“Well well well. You must be a stranger, because I don’t know ya? Whatcha doing here?”
“W-what? I have always been here, haven’t I?”
“Hmm, are you sure about that? I mean I never recognized such a lost face. Matter of fact , you’re so lost I could see right through ya.”
Gah?!
“Then why am I so transparent, and why is a hole forming right through my stomach?”
“Like I’m supposed to know that, well stranger don’t you seem to be sinking into the floor.”
SWOOOOOOOOO!
Where did the floor go?
What an odd place.
“Oh! Ho, oh! I’ve never seen a sad face like yours, what brings you here?”
“And who are you now?”
“Me? I am anything that anyone could be.”
Does that even make sense?
“Well, sad face, look at the mirror and see how you’re affecting it.”
!!!
“Oh wow you’re right, my face is in a state of constant drowsiness.”
“But?! Why are we just constantly falling!”
“Oh we are falling? HAHA, I didn’t even notice. Well I guess this is the end of the road for you!”
SPLOUT
Oh wow I am just sinking into the lake now, I can’t even speak… Wait, did I even notice I’m not struggling?
I can’t even move my mouth….
What is this?
“Hey! Hey! Sad face, can you see me right? You’re gone pretty far in….███ ████”
Woah!
Oh, it was just a dream!
Thank goodness, sheesh, even sweating too.
I’ll just get ready for school.
Even my head is spinning.
Was it from yesterday?
What even is this.
It’s bright outside today, I don’t know if anything about it seems off, I can feel my heart beating a little faster.
“Here you go sweetheart!”
“Oh my, I really gotta learn to up my cooking game. Oba this is good.”
“My pleasure, of course I’d like to teach more if you have free time.”
“So, the finals for this year in high school are coming up. I’m not sure if I even prepared enough.”
“What makes you say that dear?”
“I guess it’s anxiety. It kinda is just me not knowing how hard things could get.”
“Well I’m not sure I can help you with things like finals. Ah, it’s been a few decades since I was in school.”
“But I hope you study to do your best! Dear!”
“Hehe, thank you. Even small motivation like that helps me out.”
“Huh?! What do you mean small? My heart is as big as it can get.”
“Haha okay Oba.”
Sheesh I guess I have a lot on my mind right now.
SKRR
“Are you leaving for school already?”
“Yeah. I gotta catch up with my friend and also not be as late.”
Huh?
Why is she spreading her arms out like that?
“Give me a hug.”
This is kinda embarrassing…
“Be good at school, love you so much.”
“Mwah!”
“Be safe Masashi!!!”
“Will do! Don’t worry so much Oba!”
….
Walking to school on a sunny day sure does feel nice.
“Masashi! Dude, man behind you!”
“Oh hello hello Surabukādo, my dude man!”
“Did I do that right like last time?”
“You nailed it actually I am proud of you.”
THWACK!
“Damn, why is your back so hard? You’ve been hitting the gym huh?”
“Heh, no not really, I think my back is naturally big.”
“No wonder, you’ve been eating all the food hahaha.”
“I’m not fat?”
“Well don’t worry I’ll take some of your plate if you’re not finished.”
“But any who I’ve got some interesting news.”
“Oh what is it?”
“I dunno, people are saying things about ghosts n stuff. Though I don’t believe it, there have been a lot of disappearances in Suginami recently.”
“Police have been searching around, some people say the folks just disappeared out of nowhere, some say blood stains are left behind.”
“But I don’t believe a lot of that bullcrap really, it could just be some psycho going around stabbing people for whatever reason.”
“What do you think?”
“… It does sound kinda worrying if you think that people are just leaving without a trace.”
Shit and here I thought things were not weird, that guy from yesterday… Wait, could I even call it a person?
And now this, honestly it is really convenient for all of this to happen.
“You spacing out?”
“I’m just thinking about it, I guess you could say I kinda experienced something.”
“Oh really so you encountered a ‘ghost’ as well?”
“No more like I got spooked by some deer.”
“Ha, are you scared of a deer now?”
“It depends on the context.”
“What context? What context makes you spooked out by deers?”
“Like for say, you’re cruising in your car then a deer–”
BASH
“OUT OF MY WAY, DUMBASSESS!”
What the hell…
“What the hell is wrong with that guy? Masashi you ok?”
“Yeah… but it seems like he was running away with something?”
“Did he steal something? It seems like he was carrying something in his hands?”
“Maybe so, what the h–””COME BACK HERE!”
Woah?!
“There goes the police Masashi! Attaboys.”
It took them a bit.
“Aye Masashi catch ya later in class, alright.”
“Yeah catch ya later.”
“See ya!”
It’s awfully loud today in the school yard.
There are more people here than there usually is.
It is March and people are studying.
But damn I can’t get that whole situation that happened yesterday off my mind, and the ‘ghosts’ too.
