Umbran Epidemic/Chapter 1 (2024)

The sounds of a train repeatedly went through the young girl's ears, her eyes getting heavy as the sound is now just a lullaby to her now. She struggled to stay awake as she take a look on her phone, seeing the time was 7:23 PM date April 5th 2015. She yawned and put it back in her bag. It had been about 2 hours since she left her old town. The sun was slowly setting and the light was turning to a orange color. The girl look around and saw only a few people are left.

After some time had passed, she finally heard them saying they're are their final stop Umihana. The girl grabbed her bag and suitcase, and left the train. Once she was out, she looked around the station like she was looking for someone as she has next to no knowledge of this place and everything was new to her. She started walking around when a young boy ran into her and dropped her bag.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going!" the girl apologized and she tried to recollect her stuff that fell out her bag.

"It's okay. I should have pay attention," the boy help her pick her stuff up. "My name's Kei, and you?" The kid asked her while giving some her stuff back.

"I'm Kasumi and thank you," she answered while she took her things from him and put them back in her bag. "So why someone like you is in a big hurry?" She asked while she give him a friendly smile.

"Trying to find my mother but I can't seem to find her, she'll be here." Kei answered back while his face looked a bit worried.

"I'm sorry to hear that, well I'm looking for someone too but... I'll be happy to help you find your mother. It wouldn't be right if I left you finding her yourself." She said through her still friendly smile.

"I don't want to trouble you, you said you're looking for someone too."

"It's no trouble, it not like me ignoring someone's need." After that she helped Kei find his mother, and they looked for about 20 minutes before they eventually found and met up with her.

"Where were you? I looked forever!" Kei asked her while he was a bit annoyed at her.

"I'm sorry. I got off work a little late," she noticed Kasumi behind him and walked up to her. "Did you help my son, miss?" she asked her?

"Yes, it's the least I can do for running into him," Kasumi explained to her.

"Well, thank you for looking out for him but we should get going," the woman thanked he while she and Kei started to leave.

"Later, Kasumi!" Kei waved to her and left.

As Kasumi watched them leave, her phone rang and she quickly got it out to see who is it. The caller was Mizuki Aki. "Hello?" Kasumi answered the call.

"Kasumi, are you here yet? I've been trying to find you!" A young woman voice asked through the phone.

"I'm sorry nee-san, I got catch up doing something. I'm near the exit of the station."

Woman sighed, "Just like you running off with out saying anything. I'll meet you there, so promise you wont run off."

"I promise nee-san, I'm sorry for making you worry." Kasumi apologized then she hang up. After a few minutes have pass, Kasumi's sister caught up with her. "Nee-san! it so good to see you again!" Kasumi walk up to her show her friendly smile.

"It nice to see you too Kasumi-chan, I'm glad you're save." Aki give her little sister a hug, "I was starting get worry when I couldn't find you."

"I'm sorry to make you worry nee-san, but you don't have to treat me like child anymore." Kasumi and Aki begin to leave while the two continue their conversation. "Remember I'm on my last year of high school couldn't hurt you to give me a little more freedom?"

Aki sighed, "I know I should but can you blame me, you're pretty much all I have, mother and father are never here, been work over in American." Kasumi and Aki got to her sister's car, after they put up Kasumi stuff in in the trunk and they both leave for Aki's place.

"I understand... by the way, Aki where were you? I didn't see you when I got off the train?" Kasumi asked as Aki start to drive.

Aki tighten the wheel before answering her, "It's nothing important... I was just in a short meeting with someone at work, nothing you should worry about."

"Oh! I see," Kasumi look out the window as they drive by some cherry blossom trees, Kasumi notice the petals were a odd color, it look like someone's blood was soak in them. "Nee-san why are the petals that color?" She asked her sister curiously.

"The cherry blossoms? It's something special with these trees in this area. They turn that color every 50 years, some people say it a sign of a great disaster is coming, but I think that just a silly rumor." Aki explain to her sister while she take a right turn.

"That sounds a little scary, you sure that's true?"

Aki giggles at her little sis, "Aw did I scare you little Kasumi-chan?"

"Shut up, I'm not scared!" Kasumi's face turns red and turn away from Aki.

"I'm just teasing you, no need to act like that. Anyway we're here now," Aki pull in to the apartment's parking lot. "Here we are, it not much but it's better than living on the streets," she explained while leading her to her home.

"It's okay, it'll be nice change of pace after staying with grandmother," Kasumi followed her in, it was a small place, maybe big enough for two of three people, first room as like combine of a living room, dinning room and a small kitchen with a bar, most the stuff there was pretty up to date, next to it was hallway leading to two bedrooms and a bathroom.

"It small and I could afford for something bigger if I want but I spend most my time at work so so this just as good for right now, it not like I'm going to start a family anytime soon," Aki explained as she shut down door after Kasumi coming in and started looking around.

"I like it! I kinda like how small and simple it is." Kasumi smile at Aki, "so when those the school here start?"

"I believe it next week so you have some time to get to know the town, don't worry I got everything ready, I also have your room ready you should get some sleep now, I sure you tired after your trip."

"I'm good, I might get my stuff out first and take shower later," Kasumi decline polity.

"Very well, you're room on the left. I'm going to fix something to eat I haven't ate since lunch." She pointed out her room and then begin starting to fix some ramen.

"Kasumi take her stuff in her room, it as pretty simple room enough to work with to make it her own. She set her bag and suitcase on the floor and she laid in her bed. She thought to herself now a new chapter of her life has started and wonder what it will offer her.

Fukui Chiharu – "Say cheese!"
UE - 00:59, June 5, 2012 (UTC)

It was getting late at night in Umihara, around 11:02 PM. In a park is another girl, wearing just a t-shirt, a pair of long shorts, socks and sneakers, her hair in a simple ponytail. She was one of the few people who usually stay out at this time of night, doing some karate moves against the air in her case, and who did not mind the night's air as the darkness kept creeping over the town.

"Well, well, well," a female voice boomed from behind her. "Looks like the bash brothers are not the only ones not worried about getting kidnapped by some drunk! Right, Chiharu?"

Fukui Chiharu turned to see who said that. "The last time I checked, Himura Kamiko, you're not the type of person who wanders around this late, are you? Or are you here to stir trouble again?" With that, she cracked her knuckles. "If you are, you better say it now!"

"Going all haughty on me now? Oh, speaking of which how are your parents doing? Still being their drunkard selves?" Kamiko laughed.

"You've tried that insult before. Doesn't exactly hold water," Chiharu said, trying to keep her rage from building up. Though Chiharu never cared about her parents in the first place. They were very neglectful towards her, forcing her to look after herself. In the past seven years, she has kept that part of her childhood in the back of her mind. So why did she feel like protecting their honor? Not this time, she thought.

"So... planning on entering the Karate Club again? I've been practicing!" Kamiko asked. It seemed to Chiharu that her rival is trying to act all high and mighty.

"Hmph. I bet you'd master it by the time pigs fly!" Chiharu replied sarcastically.

"Does it look like I'm talking to a wall here? I'm gonna beat your tiny little ass! Just you watch! In fact, I'm gonna beat your tiny little ass right now!" Kamiko declared as she rushed towards Chiharu, who swung around and punched her in the nose.

Chiharu looked at her piercingly for a moment. "Sorry. Not interested," she said before walking away without looking back.

Kamiko gets up. "See you at school this next week then, Fukui," she muttered. "You'll be nothing but a limpy lady by the time I'm through with you."

About ten minutes later, Chiharu ran into a couple of boys. They were also her classmates, Akiyama Aoi and Koizumi Akako.

"Let me guess," Chiharu began. "You two are out looking for chicks again."

"Mainly, he is," Aoi rolled his eyes as he points to his friend beside him.

"So far, not any luck," Takeshi added. "Not a chick in sight. Oh, I know! They're probably doing their hair trying to look their best for me when I see them at school next week!"

"Either that, or they're hiding from you," Chiharu pointed out, giggling a little bit.

"What!? Them!? Hiding from a good-looking guy like me!? That's absurd!" Akako sounded shocked. "We're gonna be seniors this year, and Fukui? You might just be lucky!"

Chiharu was silent for a moment. "Whatever," she said before running off. "Bye! See'ya you all tomorrow!"

"You gain one, then you lose one," Aoi finally spoke up.

"At least she talked to me," Akako assured him.

Chiharu was left with little else but to go home, to only think of what lies ahead.

If you lived across the street from Sokutei Takano, high school senior, you would have wondered why all the lights were on in the house at four in the afternoon on a cloudy yet otherwise normal day. You also may have wondered why the light emanated from the windows in strange jagged shapes, partially blocked by heaps of boxes and bins that the closets had decided to jettison.

