Sly As A F(r)o(g)x

[The Director]

((Froggy continued from Grief))

This plan was a true masterstroke. Genius, utter genius, even Oda did say so himself.

It was so simple that it was laughable really. Why seek out others actively? Why put himself in undue danger? After that little incident in the tourist's association with that idiot Motobuchi and the disgusting fat Nakagawa, Toshinori had reconsidered his priorities. Who said the survivor had to be the top gun? Who said the last man standing had to be the one going around leaving a trail of corpses in his wake? No, Oda had realised, that was actually the foolish thing to do. There was no need to stick his neck out.

Even better now that the coop was bordered by dangerzones, making only a single approach to it safe. Oda would see anybody coming a mile off (or at least, have prior warning). From here, he could simply wait and allow the field to thin itself. A peerless idea.

And it was working (naturally, Oda's plans never failed). With glee, Oda had awaited each announcement, and every time the voice of that odious man Kamon came over the PA, it was to herald the demise of more and more of his classmates. Soon, there would be few enough left that Oda could venture forth and sweep up the vulgar remnants with ease. They would be no match for a fresh and superior Toshinori, that would be for certain.

Oda grinned to himself.

"They don't have a hope..."

[The Director]

Toshinori awoke with a start, realising with dismay that he'd allowed himself to nod off. Idiotic! That was not the sort of thing somebody as superior as himself should be doing! He'd come up with a flawless, foolproof plan and then this was how he went about executing it!? The boy counted himself lucky that nobody had approached his hideout in the meanti-

He froze. What exactly had woken him up in the first place? He scrambled to his feet, grimacing as a shot of pain ran through his neck. Hay was hardly the bed he was accustomed to, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it! The coop's door had slammed - he was sure of it! Toshinori's heart hammered as he stared at the entrance to his hideout, somebody was here, dammit somebody was here!

Oda fumbled for his nambu at his side and then let out a little whimper when he discovered it wasn't there (unbeknowst to him, it had merely slipped from its place in his waistband and now lay forgotten in the hay). His eyes darted about feverishly, expecting somebody to burst from the shadows at any moment and-

Something ran over his foot.

Oda screamed and bolted, charging out of the other entrance to the coop like he was being pursued by all the legions of hell.

Back in the barn, a little mouse squeaked and went back to nibbling on some discarded grain. The coop's door swung open... then slammed shut again.

The superior one had been fooled by wind and a tiny animal.

((Froggy concluded in Not So Sly))