Himiko, Tenko, and Angie were walking to school one drizzly morning. Himiko was feeling rather dreary, so Tenko and Angie were there to keep her company under Angie's large umbrella.
"Do not worry so much, Himiko!" Angie reassured her. "Atua says that Kokichi will be back safe and sound, soon enough!"
"Nyeh...I hope so," Himiko sighed sadly. "I feel so lonely without him. Not that it's lonely with you two with me, but I just really wish Kokichi were here, too."
"We understand what you mean, Himiko," Angie replied kindly, patting Himiko's shoulder comfortingly.
"Why is he gone again?" Tenko asked, scratching her head.
"He said he had to fly to New York City for a week for some 'supreme leader business,'" Himiko explained. "He didn't say much of anything else. He's been gone for only two days, but...nyeh...it feels like an eternity."
"Why in the world would he need to go all the way over there for?" Tenko asked, mostly to herself.
"I dunno," Himiko replied. "I try not to pry too much in his business out of respect, and even if I did try, he'd still keep it a secret. You know how he is."
"Only degenerate males would have something to hide," Tenko scoffed. Himiko made an angry, pouty grunt at Tenko. "Sorry, Himiko," Tenko said. "But, really, it's weird how he's always trying to hide things from us, er...well, from YOU, Himiko. Don't you think it's weird that he doesn't trust you?"
"I think if he felt it was really important, he'd tell her!" Angie chimed in. "Like Himiko said, she just wants to respect his privacy!"
"How do you know he's not lying, though?" Tenko pressed. "What if he's not really in New York City?" Himiko fidgeted uncomfortably. She didn't want to think that Kokichi was lying to her. She wanted to trust him, but she had to admit that Tenko had a point.
"TENKO!" Angie warned, noticing Himiko's uncertainty. She gave Tenko a warning smile. "Perhaps we should just drop the issue, don't you think?"
"Okay! Okay!" Tenko held up her hands defensively. "No need to get so intense, Angie!" They finally arrived at Hope's Peak and headed to their lockers. "See you guys in the cafeteria!" Tenko called to Himiko and Angie as she ran off to the cafeteria. When Himiko and Angie were done retrieving whatever they needed from their lockers, they headed to the cafeteria to meet up with Tenko who was already eating breakfast.
"I'm going to get some breakfast," Angie said, setting down her backpack and supplies. "Want to come with me, Himiko?"
"Nyeh...no," Himiko replied, hanging her bunny backpack on the back of her chair. "I'm not hungry right now."
"Okie-dokie!" Angie chirped, then went to the breakfast line.
"Don't be so sad, Himiko," Tenko said, patting Himiko's hand. "If you want, I can be Kokichi for you! Watch!" Tenko put her hands behind her head and gave Himiko the same toothy grin that Kokichi would make. "Nee-heehee...I'm the Ultimate Supreme Leader! Bow down to me, peasants!" Himiko cracked a smile as she blushed and turned her head away. "You're turning red, Himikoooo," Tenko teased. Himiko suddenly burst into laughter.
"Thanks, Tenko," Himiko said, still blushing.
"Nee-heehee...no problem, HimiCocoa Bean," Tenko replied, using one of Kokichi's nicknames for Himiko. "Anytime you want me to act like Kokichi, just say the word, and I'll do it!" Himiko smiled and shook her head. Himiko's smile was short-lived, however, because Sonia Nevermind walked by and tripped, causing her breakfast to spill all over the floor. As her food fell, her carton of orange juice splashed all over Himiko's bunny backpack.
"My backpack!" Himiko exclaimed, looking at the giant orange stain. "D'oh, what a pain!"
"Oh, dear, Himiko! I am so sorry!" Sonia apologized. "Please! Allow me to clean that up for you!"
"No, no, it's okay," Himiko replied. "I'll just clean it up in the bathroom." Himiko hurried over to the bathroom. She pulled out a bunch of paper towels from the dispenser, wet them, and began trying to clean the stain off her backpack. "Please, please, pleeeaaaase come off," she pleaded quietly. The majority of the stain came out, but there was now a light, orange patch on her bunny backpack. She sighed in frustration, blowing a strand of her hair up from her face. Suddenly, she heard soft crying in one of the stalls. "Um...who's there?" Himiko asked. She heard the sniffles of whoever was crying. Himiko went over to the stall where the noises were coming from. "Hello?" Himiko asked. "Are you okay?"
"N-No," the voice from behind the stall replied.
"What's your name?" Himiko asked. The door slowly opened to reveal a girl with overly-frizzy, messy, brown hair and glasses over her tear-stained face.
"M-My name is Guki," the girl replied. She had a stereotypical nerdy girl-type voice like in cartoons where her nose sounded clogged and she spoke with a lisp.
"Guki?" Himiko repeated. The girl nodded. That's a weird name, Himiko thought to herself, but she was too polite not to say so out loud. "I've never seen you around before."
"Yeah...I'm pretty much invisible here, and I don't have any friends," Guki shrugged sadly. "I'm the Ultimate Thespian...you know...an actress, basically." She adjusted her glasses and gave Himiko a small smile.
"Oh! I'm Himiko Yumeno," Himiko replied. "I'm the Ultimate Mage...although, I'm officially called the Ultimate Magician."
"Nice to meet you," Guki said, holding out her hand shyly. Himiko smiled at her and shook it.
"You, too," Himiko said.
"I'm s-so cold," Guki said, shivering. "C-Could I borrow your jacket, please?"
"Oh, um, sure," Himiko replied. Inside, she felt reluctant to give over her jacket because she, herself got cold easily, sometimes even in warm temperatures. But she nevertheless handed Guki her jacket. Goosebumps immediately appeared on Himiko's arms, and she began to shiver. She tried not to make it so apparent, however, so as to not make Guki feel guilty.
"Thank you," Guki said, putting on Himiko's jacket.
"Um...no problem," Himiko replied. "Oh! Would you like to join my friends and me for lunch later today?" Guki brightened a little.
"Oh, yes!" she replied. "I would! And I'll give you your jacket back then, if that's okay." Himiko nodded. "Yay! Oh! Before I forget, what's your first class?"
"Nyeh...history class, unfortunately," Himiko replied. "History shouldn't be taught after I wake up. Or any class, for that matter. It's such a pain." Guki giggled, and Himiko giggled with her. "I'm actually heading there right now to put my backpack there so it won't get soaked again."
"Ah, I see," Guki nodded. "Well, I'll see you at lunch, I guess."
"Yup, you too," Himiko replied. She waved goodbye and headed to the history classroom to hang her backpack on her chair. Then, she headed back to the cafeteria where Tenko and Angie were still eating.
"Himiko, are you alright?" Angie asked.
"Yeah, and what happened to your jacket?" Tenko asked.
"I'm fine," Himiko replied. "And I let Guki borrow my jacket." Angie and Tenko looked at each other in confusion.
"Who?" they asked in unison.
"Guki, the Ultimate Thespian," Himiko explained.
"I've never heard of the Ultimate Thespian," Tenko replied.
"Well, she doesn't have any friends here," Himiko replied. "Besides, you'll meet her at lunch!"