Sokutei used to wonder about this too, until the bins full of lab manuals and glass instruments had built up and nested sufficiently along the walls, daring anyone to question their presence in the house. She also used to question why her mother kept a closet in the basement under lock and key, prohibiting her daughter from entering it, but a combination of corporeal punishment and threats had resolved that issue as well. Her father had in a much more passive way dissuaded Sokutei from opening the closet until her parents separated about two years ago; she had not seen him since.

Most children would be driven insane by being denied exploration of such a secretive room, but to Sokutei it never really mattered. Her father had actually let her in once after a day of excessive begging, but there was nothing to be seen but a stack of books and several old barrels labeled "Malt Liquor". Sokutei didn't question it. Parenting was difficult, she supposed.

Besides, she had a mountain of books to occupy her time anyway. Sokutei was one of those people that adopted a "to hell with the neighbors" attitude to anyone that did not particularly matter in her life and an extremely polite manner to those that did. Books were of particular importance in her life, considering she was just beginning an internship at Moirai company shadowing important doctors and researchers, which would continue throughout the summer.

Moirai, a medical genetics facility and main employer of the Umihana populace. The main reason why Sokutei was currently lighting up her kitchen counter with lamps and devoting her life to a book on immune cell development. Text material was relatively easy, but clinical was another matter. Sokutei sometimes wished she could cure people simply by reading to them, instead of having to deal with the uncomfortable surgical parts. Sedatives will be my best friend.

After consuming a chapter devoted to the thymus, and still operating off the graces of a liter of Sundrop carbonated beverage, Sokutei decided to risk a look outside. The nearly silent neighborhood, consisting of a lonely cul-de-sac removed from most of downtown Umihana, was swathed in a dismal, driving rain.

Perfect.

Sokutei set her glasses aside (they were useless in the rain anyway), inadvertently knocked over her book, and skipped outside nearly straight into her mother's newly parked car.

"Sokutei... why are you not reviewing your immunology texts?" Chiyoe Takano was nearly the exact template of her daughter, surprisingly young-looking for a woman of forty-five. In one hand she held the keys to her luxury Infiniti; in the other she lowered her glasses as if calling a firing squad.

"Oh.. Mom... I was actually just..."

"Also, why are you not wearing your glasses?" Chiyoe's own glasses dipped another terrifying centimeter. "Also, I do not smell tea. Why have you not made tea?"

"Mom, you know I like soda better and I wasn't expecting you home so early."

Chiyoe ushered her daughter back inside the house. "Make tea. Also, strong, please. I have had an exhausting day at work."

"It is very good that you ended early, then," replied Sokutei. Her mother was oddly calm for an exhausting day of work. "Would you like lemon balm?"

"Anything, surprise me." Another warning flag, Sokutei thought. Tea brewing was not an art in Chiyoe Takano's eyes; it was a science, as was everything else in her life. She was a principal investigator in the Episome Transformation department at Moirai, not much of a higher-up, but certainly respected for her exactness and skill in experimentation. Lemon balm was as essential to tea as stain was for electrophoresis. No exceptions.

The surprise would be on Sokutei if she dared to add anything else but three drops of lemon balm to the tea. Readjusting her glasses, she waited for the tea bags to burble apprehensively in the kettle before adding the necessary evils, closing once again the immunology book and loading the kettle and cup onto a tray for serving.

"...Mom?" Chiyoe was not in her bedroom, nor was she anywhere on the ground floor, so Sokutei descended to the basement.

I wish there weren't so many steps, she thought as she stepped off the last one and nearly collided with her mother again.

"Oh, Sokutei! Look at this!" Her mother was crouched in front of the forbidden closet. Unexpectedly, she withdrew a book and began showing Sokutei a picture of a chromosome labeled with several trait loci, closing the closet almost as an afterthought. Sokutei made an attempt to understand what her mother was talking about, but all she really came up with at the end was that her mother was happy about something relating to a neural disorder.

"Sokutei, I am so proud of our research division, but I am also so proud of your internship. I will attempt to accelerate your position so you may work with my department as soon as possible. That's what you want, right?"

"Yes! Yes, that's what I want." Whatever you want, mother. You shouldn't have to pull strings, though... I want to make my profession about what I know, not who I know." Although, knowing you does help a lot.

"Very good, Sokutei. Again, I am proud of you."

"Thank you, Mom. I'm sure Dad would be too."

"Yes.... he is. Now, my tea? Also, there is no reason to be in the basement anymore. Study, study!" Chiyoe took the cup and her daughter upstairs and promptly locked herself away in her bedroom for the rest of the night. Sokutei figured her mother needed to deal personally with her recent excess of happiness.

As she began to wash the kettle and discard the rest of the tea in favor of another Sundrop, a perturbing though came over her.

"He is?"

Kasumi woke up the next morning to the birds singing from outside while she lied in bed for awhile. After a few minutes passed she finally got up and changed out her pajamas and into light warm clothes. She looked out the window to get good look on her new home and a clear view of the park can be seen though it only reminds her of blood because the cherry blossoms' color. After that she went to the main room. The TV was on but it was just the news. Aki was just setting on the couch while drinking her coffee.

Kasumi giggled first before speaking up, "I find this unbelievable that my nee-san has grown up watching the news and drinking coffee."

Aki chuckled a bit. "Sorry, this is like the only thing on at this time and coffee's the only thing I can make that I can't burn."

"Oh right! I remember when you would always burn our food. Still a horrible cook, huh?"

"Excuse me, but do I need to remind you who helped you with your math homework?"

"Okay, you got me," Kasumi walked to the fridge to see what she has, taking awhile to decide. "I see only few eggs and some cheese. How about I make us some omelets? It's like the only thing you have."

"I told you, I'm rarely here most the time. I usually just pick something up to eat." Aki commented before taking another drink of her coffee.

Kasumi picked up the milk and smelled it. "EW! Your milk has expired! When was the last time you went grocery shopping?" Kasumi quickly threw away the milk.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I've been meaning to throw that away." She giggled and then took another drink.

"I guess I need to keep this place in shape, huh? I'm starting to think the main reason why I'm here is to be a housekeeper." Kasumi started cooking the omelets while she continued their conversation.

"You can't think I'll do something like that to my sweet little sis?" Aki asked while a report come up on the news that caught Kasumi's interest.

"Last night, 36-year-old wife and mother Tatsuo Rei died from a drug overdose. It is currently unknown if the Orochi gang was involved or if the suicide was natural. Regardless, gang activity has increased in conjunction with the rise in suicide rate. The police currently have no leads. She was found in her bedroom by her husband, who claims he was away during the time she died." The news reports read.

"How sad... she was a mother and she died... I wonder why she would do that?" Kasumi asked while she was cooking.

"Who knows why people kill themselves... to me it's just selfish. Killing themselves without thinking what their friends or lovers feel afterwards." Aki told her after finishing her coffee and getting up to get another. "Want me to pour you a cup?" She asked while pouring her second cup of coffee.

"No thanks. I can't stand that stuff." Kasumi politely refused while she finished cooking their omelets. "So how do they look, much better than you could do?" She asked while teasing her.

"Okay fine, you're the better cook. Now let's try these out!" Aki took the first bite. "Not bad. Thanks, Kasumi-chan." Aki smiled at her sis as she kept eating.

"I know I'm not the best, but it's better than burnt food." Kasumi giggled at Aki as she started eating.

"Okay enough about my horrible cooking!" Aki started to get annoyed. "You beat me at something, now don't rub it in!"

"Sorry, nee-san. I was just having fun," she apologized while she kept eating. "So, working today?"

"Nope. I asked to be off today so I can spend some time with you." Aki answered as she finished eating. "Maybe I'll take you to Tokyo today."

"Really!?" Kasumi stopped eating for a moment, "Tokyo! Awesome, I always wanted to see Tokyo! Thanks, nee-san!" Kasumi finished up eating.

"Well, lets get going! This might be the only day I can spend with my little sis." Aki grabbed her stuff and started heading out the door.

"Okay, nee-san!" Kasumi smiled while getting her things and following her.

Fukui Chiharu – "Say cheese!"
UE - 08:46, June 9, 2012 (UTC)

Elsewhere, the news reports continued. "In other news, it seems rumors have been spreading involving illegal experimentation. No confirmations has been made at this time." The TV was turned off before more can be heard. It was in a restaurant.

"Bo-ring!" Akako cried while he and his friend Aoi ate breakfast with Chiharu.

"Tell me about it," Aoi added. "All the news can do is make you afraid of the outside world."

"Ha! Who needs them anyway!" Akako said as he took a bite of his pancakes, which were decorated with chocolate chips and drenched with chocolate syrup as well as whipped cream, complete with hot chocolate. Aoi's breakfast was an egg and sausage biscuit complete with orange juice.

"Illegal experiments, huh? Sounds like mad scientists at work," Chiharu finally spoke up as she ate her assortment of donuts that were on her plate.

"Aren't you going to get fat out of those?" Aoi asked.