Though the disappearances are happening no one is saying anything.
Guess I ought to head to class and figure this out on another day.
Woah, class is busy today, it’s nearing the finals, guess it makes sense.
“Hey, Toshiro, have you heard of the new game, Duelets: Cascading Auria?”
“Yeah but not as excited, because they promised this game like four years ago, when the trailer came out.”
“Then in 2013 they said it was not close to being finished, that was two years ago.”
“You just gotta wait man, they’re cooking something up. Just don’t get sidetracked on the meat!”
What is he talking about, meat?
There wasn’t such a thing in the game…
“Yeah yeah I get it, Sorta. I liked the first Duelets since the main mc was the coolest thing ever, the second game was good.”
“Though that mc was a little different to my taste, I still found it enjoyable.”
“Though the third installment, ‘Duelet’s Revolting’, felt rushed and a little unfinished. That is just my opinion and what I think.”
“Hmm that is true, though I liked Revolting the most. But I can see where you’re coming from.”
But he’s speaking real game about the third installment.
The second one was the best in the series, though the story line started to fall at the very end.
“The DLC was amazing, never played the first one when I was younger.”
Damn I gotta get back on games or else Imma feel old-
“Oi Okemia, you see that movie I sent you girl?”
“Probably, though why you asking me, the prequel to that was hot ass.”
“What do you mean, that movie was great? You must be watching it blindfolded then.”
“Hotaru, Hotaru… I liked the first installment of Brazen Cops, the prequel ruined the main line up, the sequel you sent me didn’t feel like a true successor.
To be honest, the whole series needs a reboot.
“And here I thought I found it enjoyable.”
“To you it is, to me the whole series is mediocre. Though, that hot guy in the first was deff my favorite.”
Damn it’s so loud today, but oh my goodness I am drawn into these conversations.
Observing them makes me feel kinda involved in what they are discussing.
“Hyuganatsu! Come out here you twisted up bitch!”
“OOoooo Oke, you gonna let her talk to you like that?”
Instigating?
Wait, she’s really going outside there?
“You talking to me? Numa? You? I mean you’re usually the quiet type. But coming out loud like this, it’s kind of tanti-”
“STOP TALKING!”
No way?
Is she really about to risk it all for a lousy fight?
“Why did you steal my boyfriend? Like you got him staring at you, talking about you, hell, why are you even around him???”
“What are you talking about? I have no interest in your man, I don’t care about him and he went up to me first. But I guess he was kinda fun to play around with.”
“You really lying in my face huh? I know how sly you are. ITS YOU WHO BE DOING ALL OF THIS CRAP, DONT THINK YOUR NOT SECLUDED.?”
“Just calm down, and don’t spit in m–”
THWACK
Oh crap are they really about to get it down right now.
Where is the teacher?
“Wait, wait, wait! Numa! You got your hit in that enough you don’t want to be-”
“Ichibangase! Shut the hell up, don’t think you’re not part of the problem too.”
“The three of you are alwa–”
THWACK
“Listen here little girl, I don’t care too much about you and your little boyfriend. In fact, I was pleased when he came up and started acting up around me.”
“But if you think you can put your hands on me, without getting your ass kicked. You’ve got it all wrong, and so what if I get in trouble? My image is already great as is.”
“Oke calm down!”
THWACK!
THWACK!
Oh fuck, she’s really on top of her beating the crap out of her.
That girl is dangerous…
Ah.
Might as well sleep while they’re at it.
My head is still ringing from yesterday.
Zzz
Zzz
Zzz
SKREE!
“What is wrong with you two? Do you not have honor?”
“BOTH of you to the principals office, immediately!”
“Sorry to all of you, sorry all of you had to see that take place.”
“Both of them have been sent to the principal’s office.”
“Don’t worry Mr. Jyn, we know you try your best.
“I’ll begin the lesson in a few minutes.”
Oh the fighting stopped?
The finals are coming up eh?
That’s kinda too fast, even if this is my first year in high school.
It all feels like it went by a little too fast, too many filler moments.
I guess there were fights, and sometimes arguments.
But bullying is something else.
My My, this school year, it’s awfully sunny
That’s finally over, classes just flow into each other and these finals are interesting.
“Aye man!”
“Surabukādo!”
WHACK!
“Why do you keep smacking my back?”
“Keeping your senses sharp. Like imagine someone coming from behind you, you wouldn’t be able to defend if they are dull.”
“Makes sense, though I think I would hear them before I see them.”
“Yeah but sometimes people are really quiet when they move with intent.
“The intent, Intent… Huh? I guess everyone does something with whatever they intended to do?”
“You think that’s enough of this intent thing? Surabukādo. So how are you feeling about the end of our first year as highschoolers?”
“To be honest I think I would like my cake better if it had more of a sweeter taste.”
