Red String of Fate

Chapter 5: I'm Getting Nerfed?

Author's Note: Apologies on this chapter getting out late. I will be making one final chapter today and that will be the Christmas special chapter. That chapter will be the final chapter of 2020 and I will pick back up writing after family is back home and I don't have to be a host to anyone. To everyone reading I'd like you all to spread and recommend this story so that more people can read and give me feedback on what could be better. I've only received feedback on two chapters, and they were minimal issues. Don't be afraid to comment on parts that you like or dislike and finally, I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Mako awoke to find Ryūko sitting upright, holding her knees, and burying her face into her thighs. She then stretches and yawns and looks to Ryūko, and for once, her normal, happy-go-lucky, expression was replaced by a sad, depressing one. She then gets up out of her chair and gives Ryūko a hug.

"It's ok, I know yesterday was...tough on you, but you can't just give up after losing one fight", Mako said in a vain attempt to cheer her up.

"Fight...fight! Mako, that wasn't a fight. It was a beating! A public beating that I had no chance of resisting. I've never felt so helpless, so powerless...even with Senketsu, I couldn't do a damn thing to him! I'm scared Mako...what if I go there again and he decides to just finish it and kill me? Who's going to stop him? Satsuki? She's already made it clear that she hates me and would careless if I were dead. I want to find my father's killer...but it means nothing if I die before that happens", Ryūko ranted.

Mako just looked at her friend. She couldn't come with anything to say that could cheer her up or motivate her in this case. She just looked down and left the room, leaving Ryūko alone. That is until Senketsu speaks up.

"Ryūko, I know how terrified you must be, believe me, I know. When I first saw that man, I knew that he would be our biggest obstacle. However, we can not allow ourselves to be discouraged just because he is stronger than us for now", Senketsu said.

"Senketsu, he absolutely destroyed us, and he'll do it again. There's no hope..."

"You can't know that. The Ryūko I know-", Senketsu was then cut off.

"The Ryūko you know? You don't know me; we've only been together for two days and in those two days I nearly died!"

"Ryūko..."

Ryūko then puts on her old clothes and leaves the room. She then walks by the Mankanshokus without acknowledging them and leaves the house. Time passes and she spends more than half the day just wandering. As she is walking around the No-Star District, she notices a kid getting jumped by 3 other kids. She would normally do something about it, but she decides to just walk by and not get involved.

"So, you are not going to help that kid? How cruel of you", said someone from above her on a roof.

"What'd you say", Ryūko questioned only to find she was getting stared down by her teacher, Aikuro Mikisugi.

"You didn't show up for class today. You must have a lot going through your head. Come on, let's head back to my place. I'm sure you want answers, as well as food." At that moment, Ryūko's stomach grumbled loudly and she blushed in embarrassment and she looked down in anger before agreeing to join him. Meanwhile while all of this was going down, Dante was called by Satsuki to discuss yesterday.

"So, as you are aware, yesterday was a bit...extreme", Satsuki said.

"Extreme is an understatement Satsuki, he traumatized the girl. I may not like her, but no one should have to endure such torment", Uzu said. As this meeting was not an official meeting and less formal, the group decided to drop honorifics.

"Indeed, while I agree the Matoi girl needed to be humbled, breaking her leg to the extent you did was not morally right", said Ira.

"Wow, you're all against me on my actions yesterday. What I did was to get the message across of what I established, if I hadn't done what I did, then the student council would have been seen as weak", Dante argued. Dante was only wearing a pair of pants and shoes for the meeting as his clothes were not completed just yet.