"Who? Me? Not a chance! I always exercise afterwards!" Chiharu said. "Anyway, I'm trying to save up some money. Dunno what my plans are yet, but for now I'm gonna go with the flow." And not run into Kamiko while I'm at it.

"It seems rumors have been spreading involving illegal experimentation? Haha, that's all they could come up with?" The younger scientist with the messy black hair fumbled with the radio, removed his nitrile gloves, then successfully switched stations to a stream of catchy Jpop. The lab was on the ground level, open to a blaze of morning sun through a single small window that faced a crowded parking lot. Moirai Genetic Facility was crammed into one of the busiest blocks of Umihana, although the forest is perfect for hiding a particularly secretive tree.

"It has been reported to Financial," said the other man in the lab, frowning slightly at the reported leak, or at the blasting music, or perhaps both. He loaded several huge flasks with transparent orange-yellow liquid out of the autoclave onto a cart while his colleague remained by the radio. "Several severance packages have been handed out already."

"Hah, in how many ways?" grimaced the first scientist, taking the cart and leaving the room. "Hey, thanks again for the help, Hotaka." Hotaka, a man in his 50's, was unfortunately left in the lab with the Jpop still blaring.

First name basis comes on so quickly these days.... but they still go as quickly as they come. He had been at Moirai for thirty years and seen his share of interns rotate through the doors. Hotaka couldn't remember the young scientist's name; he had only been down at the Genetic Engineering Autoclave #2 for instructional purposes. He also took his leave, descending three flights of stairs and passing a fair number of fresh-faced interns, most of which uttered a polite hello.

Some have it, and some don't. But the ones that do.... well, get enough of them together, and projects like Silkworm succeed. A swipe of his ID allowed him into level B6, then again into a small office. Most researchers had offices on better lit floors, but Hotaka practically lived here. There was a rice cooker on the counter, and next to it, an unassuming black notebook.

Hotaka was back in B6. Here, there were no interns... just Silkworm. Only Silkworm.

10:05 4/6. Transcription factor particulars documented but not fully understood. Primate Hox gene testing to begin. We've come a long way since the silkworms, though the project still honors their role in name. Lowering silkworm shipment, though Hokkaido source remains of interest. Keep of note in case of unexpected mutation and bacterial reserves faulty.

13:30 4/7. Silkworm targets Hox gene extensively in worm testing, as with previous species. Koga thinks he has a lead on one particular locus. Unsure of how to tell him I have already documented three. Will probably let it go. Takano has good data on Silkworm lysogenic cycle, will review.

8:00 4/8. Compared lytic vs. lysogenic phases, heavily skewed towards the latter. Silkworm greatly prefers to remain as encoding DNA in host genome rather than mobile phase, as excision rates from host cells low compared to documented retroviruses.

8:45 4/9. More data from worms back. Interesting: unusual rate of transduction from previous host's DNA, only thought to have extensively occurred in bacteriophages. Will carry out tests transducing multiple subjects. Generational studies not possible with primates but have been documented back in actual silkworm phase. Loci of endogenoous retroviruses not fully understood. Will assign Koga's remaining free time to studying this.

15:15 4/10. Transduction data still fascinates. Takano is also set on examining this matter. More effects of Hox gene mutation in silkworm now back - severe results. Original generation shipment from Hokkaido reported unusual lifespan; only died when denied resources. Moths often reported to kill mates; larvae stage produces discolored silk. Morphological strain documented as well.

12:15 4/11. Primate testing ambitious but strangely running smoothly. Surprise coming from Koga. Did not expect higher species to ingrain virus so easily. Expect violent and unusual phenotypes to be similar to that of silkworms. My ongoing study of Hox gene loci will focus on chromosomes 12 and 17. Will take care to avoid interns in coming week. If primate testing is successful, however, perhaps they could be useful for the next step in testing...

I write more later maybe? Please view the links. Genetics is wonderful, and although I don't know much about it and am probably not making actual scientific sense in these logs, it would be nice for everyone to understand how a virus infects the genome of its host in the lysogenic cycle.

The alarm started beeping at time of 6:30AM, after few minutes of it Kasumi turned it off and got out of bed. She was still half asleep and rested in her bed for a bit, thinking about the past week and amazed how fast it went by. Her day with her sister in Tokyo was pretty fun, seeing the sites, buying some clothes and getting a laptop for her school work, and finally eating at a nice sushi restaurant. The rest of the week was kinda boring as Aki spent most the time working or sleeping, which made Kasumi worry, although there wasn't much she could do. She helped her sister out by keeping her home clean and fixing meals. She also took a look around her town and got some groceries to get more options to fix meals.

When it got to about 7:00 she finally got out bed, checked her phone and noticed she has a text message from Aki, Sorry sis, I have to go to work early again. I left some yen on the table, use it to take the bus and buy anything else you need. I'll come to get after I finish with work.

Kasumi sighed and tried her school uniform on for the first time. It felt kinda tight but it wasn't so bad. After getting dressed, she fixed her box lunch and a piece of jam toast to eat on the way. She took the yen that was on the table, grabbed her school briefcase and put on her shoes at the door while holding her toast in her mouth. She left while locking the door behind her and ran to the bus stop while she ate.

When she got there, only two male students and an adult dressed like a businessman waiting for the bus. Kasumi checked the time on her phone while she finished her toast. It was around 7:34, and while she was waiting she overheard the two guys whispering to each-other.

"Is that a new girl? I haven't see her before."

"I think so. She's kinda cute. Easy on the eyes."

Kasumi's face turned red as she tried to hide her blushing face. As soon as the bus arrived, she quickly paid the driver and got on. A few more students and adults were on the bus, and she sat near the back shying away from the others, nervous to talk to someone her own age or older. It took about 10 minutes to get to her new school, and when she got off she saw the sign with the name of the school, Takarazuka Academy.

She walked into the building, took off her shoes with some of the other students and placed them in one the shoe boxes that were not yet taken, before putting on the uwagutsu in there. She had no clue where she needed to go, until she bumped into a girl with hair down to her waist. "Oh! I'm sorry! I'm new here and I'm trying to find out my home room!" Kasumi nervously smile at the girl.

"Oh, it's fine. Happens all the time. Especially on the first day. It's always crazy with everyone trying to find out which class to go." The girl explained to Kasumi. "Now, if you go down that hall, you'll find the Office." She said while pointing.

"Thank you so much," Kasumi bowed to show her gratitude before squeezing her away through the crowd of students to get to the office. As she entered, she noticed a female teacher sitting in one the desks. Kasumi walked up to the desk, her legs shaking with nervousness. "Um... excuse me. I'm the new transfer student."

The teacher looked up at Kasumi, and then back down at her computer. "I see. Name, please?"

"Mizuki, Miss." Kasumi responded.

The teacher began typing. "Hmmm... here we go. Mizuki Kasumi?" She looked up at Kasumi, who nodded. "The scores from your entrance exams are very good, even with your rural education in Tomioka. You'll be placed in class 3-C, Mr. Osamu's class. Lucky you."

"Lucky? So he a very good teacher?" Kasumi asked curiously.

"He is generally on very good terms with the students here, but tends to care about them in his own special way. A jerk with a heart of gold, if you ask me, though he doesn't like loud classes too much. Anyway, the entrance ceremony is about to begin. Please follow me." The teacher got out of her desk and led Kasumi to the auditorium, showing her where her class is, after which Kasumi sat in one of the few open seats.

It was pretty much like her old school. The principal said his speech, during which she could her the bored whispering and gossiping of other students, talking about the latest anime or manga, or how such and such student is cute. Kasumi felt a little alone. She hadn't made any friends, and spent most of her time struggling to stay awake during the speech. By the time is was done everyone left for class.

Kasumi waited outside the classroom, watching her future classmates go in before her. She was still nervous and started to sweat, when she felt a hand grip her shoulder. She looked behind her and saw a fairly tall man, carrying a book and wearing glasses.

"Is there something wrong, miss?" He asked her, pushing his glasses higher on his face.

"N... no, sensei!" Kasumi nervously apologized and ran into the classroom, sitting in an open desk between two girls, one them the girl who helped her before, the other a girl with a multicolored ponytail.

"Good morning, class." The man said as he walked in after Kasumi, the rest of his class responding back with a drowsy "good morning". The teacher placed his book open on his desk before facing the class. "For those of you who do not know me, I am Mr. Osamu. Now, I believe we have a new student. Is that right? Let me see here..." He said, before quickly glancing at his class roster. "Ah, yes! Mizuki, would you stand up and introduce yourself to the class."

Kasumi obeyed, bowing before introducing herself, "I'm Mizuki Kasumi! I'm happy to be part your class!" Kasumi said before quickly sitting back down.

"Short and sweet. I like it. Now, let us see who is absent today..." Osamu went through the list while calling out names, with students raising hands in turn. It went smoothly until he reached the first absence. "Tatsuo. Tatsuo? So he has not yet recovered..."

