Age of Horror

“Hey, loner, got something to talk to you about.” The entire classroom fell into silence as Goro Muramasa stood over the desk of the loner in question. Bleached blonde hair long enough to hide his earrings and with a scowling disposition, Goro was obviously a delinquent, and untouchable at Hayasaka High. Everyone knew that wherever Goro showed up, there was going to be trouble. Yet the loner in question looked up from his novel at Goro, clearly annoyed.

“Are you serious” he spoke bluntly.

This young man was Yusuke Yagami. To everyone else, however, he was the Black Ram. Dark hair and eyes of coal, he was a tall and unapproachable figure. Some have tried to talk to him, yet it always ended the same way; a cold gaze and a muttered “What.” It’s been three months yet not once has anyone seen the Black Ram smile or laugh. Like his namesake, his classmates were terrified that at any moment he would be angered and charge at someone. Therefore the atmosphere was palatably precarious. One false word and it felt as if the entire classroom would blow. Yet Goro broke the atmosphere with a snicker, and as he spoke he tried doing so without breaking out in laugher.

“Holy shit! They weren’t kidding, you’re definitely the guy I was looking for. The monster of class 1-C.” Attempting to compose himself, the levity left Goro’s words. “This ain’t my style but yeah, I’m serious. Don’t blame me man, I just want to bring you along to chat.”

Yusuke looked up at Goro with a blank stare. After a brief pause, he glanced back downwards to his novel. “I’ll pass.”

Goro smiled “Alright, that’s perfect! Well we bett-” Goro cut himself off, his eyes bugging out “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN YOU PASS!?”

Yusuke turned another page and continued reading. “I’m good, you’ll have to chat with me in some dark alley or something later. I got better things to do.”

The rest of the class began to murmur.

“Is he serious?”

“I know he’s supposed to be scary, but he just brushed off Goro like he was a fly!”

“What the hell is this guys deal?”

Goro looked at him flabbergasted before speaking in a harsh tone. “Alright listen man, I don’t think you get who you’re talking too. But you can’t just say no, I got a reputation you know?”

“Is your reputation interrupting people? If so, congratulations.”

If one could imagine the look of a man turned to stone, it would be Goro. The entire class likewise was deathly silent, shocked by the sheer cold emanating from the Black Ram. Finally the stone figure of Goro broke apart as he looked incredulously at Yusuke. A range of emotions flooded his face from shock, to anger, to hysteria. Finally Goro threw up his hands and started walking out of the classroom.

“You know what dude, fine, I get it! But don’t say I didn’t try to ask nicely, the Student Council–.”

Goro froze at the doorway as the words left his lips.

“Oh yeah I wasn’t supposed to mention that.”

“EHHHHHHHHHH!?”

The entire classroom erupted in a frenzy, as voices talked over each-other in surprise.

“Oh my god the Ram is a dead man!”

“The Student Council wants to see him?! Did he murder someone?”

“No way, is Goro a part of the Student Council?

That’s right. Hayasaka High was home to a Student Council, as every school before them and every school will have after them. Yet the reputation of the Student Council was the single bit of information not one person could feign ignorance of. Hayasaka High was filled with some of the best and brightest students in Japan, a school whose stellar reputation was matched only by the success of their school clubs. Prominent illustrators, successfully athletes, all have called Hayasaka High their home. Yet those that stood far above the rest would have to be the Student Council. It was home to a group of students that held complete control over every school club and every student in the building, and their power in these areas were absolute. They were pinnacle of the student body, and also the subject of a number of disturbing rumors. The Student Council seized control of the old school building during last spring semester, and since that time many students claim they can hear screaming coming from the building on dark nights. One rumor even says that blood was found near the entrance to the building.

Yet the greatest reaction in the room was Yusuke, who stood up from his desk, closing the novel in his hand.

“That’s all? Perfect, take me to them.”

By this point all anyone could do was slump back into their chairs, exhausted by the roller coaster of events that just transpired. Goro likewise was dumbfounded. It seemed he would speak up, but eventually decided to turn away and beckon with a thumb in the air.

“Alright man follow me.”

The story told that day would eventually be considered an everyday occurrence, but for today it was to be the story of legend. Students bowed their heads away or immediately turned to their friends and discussed the sight they were witnessing. Walking side by side, the Black Ram and the infamous delinquent Goro Muramasa were seen as an imposing duo striding towards their destination.

It took some time until Goro finally spoke up, breaking the extended silence.

“Alright man, spill. You couldn’t care less about what I had to say until I mentioned the Student Council. What’s your deal?”

By this point they had walked away from the commons, and headed outside the main building. Only at that point did Yusuke decide to answer.

“Normally I couldn’t care less about a guy like you. But you have a reputation, and saying no to you seemed perfect. You get upset, I get beat up, then people leave me alone. No one wants to associate with anyone targeted by some thug.”

Goro gave a pained smile “You some kind of masochist? Why would you want to get your ass kicked?”

“Doesn’t matter now,” Yusuke retorted. “But this is honestly so much better.”

Goro looked at Yusuke. “What does that mean?” he said curiously.

“Only problem with saying no is if the aftermath didn’t go the right way. That instead I’d gain some kind of sympathy and have everyone in the classroom wanting to know me.”

