Inner Moka was not an idiot. Now, that's not to say that Outer Moka was. She was merely more trusting. Too nice. On the other hand Inner Moka could be seen as too skeptical and paranoid.
Regardless: She didn't buy for an instant that the werewolf was being sincere. He was up to something. Look at the way he was half-stepping down the corridor. Still dancing. Still working out his 'stamina' for unknown reasons. Inner Moka didn't care for this. While it didn't seem as though he was up to anything perverted, such a strange course of action was making her highly dubious.
"Ah, that's enough of that," Gin said, deftly tossing the level upper into the air and cockily catching it. "Time to make myself a better journalist."
<i>Keep an eye on that monitor. I want to see what he's up to.</i>
Outer Moka rolled her eyes and peeked over Gin's shoulder. He noticed her but made no effort to hide the screen. It showed the following:
<i>Journalist: Level 17
EXP required to next Level Up: 19/70</i>
"Huh...? Seventeen?" Moka asked. "Is that good?"
"It's about average," Gin shrugged. "Hmph, I am disappointed. Surely it should be higher! Oh well. This is a fine chance to level up a little more of a useful non perverted skill, wouldn't you say?"
"I suppose..." Moka said. Inner Moka was not so sure. She could easily see ways in which a 'journalist' skill could be used for all sorts of perverse and twisted ends.
"I had to pick this very carefully to make sure it didn't upset the other you," Gin continued, tossing the small yet potent device in the palm of his hand. "Journalist is a profession, right? That means, if I get a really high level in it I'll be more inclined to behave professionally."
There was a certain kind of sense to that. On the other hand it would give him the skills to dig up dirt on basically anyone he wanted. The potential for abuse was very, very high. He seemed far too happy, far too content with himself to not be up to <i>something</i>.
"Then again, maybe it would be better if you held onto it instead?" Gin suggested. He held out the device at arm's length. "That would keep me from getting up to mischief, right?"
<I>No. Let him hold onto it.</i> Inner Moka cautioned. <i>He's a little too eager to give that up. Keep a close eye on him. Make sure he doesn't try anything funny.</i>
<hr>
This might be hard to believe but Gin was, fundamentally, a good guy. Lecherous, but decent enough. His plans weren't only and solely to play with the Level Upper, but actually put these things to good use. Improving his skills as a journalist - why, he hadn't only been interested in the Newspaper Club for the chance to have an excuse to sneak around and take pictures. He actually was quite interested in this world of 'investigative journalism', and using the Level Upper to improve his skills in that area - why not?
Besides which. He knew that Inner Moka didn't fully trust him with the device. Which is why he'd been engaging in some sleight of hand just now. Earlier on, when he'd tossed the Level Upper into the air, he'd performed a small dose of sleight of hand. He'd reactivated his 'Ability to understand and use Level Upper' skill, and then set about a piece of multi-layered trickery.
First of all, he made it look like his active skill was "Journalist," when it was actually a skill he'd prepared and hidden earlier on: 'Trick Moka'. All he'd had to do was play a few games with the interface, make sure the edge of his thumb was covering up the part of the screen that said 'inactive', and for someone who didn't know what they were looking for - well, it would seem as though he was actually levelling up his journalist skills.
It turned out that this was for the best. His current level for 'Trick Moka' was 2. Or, at least it was that level until he performed that little stunt. Thanks to his high level of understanding and ability to use the Level Upper the way he wanted to use it he'd gained quite a lot of experience points in 'Trick Moka'. Lucky for him that he'd set it to silent, or he'd be hearing several level up dings all in a row!
As for that last part, that wasn't just some psychological trick. It was a no-lose scenario. Due to the way he was holding the device all he'd have to do is exert the slightest pressure when Moka grabbed it - and his reaction time was way faster than Outer Moka's - then 'Journalist' would be the active skill.
At this point he wasn't even setting that up to do anything perverted or lecherous or anything like that. He was just <i>playing</i>.
"So... Uh... Where are we going exactly?" Moka asked, all innocent and cute.
"Ah, that's easy enough," Gin smiled at her. "We're out investigating, right?" Moka nodded. "So then? Our first port of call should be the person officially in charge of the investigation. They will surely be able to give us the grounding in basic information that we need and - Allow me to get this for you?" Gin asked, interrupting himself to hold open a door. He bowed for Moka as she passed and pressed the back of the device so that the right sequence of buttons just so happened to hit his collarbone. Switching his skill over to 'Journalist' for the time being.
And in so doing, earning himself another Level Up on 'Trick Moka' just before the skill changed. Funny thing. If he kept on doing that, he'd earn exp from the mere act of shifting to and from the skill right under Moka's nose.
"Um... My Inner self said to warn you not to try to peek up my skirt when you bow like that," Moka nervously said. She squirmed in place, and pressed the back of her skirt down. Ah, too cute! Far too adorable for her own good!
"Ah, sorry. Old habits die hard," he apologised. Though that hadn't really been his intention, it was the kind of thing he'd normally do wasn't it? My, my. That skill was already showing its improvement. "In any event, the teacher in charge of this investigation is an art teacher. Her name is Hitomi Ishigami. I've already arranged an appointment with her, so we should be able to get some information out of her."
