This is yet another planned one shot turned into, well either a two shot or a three shot? Ahaha! and that title.. I'm not sure if it's good for the plot. I may have to change it in the future, maybe? XD

Like the usual, I hope you enjoy this!

Nishikino Maki, a socially awkward newly transferred freshman is very popular in a negative way. For what reason? That is what Sonoda Umi is about to investigate. As part of the school publication, she was given the task by the club president to investigate about the mysterious transfer student of Otonokizaka.

"Eli-senpai, do you really think we need to include a story of her in the school paper?"

"It wasn't my idea. Nozomi said everyone is curious about the new girl."

"Yeah, and they are curious negatively. I can't even count how many rumors are going around about her."

"That's why I agreed to Nozomi. We need to find out if they're true. Especially the top three rumors."

The freshman's popularity skyrocketed a few days after she just transferred. Consecutive incidents happened and boom, the next day most of the students started talking about her, spreading rumors like wildfire. No one can tell who and what exactly started the rumors. And among these rumors are top three most popular that are believed to be true.

Number one, Nishikino Maki is a leader of a violent syndicate. They said that a student saw her one time being escorted by two men in black suits while shopping. This connects to another rumor where another student saw her fighting off some delinquents with her two escorts for reasons unknown.

Number two, Nishikino Maki was kicked out from her previous school, UTX, which is why she transferred to Otonoizaka. Who would transfer to a school which almost closed down due to its lack of enrollees from a school as prestigious as UTX? There were claims that it may be because of a financial problem but, with her grades, she can get a full scholarship. They said it is either she got into a fight with an instructor there and injured them badly, or because the school board found out about rumor number one. Bribery doesn't work on UTX as everyone knows, so probably Nishikino couldn't use that.

And finally, number three, Nishikino Maki isn't human. Among the top three rumors, this is the most unbelievable, but still a great amount of students believes that it is true. One student says, she saw Nishikino got ran over by a car one time but escaped without any hint of injuries. A follow up from rumor number one, there are other students who saw her in fighting delinquents. Even though some said they saw her fighting with her two escorts, most of those who saw her said that she fights on her own and miraculously comes to school the next day scar free. And then here comes the statement which made this rumor stronger. One of the top students saw her licking blood on her hands with glowing eyes. The student even had a picture of it. And even though it doesn't show Nishikino's eyes, it became a strong evidence for the rumor.

"So what do you think Umi?"

"If those rumors were true, I feel like I'm putting my life on the line for this story."

"Don't be like that Umi-chan. They are just rumors, remember? No one can say for sure that they are true and it is our job to uncover the truth."

"Nozomi/Nozomi-senpai!"

The purple haired girl who had just entered the club room is the vice president of the club. "And besides, it looks like our little miss delinquent doesn't seem to be that violent at all." She said pulling out her phone from her pocket showing the two, a picture of the freshman petting a cat.

"When did you take this picture?" the blonde was the first one to ask.

"Just before I came here. This is the reason why I was late. I saw her sitting in the school yard. When I got closer, I saw this and decided to take a photo. I observed her for a while to see what she'll do but, after getting satisfied for petting the cat, she just left."

"I think I've heard a rumor about that."

"That's right Elicchi. Most of the rumors are negative and associates her with violence but, there were positive rumors too, like this one. A few students said she saved a cat from some kids bullying it and keeps it at the school yard. And this partly proves that rumor to be true, right?"

Both nodded in agreement amused with this newly found information about the mysterious freshman.

"So Umi-chan, are you willing to accept this task now?"

"But why me Nozomi-senpai? Don't use the, because the cards said so as an excuse."

"A ha ha… Well that's part of it but also because the other members are busy with their own tasks."

"Kotori is as usual, in charge of making an article about the current fashion trend in our school. Honoka and Hanayo is in charge of researching about the nearby popular to the students, restaurants. Nozomi and I are, you know, working with the current events news and some other things for our club."

"Okay, okay.. I'll do it. But promise me that next month you are going to let me take part on the literary column of our paper."

"I will note that Umi, and thank you. We are counting on you."

"Well then, I'll take my leave from here and start my investigation. But first, Nozomi-senpai, don't forget to send that picture to me. I may have the need for it on my article."

"I'm on it. Just don't forget that you have until next week for that article."

Sonoda Umi left their club room with a sigh. This is going to be a long two weeks for me. She thought to herself. For her first move, she came to their club advisor to ask her if she can get her a copy of Nishikino's class. She got a positive response and was asked to come back the next day to get it from her.

The night later, she started constructing ideas on how she will go on with this task. It isn't the first time that she was given this kind of task. A few months ago, Eli asked her to make an article about the student life of the uprising idol Yazawa Nico. She made her debut as an idol before the start of her third year, and she is in the same class as Eli and Nozomi. They helped Umi a bit for the article by getting Nico's permission to get interviewed.

Would a direct attack work on her like with Yazawa-senpai? Umi wondered to herself. Her phone vibrated and when she checked it, she saw one mail each from her childhood friends.

I've heard about it Umi-chan! Good luck with that article and call us if anything happened! –Honoka

I will be fine. And good luck with your article with Hanayo. Don't eat too much. -Umi

Umi-chan, I've heard that your task is a bit tough this time. Please don't overwork yourself again and take care. (• 8 •) –Kotori

The same goes for you. Take enough break you need or else Honoka will worry about you. And don't worry, I've got this. Thanks! –Umi

Before Umi put back her phone, she opened the picture Nozomi had sent to her. She looked at it closer this time and noticed something. On this picture of Nishikino Maki petting a cat, her purple eyes are directed at the cat's eyes, and she is smiling to it warmly. Umi found herself smiling herself and she felt happiness looking at how loving Nishikino's gaze is, to the cat.

This redhead seemed to be more interesting than what the rumors says about her. She thought to herself still staring at the picture.