Kasumi pondered on the familiar name for a moment, before remembering the woman who had died the previous week. She then began to hear a few boys making fun of the absent student. "Heh... looks like the Reaper is still crying over his mommy."

There was a roar of laughter, but it was short lived, as loud deliberate coughs distracted them. "There will be no talking in this class without permission. Is that understood? Or would you rather I have you say that to Tatsuo's face?" Osamu said firmly. The boys quickly began shaking their heads in fear. "That is what I thought. Now, let is begin."

After a few minutes into Osamu's lesson, Kasumi turned around to the girl behind her. "Excuse me, but is there a reason they call Tatsuo the Reaper?"

The girl answered quietly. "Rumor has it he killed a guy with a single punch. Not someone you should be messing with, especially if his punches can cause blood to fly out of your mouth."

"Fukui, Mizuki. Gossiping is for your break hours, and not while I am teaching. Is that understood?" Osamu interrupted, again in his annoyed but firm tone.

"I'm so sorry!" Kasumi apologized, her attention returning to the lesson.

Fukui Chiharu – "Say cheese!"
UE - 04:13, July 6, 2012 (UTC)

Chiharu has spent the first week of school trying to avoid Kamiko while she regulary hung out with Akako and Aoi during break hours. Today, however, she saw that new girl Kasumi sitting by herself.

"Hey, that new chick sure is cute," Akako pointed out. "Hope you guys don't mind if I ask her out! I'm sure she wouldn't resist a very attractive guy like me!"

"Like you'd really have a shot at her," Aoi scowled. "I don't think she's exactly your type."

"Oh? Is someone getting jealous?" Akako moaned in disappointment in a playful manner.

"The day I'm jealous of you, Mr. Hotshot, is the day pigs will fly," Aoi remarked a little sarcastically.

"Look," Chiharu spoke up. "While you two continue flirting with each other, I'm gonna pay a little visit." She started off towards the table where Kasumi sat.

"She doesn't really understand why we're like that, does she?" Akako said as he and his best friend looked on.

"I've given up explaining. It's none of anyone's business anyway," Aoi replied.

"Hmm. Good point," Akako added.

Chiharu was at Kasumi's table. "Miss Mizuki? Um..." She struggled with words, as she was stepping a little beyond her comfort zone. It had always been hard making new friends.

"Yes? May I... help you?" Kasumi asked, stammering on the words herself.

"Aren't you lonely sitting by yourself?" Chiharu asked.

"Well, a little..." came Kasumi's small reply.

"A little? Oh come on!" Chiharu rolled her eyes, but then has an idea. "I know! Why don't you sit with me and my friends!" With that, she drags Kasumi to the table where Aoi and Akako were still at before the new girl could say anything else. "I'm Fukui Chiharu! These are my friends Akiyama Aoi and Koizumi Akako. Guys, this is..."

The new girl bows. "Mizuki Kasumi!"

Akako's eyes were brightened. "Mizuki, huh? My do you look ravishing! I'm am so honored to have a pretty girl like you sit at my table."

"Ah! Don't go groveling! She's new here!" Chiharu whined.

"It's okay, I'm..." Kasumi was at loss for words.

"You just moved here?" Aoi asked.

"Why yes!" Kasumi answered. "I'm having my senior year here!"

While the conversation picked up, Chiharu glanced across the lunchroom and saw Kamiko staring right at her, with determination in her eyes. Determined to make Chiharu's life a living hell. Chiharu tried to shake the dread feeling off and returned to conversing.

Kasumi noticed something wrong right away. "Miss Fukui? Is there something wrong?"

Chiharu shook her head. "No. Nothing." Yes, I'm denying. I can't burden anyone with my problems. Especially someone who's new and possibly naive.

Ah...it looks like its going to rain today.

The wind blew Aerys' hair around his face as he walked down the empty sidewalk. Cars were starting to drive by; morning rush hour had not yet begun, and the early risers were already on their way to work. Aerys' mouth tightened into a frown. He was the earliest riser he had ever known. He always used to get up first, even before his parents. Back before they woke up, he would always sit next to their bedroom door, cradled in his favorite blanket...

He blinked back bitter memories and unexpected tears. These days, he got up so early so he could get to school. His rent and living expenses didn't leave enough spare change for bus fare, and he wasn't old enough to drive, so he had to walk to and from school every day. The trip took about an hour and a half, each way. He had not been going to Takarazuka Academy long; indeed, this was his first year there, and school started a week ago. He was a sophomore.

The entrance exams were easy....as usual. Everything is easy....

Aerys had always excelled in school, oftentimes without even trying. He used to make his parents so proud, he remembered; they would always hug him extra hard and give him extra dessert whenever he brought home his report cards. They would smile at him so brightly, even through their coughing.

There I go again...I've got to stop.

Aerys looked up from his shoelaces to find that he had almost arrived in school. The route he took was already ingrained in his mind, allowing him to take his time and explore his thoughts while he made the commute. Looking around, he found he was a little early, again. Not many students were at the campus yet. He sighed and entered the main school building, heading for his locker. Another boring, lonely day.

The final bell rang for class, and all of the other students in his class rushed up and left as soon as they could. Aerys stood and gathered his things, standing up and cleaning his area. His teacher looked at him with a sympathetic look, but Aerys pretended not to see it and left the classroom. He noticed flyers on the hallway walls, explosively depicting comedic portraits of students doing wildly athletic and heroic deeds. He stopped to observe one picturing an Amazonian woman swimming through piranha-infested waters. Apparently she was going so fast that she was leaving behind a trail of fire...on the water.

Hmph...Cross swimming team off the list...

He started down the hallway to his locker, passing the stragglers and conversational people still roaming the school. He pondered whether or not he should join a club, after all - it would look good on his records, but what would it be like, being in one? The point of clubs was to get closer to a group of close-knit students while doing fun, extra-curricular activities, but that was exactly the opposite of Aerys' goals. I only came here to please Mom and Dad... I don't feel comfortable around my own apartment neighbors, not to mention random kids in a club... The flyers just got more and more absurd - muscle-bound men with golden hair wrestling each other down to the ground, huge black men breaking goals with basketballs, blue hedgehogs running faster than the speed of light in track and field...did they really expect anybody to want to join one of these?

Even if I did join one...would I be able to handle it? I barely have enough time as it is....

One of the flyers on the floor caught Aerys' eye just as he left the school building. Hm? This one doesn't have any crazy pictures on it... In fact... it doesn't have any pictures on it. The flyer was dirty and ripped, and handwritten. He scanned it quickly and found its claims to actually be reasonable. Minimal after school time, extensive writing, little to no actual club meetings...this Journalism club went right up his alley. Aerys stuffed the flyer into his back pocket and left the school. By now, the courtyard was empty.

Journalism club...would you guys like that?

Nighttime was falling by the time Aerys was close to his house. He had homework, as usual, but he would finish it before it got too late. He always did.

I took my time getting home tonight...I won't have time to go salvage something today. Damn. He put his hand in his pocket and started fiddling around with some random nuts and bolts. He started keeping them in his pockets recently, to keep his hands busy. Better than opening his mouth...a fat load of good that did for him.

An hour and a half later, he had completed all of his homework, and Aerys sat looking outside his window. Pretty night... The stars were out tonight. He looked back down to his lap and continued his sketch. For a portable cannon to be possible...Energy consumption would be extremely high, so energy conversion would be necessary, as carrying around enough energy to power it would be impossible for portability...So then...a portable reactor? For that, one would need extra fuel, as well as a chamber for actual reactions. The aspect of portability would be impossible...Might as well scratch that off. I wouldn't be able to find any materials for it anyway...

He yawned, and rolled up his scrawled on blueprint. He emptied his front pockets and started cleaning up his small bedroom, when a piece of paper fell out of his back pocket. He grabbed it, and looked at it quizzingly. I don't usually put anything back there...Journalism? Oh...yeah... He studied it for a minute, considering again how it would affect his free time. After work, I wouldn't have time to go salvage... or to just walk about... As if to interrupt his thoughts, a siren lit up the night sky with its blaring noise. He looked out of his window and peered down into the small street under his apartment. A sleek black car zoomed through, and a police car followed after it. Both of them were going extremely fast.

More gangs? Man...this was supposed to be a quiet neighborhood. What is this place coming to...?

He crumpled up the club flyer and threw it towards the garbage can. He missed.

"Hnngaaa!"

As the figure skated fowards towards the end of the rink, he performed a number of techniques in one fluid motion: Leaning forward, he pulled his stick back to above waist height before bringing it down towards the disc of black vulcanized rubber that lay on the ice before him. The stick touched down before it, and with the player putting his full weight onto it, it began to flex as it dragged across the ice. However, the force but behind the flex was too much, and as soon as the stick made contact with the puck, the stick shattered in half as the massive potential energy that had been stored up in the stick converted to kinetic energy, the stick unable to contain it all.

All of this occurring in five tenths of a second.

