Authors Note: This chapter is shorter as it concludes the Arata, Secret NLA Agent arc. Next up will be the Bodyguard arc that will take place weeks after this arc.

Warning:Discussion about mental health.

I apologize in advance if my portrayal of Arata's DID is inaccurate in any way and if I make mistakes, please feel free to correct me. However I refuse to accept criticisms on the basis that Arata's DID is not the same as Hollywood movies. I will only accept correction based on actual facts.

By the time night came, news about the NLA raid had spread throughout the island and is the hot topic of gossip at dinner. But for Houjou Muraku, it was a sour reminder of his estrangled relationship with his father. To make matters worse, his father had called him and Mia earlier to tell them not to tell anyone about his agent on the island. Nothing about how he and Mia were doing or if they were alright after their ordeal. He would even accept a reprimand for their recklessness.

But nothing.

His fist clenched tightly as he remembered his father's message and his eyes darkened. His father's primary concern is only for his agent, the red-haired boy. In other words, his work is still more important to him than Mia and him. It was no wonder their mother could not stand it that she got herself killed.

A touch on his shoulder made him jerk up. He was about to snap at whoever it was but his voice died in his throat when he realized it was only his friends who were looking concern about him.

He quickly smoothed out his expression as he regarded them. "What is it?"

Mikhail blinked and soften his expression. "We heard that Mia is crushing anyone who is brave enough to challenge her at the gym. And seeing that you are, well, broodier than usual..."

"What he means to say is that we're worried." Vanessa finished. "You two always get like this when your dad does something to annoy you two."

Muraku takes a deep breath to calm down, eyes closed. "I'm sorry. But it's just so infuriating that he puts his work before us."

"We know. But you got us." Kageto gestured at himself and Vanessa and Mikhail. "And Mia. And she has her platoon, however crazy they can get."

"You don't need your father's approval or attention when you have us. We'll stick by your side to the end." Mikhail gently added, Vanessa and Kageto nodding in agreement to their comrade's promise.

A thin smile formed on Muraku's lips at that reminder. His friends were right. He and Mia grew up without their father. They didn't need him to succeed in their goals to change the school. But the agent...He clenched his fist. He won't let him get in the way of his goals. And if he finds him at War Time, he'll make him LOST like everyone had faced, no matter his father's warnings.

At the Duck Manor, Happy POV

Everyone was engrossed with dinner and gossip, especially about the illegal battling ring and the NLA raid. Happy tried to ignore them as he scoffed down his meal. He figured that Arata was involved in the raid. He and the other alters are never conscious whenever Arata does his business with the NLA which suits them as they do not want to get involve or accidentally reveal details about Arata's missions to the wrong person.

Every once in a while, he would throw in a comment or two about the situation but he won't go into topic deeply. He let the others chalk it up to being upset by the incident.

Happy is normally a happy-go-lucky person who is fairly good at LBX battles and social interactions. It was one of the reasons why Arata asked him to take over during classes and when around his classmates since the original personality suffers from social anxiety outside missions. And he also loves LBX just as passionately as Arata does which is why he is willing to support Arata like this even though he doesn't want to be involved with the NLA.

"Are you alright? You've been quiet throughout dinner?" Sakuya asked him later at the common room where they were doing their homework.

"Ah, yeah! I'm alright." Happy laughed sheepishly while rubbing the back of his head. "I was just thinking about...new strategies."

Sakuya blinked at Happy's hastily thought up excuse. "Strategies...?"

"For War Time." He elaborated.

"I see..." Sakuya blinked but nodded in acceptance of his platoonmate's answer

Sakuya POV

Arata was a strange person, Sakya thought. He acted friendly and airhead, during class and War Time. But he also acted secretive outside school and would disappear without explanation. When asked, he would give vague excuses as to what he was doing. Hikaru was indifferent to it but Haruki was concerned. And Sakuya felt the same as his friend. It was not that they suspected him in a bad way, but Arata's refusal of being forthcoming of his activities grated on most of their classmates' *ahem* Catherin and Kaito *ahem* nerves though they cannot exactly control what Arata does during his disappearances.

But Sakuya was willing to trust Arata to be on Jenock's side unless proven otherwise. Having his happy-go-lucky attitude is refreshing since it's drawing Haruki out of the shell he withdrawn into when the Violet Devil made their former teammates LOST. And despite not taking War Time seriously as Haruki would like, Arata is a good LBX player and a great addition to Jenock, just like Hikaru.

They finished their homework quietly with minimal distractions. Sakuya noted that when Arata was done, he pulled out a notebook and flipped through it, wrote something then flipped back and read something that was written there, nodding to himself.

Sakuya raised an eyebrow at Arata's strange actions. He had seen Arata do that a lot with that notebook. It didn't have any markings on the cover to indicate what it was used for and he was sure that it was not used for school work. He had a feeling in his gut that Arata's random disappearances had something to do with the notebook though.

