1 Roasted
Seijo City, Japan(July 31, 2021)
The Metaform Effect is a natural phenomenon that plagues the streets of Japan. It turns whoever says a Figure of Speech into a monster called a Mojidori, with abilities that depend on the Figure of Speech said. Luckily, warriors called Gendaishi also arrived from The Metaform Effect and are there to fight off the Mojidori.
In the third floor of Kagushiro High, a crowd begins to form.
"Oh!! It's Sekininsha!" the crowds discuss as a girl begins to walk down the hallway. She had pink long hair with bangs covering half of her right eye and donned a loose jacket covering her school uniform and part of her skirt. It was one of the most popular females in school, Seiko Sekininsha, known for her beauty, intelligence and leadership skills. "Sekininsha! Sekininsha!" Boys and girls alike follow her as she marches down the hallway. She turns around gracefully as a sort of signature move. "I'm doing something important so if you don't mind, leave, is that too much to ask?" She announces is a superior tone. As the followers begin to shiver in fear, a boy walks into the scene, he had thick, dark, curly hair with a cute long strand swinging off the right side of his head, he wore a school uniform under a sleeveless jacket and jogging pants.
Nobody else knows this, but both Seiko and the boy have a cross-shaped symbol on their wrists.
"Seiko, you don't need to scream."the boy called. "Aichi? Good, I was looking for you. Come with me." She turned around and ordered the boy whose name was Aichi Shirogane, prodigious in Chemistry, he focuses on it, forgetting other subjects. Seiko signaled Aichi and he followed her towards the library. The girl followers began to gossip"Aww, Mr. Shirogane stole her, again.." "Do you think they're dating? I mean they do call each other by their first names." "Unlikely, why would she be interested in a lazy guy who's good at nothing except Chemistry?" "We'll never know, Mr. Shirogane is probably the only person she talks to, so we have no clue about her tastes,
At the library, they both sit down at a table. "So, what do you want to talk about?" Aichi asks, Seiko approaches. Soon she got a little TOO close. He could feel her body heat as she gets closer and closer. Aichi feels mixed emotions, some of which are arousal caused by the catastrophe known as Puberty. She swings her hand to grab a pen from Aichi's breast pocket and distances herself back to her original position.
"Why did you have to do that?" Aichi asks
"Do what?"Seiko asks back
"Nevermind"
"Me seductively approaching you? It was just to make sure you're paying attention."
"Nothing else?"
"Nothing else. Why? What was happening inside that cranium of yours?" She taps on Aichi's head using the pen.
"Stop. You're intimidating me even more."
"Hehe..You're so cute when you pout."
"No."
"Alright, I brought you here to discuss about the Mojidori from yesterday,"
"..."
"So..." she reaches her hand out and make a gesture like she's asking him to give her something
"Well..." he replies in a "I'm gonna Die in 2 seconds" tone
"You procrastinated didn't you?"
" I was busy."
She sighed, "Come by my house later, we're gonna finish that Chemical Analysis."
"Hey..uhh"
"What?"
"Nothing."
And then they left the library.
*
Later on in the day, the two meet-up outside the school and started walking to Seiko's House. Aichi was visibly looking down. "You don't look too happy, Aichi" Seiko comments, "Seiko, do you remember the first day of school? Last year?" Aichi asks, "When we.. first met?"
The two flashback to April 1st, 2020. It was the first day of school. Class had just dismissed and Aichi stretches as he stands up from his desk and starts walking out of their classroom. The newly-elected class president, Seiko, can't help but just stare at him because she noticed a cross symbol on his hand. "Alright, that was one day in this school," Aichi tells himself while walking out of class, "They mostly go easy on the first day," a voice responds from behind him, Aichi turns around and it was Seiko, standing tall and crossing her arms," Shirogane, was it? You're pretty gifted when it comes to chemistry ," she added.
"Nah, I just showed off , I'm only good at Chemistry and that's it, heh," Aichi humbly said,
"You aren't really that much of a outgoer are you? Like, you aren't egotistical," Seiko comments
"I guess so.."
"You seem pretty likable,"
"Not really, I don't see myself as that likeable"
"Well, I think so"
"..."
"N-not in that way!"
"I know that,"
*back to the present*
"Yeah, why?" Seiko asks. "Why was I likable? There are a lot of people more likable than me" Aichi asks in response. "Well.. you weren't like those proud jocks in class.. why did you ask this all of a sudden?" "Nah, I was just kinda curious why I'm the only guy you talk to in school.."
