"Now then, it’s time for you and your pretty little girlfriend to die say your prayers while you still can scum!”

Kaguya sprinted towards Kohaku and lashed at her abdomen with her katana, but Kohaku dodged it just in time. "You a quick brat, but let’s see how long you can last" SLASH! SLASH! FLING! Kaguya attacked her mercilessly. No pauses in her attacks. Kohaku, although a very skilled fighter, could not last long against Kaguya a skilled, experienced fighter. Because of jumping around and running while fighting, they ended up on the bridge about 100 meters from where Haru and Minato were

“Dad…” Bam!! Minato kicked Haru at his left hip and Haru went flying into a tree to the right.

“Come on Haru, show me what a student of Kazuto Takase can do!?”

“Why are you doing this!?” Haru shouted as he tried standing up. holding down on his hip.

“Why? Why you ask…” Minato chuckled at his son's question.

“...You would never understand. You just a little kid, You could say that i will be receiving redemption... Now give your old man everything you’ve got. Oh, and I was not joking about killing you.”

“What about mom!?”

“I never truly loved her… It's a little different with you though, I don't know maybe It's that black hair and eyes of yours. So majestic just like his...

Pow! 

“Liar!”

“Sad but true. Nice punch though, I did not even see it coming.”

“haaaaaah!” Haru released a roar and started fighting back with all his strength

They threw punches, kicks. It was like a fight from an anime. It was painstakingly clear who was going to win. Despite knowing this, Haru still gave it all he had. Whenever Haru thought he got Minato cornered or in a position where he could counterattack, Minato effortlessly evaded or used that moment to attack. It was during one of these moments when Minato decided to end it. Haru went for a flying roundhouse kick. Minato not wasting anytime at all, used this moment to hit Haru in the abdomen with excruciating force and power.

“GWAH!!” Haru fell down to his knees and with his hand placed on the affected area. He also, just realised that the whole time he has been fighting with Minato, he has been hearing screams coming from the direction Kohaku and Lady Kaguya went. The screams just came to an end, this made Haru anxiuos.

“Enough with this… It’s time to put an end to this.” Minato said with a sly grin.

He grabbed Haru by the hair and pulled him to the execution area. This being the bridge, where the basilisks torture and kill there victims and cast them down into the river.

*******

“The girl has already received her punishment. Now make that so-called son of yours scream.” The look on Lady Kaguya's face was pure evil, but Haru caught her looking vulnerable at times.   Kohaku just laid there on the ground in a pool of her own crimson blood beaten up mercilessly.

“KOHAKU!?… GWAH!” Haru went flying into the railings of the bridge. The sound echoed in the dimly moonlit night.

“Playing house with you guys sure was fun Haru. But I finally got what I’ve been looking for.”

“and what might that be, father?”

“you don’t need to worry that kid. You going to die anyways.”

“Gaaa! Let go of me! Naaa!” Kohaku screamed as she got put into the position the Basilisks put their victims before throwing them off the bridge into the river, which was flowing quite strongly.

“Take your hands off her!”

Haru threw a flying kick at Kaguya, but instead he got kicked down by Minato. And mercilessly beaten up. From punches to stomps, Minato held nothing back. 

“There now you look just like your little girlfriend.” Minato let out a Snicker.

“Shall we proceed, then?” Said Kaguya with a evil little laugh.

“alright ladies first…” Kaguya handed Minato her Katana.

“No! Dad! let her go! please! I’m begging you!”

“My, my. Silly boy, we cannot spare her life. She is Captain Kobayashi’s daughter, after all.”

Haru gasped when he heard that.

“You lying there is no way…” ‘Haru,’ Kohaku interrupted.

“I was planning on telling you someday. I just couldn’t find the right time…” ‘Gwah! Aaaaa!’ Kohaku’s frantic screams were followed by the sound of blood splattering.

“You Bastard!” Haru yelled with a punch directed at Minato.

Gwoof!

Kaguya jumped in the middle and punched Haru in the stomach with her palm.

“you won’t get away with this…” Haru fell down as he tried standing up.

“Haru run away! Don’t worry about me!”

“Well, would you look at that? You’re still conscious.”

Minato grabbed her by the hair and shaked her around violently.

“Its time to engrave our trademark symbol on the two of you.” What Minato is talking about is the cross✝️ that is engraved onto the backs of the people they kill.

“Hayate, come here, Keep them at bay as I proceed.” 

“yes sir!”

First Kohaku then Haru. Their screams were so loud it hurt Hayate’s ears. The bridge is right in the middle of the park, far away from the streets. Blood was now dripping down the bridge into the river.

“Now help me throw them over, starting with the girl.”

Haru was too weak to put up a fight now. Drenched in blood, he could just watch as they proceeded. Before they picked Kohaku up, she murmured something to Haru.

“Thank you for always being there for me. And I... I will always love Y…”

“No! Kohaku!” He crawled to the edge of the bridge, and watched as she fell down into the river.

