Riley Ross

"Why are you adding to my list of problems with this stupid accusation? Your IQ would be 250 if it were multiplied by ten. Do you know what that means? Your IQ's a little lower than room temperature, in Celsius."

"Oh, there he is. Lay it on me, buddy."

Even with Bernard's tone devoid of any friendliness, and what might even be said as hostile, Prophet didn't seem scared or care at all. Dorothy and Jake were already sweating, and the couch they were sitting on was practically soaked already, literally.

This wasn't even the tone he used for them when they interrogated him about the first Megaland Ripper murder—he was strict with them, but he didn't seem as unfriendly, nor did he sound exhausted.

But now, right in front of the person he grew up with, he sounded as if he was just one whiff of wind away from snapping. Dorothy even had her hand on her gun, ready to act at any moment.

Of course, she and Jake didn't actually think that Riley had anything to do with Darkday other than the weird coincidence that everything started close to him, and close to when he awakened his powers.

At this point, she actually agreed with Whiteking—just what was Prophet thinking?

And at the most impossible chance that he was right… wasn't approaching Whiteking the last thing one should ever do?

Just… what was he thinking?

"I mean, seriously…" Bernard's lips twitched—no. His entire face twitched, not even hiding the fact that he was annoyed at Prophet. "...You pulled me out of what I was doing for this? You people really… irritate me."

…You people? Dorothy blinked a couple of times upon hearing that. She glanced at Jake, and he noticed it too as the two of them looked at each other.

What did he mean by 'you people'? Does he mean law enforcement… or something else?

"Your endless pursuit of trying to find more and more problems than solving them is pathetic," Bernard said, sighing as he pushed himself away from his desk, his chair rolling toward his window before he got up and looked outside the campus.

"But I'm not going to insult you for thinking that my son is Darkday." Bernard scoffed, glancing back at Prophet and shaking his head. "I would think so too, the evidence all points to him except for the simple fact that he couldn't be in the same place at the same time now, could he?"

"True." Prophet smiled, shrugging as he also got up from his seat. Bernard watched him approach, then turned his focus back to the campus.

"Or are you saying that my son somehow copied Replica Ricky's abilities?" he whispered as Prophet joined him at his side.

"After all, the first time that someone had publicly seen them conveniently present at the same time was right after he had fought with Replica Ricky, but this was also Darkday's first and only appearance to the public."

"Oh?" Prophet glanced at Bernard with a smile on his face. "If I didn't know you any better, then I would think that you're trying to solve this case for us."

"What I'm trying to do is think like you." Bernard blinked, smiling as he returned Prophet's glance. "But what I can't figure out is why go with this to me of all people? Your subordinates are probably thinking how stupid you are right now—because what if you were right?"

"I'm here hoping that I'm wrong." The smile on Prophet's face didn't fade away, now also focusing on the view of the camps. "Because if I was right, then better me than anybody else… because I'm your best friend. Your brother."

The light from the outside caused the gray streaks of hair on the side of Prophet's head to lightly twinkle.

"I know that if anyone else came to this with you, and that they're right…" Prophet's voice lowered, sighing as he closed his eyes. "Then they'd be dead by now. I can't have anyone dying if I could prevent it."

"Is that why you brought two other people with you?" Bernard looked at Dorothy and Jake. "Because you think that if you went missing, along with two other detectives, the FBI would be suspicious?"

"Yes."

"Well, you're wrong on two accounts, then."

"Two?"

"One: No. Riley isn't Darkday. The chances of it are zero. Two: I will make you disappear if you happen to be right, and the entire force of the FBI, too. Because, Prophet… I am the FBI."

Whiteking's words caused Dorothy and Jake to once again look at each other with wide eyes. This conversation… it was far too above their pay grade.

"We might have grown up together, and I consider you as my only friend in this world, but he's my son. I will protect him… at the cost of you, brother."

"That's comforting to know," Prophet said with a shake of his head, chuckling before a long and very deep sigh escaped his lips. "Family has been very good for you, Bern. It changed you for the better. It made you… human."

"I've been human from the start," Bernard smirked. "It is all of you who need to catch up. But Prophet…"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for coming with this to me."

"You would've known even if I didn't."

"Still, it's the thought. I appreciate it. But now, if you'll excuse me—I am busy too."

Prophet snickered, nodding his head as he patted Bernard's shoulders. He turned back, gesturing to Dorothy and Jake as he started heading out.

Before he stepped through the door, however, he stopped and once again looked at Whiteking.

"The FBI isn't the only one who would be suspicious if I disappeared, Berns,' he said, chuckling as he moved backward into the hallway. "So, I'm really glad that I was wrong and that we cleared this all up before it could've escalated."

"Just go." Bernard clicked his tongue and waved Prophet off.

"Ah, right. Before I go, I invited Hannah and their friends to my vacation house in the Philippines. Think you can go?"

"When?"

"This weekend."

"Then yes." Bernard shrugged.

"Weekend is family time."

And very soon, Friday night came.

"Oh, you're with Tomoe?"

Diana immediately greeted Tomoe as soon as she saw her come into the living room with Hannah. But as soon as she looked at her face, she quickly remembered the news that was featured everywhere.

Tomoe Reynolds, the only one who was spared from Darkday's newest kill. The FBI tried keeping it under, but the media are relentless with that sort of thing.

Diana quickly changed the expression on her face, smiling instead as she waved at Tomoe and started walking to the kitchen.

"What do you girls want to eat?" she asked.

"Mom, we just got here." Hannah raised an eyebrow, motioning to Tomoe to take a seat on the large sofa first. "Can we at least relax first before we stuff ourselves? And I think I'm getting fat."

"Honey, you're fourteen and growing. You need to stuff yourself or else your breasts won't grow."

"Mom!" Hannah raised her voice.

"What? It's true," Diana said as she disappeared into the kitchen, but her words could still be clearly heard from the living room. "When I was your age, I was already being approached by several men."

"I don't think flexing your encounters with pedophiles is something you should be proud about, Mom. And what the fuck? Why are we talking about this when we have a guest?!"

"Pft. Don't be dramatic, and don't you fucking curse in this household. You understand? And no, anyone you bring into my home is already family."

Diana then leaned out from the kitchen to look at Tomoe.

"So, Tomoe—feel free to be at home here, okay?" She smiled at her, not even waiting for her to respond, as she returned to doing whatever she was doing in the kitchen.

"Tch…" Hannah clicked her tongue, shaking her head as she fell on the sofa beside Hannah. "Ignore her—but she's right, you know? Treat this as your home."

"I… really can't thank you enough, Hannah." Tomoe bowed her head. "You don't know how helpful this is."

"I'm not doing this to be helpful, okay? I'm doing this because we're supposed to stick up for each other. Anyway…" Hannah looked around. "Where the fuck is Riley? Wasn't he just literally in front of us?"

"He went to his room, Hannah."

"Hey. Don't be so formal. And which room do you want, by the way? The one pointing at the park, the Statue of Liberty, or both?"

"That… any will do."

"The one with the view of both, then—it's also right next to my room, too. Ah! I can't wait until it's tomorrow. You can't wait too, right? Especially with Gracey."

"Gracey?" Tomoe blinked. "Why Gracey?"

"Duh?" A smirk slowly started to creep onto Hannah's face. "We're going swimming in a tropical country. And Gracey's an entire woman under her disguise. What…

…What do you think she'll wear?"