*
Arriving at Seiko's bungalow house, Seiko opens the door and yells, "I'm home," "Your parents left,"A female replies from the kitchen "Business trip?" "Yup" "I expected so. Aichi, take a seat," "Aichi?"
A girl dashes out of the kitchen, she seemed older than Seiko, she wore a lab coat above a kimono, her hair was bright yellow green, with two long strands running down each side of her face and had two buns neatly curled at the top, "Seichan? You brought a boy home.." the girl joked. "Shush, he's here for a...class project," "Hmm.." "..." "..." "Can you open up the lab, Konechan?" "Alright, but "you better not make a mess." And the girl left. "Sorry Ai-kun, that was Kokoshi Arisaka-Senpai, she's a senior exchange student attending our school who's living in our house for a bit, she's kinda like an older sister to me." "It's okay, I experience taunting by my older brother all the time, also, don't call me Ai-kun" "Why? It's pretty cute." "Does that mean I get to call you Seichan?" "We could call each other with cute nicknames, if that's what you're into..." "Don't make me sound like a creep. You know what, I think I'll pass..."
[Senpai is the Japanese honorific for senior]
"Ahem." Kokoshi interrupted, "..the lab is open.....*sniff sniff*.. oh no! My cooking!" And she started dashing to the kitchen. "Well, what are you waiting for, Ai-kun?" "Alright," Aichi walked into the Lab. He grabbed a small glass container with flesh inside. The flesh was a sample of a Mojidori.
"That steak was an absolute disaster," Kokoshi walked out from a smoking kitchen. "Didn't I tell you to try something other than meat?" Seiko replies while taking off her jacket, "Meat takes a while to burn, it would be easier to cook than other foodstuff," Kokoshi answers. Seiko hangs her jacket at behind the main door and then jumps in the couch, "Ai-kun! How's the analysis?"
"Ai-kun?" Kokoshi taunts, "..if that's what you call him, than you two must be really close.." "Well, yes-" "also, I didn't know that they already had Chemical Analysis at 2nd year," "Actually, it's a Mojidori thing..." "what?!" "..." "I told you to stop with trying to hinder The Metaform Effect, it's a natural phenomenon and you're not supposed to tamper with nature." "But, Konechan," "Seichan, this thing can't be stopped unless you defy physics itsel-," "Then we'll defy physics!" Kokoshi was knocked off a bit, "..you..can't"
"Hey..uhh..Seiko.. you might want to see this.." Aichi called from the lab. Seiko walked into the room, Aichi passed her a clipboard. After her eyes scrolled down the page for a bit, she saw an observation that changed her view of the Mojidori. It said, "Chemical Composition Matching; Sample and Human Flesh: 99.982%" "No way.. So.. the Mojidori are actually Humans." After finding out about the true identity of the Monsters, something appeared in her mind, like a message.
She remembered something from before. She remembered that she turned into a Mojidori back then.
*
The distant sound of crowds surrounded her, but one voice was unlike the rest, it seemed cold and was very deep, to her it sounded nothing like any language as other crowds muffled it, but it seemed suspicious. Suddenly, the other noises seemed like they didn't even exist. They immediately died down giving time to one familiar voice saying, "I think things are about to.." It became muffled again. As she saw herself change into this large creature, she seemed fainted as her mind went blank. She can't remember anything. As her mind began to fill with consciousness again, she realized that something happened that turned her back human. "That happening..." she thought, "It-it.."
*
Seiko fell on her knees. Aichi rushed to help her. "Seiko, are you okay?" "Yeah..something just flashed in my mind," "You remembered being a Mojidori,didn't you?" "Yes.." "Me too.." "..." "There is a way where we can turn all the Mojidori's back into humans instead of killing them.." "and we just have to remember what that is, right?" "Yup.. so don't worry..Together, we can find out what that is," "Ai-kun..."
"Hey Seichan, there's a... Mojidori..outside.." Kokoshi walked in on Aichi wrapping his arms around Seiko. After noticing their positions, the two immediately started distancing themselves, "Sorry... Seiko, I just..got carried..away," "..."
"Oi, what are you doing?! A Mojidori is outside! There will be casualties, soon!" Seiko looks at her Cross symbol which is glowing then looks Kokoshi, "K-Konechan.." "Seichan, you're right.. we must stop The Metaform Effect....and we'll defy physics if we need to.." Seiko smiled,"Thank you, Konechan"
"T-Thank you very much, Arisaka-Senpai!" Aichi bows in gratitude, "nah.. Call me.. Konechan" "T-Thank you..Konechan!" Kokoshi throws them a small white object, it looked like a shower head but was around two-thirds the size of a finger, "Are these..AirPods?" "Yeah, I've read about these before.."