“now, now, you will join her soon enough no need to be so hasty. But first I need to tell you something, son…”

Minato grabbed Haru by his hair and looked him dead in the eye

“I loved you like my very own son. It may not seem true to you now, but that is a fact. But there has always been a part of me that despised you, especially your unique black hair.” And right after that, Haru got thrown over. It could have been his imagination, but as he fell, he was looking at his father and next to his father was Kaguya. It makes sense to him that Minato would look down at him with a kinda sad face, but he could not understand why Kaguya looked at him that way.

**********

PRESENT DAY

During the opening ceremony, Haru daydreamed most of the time. Mentally editing a list of snacks he plans on buying after school. (I’m probably going to hangout at Taichi’s place later so I will have to buy snacks for then too.) Haru suddenly got the craving for a nice hot cup of coffee. Just when he was about to ponder over the list of snacks again… POW!! He got hit right in the ribs by a devastating elbow attack.

“GWAH!”

Haru looked at the person on the right-hand side of him responsible for the attack. Standing next to him was the elegant Suzune Takahashi.

“Hey, what was that for!?”

“Pay attention!” She said as she swiftly switched her gaze from him.

“You know, you could have been more polite. Damn!”

“I was trying to get your attention for several minutes. What were you so deep in thought about, anyway? I swear if you say coffee, you won’t like where the next blow hits!”

Wah, jeez. Talk about scary, gotta come up with a lie. Haru put his fist and palm together when he came up with an idea.

“Uh… I was wondering why we got summoned to the clubroom on the first day of school.”

“Yeah, I was thinking about that too, until a certain coffee addict distracted me.”

It’s ok for her not to pay attention, but if it’s me I get elbowed in the ribs. Yeah, classic Suzune.

“So, any idea why we got summoned?”

There was a slight pause before Haru responded.

“Yeah, we should pay attention.”

“Haru?” Asked the dumbfounded Suzune.

He knows something, I haven’t seen Haru so serious since that happened.

************

After the opening ceremony, the students headed to their designated classes they have been assigned to. Again, this year Haru has been placed in class along with some of his closest friends. As Haru was about to enter the class, someone called out to him. Waking him from his daze.

“Ey, Takase!”

“Huh?...”

“Oh, it’s just you... Kirigaya.”

“What up? I see you got placed in class A again.”

“Yeah, I take it we are in the same class this year.” Again seriously. Haru sighed exasperatedly.

“Man! That Ms. Karuizawa must like you a lot. You’ve been in her class since we started high school.”

“I told you it’s not like that!” Haru blushed a little.

“Well, enough about that...”

Kirigaya looked out the window as he spoke in a more serious tone.

“Haru... listen... I'll get straight to the point you see... I saw a ghost today.”

“What are you talking about!? For a second there, I thought you were being serious.” Haru put his hand in his pocket and looked out the window (clicking his tongue)

“I’m being serious!” Kirigaya looked at Haru with a stern look on his face. “Just remember, it’s not her...”

“Takase and Kirigaya, just what are you doing? Homeroom is about to start.” Ms. Karuizawa interrupted. Haru did not catch what Kirigaya was saying.

“Oh... yes, ma’am!” they both said unanimously, with a hint of fear in their voices. More so in Kirigaya’s voice. They both entered the class before her and sat in their designated seats.

“Just remember.” Haru whispered to himself as he sat down. Remember what?

“Alright class, settle down now...”

Haru went over his mental list of snacks he was going to buy again. Not paying attention to Ms. Karuizawa.

“As of today, a new transfer student will be joining this school and has been assigned to this class. Please refrain from being an annoyance to said student. NO, INNAPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR. BOYS! Her father just so happens to be a high ranking...”

(The sound of the door sliding open interrupted Ms. Karuizawa.)

“Well, we were just talking about you... Miss Kobayashi.”

The name Kobayashi brought Haru back to reality somewhat violently. Turning his attention from outside the window to what was happening in class. He could not believe his eyes. Was he dreaming? Hallucinating? The same color hair, eyes, it was her it had to be. Of course, this would be his reaction. It was the same for Taichi, Yosuke, Suzune, Yui and even Ms. Karuizawa. Them being members of the Manjushage, this reaction was inevitable.

“Good morning. Apologies for being late. My name is Kyoko Kobayashi. I transferred from another school and will join you guys from today. I look forward to learning all sorts of things with you guys.”

Ms. Karuizawa struggled to form her words properly.

(Clears her throat)

“Kobayashi... your seat is the empty one on the right at the back.”

Taichi sitting in the last seat in the row next to Haru signaled to her where her seat was. When she finally sat down in the seat in front of Taichi. Haru looked at Kirigaya and finally understood what he tried telling him.

Just who is this girl that looks like Kohaku from Haru’s past? She has a different first name, but everything about her is Identical from top to bottom.