"Ugh, damn!" Uiharu yelled as he flung the remaining half a stick towards the empty net in ire, his face, which may only be described as unusually pretty for a male his age, contorted in irritation. A few members of the team chuckled as he returned to the bench to grab a new one.

"Try to get the puck into the net next time, hmm?" Protested a teammate in jest.

"Shut up." Retorted Ui bluntly as he pushed between a pair of players standing idly between him and the bench. Rushing to the dressing room quickly, he returned with a new stick, and flew back onto the ice, determined to take a successful shot this time at least.

"A bit of a stick in the ass, he is." The player who had flung the insult earlier stated plainly.

"Yes, well...that's sort of his job as Assistant Captain, isn't it?" Another teammate chimed in. "Especially now that we're entering the playoffs."

"Aaatatata..." was all that the insulting player could retort before taking back to doing his skating drills. The Umihana Waveriders, Uiharu Toketsu's outside-of-school club ice hockey team were heading to the postseason for the first time since Ui joined in his freshman year. Now a junior having invested three years into the team, his eyes were on the ultimate prize - the regional championship. Beyond that would lie eternal glory, but "Let's not look too far away...", Ui thought to himself as he dragged a puck out of the corner and passed it to his teammate, who's neat snapshot found the back of the net. Yet, a nagging thought plagued Ui as barked out a short compliment. True enough, school had started this week, which is supposed to be an egregious conflict, but yet...

"A guy has to have his priorities, right?"

After two and half hours of practice, the bevy of sweaty young men returned to the locker room to change - the local community ice rink didn't have showers like the school's rink - amongst a certifiable onslaught of noise: the clatter of equipment being removed and metal lockers being slammed open and shut, the grind of sharpened skates on concrete (which is terrible for the edge of the skate) and the loud rock music emanating from a boombox in the corner. Though none of the guys could be alone with their thoughts, they were all thinking the same as Ui: the chance to win it all, and the willingness to give up school to do so.

After he was done changing (which he did quickly), Uiharu pulled his shoulder length hair, sweaty from the practice, into a ponytail to keep it out of the way. It drew a few snickers from his teammates who disapproved of the length of his hair, but Ui pushed forth and ignored them - his hair didn't affect his play anyhow. Once outside in the unusually chilly April air which felt nice on his blushed face, he pulled his cell phone, a Softbank, and dialed his home phone.

"Hey, mom? Yeah, I'm done....thanks."

Despite his parents' insistence on getting his drivers license, they had steadfastly refused to buy him his own car - the reason of which was lost on Ui. Shoving his phone back into his pocket, he adjusted the large bag holding his equipment to reach into his other pocked to retrieve his wallet. Pulling out his license, he could only stare forlornly at it. "I guess it's good for ID?" Sighing, he put back his wallet and resigned to leaning back against the nearest wall, attempting to look as cool as he could while waiting for his ride to arrive.

At Takarazuka's entrance, Kasumi fumbled awkwardly with her bus money, finally handing the correct amount of change to the driver, who nodded with understanding. Everyone else in line, however, were a bit less sympathetic, although a few students already seated recognized her as the "new girl" and offered small smiles. Uncomfortable with sitting next to someone that might offer conversation she couldn't return, Kasumi chose to remain standing towards the back of the bus. Only an old woman that smelled strongly of ginger paid her any heed, although she seemed to be giving everyone the evil eye at the moment.

This was not a school bus but a public city bus; a disembodied feminine coolly announced each successive stop as the driver drove deeper into Umihana's urban district. Kasumi pulled out a crumpled note from her jacket pocket, with Aki's messy handwriting:

Kasumi -

The stop is at the corner of Jiyu and Shokki streets. Walk down Shokki, away from Jiyu, and you'll see a large black building called Moirai on the left. You'll need to wait for me in the lobby for a while, so buy something to eat! I'll be done around 5:30.Here's my work phone if you need it.

Love, Aki

Aki had been unable to take off work for Kasumi's first day of school, so instead she had asked Kasumi to come to her workplace and wait for her. Kasumi wished Aki would have trusted her with a key, but she wasn't too concerned. She knew Aki had tried hard to get a day off, but since she had already asked for a day off to pick up Kasumi at the train station, her boss had denied her request.

Over time, I'll earn more of Aki's trust.

Kasumi thought about the people she had met on her first day. Osamu-sensei is so spirited! He knows how to keep the class in line. And I actually didn't eat lunch by myself. Chiharu-san was pretty nice... She remembered one of the boy's names was Aoi but couldn't quite place the other one. Overall, she'd rate today a success. And she still had the rest of the afternoon to spend!

Jiyu and Shokki, announced the cool female voice. Kasumi reached over to pull the yellow rope, but she had no need; the words STOP REQUEST suddenly appeared on a monitor at the front of the bus, accompanied by a bright clingling noise. Kasumi jumped and retracted her hand; a couple of audible snickers could be heard from the younger group in the front.

The ginger woman, draped in several shawls, had pulled the yellow rope and rose rather quickly for someone so outwardly frail. She motioned for Kasumi to exit the bus and then followed close behind, not pausing to watch the doors close behind her and Kasumi.

As the bus sped off, the woman immediately began to walk down Shokki Street, a tattered red scarf flapping in the wind. Kasumi hesitated, wanting to put a bit of space between herself and the woman, until the woman spoke:

"Well? Aren't you coming along?"

"E-excuse me, how do you know where I'm going?" replied Kasumi. The woman scoffed. Her breath smelled like ginger too. "No one gets off at this stop unless they're headed for Moirai."

"I see..." Kasumi kept pace with the woman, but they didn't have to walk far in awkward silence before the glass revolving door of Moirai Genetics Facility loomed into sight from around the corner of a crumbling brick parking complex. The door was part of a penninsula of the building that jutted off from the main facility farther away from the street, surrounded by a decently kept lawn. The woman remained outside; Kasumi, not being able to hold revolving doors open for the elderly, slipped inside wordlessly. She looked back through for a quick second to see the woman walking briskly over to a lawn bench and taking some vague object out of her shawls. Another cool voice, not unlike that of the unseen bus woman, accosted her, and she spun around:

"Welcome to Moirai. Can I help you?" The speaker was an actual woman, who gave a very slight bow as Kasumi turned to face her. She was surprised visitors were greeted so quickly at the door.

"Um, yes, I'm supposed to wait here for my sister, Aki Misuki. Could you tell me where to stay?"

"Ah, Miss Misuki is not scheduled to end her shift until 5:30 sharp. You'll need to wait here in the main lobby." replied the woman, who Kasumi felt was abnormally exacting. "Yes, that's fine. Is there a room with a television or something?"

"There is no electronic media here. Please help yourself to the magazines." The greeter ushered Kasumi into an gathering of somber black leather couches, all at some distance magazine table like gamblers trying to hide their cards. Further away from the entrance was a narrow hallway leading into the main building; it was staffed with two guards, ending any hope of escaping the sofas' embrace.

So much for my exciting day," Kasumi thought. She checked her cellphone; it was only 4:00, so she had another hour and a half to wait. She attempted to lose herself in an overtly colorful cooking magazine, sneaking peeks at the few people who were heading towards the entrance from the main hallway. No one joined her at the couches. She wasn't really sure what this place was, not really sure what "moirai" or "genetics" were supposed to be.

She was about to make a half-hearted attempt to find out by selecting a Moirai brochure on top of a lonely stack of sports magazines when someone leaving the main lobby caught her eye. A girl with long, black hair to her waist, a face she somewhat knew....

"Hey! Um... hi. My name's Kasumi.... Do you remember-" The girl, who was wearing glasses that had been absent at school, kept walking, apparently oblivious. "Hey!" Kasumi called, now standing and slightly embarrassed. She just didn't want to be alone with the black leather and magazines anymore.

The long-haired girl gave a start. "Oh! Hello... Kasumi? Er, can I help you with something else?"

"Uh, well, I was just surprised to see you here, since.. well we're in the same class and everything," replied Kasumi, nonplussed. She noticed the girl had rather pronounced lines under her eyes that also weren't there in class.

"Fancy that," replied the girl. There was another moment of awkward silence like with the ginger lady, then she continued, "Well, I'm Takano Sokutei. I'll see you in class, I guess?..."

She made a small movement to exit, but Kasumi pressed on: "Do you work here? You might know my sister."

"I wouldn't really call it work..." Sokutei scratched the back of her head. "It's just my first day here. I'm an intern, and they were showing me all the hoops I had to jump through, really...."

"Hoops?" Kasumi frowned. "I thought this was a scientific facility..."

"For an intern it's only so much cleaning and message taking. You could call me a glorified dishwasher, I suppose." Another small movement to exit was cut off: "Oh, so you'll be coming here everyday, then?" asked Kasumi. "I have to take the bus here, but I didn't see you on it."

"Uh. Yes. That's because I drove," said Sokutei blankly. "I was actually about to get back to my car right about now..."