“Then it will be too sugary.”
“But isn’t that the point of a cake? Well I think it’s missing a bit more toppings.”
“Hmm I could feel that, It wouldn’t taste as savory.”
“Why are we talking about cake, Surabukādo?”
“I don’t know, I guess I was kind of using cakes as a way to describe my experience in Nishi-ko. I thought it was going to be scary, I’ve been into one altercation but that is that.”
“Eh, to be honest. I kinda expected far worse. But it’s not bad with all things being said, but we have two more grades above us, and we will be second years after this spring break. ”
“Yeah definitely, but I heard that Hyuganatsu girl got into a fight during class. So was it a good fight?”
“Hyuganatsu? Oh, you mean Okemia? Why are you asking me?”
“Cause man girls rarely fight and to be honest. Hyuganatsu is akin to a tomboy, though she really isn’t that at first sight.”
“I guess she’s just rough, I don’t know, don’t know her that well.”
“Does she catch your eye?”
“Eh… What do you mean by that?”
“Like, I mean she is kinda pretty when you really consider it, she has semi long flowing hair, even her eyes which are like an orangey color, kinda captivates.”
“Dude what are you blabbering about? Sounds like she catches YOUR eye.”
She’s kind of scary thinking about it.
“Haha, nah nah I’m just saying though, you two go a lot of classes together from what I managed to peak at. Hell, don’t you two sit next to each often when Ms. Henero? Come’s in?”
“Yeah so what? and besides one of her friends sits next to me, so the whole group naturally moves towards my direction, I don’t really interact with her besides for school work.”
“And she gives me a scary look too, like damn what did I ever do to you?”
“Haha, that’s how they are man. But don’t sweat, it’s all a part of the party of life.”
“Honestly my first year has been going good so far despite me not being satisfied. But how about you Masashi?”
“Hmm. I don’t know, I can’t really say that much. But it was kinda nice.”
“To be honest I expected you to be more sulky about things.”
“Wait really Surabukādo? I mean it’s not like when I was in middle school.”
“Aha, I’m just playing. Though you really did grow a lot in terms of interacting, so don’t think too much about it.”
“But I’ll catch you later for that movie, okay?”
“Yea, but you got my number.”
“I know ha.”
And here I thought we were really going to see ‘Kanasan the Encasplating’ but that got shut down, now we’re going to see a comedy movie.
Sheesh it better be funny.
“Excuse me!”
!!!
“Excuse us!”
Where are all these people going?
Something is happening… Seems like they are rushing downstairs.
“Hey! Do you know what’s going on?”
“Not really, from what I heard, some guy passed out. I was just down there, apparently the guy was going crazy or something.”
“Interesting, well thank you!”
Since the library is clear I’ll go see if Nagano is still in there, I gotta see if she still has the next volume of that book.
BUMP
“Yo watch where your going-”
What the hell?
“Oh hello Yanagidate, where’s the other you?”
“What do you mean where’s the other me?”
“You know what I am talking about, where is Surabukādo?”
“What business do you want with him?”
“Oh no, nothing at all. I’m just used to seeing you two together.”
“He just left so It’s just me, yeah.”
“Tch your awkward.”
“What? Your weird.”
“Okemia!”
“Huh whats going on Hotaru?”
“Nothing at all but, how did it go with the principal?”
“Oh yeah. I got detention, though luckily they didn’t call my parents, that is a relief.”
“Wait, I thought they would terminate your finals based on that.”
“Well not exactly, I just have to cram in extra time for that. Either during or before detention.”
“Oh that’s unfortunate…”
“Why are you smirking? You want to get your ass kicked?”
“Oh no no no. I just found all that to be trivial.”
GRASP
“LISTEN HERE Yanagidate, I ain’t in a good mood right now, since I had to kick that bitches ass.”
“So don’t get on my nerves, you hear me–”
DVWOOOOOSH
What the hell happened to all the lights?
They just went off… Wait its not that too its the power itself.
“Hey what’s going on? Hotaru are you ok?”
“Yeah I am fine.”
Wait a minute even my phone doesn’t work, it’s not turning on?
If this was an actual power outage then it wouldn’t affect my device.
“Hey Oke, my phone ain’t turning on.”
“Hey Yanagidate! Is your phone working?”
“My phone is not working either.”
“What the hell even is happening, I don’t think a power outage would cause this?”
“I don’t know either, but we should start leaving the building in case something is happening.”
WHOOSSH
What the hell was the presence.
Wait a moment, It feels familiar to what happened yesterday.
Expect it feels more… like you could die at any moment, why is it so malicious?
Don’t tell me I am the only one who can feel that?
“Hey you two, do you feel–”
“Y-you two, do you not see that thing?”
“What are you talking about, what thing-”
What the hell is that?