Arata POV

The next day right before lunch, Arata took over the body again and slipped out of the dorms. He immediately headed back to the meeting point and only needed to wait five minutes for Director Houjou to arrive.

"Good morning. I trust that you rested well last night?"

Arata straightened up and bowed in greeting. "Yes sir."

Director Houjou eyed his subordinate carefully. Satisfied by what he saw, he passed Arata a file. "Here are the details of your mission."

Arata accepted the file and flipped through it. His eyebrows shot up as he read it. "This is..."

"Your mission is to protect the Prime Minister's son, Tougou Rikuya, who is currently studying at Kamui Daimon from any potential threats outside of War Time." Director Houjou stated. "As you know, he is in possession of one of the Parasite Keys which can be used to open up the Lost Area if it falls into the wrong hands. In accordance with this plan, Rikuya's LBX is protected during War Time from being destroyed by LBX players sent by the NLA Junior Program."

"Then why have me protect him outside of War Time?"

Director Houjou sighed and lowered his voice. "The Prime Minster is being threatened."

Arata's eyes widened marginally and Director Houjou continued, "This has yet to be public knowledge so make sure that no one hears about this. The Prime Minister has been receiving death threats towards him and his son. The NLA and Secret Service are now working together to find the sender of the threats and protect the Prime Minister. But his main concern is his son's safety."

"Then wouldn't it be better to pull him out and bring him back to the mainland. Or even send Secret Service agents to the school to protect him?" Arata frowned.

"Not too practical. The first option will create suspicion if the school lets a student who is not expelled leave alone. So anyone who figures this out can target him in the journey between the school and the Prime Minister's office. The second will immediately alert everyone of Rikuya's whereabouts as his enrollment in the school is not public knowledge. Therefore, it was decided that since you are already on the island for the battling ring mission, you will continue to remain here and keep an eye out on Rikuya together with his platoon. But they will focus on their duty to protect his LBX during War Time and if necessary, report any suspicious activity around Rikuya to you. Your job is to ensure his safety and keeping me informed of any threats that arise."

"Understood." Arata nodded. But inwardly he was wondering how well received his protection will be from his protectee. He knew that Rikuya already has a bad impression of 'him' or rather Happy. He knew that Akito, Shin and Kouta knew that he is an NLA Junior Agent like them but he has no idea whether they told Rikuya or not. And there was his DID...

"Does Rikuya know about this arrangement and my condition?"

"He is being informed by his father as we speak. I suspect your full dossier will be sent over to him so he will know soon enough."

That made Arata sigh. There's no telling how Rikuya would react that his bodyguard is a kid his age with mental issues. Many people doubt his capabilities simply because he has a mental illness that gives him multiple personalities. Given the clandestine nature of many of his missions, their doubts are well founded. But working with his therapist and Director Houjou's training to help him embrace his condition, he learned to turn his DID into a strength and advantage. Speaking of which...

"How upset are the higher ups that I got the mission?"

"Very." Director Houjou rolled his eyes with an amused huff. "Yagami-san especially. But we are running low on options and once Tougou-san read your dossier, he agreed to assign you the mission. But, only on the condition that you continue your sessions with Tanya. Arrangements has been made so that you can leave the island once a week for your sessions with her."

Arata nearly groaned at that but inwardly was slightly relieved that he can see his favorite person in the whole NLA agency, next to Director Houjou of course. "How long will this mission last?"

"We are not sure. Until we find out what is the threat against the Prime Minister, we have to assume that the duration of this mission is indefinite."

"Yes sir."

We're staying on this island indefinitely?!

Arata winced as he read Placid's responses on his DID notebook. Placid is one of his calmer alters and sort of Happy's babysitter. But Arata's work with the NLA frustrates him sometimes. He knew that Placid has a life outside his whenever he took over. And Placid hated last-minute changes in his life for the sake of his missions.

But still, Arata is the main personality, whatever he decides is what the body would do. However, that does not mean that he is heartless towards his alters. Compromising with them is a challenge, but they have a system for it after years of coping and therapy.

I'll let you take control after our next session with Tanya-sensei. You can go wild on shopping and charge it to my NLA allowance.

PS, Placid is a shopaholic. Director Houjou would likely cut back on his next allowance once he gets the bill for this month's spending but it would be worth it to get Placid on his side in this matter. At least Happy is content to stay on the island and keep up the charade of being the front.

And once Happy and Placid are, well, happy and supporting, the other alters will follow. Violent is a different story. But for now, he's quiet and observing, likely will be continuing to do so for a long time which is a small reprieve for Arata. Even so, he will continue to monitor the unpredictable alter.

Inside Arata's mind, Violent POV

Deep in the furthest reaches of Arata's mind, the alter known as Violent observed Arata and his interactions with the other alters. He does not bother to join in. He knows that Arata is afraid of him and his methods.

But if it weren't for him, Arata would not even be alive during those years in Africa. He did what he had to protect the body, Arata and himself. Arata does not understand it but Violent doesn't care. He will continue to protect the body and Arata as long as necessary whether Arata is aware of it or not.