. One of us will take care of it."
She climbed to her feet, smiling. "Thank you." Pausing, Mystic nodded to the door. "Let's go get you something from the school store to eat."