"Oh."

I wonder if I'll regret this, thought Sokutei. "Do you need a ride somewhere, or something?"

"Oh!" said Kasumi again. "I'm just waiting for my sister here, but I have about an hour free. Are you doing anything?"

"I was going to go to the mall for sushi, actually..." Sokutei fumbled, wearing a smile that wasn't really all there. "...If you wanted to come? That is, assuming your sister has no problem with it? I would warn you that my driving skills are quite mediocre so if you don't want to I understand-"

"No, I love sushi! And I have Aki's number. If you can bring me back by 5:30 that would be great!" Kasumi's eyes lit up.

"Oh. Well. Great. Follow me?" Sokutei twirled her keys and they passed through the revolving doors like mice in a wheel cage.

Kasumi followed Sokutei to her car, both girls were feeling uneasy and nervous. Once they reach to Sokutei's vehicle Kasumi waited on her end while Sokutei unlock the doors, once the door was unlock she nervously get in. Sokutei start up her car the moment Kasumi got it, a awkward silence settle between Kasumi try to start a conversation but find it hard to get the words out while Sokutei focus on her driving.

"So..." Kasumi take quick breath before continuing, "the school is kinda big huh?" she asked in a nervous tone.

Sokutei took some time before she respond back, "I, guess... I seen some that bigger then one here."

"Oh! Well..." Kasumi sighed, "Sorry, I'm still getting use to living here. So... what else is at the mall?"

"Well, I normally just go for the sushi.... there are other attractions, I suppose, like clothing stores?" Sokutei explains "An excess of clothing stores and not nearly enough sushi bars."

"Isn't one sushi bar good enough? Especially if it has really good sushi?" Kasumi asked

Sokutei reply "I suppose that makes sense. I've been going there enough to vouch for its quality. Hopefully you'll like it too." Sokutei keep driving for while to point she doesn't recognize where she going.

Kasumi speak up again a bit worry "Um... Sokutei-san, how long does it take to drive to the mall?"

"I've never driven from Moirai before. Honestly, I'm not sure. Can you turn on the GPS for me?" replies Sokutei

"But.. I don't know what put down...." Kasumi telling her sound more worry

"Could you just... type in Umihana Mall, please? I need to keep both hands on the wheel."

"Oh! Yes I'm sorry!" turn the GPS on type in name on it then GPS help Sokutei guide her to mall.

After several more missed bypasses, the girls arrived at Umihana Mall, parking a fair distance away from the actual entrance.

"Sorry we aren't closer, it's easier to park in a less crowded area," said Sokutei and she closer the driver's door and began walking towards the mall. Kasumi looked around; there were only five other cars in their lot, and Sokutei had placed her car in the spot farthest from them.. "It's alright," she said, following Sokutei through the more crowded lots, under boughs of budding trees awakening from their winter sleep. "It's nice to walk past all the cherry trees they planted."

"There's a cherry blossom festival in a few weeks," replied Sokutei as they passed through the glass doors that parted smoothly upon their approach.

"Really? I would be interested in seeing that. Oh, wow...." Kasumi's attention was immediately drawn from the peacefulness of the pink buds to the din and roar of hundreds of people bustling around the central hub of the mall.

Sokutei nervously checked her watch several times. "Kasumi? Kasumi? Kasumi?" The last inquiry was accompanied by a very quick tap to Kasumi's shoulder.

"Sorry! I've never been in such a... colorful place before. Oh, excuse me!" Kasumi quickly stepped away to accompany the path of several middle school girls who insisted on walking side by side.

"It's worse immediately after school, which is when I usually come here. Speaking of time, let's hurry to the sushi bar. We need to get you back to Moirai by 5:30, yes?"

Kasumi nodded. "Yes, I'm sure there will be another time to visit the rest of the shops." Sokutei didn't say anything in reply, stopping only when they arrived at a kiosk with neon lettering announcing KOZO SUSHI in violent green. "Did you have an idea of what you'd like?" Sokutei questioned Kasumi after greeting the cashier in a familiar custom.

"The menu looks so complicated..." Kasumi stared up at an array of similarly garish panel on the wall behind the cashier, displaying blinking images of sushi with captions etched out in rainbow coloring. She did not feel that this sushi bar fit with Sokutei's personality.

Sokutei seemed to know what she was thinking. "They use this type of marketing to attract customers, but it's rather irrelevant since their sushi's quality speaks for itself. I can order for both of us if you'd like," she said, stealing another glance at her watch.

"Sounds good. I'm a fan of everything. I'll go find us a seat!" Kasumi turned towards the main food court area, and after some maneuvering located an empty, albeit very dirty booth. Looking for a place to find paper towels, she took several minutes to locate the bathroom, where she overheard the same group of middle school students in venomous conversation about some classmate of theirs.

Feeling hurried by their strings of profanities, she grabbed a handful of paper towels, ran them under the faucet while avoiding eye contact, and returned to the table, which she found to be occupied by an elderly couple who appeared to be fretting over its general untidiness. Smiling, she offered to clean it, which they happily agreed to. Unfortunately, they didn't seem to be intent on giving up the table, having taken her for a mall custodian.

Kasumi had no better luck walking around the entire seating area, and by the time she returned to Kozo Sushi, Sokutei was loading several plates of sushi onto a tray. "I was going to say that you shouldn't bother finding a place here; there's another area where we can sit. Follow me." They made their way out of the food court area towards a bookstore and sat down at a table just outside, nestled in by a few potted plants and just underneath a panel in the roof that let in the sun.

Sokutei pushed a few plates towards Kasumi. "Shrimp tempura. Everyone likes shrimp tempura." She then promptly dug a book out her bag, opened it up to a bookmark, and placed it between her face and Kasumi, who, nonplussed, began to eat. After about a minute, assuming the best and hoping Sokutei wasn't just ignoring her, she dove into the tricky business that is light conversation.

"So, Sokutei-san... I saw some posters around school today. Are you in any of the after-school clubs?"

Sokutei lowered her book very slightly without moving her eyes. "I had a job prior to starting my internship, so I wasn't able to. I'm only working at Moirai twice a week now, so perhaps I will."

"I'm thinking about joining some as well! Perhaps we'll be in some together!"

"Mmhm." Sokutei's book rose back to its previous position. Kasumi took another piece of shrimp tempura roll before trying again. "I saw a flower shop while we were walking. I was..."

"Mmhm."

Perhaps I should try to talk about something she's more interested in... Hmm.... "What are you reading? It looks interesting."

Sokutei actually looked up this time, her eyes seemingly more magnified by her glasses than usual. "Oh, it's a manga set in a world with many alternate Earths. Just some light reading."

"But the cover says Journal of Molecular Biochemistry - Selections on Metabolic Adaption."

"Wha? Oh." Sokutei slid her right hand up to reveal a thin manga within the larger Journal. "I keep the books like this at home to make my mother think I'm actually reading something productive." She turned slightly red. "Erm, we should probably get back soon."

"Yes, could you drop me off back at Moirai? My sister should be waiting for me there," said Kasumi.

"Alright," said Sokutei, closing the hardcover book over the manga and finishing her last piece of shrimp tempura roll. "Do you know what department she works in? There are two entrances to Moirai; I could drop you off at the one closer to where she works."

"I'm not sure. All I know about my sister's job is that she had to stay in school to get a master's degree for it, and that it takes up too much of her time!" Kasumi laughed.

"An upper level position in Moirai is something certain people value very highly." said Sokutei quietly as they parted the mall doors and a cool spring breeze greeted them.

"Oh? Is it your goal to work there eventually? Aki doesn't like the hours, but she says it has decent benefits and pay. I don't think she would be able to afford providing for me if she didn't have such a good job."

Sokutei was about to say something when Kasumi's cellphone buzzed with a lighthearted chime. "Aki just texted me... she has to work until 7. That's two hours from now!"

"I suppose you jinxed her by talking about her hours," said Sokutei as they got into the car. "Did you want to wait at Moirai? I suppose I can take you back to your home, if you'd trust me to."

"Sure! I can buzz the landlord's office to let me in, Aki introduced him to me when I moved in just in case something like this would happen."

"I think our larger worry is me driving us home in one piece. If you would be so kind as to commandeer the GPS again?" Sokutei guided her Honda out of the lot, which wasn't much of an ordeal considering the few cars present when they arrived had since departed.

"Haha, sounds good!" said Kasumi as she punched her address into the GPS. The ride home went mostly smoothly, with Kasumi providing small bites of conversation that usually died off with Sokutei nodding her head slightly. As they drew closer to Kasumi's apartment, though, Sokutei frowned.

"This is a rather congested part of Umihana. I'm not really familiar with the area, and everyone behind me is impatient." Kasumi turned in her seat to see a line of cars piling up on the highway due to Sokutei's slow, measured speed.

