Episode 7: "The Mysterious Plushie"

Tsuki Iroha
"Whoa, what's this? This wasn't here before!"

Tsuki shrieked excitedly as she approached the reception desk.

Yo Kuronaka
"Did you find something over there?"

Tsuki Iroha
"Sure did! Look at this, guys!
Isn't this plushie soooo ugly-cute?!"

Tsuki made her way back to the group, skipping as she held a strange plush toy that resembled some manner of dog or pig.

Tsuki Iroha
"It's so soft, too! I can't believe how squishable it is!
I want one for myself! I wonder if I can buy these around here somewhere..."

As she frolicked around with childlike whimsy, the others watched on with smiles.
Then, a moment later...

Plushie
"Heehee. I'm delighted you feel that way.
But I'm not for sale, you know? No matter how much money you offer, I can't be sold."

The plushie began to speak.

Tsuki Iroha
"Whoa, so cool! I had no idea they made talking plushies these days!
Just so you know, saying you're not for sale makes me want one even more. I wonder if I can buy it online."

Yo Kuronaka
"Are you sure that's even really a plushie?
Even if they make talking ones, this seems kind of... excessive."

Kazuki Aoyama
"Agreed. If you ask me, this is a little too high-tech for a toy."

Tsuki may have been having the time of her life, but the rest of the group grew increasingly wary of the strange situation.

Miu Jujo
"Hey, Jio, do you...?"

Jio Takinogawa
"Yeah. There's something dangerous about it."

Miu and Jio were the two that watched on with the most concern.

Jio Takinogawa
"Tsuki, get away from that thing! It's not a normal plushie!"

The two quickly donned helmet-shaped XB Gear. With near-lightning speed, they drew knives and made their approach.

Plushie
"You shouldn't interrupt people when they're talking. I really loathe that."

Still, the plushie was quick to jump out of Tsuki's grasp.
As it did a mid-air flip, it erected a barrier that resembled the water's surface.
Miu and Jio's knives bounced off the newly-created invisible wall, and the two were flung backward from the impact.

Roku Saigo
"Are the both of you all right?!"

Koishi Kohinata
"If you're hurt at all, please show me where!"

Miu Jujo
"We're fine... But we need to get that plushie, and fast."

Miu and Jio rolled themselves into a defensive stance, having seemingly avoided any visible injuries.
Despite that, lingering signs of the impact could be felt in their arms.
The two grimaced as they pulled themselves into a kneeling position, forearms clutched as they attempted to regain their composure.

Tsuki Iroha
"Y-You've gotta be kidding me. Did the plushie seriously just do that?"

Shock was visible on Tsuki's face as she tried to reconcile the fact that the cute plushie had just injured her teammates.

Yo Kuronaka
"Come on, Tsuki, get back! They're right, it's not a normal toy!"

Yo was quick to grab Tsuki's wrist and quickly pull her away from the plushie.

Yo Kuronaka
"Just what the hell are you, anyway?"

In response to Yo's question, the plushie responded with over the top, forced crocodile tears.

Plushie
"So cold! So cruel! Don't tell me that you've already forgotten me, Yo."

Yo found himself irritated by the tone the plushie took with him.
He couldn't deny, though, that its voice felt vaguely familiar.

Plushie
"I guess that's not too surprising, though. I'm so cute now that I'm barely recognizable!
That's all right, I think I have JUST the thing to jog your memories. Just give me one second to put it on for you!"

Just then, the space in front of the plushie warped into a cute portal of darkness—one sized in such a way that could only fit the small, plush body.

And then, after some mumbling and rustling...
The plush reappeared, wearing the metal mask that a very familiar man had been wearing.

Plushie
"We meet again, Trash Tribe. Are you all doing well?
It's me, Zero! The very Zero you all know and love."

That airy and deceptively sweet voice was undoubtedly Zero's.

Yo Kuronaka
"What kind of bad joke is that? There's no way Zero would look so stupid!"

Enoki Yukigaya
"I know, right? Zero is wayyy scarier than this thing!"

Hyakuichitaro Senju
"Seriously, that guy's way more menacing than you, pipsqueak! Keep dreamin', we know that's a load of bull!"

Despite sharing both a mask and voice with Zero, none in the group truly believed it was him.

Plushie
"Such meanies, all of you!
I figured you'd all be terrified if I appeared in my usual form, so I elected to use this cute one instead. And what do I get for it? You all treating me like a fraud! I'm devastated..."

The plushie reverted to its original tone as the three strands of hair on its head began to dejectedly droop.

Plushie
"Well, since you don't believe me to be Zero, I suppose I'll just have to prove it to you! Come forth, my Drone Army!"

As soon as those words were spoken, the plushie slammed its mask into the ground and spun around.

A number of military drones replied to the call, rushing in through the front entrance's automatic doors. Their rotors began to kick up dust.
A cold shiver ran down the spines of the group at the sight that had appeared before them.

Q
"...These are the same sort of drones as what Zero uses, aren't they?"

Yo Kuronaka
"You're telling me that plushie's actually Zero for real, then?!"

Yo couldn't help but to voice his surprise.

Eiji Todoroki
"Damn... Whether that's Zero or not, escaping needs to be our priority right now! Time to make a grand exit!"

As Eiji had said, their top priority was escape. The drones were moving to surround the group.
They had no way of knowing what would happen next, were they to be caught.

Koishi Kohinata
"But how do we even do that?! Do you think we can get out through the front entrance?"

They took steps backward as they tried to seek an escape route.
As they contemplated, the distinct sound of the elevator bell rang out in the lobby.

Tsuki Iroha
"Perfect timing! Come on, guys, let's use the elevators!"

In unison, they all began to run toward the elevators.

Kazuki Aoyama
"Okay, we're all in! Close the doors, quick!"

Miu Jujo
"You don't have to tell me twice!"

The elevator doors closed after a moment, cutting off the drones' pursuit.
And with that, the sound of the elevator's gears turning began to reverberate inside the small box.