[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqds0B_meys][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/eef5b949-a883-46fc-a11d-01cdbeac2023.png[/img][/url]

[color=9a8c9a]"Could you guys stop touching me?"[/color]

[color=888888]— Black Gate[/color][/center]

As the magical girls started to transform, Black Gate lowered her arm and hugged her plush cat. She took a single step back when Haruna addressed her, but wasn’t able to say anything before Evil Eye answered the question for her, saying that summoning a giga miseria was likely the point of all this. [color=9a8c9a]"It wasn’t, though."[/color]

But that was about all Black Gate was able to say before Evil Eye refocused on the goat girl and came down on her with everything she had. She wasted no time in calling her a liar, and went on to mention everything she felt Black Gate had ruined. Who knew what Evil Eye’s intent was, but the verbal lashing only caused Black Gate to stumble backwards and hug her plush tighter. She shivered in place, more scared than anything else. [color=9a8c9a]"Tsubomi has not been well for a while, and I don’t think you’ve done much to help her."[/color] She could have been referring to the time Evil eye used the poor girl as bait, or how futile the club’s attempts to separate them had been collectively. It didn’t matter. [color=9a8c9a]"The students will not remember the dream. You only remember it because you are a magical girl."[/color] The plushy’s hat hid her mouth as her head sunk between her shoulders. The miseria continued to manifest. 

Then Earthshaker awoke. She had little to say and most of it was for Nyxia, but it caused a change in Black Gate’s behavior. She stood upright and attempted to peak around her hood, now more curious than frightened. The chair flying out the window hadn’t made her flinch either. She watched the rule keeper jump out the window with great interest. 

She hadn’t noticed Suika’s sudden approach. No sooner did Earthshaker depart did the newly named girl show up in her peripheral vision. Black Gate took one tiny step back, at which point Suika had taken two large ones forward. She shrieked as Suika’s arms closed around her, flailing and shrieking like her life depended on it. But even when untransformed, Suika was strong enough to hold her in her grasp. When Suika let go of her, Black Gate gasped for air, like she had been held underwater during their embrace. She folded her arms over her chest and waited for her breathing to regulate. 

[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/aef3087a-5b67-4c7a-b700-3c45c3052f60.png[/img]

[color=tomato]"After all those hugs I gave you, I thought you’d be able to do them better by now."[/color]

[color=888888]— Suki Oyama[/color][/center]

Suki was staring at the space Tsubomi had been in just a few seconds ago. Her hand, fingers extended, was also positioned aside exactly as Tsubomi had left her. It made sense for Tsubomi to be the least affected by the nightmare, yet Suki was still surprised she wasn’t more distraught. Did that mean that it was only Mean Tsubomi that was hurt by this, and was that a good thing or a bad thing? Tsubomi was continuing to be weird. It was like nothing had happened.

Suki had been listening and watching all the developments. She could tell there was something off about Evil Eye. Maybe in another timeline, Suki would try to comfort her. She understood all too well what betrayal felt like, even when love wasn’t involved. But the rapidly developing scenario didn’t slow down. Haruna was asking Black Gate to release everyone from their sleep, Evil Eye was trying to get a rise out of her, Tsubomi practically bearhugged her into submission, and now Shuuko was aggressively approaching the traumatized girl. Suki herself wasn’t sure how to feel. Tsubomi seemed to be fine for now, but she was the only one. Regardless of her ability to empathize with the goat girl, she at least knew what that look in her eyes meant. The quivering irises of someone who would do anything to escape their situation. 

In a flash of crimson, Suki became Oros the Joyful. She yelled something, but it was muted by the sound of the ceiling caving in. Wood and steel rained down as a gigantic hand reached through the ceiling. Oros had already shoved Hotaru off to the side just as the palm slammed into the ground. The floor buckled and snapped under the force of the attack. 

Black gate took another step backwards. With one deep sigh, the emotions ran out of her face. [color=9a8c9a]"There’s no chain of hatred here, little weed. Do you remember what I asked everyone before you departed from the dream?"[/color] Oros dive tackled Tsubomi and rolled against the wall. The ceiling in the hallway exploded again, but this time it wasn’t aimed at anyone. The fist came down onto the floor behind Black Gate and opened up. She stepped backwards into its fingers. As they curled closed, Black Gate squinted her eyes. [color=9a8c9a]"The answer is anyone."[/color]

The ape-like hands retreated, pulling Black Gate out of the hallway with them. 

[color=9a8c9a]"Tsubomi could have stopped selling drugs. Her clients could have stopped buying them. The school could have stepped up security. The students and I could have had a back bone. The people who came after her could have given her another chance. Our parents could have done more to comfort her. Norah could have chosen not to take her life."[/color] The roof of the Detention Club’s roof was peeled back, allowing everyone in the club room (and Earthshaker up on the roof) to see the monstrosity that had come to Black Gate’s rescue. 

It was a [url=https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/25/20/3d/25203d5c7e06403cd5daf69026b77b9c.jpg]giant patchwork monkey[/url], covered in stitches and zippers. One of its fists was as tall as a locker. Which was plenty big enough to hold Black Gate. She looked down on everyone like they were mere insects. 

[color=9a8c9a]"Humans are selfish creatures, unable to do anything that doesn’t benefit them. In a world ruled by the strong, I am too weak to do anything. But I have strong friends, see?"[/color] She kneeled down and rubbed her hand along the giant monkey’s thumb, and it curled in to rub her cheek. [color=9a8c9a]"I had hoped it wouldn’t have to go through with my plan, but I was wrong to think I could rely on any of you. I’m sorry."[/color] 

The patchwork ape turned its head to look at Black Gate. [b][color=ffffff]"Ready for the encore, little lady?"[/color][/b]

The goat girl nodded. [color=9a8c9a]"Flatten the cafeteria."[/color]

[b][color=ffffff]"I’m more for making things explode instead of implode, little lady, but I hear you loud and clear. The only thing I plan to step on is the gas!"[/color][/b] 

[color=9a8c9a]"Sure."[/color]

The monkey was too heavy to stand on top of the school, so instead he waded through it. Each step caused part of Hibusa High to collapse, with debris filling in behind him. 

And the miseria did not cease spawning. They were becoming even more numerous, creeping out of the debris in the colossal monkey’s wake.