Why is there a distorted head just peeking around the corner?
Oh hell no, it’s like a scene from one of those horror books.
Is it just going to stare-
WHAT?
I-i just blinked and it just moved to the middle of the hall.
“W-wait Yangidate, wait up?”
“Hold on Masashi! You can’t just leave Okemia and me.”
Did she just call me by my first name?
“Then hurry you two! I don’t wanna go out like that!”
Where are all the other people, these halls were not empty just a moment ago.
“Yanagidate, slow down! Let’s stop for a moment, geez.”
“Stop? Have you seen that thing? You must be cra–”
“I KNOW! But to be honest we don’t know what exactly is happening.”
Ya think?
Hyuganatsu.
“Look you two, this is going to sound crazy b-but something like this happened to me a few years back. I-i-i don’t know if it’s exactly the same as this but, that thing seemed similar to what I experienced.”
“Acutally… Something like this happened to me yesterday and it was so similar to this.”
“Wait, really Yanagidate?”
“Yeah, exactly the same vibe.”
“Would you two quit blabbering, please let’s just get out of here!”
“Alright.”
Come on we’re so to the back exit, where is everyone?
All these lights are just flickering like crazy.
SWOOSH!
Did it just move so fast in front of the main doors?
“ǝlqǝǝɟ os os ʇsɐǝɟ ǝɹǝW ǝɹǝW.”
What is this thing even saying?
I– it’s so malicious it makes me puke.
Not to mention those crooked and long legs.
“H-hey you two I think we should keep our eyes on it.”
“W-what? Oh like that’s going to help. What do you plan to do? Yanagidate don’t act like a savior and just run.”
“oʇ spuᴉɯ ʇɐǝ ǝlqǝǝℲ puɐ ǝǝS ǝǝS puɐ unɹ ǝǝs puɐ.”
I just need to focus.
I feel like this is something I have faced before.
Why can’t I remember it?
I just gotta focus and put all that fear I have into strength!
WOOSH
“H-hey what is going on with you Yanagidate?!”
“Okemia what do you mean whats going, don’t tell me you’re pulling some bullshit during a time like this?”
“I’m not Hotaru, wait can’t you see that coming off of him? It’s like uh… the fire on a stove.”
I’m trying my best to move my body, am I really going to attack this thing?
SLICISH!
It managed to cut me, was I not fast enough?
Though it’s not deep.
Shit I made a mistake.
SWOOP
Crap I hardly dodged that.
I managed to catch it this time, damn this thing is applying the pressure.
Come on come on come on.
Can’t I push this thing back further.
I am TRYING my hardest right now.
“Oh gosh he’s actually holding it off, Yanagidate, are you o–”
“Please you two, GET OUT OF HERE! You two run out before this thing–”
TIIZZZZZ
It’s shocking me??
“Come on Hotaru?!”
“Yeah!”
Now I just gotta find some way to deal with it.
“ʍoɥ ███ ███ ppo ███ ʇɐǝ ǝlqǝǝɟ ████ ǝuo ʎluO.”
CRASH!
Y-yeah I don’t think I could defeat this thing at this point.
But for those brief moments I managed to hold it off, just a little long so they could get away.
GRASP
“AGH, it hurts like hell!”
It’s trying to squeeze me like a balloon?!
“████ os ████ os ǝɔᴉu ██ ʎlǝɔᴉu ██, no⅄█████ pooפ.”
Come on just a little longer, come on… Focus… focus…
THONK
“Huh?”
“Hyuganatsu?!”
“COME YOU FOOL, RUN DON’T STAND THERE!!!”
Wait, that fire extinguisher, shit now is my chance!
Come on focus.
Focus… FOCUS, Focus all of my remaining strength into one last strike.
SWOOSH!
“-sᴉɥʇ sᴉ ʇɐɥM”
BASH
It feels like I’m going to throw up all my guts.
“Yanagidate! Yanagidate?!”
Tip
Tap
Tip
Tap
Ti–
Crap, what’s going on where am I?
Wasn’t I just facing that thing earlier?
Huh, am I dead?
𝓢𝓗𝓞𝓞𝓦𝓢𝓗!
And what is this place, it’s so shadowy.
The ground is so transparent, but it’s like it’s the same as what’s up here.
Just inverted.
This wind keeps getting stronger, I am just dreaming right now after all?
“███████████████”
Wait a minute, who is that?
Where are they?
I can hear words, but can’t understand them.
Is that a mouth I see, they’re smiling?
I guess I can’t even see them in all that darkness.
Maybe I should try to call out.
“Are you saying something? I cannot understand a single thing you are saying?”
What really is going on?!
Is this a dream or something relating to that thing, just what the hell is going on!
𝓢𝓗𝓞𝓞𝓦𝓢𝓗!
What is with this win–
I can’t see anything…