"They're my receivers. Just wear them and go!" Kokoshi orders, Seiko rushes to the main door and grabs her jacket, she pushes her arms into the sleeves causing her jacket to flow outwards concealing both of her arms for a second. Then the jacket falls back down revealing that she is now holding a katana. "C'mon!"
They dash out the front door to see a gigantic beast in the sky, it looked reptilian, with white scales and blue eyes. On top of it's head, flames spurt out. "Well, guess that's our target.." Aichi comments, "I kinda feel bad for whoever got turned into this guy.."
"Ai-kun.." "Huh.." "I want to be the one who'll eliminate this guy" "Nah, I'll go.." "My ability is more suited for this situation," "nah," "huh? Are you being illogical? You are too unprepared for this, just stay behind and let me handle this or you're gonna die," the cross symbol on Aichi's wrist starts to glow, "Oh? Guess I am prepared." An inferno ingulfs Aichi and he starts to fly towards the Mojidori.
"Unbelievable.." "Seichan, what was that?" "His Figure ,or ability, is known as ROASTED, whenever he feels insulted, he is ingulfed in flames which he can use for offense or defense. The stronger the insult, the stronger the flames," "Wait, so he tricked you into insulting him so that he can activate his Figure." "Yes, I'm gonna have a talk with him when he gets back,"
Aichi spins in midair locking his feet on the Mojidori's nose. The flame ignites its nasal cavities. "..looks like, he's weak to fire.." but suddenly, the monster puffed releasing sparks that blow Aichi away a bit. "Don't get to cocky!" Seiko's Katana suddenly becomes a rocket. "Seiko-chan! Don't! He's gonna release another attack soon. I can use my Figure.." Aichi places his leg onto a nearby wall of a building. By moving his flames to his legs, he creates a low pressure area around the top part of his body propelling him forward. He punches the Mojidori's Nose bridge revealing that there is a glowing cross symbol at the back of its neck, "..to locate it's weak spot!"
"I see now," Seiko's rocket fires her into the air. It then turns into a sniper rifle. She locks onto the symbol and then presses a button near the trigger. Two barrels come out of each side of the rifle,"Here comes extra firepower!" She presses the trigger, the barrels create a blast and propel forward 3 bullets that collectively hit the symbol. The Mojidori crumbles away into dust. As Seiko's falls down to the ground. Aichi flies and catches her. After they land, she pulls on Aichi's hair, "Owowowow," "You idiot! What were you thinking!? You could've been badly injured!" "Are you worried about me?" "..." "Seiko?" "Of course, I am! You're my partner, I can't just let you die!"
Kokoshi enjoys the exchange, "Awww, you two.." "Shut up! You have a boyfriend too don't you?" "Yeah, I'm just enjoying your exchange,",a phone call arrives"speaking of.." She answers it and leaves the scene for a second. Back to the argument, "Still, you did a good job, Ai-kun," "Hey, you were the one to finish her off," "Let's just go home." "Wait.."
Aichi looks up to the sky. "Don't worry, someday, we're gonna find a way to change you back instead of slaughtering you, count on it." "What's with the Naive speech, Ai-kun?" "Well...this marks our new goal," "I guess so.."
*
In a dark room, two voices converse,
"Aichi Shirogane and Seiko Sekininsha eliminated another Mojidori,"
"Yes.. It seems that the Gendaishi of Seijo CAN fend themselves from The Metaform Effect."
"Not to mention that Sekininsha's figure is one of the strongest ones,"
"We mustn't rush ourselves, you wouldn't know, Shirogane might get stronger."
"Regardless of who's stronger, the Mojidori will just out-class them"
"Which is why a Third Gendaishi has just appeared,"
"Oh?"
"A senior from their school has recently turned into a Mojidori, Sekininsha and Shirogane supposedly eliminated them, but he actually turned into a Gendaishi. Looking into him might give us the answer to how Mojidori go back to humans."
"And who might this Senior be?"
"A prodigy in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Raigi Kamiki.."
Meanwhile in Kagushiro High, a student walks in the hallway, he had blonde messy, slightly spiky hair, with an open, dark blue vest over his school uniform and dark silk pants. He had a cross symbol on his wrist. His name tag spelled out, "RAIGI KAMIKI".