"Would you mind if we parked a bit farther away from your place and walked?" asked Sokutei. Kasumi noticed a drop of sweat run down her face. "Sure, Sokutei. There's an old open lot if we turn right on Kagawa Street in two more blocks, and it shouldn't be more than a 5 minute walk to my apartment from there."

"Thank you. I just... I would prefer not to have this kind of pressure." Sokutei made the right turn onto the less congested road, and most of the traffic sped on, except for a beat-up red sedan that lingered behind them. Sokutei and Kasumi drove past several run-down apartment buildings, half of which seem occupied.

Their Honda turned into the open lot, built around a long-since abandoned convenience store. As soon as they exited the vehicle, however, the red sedan pulled up next to them...

Uiharu stopped walking for a moment to readjust the strap on his weighty hockey bag, fit to burst with his equipment, as it was painfully cutting into his shoulder. Sighing, he continued on his way. He has been waiting after practice for near twenty minutes before receiving a text from his mother, Mirai, who was supposed to pick him up.

forgot ageha had violin prac. 2day. plz walk home? ~^_^;~

That was half an hour ago. He didn't live close to school, and the combined weight of his equipment and bookbag weighed as much as a small child, to be sure.

"At least it's a nice day..." he thought, in a feeble attempt to fend off his disappointment.

Continuing on, he reviewed the day's drills in his head to take his mind off of the weighty pain digging into his shoulder, along with his legs, already sore from practice.

Or, at least he tried to.

A distinctly girlish scream broke him out of his reverie. The tone of the wail, neither joyful nor playful in nature, slightly alarmed Ui. Craning his neck to locate the source of the disturbance, he found it - a group further down the street, three young men exiting a red Toyota, advancing on two girls backed up against a shitty white Honda.

After thoroughly processing exactly just how shitty this particular Honda was, his eye caught something marginally more important.

"Takarazuka uniforms...!"

Before any logical thought could be processed, it clicked. Uiharu broke into a dead sprint, slowed to a heavy jog by the weight of his bags and his sore calves, until he had inserted himself between the two parties, who, too focused on each other, hadn't noticed the tall, leggy blonde step in front of the two girls and throw his arms out to either side until it happened. It was only after Ui shouted, "What do you guys want with these girls!?", that he glanced down and noticed the large knife with a four-inch blade being brandished in his direction by what appeared to be the leader of the opposing gang, his apparent henchmen winged at his sides. It was only then that Ui's stomach lurched, a sign that he may have gotten himself in over his head.

The knife-wielding accoster, a buzz-cutted young man wearing a white headband and street clothes in lieu of a school uniform, was undeterred. "Get out of our way, you girly-faced freak! We have some business to attend to with these young ladies." Beside him his accomplices, one tall and lanky, the other short and rotund, broke into a strange laughter in unison. Behind Ui, one of the girls spoke out, but he dared not turn his head to see which one lest a cheap shot catch him off guard. "We've never seen these guys before in our lives! Please, help us!" She pleaded, her fear very real in her voice. Next to her, the other girl started furiously punching away on her keitai, remaining silent. Whoever she was dialing in the moment was lost, as the lanky cohort reached out to slap the phone out of her hand, while attempting to order her to "Don't call anyone!"

However, he only managed to get out the first two words before a swift left hook met his chin, and his chin met pavement. In that instant, it was on.

The girls, fleeing to the far side of the shitty Honda, witnessed the rest of the fight from there - after the tall sidekick had hit the deack, K.O.'d, the leader of the trio took a wide swing of his knife at Ui, which he was able to dodge due to the sloppiness of the attack. Ui countered by throwing his bookbag at the thug's feet, tripping him up enough for Ui to buy enough time to gather his hockey stick out of his sports bag. In a single swift movement, and before the leader could regain his footing, Ui viciously speared the butt end of the stick into his midsection, causing the leader to double over, clutching his stomach, to roll on the ground, howling in pain.

Feeling the rush of adrenaline, the blonde maniac, stick in hand, motioned for the last man standing to have a go.

"Come on!" Ui yelled, throwing up his hands. "Get some!"

The portly thug, though, thoroughly scared, made what was probably the smartest decision he had made in weeks, turned tail and ran as fast in the opposite direction as fast as his stubby legs could carry him.

It was at that point that Ui felt a giant tug on the back of his collar. He turned to see a girl in glasses, her face still frozen with fear, throw open the back door and muttered a hurried "Get in!" Ui took a quick moment to gather his things and throw them hodgepodge into the back seat before launching himself into what he only then realized was the shitty Honda.

The girl with the glasses got into the driver's seat and fumbled with the keys while the other girl, looking more scared than the first, hurried into the passenger side. The driver spoke first. "Kasumi, we're going to your place. We can't stay here, I called the police." The girl in the passenger seat, apparently Kasumi, hurriedly nodded before turning to finally get a good look at the blonde maniac in the back seat. Her eyes widened at what she saw, which then got wider as she noticed something more.

"That uniform! You go to Takarazuka? Oh my god, your hand!"

Uiharu, still brimming with adrenaline, looked over to his left hand to find a large gash that hand opened up running from between his middle and ring finger knuckles down to the middle of the back of his hand, about an inch in length. It look Ui a moment to realize that the gash was bleeding rather profusely, as if it wasn't even his injury, before scrambling with his good hand through his sports bag to salvage a cruddy t-shirt to wrap around the wound.

He mumbled a quick apology for bleeding all over the back seat before the car turned back into strained silence. It didn't last, however, as Ui realized he was in the back of a stranger's car heading towards an unknown destination. Leaning forward and brushing the hair out of his face, he asked the girl with the glasses, "Er, where exactly are we going? And what did those guys want?"

Penalty to Umihana, number 97. Five minutes for fighting.
Penalty to Umihana, number 97. Five minutes and a ten minute game misconduct for spearing.

"I'd rather not know!" the driver shrilled, as the Honda skitted haphazardly onto the freeway. "How hurt are you?" She twisted around in her seat to face him, green eyes wary and gated behind black-rimmed spectacles, and uttered another soft shrilling sound upon finding his blood-soaked arm.

"It's not that bad-" he began, but was unceremoniously cut off. "You're getting blood on the seat!" She thrust a bulk size container of bleach wipes behind her (it was not an option), keeping the Honda only marginally in line with traffic.

"Uh..." Uiharu was beginning to wonder whether his injury or the upholstery was more important to her. He took the canister gingerly with his right hand and somehow managed to fish a couple of the things out. "Do you have something that isn't drenched with bleach? You know, for me?"

"I can help you," the girl in the passenger seat spoke up. Her eyes, while green like the other's, were brighter, warmer. "Thank you so much for helping us. I'm Mizuki Kasumi, and this is my friend Takano Sokutei." She gave him a light pink length of fabric with a look that seemed almost shy through lingering panic. The cloth stained crimson as if it was an unfolding rose as he pressed it to his hand, each knuckle a thorn. "Don't worry about it. Where are we going?" he asked again, to distract himself from the pain.

"My house, on Tsutsuji Drive." came the terse answer of the girl called Sokutei. "The parking is more reliable." Her tone softened as she looked to the other girl. "I'm sorry, Kasumi. It would be best if you contacted your sister and let her know what happened." Her hands belied the conviction in her voice; Uiharu could see that they were shaking on the steering wheel.

"Hey, it's just a little blood, no big deal," began Uiharu again, hoping that a calmer driver would result in a calmer drive. "I have no problems with blood," she responded coolly, and Uiharu decided to let it drop. It wasn't anything to him if she was trying to prove something.

Kasumi finished texting her sister and turned towards Uiharu once more. "What year are you in?" came her sudden non sequitur. "Sokutei and I are seniors. You seem familiar...?"

"Toketsu Uiharu, junior," he stated, the words tasting too formal. "You're the new transfer student? Welcome to Umihana. I promise we're not all like those thugs in the lot."

"I can see that," she responded with a knowing smile.

The car ride passed by in an odd sort of dichotomy. Kasumi presented pleasant queries to Uiharu, who answered briefly but honestly, while Sokutei prickled silently in the driver's seat. Finally, at a insolently overlong red light, the girl in the back seat turned her attention to the one in the front.

"Aki responded to me. She's worried, but relieved that we're okay. Can I tell her your address?"

"Tsutsuji Drive," Sokutei responded, rattling off the district and building number. "We also be calling the police, as I am sure they will also want to know of this?" She didn't wait for a response, instead fumbling for her own phone, keeping one hand perched precariously on the wheel.

"Hey, uh.... would you mind not calling while driving? Kasumi or I can make the call," said Uiharu dryly. Given the condition of his hand, his efforts were no more graceful than Sokutei's. She made an irritated clicking noise and started to respond, but lowered her phone instead.

"On second thought... I don't know if that's the best idea," the hockey player continued. "My hand's treated, and I don't want to get any more involved with those thugs than we have to."

He looked to Kasumi, who murmured in agreement. "I don't want to make too much trouble of this... Those boys were hurt too..."