Moka nodded. Alright then. He'd worry about their game a little later on. For the time being, he was content to limit himself to investigating this series of disturbances...
<hr>
This was not what she signed up for. Hitomi Ishigami, art teacher at Yokai Academy, was here for one reason and one alone: Beauty. Supernatural beauty. In all honesty she fully intended to eventually start turning the more beautiful students to stone for her own private collection - but alas, things kept on getting in the way. Other responsibilities that she'd have to take in if she wanted to avoid suspicion.
Like, for example, taking charge of this investigation into something so minor as serial petty theft from several of the boys. What a waste of time! Honestly, she shouldn't have to do it herself! And now on top of everything else she had to deal with -
"Hi, hi! Hello there mademoiselle!" a male student declared, bursting into her room and rushing forward at quite worrying speed to kiss the back of her hand. "I am Gin from the Newspaper Club. A pleasure to make your acquaintance"
She should bite him and get it over with. Nobody could possibly miss -
"And I'm Moka," said the only reason she was going through with this. "I'll be taking notes, so... Um, please speak slowly so I can get everything down."
"But of course," Hitomi said, smiling warmly at the pretty young girl. Gosh she would look perfect with her features cast in stone. As in, literally cast in stone. With a single bite she could petrify the little miss and begin her collection with a bang! "You are here to ask about the state of thefts?" she asked. Directly to Moka. Totally ignoring Gin.
"That's right, that's right!" Gin said, interposing himself in between teacher and student. "It's my understanding that you are investigating it. Correct, yes?"
Cue a weary sigh. She didn't want to have to deal with the one that thought he was God's gift. She wanted to deal with the one that actually was!
"That's right," Hitomi sharply answered. "I hope you understand that there is some information that cannot yet be released to the public. Not until we have caught the perpetrator, of course."
"Of course, of course!" Gin continued, prattling on. Meanwhile Moka was busily scribbling away. The poor thing shouldn't be using her hands for something so menial. "So let's begin with the fundamentals. What can you tell us about the victims?"
"Here is a list of their names and dorm number, as well as item stolen," Hitomi tossed a clipboard with paper attached at him and sighed. Studying Moka's features was far more interesting. What sort of pose would she make when she realised what was happening to her? What sort of frightened expression would it be that she would wear for the rest of forever? Oh, it was quite the conundrum to consider, it only made her want to drag the girl aside and ask for a private session already. "It's all in there."
"Hrm... yes, yes... This seems to be the fundamentals," Gin mused. "Although, it does make me quite curious. There are only five victims here. Also, their thefts seem rather... trivial."
"What of it?"
Gin leaned back into her vision. Huh. It was a funny thing, but all of a sudden he seemed a lot more... imposing. More serious. He caught her attention a lot more than he did before. Was it the lighting? His expression? His body language? It was strange. As an expert in art she should have been able to pick it up. Yet she could not. The visual cues were completely escaping her.
"Then why are these minor missing items being treated as though they're the same crime?" Gin asked. "It could well be that they all happened to misplace them at about the same time. Couldn't they? Why investigate something so minor?"
"There were..." Hitomi began, reeling in place. "There were obvious signs of break ins. In each room."
"And? There must be more to it than that to connect these crimes?"
That much got her to shut her mouth. Weird. All of a sudden it was as though he had spontaneously transformed into a vastly better journalist than he had been when he entered the room. But why? It didn't make any sense to her!
"I suppose if that's everything, then we'll have to tell everyone you're wasting time on a wild goose chase..." Gin tutted.
"Wait, there is something else," Hitomi said before she could stop herself. Huh? What was going on here all of a sudden? "The students had one other thing in common."
She glanced over towards Moka as though aware she was about to spill a great big secret. Nonetheless...
"Last week, there was a poll among the girls," Hitomi said in a hushed tone. Even though she was speaking to a reporter in the process of interviewing her. "It was for the..." she coughed. "Most eligible bachelor." Actually, the poll was for 'preferred choice to lose virginity to,' but she couldn't admit something like that. "Each of the five victims were among the top ten."
"Aha," Gin tapped the side of his nose. "I had a feeling there was something."
"Um... Who are the other five?" Moka asked.
Hitomi blinked, then hurried over to a desk drawer. She had managed to acquire her own copy of the results, so she had a solid idea of who to look for when she started her... Collection.
"Here's the top ten," she said, handing it over. To Moka. Not Gin. "The hit victims so far are numbers one, three, five and six."
All of a sudden Moka stood up. Oh! Was that the face she'd make! Such a pretty little frightened face! It was perfect, sublime, she could hardly wait to see it in gray!
"Ts-Tsukune is number ten?!" Moka yelped. "But that means... He might be a victim of burglary in future!"
And just like that the two of them left. Oh well. At the very least she'd have to keep a close eye on that Moka girl in future. She definitely needed the chance to give her a little nibble.
- Tsukune and Kokoa try to get along.
- Gin continues levelling up his 'Trick Moka' skill.
- Gin is actually taking this seriously, and actually using his Level Upper responsibly!
- Meanwhile, Mizure and Kurumu discover another Level Upper owner.
- Something else
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