As Yusuke spoke, Goro was taken aback as the words formed into a smile on Yusuke’s face

“Yet if the rumors are true, the Student Council will make sure no one is willing to come near the Black Ram ever again. Can’t wait to meet them.”

There was a distinct pause, the only sound coming from their footsteps. Finally Goro spoke deadpan to Yusuke.

“Yo, anyone tell you your kind of terrifying?”

Yusuke looked to Goro, a look of genuine surprise on his face.

“No, not at all.”

Goro blinked a few times before chuckling.

“You know, I think I get it now.”

“What?”

“Forget about it. Besides, were here.”

And it was true. In front of them was their destination. The old school building had closed due to a lack of funding. Yet once the school finally had the means to reopen, it was decided that it would be better to simply build a new school instead, while the old building could serve as storage or fulfill other purposes. Goro turned to Yusuke.

“Alright, can’t keep them waiting, follow me man.”

“I’m not your man.”

“Alright well I didn’t know shit about you, just that you were a tall dude who looked like a sad otaku in 1-C. Oh and your nickname. Is it your actual name though? Won’t laugh I swear”

“It’s Yusuke.”

Goro smiled before heading inside. “Alright Yusuke. Student Council is waiting.”

As Yusuke went to head inside, Goro stepped in the way to briefly stop him.

“Just make sure you know that the Student Council members are all kind of crazy. Just…just letting you know.”

With that, Yusuke and Goro both walked down the dark hallways of the old school building. The creaking of wood punctuated the foreboding atmosphere, but Yusuke was strangely calm. Eventually it seemed that the dark gave way to a dim light, which oozed out of a slightly cracked door. As they both approached, the door slowly creaked open as a foreboding voice echoed into the hall .

Enter

Yusuke was puzzled, further still as Goro placed his hand to his forehead as if in exasperation. Yet Yusuke, drawn towards the door, stepped forward and entered the room. In the dim light, Yusuke saw that the table was covered in black cloth, while sitting towards the end of the table were multiple figures waiting. The light came from candles placed around the room. At the center of the table was a pentagram inked in a red substance, but before Yusuke could speak, the central figure beckoned to a chair furthest away from the group.

Go ahead and take a seat.

Yusuke sat down, yet barely had time to adjust to the dim light before the figure moved closer to the light. Yusuke had seen his face during morning assembly, so he knew for certain it was the Student Council President, Akira Honma. Popular, attractive and apparently wealthy enough for his family to hold ownership of part of the school; Yusuke obviously couldn’t care less about someone like that. President Honma drew out a folder and began to read from it in a serious and menacing tone.

Yusuke Yagami. First year at Hayataka High, formerly of Shujin Middle School. An academic prodigy and artist, then fell off the face of the earth after the Sculpting Incident. You see, Yusuke, this is very concerning to us. At Hayasaka High, we strive to have the very best, and yet for all your accomplishments it seems that you have shown a remarkable regression. After-all, you are now the Black Ram are you not? Sadly I can’t tolerate such a waste of potential.

In this brief moment of silence, Yusuke stared at the figure coldly. He had no clue why the room was dark or why there was a pentagram on the table but he didn’t care. Of course the Student Council just wants to find a problem student and take care of the problem. Of course they had to pry into his life, and dig up old wounds. All that did was make life hell, he thought. In his mind, the best thing to do now was to get the whole thing over with now and save them the trouble.

“Who cares?” Yusuke spat out “I get it and your right, I’m the Black Ram. If you want to make me leave the school, go ahead. I was barely accepted off a scholarship that I didn’t agree too, all from past achievements and from someone that I’m not anymore.” He paused, and for a moment the anger was replaced with melancholy “Yeah, my parents will be upset. I only agreed in the end because they couldn’t be happier that perhaps I…” Yusuke left the words dangling before looking back at President Honma “How about you just stick to your own problems and let me just get through mine, huh? Hell, trash my reputation while your at it, I’m fine how I am.”

Yusuke, satisfied he made his point, looked to President Honma expecting anger, perhaps shock at being spoken to in such a manner. Instead he looked at Yusuke with bewilderment.

“Oh actually I couldn’t care less about that nonsense.”

Yusuke and President Honma exchanged stares across the table.

“Huh?” Yusuke exclaimed.

“From the moment I first saw your work, I knew that you would be perfect for this school! After-all it’s why I decided to send that scholarship to your home-“

“Wait, what!?”

“Besides, you actually aren’t failing any classes so really there isn’t any need for us to step in, that was just an excuse-“

“I-“

“But I wasn’t lying when I said you had wasted potential! Your talents were truly impeccable. Yet at the time I didn’t have the means to actually make my dream a reality. With your potential now, however, and with the Student Council complete, it can finally happen!”

“What are you talking about!?” Yusuke blurted out.

President Honma smiled, then gave a thumbs up to Goro.

Goro sighed before flipping on the light switch. “Yep, here it comes.”

The lights illuminated the room as a sign hung overhead reading “Welcome Yusuke.”

President Honma spoke triumphantly “Today, I hope to welcome you to both the Student Council and the Club of Horror’s as our make-up artist”

Two poppers exploded in a shower of paper confetti.

Yusuke naturally had a expected response.

“WHAT THE FU–“

Next time; Revelation of Artistry, and the Student Council Members.