The answer elicited another clicking noise from Sokutei. Kasumi continued, "I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid right now. But this could escalate if we let too many other people know. I hope we can trust that those bullies learned their lesson." She finished somewhat uncertainly, but beamed at Uiharu to seem more confident.

"I don't look for fights, but I can be around to make sure they aren't a problem... I'm usually at hockey after school, though, so..."

Kasumi pounced on the lighter subject. "Oh, I should join an after school club as well! How about you, Sokutei? Are you in any clubs?"

"I work," came the terse reply. Sokutei knew when she had lost an argument, but she was rather bad at showing it gracefully. "We're here."

She turned slightly too late into her own driveway, narrowly avoiding decapitating the mailbox.

Sokutei breathed a sigh of relief as the door opened, unlocked - her mother was at least there. "Mom? I'm home. There's something you should know." As Kasumi and Uiharu followed her into the narrow hallway, she snatched glances around the empty hallway, kicked off her shoes, and drifted to the door leading to the basement. "Mom? I -"

"Very busy right now! Please don't bother me!" the muffled voice interrupted through the door. It sounded pleasant, yet slightly harried.

"Ok, Mom. I have.. classmates over."

"They can't bother me either!"

"I...*sigh* We won't."

"Thanks! Be a good host!"

Sokutei rolled her eyes away from the door to a bemused Kasumi, as well as an Uiharu who seemed to be struggling between laughing and keeping a stone face. "Would you like some tea?" It was the default gambit for entertaining guests; she had become an expert at it over the years.

Cups and kettle were set within minutes, the latter stuffed with a supposedly harmonious assortment of leaves. As tea was poured, Uiharu decided to break the silence. "There's a tea ceremony club at school, I think. I mean, I don't know too much about it, but..." he stammered and glanced at Sokutei. "Maybe you'd be interested in it, if you found the time?"

"Assuming I had the time, I wouldn't be interested in it anyway," Sokutei replied. "This is not some sort of form of entertainment for me. It is a talent born of necessity, if you can even call it a talent."

"You do a good job of it!" Kasumi interjected, helping herself to another cup with a flourish. "I think the really fancy tea ceremonies have such a beautiful art to them. And there's a school club open house tomorrow. Perhaps I... we? Can look around? It's during lunch hour."

"I guess," shrugged Ui. "I'm committed to my sport, but it wouldn't hurt." They both looked expectantly at Sokutei.

"I.... suppose," she sighed. "After today, I could use something more... normal."

ending for now, idk if I need to do more at house stuff but we'll see

After a period of time with his two new female friends(?) that was both too long and not long enough, Ui finally managed to get through to his mom to arrange a ride from Sokutei's house. Gathering up his things to leave, he turned to Kasumi.

"Do you have a ride, or would you like one?" He offered.

Kasumi nodded. "Sure! I think Aki might be busy." She too gathered up her bags before turning to Sokutei and giving her a deep bow of gratitude. "Thank you for the hospitality, Sokutei!" Uiharu offered a simple two-fingered salute with a nod, from his forehead to up in the air to show his thanks.

"Oh, think nothing of it." Sokutei returned. "Really. Oh, and Toketsu-kōhai...since I haven't properly stated it yet," She seemed to struggle to get the words out. "Thank you for what you did back there. I sincerely appreciate it." She adjusted her glasses and gave a slightly less cold accompanying smile.

Ui tried hard to hide his, with moderate success. "Oh, it was nothing, really," he mumbled. "I do it all the time, you know?" He continued, a vague reference to his physical play on the ice, a reference lost on the scientific girl. "Erm, no, I don't think I do." She replied, blinking.

Feeling a settling air of awkwardness, Ui desperately glanced out the window, hoping for an escape. Thankfully, he found it in his mother's Mazda idling in the driveway.

"Oh, my mom's here. See you tomorrow!" Ui blurted out before slinking out the door, Kasumi following. Halfway to the car, she stopped him, tugging his bookbag.

"Toketsu-kōhai, I just wanted to let you know, what you did was really brave back there. You didn't have to help us out, but you did. So, thank you."

Ui gave a sort of stupid looking sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head. "Seriously, don't thank me, I was glad to help. And you can just call me Uiharu, or Ui if you want."

"Okay then, Ui!" Kasumi beamed. "You know, in all the manga I've read, these sort of situations, after they happen, the people involved become inseparable, friends for life. Do you believe in that sort of thing, Ui?"

Ui turned the question over in his head, thinking it nonsense at first, but then he saw it: a golden opportunity. "I guess, right? It's something I won't be forgetting soon, that's for sure. Hey, can I get your number? Maybe we can hang out sometime?"

Kasumi seemed slightly taken aback by the sudden forward request, but happily complied before the pair clambered into the back of the waiting Mazda. A knowing sort of grin was visible on the woman waiting in the driver seat.

"Oho, what do we have here? You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend, Ui~" she teased.

Kasumi's face turned bright red and Ui buried his own as far deep into his hands as it could go.

This is unusually lively...

The campus of St. Perry's Academy was indeed bustling with activity on its front lawn and surrounding courtyards. This was odd, as Aerys arrived quite early every morning at the school. Over the precisely manicured grasses of the campus, many students were busy running around carrying materials or putting up stands. As he walked by them on his way to class, Aerys noticed a flyer obnoxiously listing details for a club.

That's right... The club festival is today, isn't it? He thought of this subject as he moved through the chilly building towards his class. It hadn't been that long since he found the flyer for the journalism club, but still he hadn't decided if he would join or not. Aerys wasn't the most decisive student, nor was he particularly outgoing (to say the least), so the idea of joining a club was a huge decision for him.

There was no one else in the classroom yet except his teacher. Aerys politely bowed to the teacher as he entered the room and sat at his desk. The male teacher still looked at him with sad, piteous eyes, and it was because of this that Aerys could not make any effort to speak to this adult besides polite honorifics. The pity bothered him, so much so that instead of studying, all Aerys could do in his opened notebook was scribble and doodle. With a soft sigh, he erased the marks he had drawn over his mechanical/chemical notes and lightly closed the notebook.

With a shake of his head, he forcibly moved his mind onto other things, like clubs. To dwell on the subject of pity brought him to the past, and the one who had always looked upon him with piteous eyes. He could never stand those eyes full of pity and distance... How alienated and painful they were. Did that person even know how much this look hurt him? Did Aerys himself even understand the extent to which he had been scarred by mere, natural pity?

Aerys turned his head away from his desk and towards the teacher. The man was bent over his desk scribbling and working on something. Aerys' thoughts wandered to his would-be journalism club - would he have to interview or interrogate students? If any of his duties went beyond simple writing, he would likely be in over his head. I might have to start re-thinking my choices...

After this statement, even Aerys' thoughts went stiff. He was absently looking at the door of his classroom, and he had seen someone walk by with his peripheral vision. It was the appearance of this person that made Aerys stop in his tracks, so abruptly that he swore even his heart paused. The person who walked by had on the standard St. Perry's uniform, but he would recognize that intimidating height, those silver bangs and that brunette hair anywhere. And he would never forget those pitying eyes.

It can't be...

Before he knew it, Aerys was running through the halls of the academy and out of its corridors. He followed the spectre into the courtyard farthest away from the gate, and when he arrived, Aerys was completely out of breath. He had thought of nothing whilst running, but every time he blinked, those pitying eyes burned into his psyche deeper and deeper. He was so afraid of that harsh gaze, but something was making him follow them, and he knew not why.

In the far distance, dark clouds and a quiet rumble of sound proved that rain was moving into the school's vicinity. Around him, Aerys looked frantically for the spectre he was chasing. This part of the school, especially this early in the morning, was quiet and detached. An elegantly designed circular staircase wrapped around the small courtyard and led to the second floor of the building; in the center of this sanctuary was a small rose garden, left out to the sunlight beneath a break in the school's sterile architechture. Something about the roses, so bright and alive when compared to the facelessness of the academy around him, filled Aerys with dread.

The boy walked slowly through the courtyard and looked everywhere. Thin pillars decorated the side of the stairs open to the air, and behind them were the only place his target could be; Aerys would have seen someone moving up or down the stairs. With unease, he started to look behind each pillar, slowly walking up the stairs as he did so. He wanted - no, he needed - to find those eyes again. Those eyes that he thought would never look at him again were closer than ever, and for some reason, he was chasing them. But why...?

He came to the final pillar at the top of the stairs. In climbing them, Aerys had left the courtyard behind, and thus the roses had disappeared as well. Without their existence, the school returned to its detached, piteous aesthetic. Aerys stepped carefully, then whirled into position to finally ease his senses. There was nobody behind the pillar.

The boy stepped backwards and raised a hand over his forehead. There was nowhere for the person he was looking for to escape after entering this courtyard, besides through the door at the top of the stairs and into the second floor of the building. But the second floor was reserved for upperclassmen... And besides, Aerys would have noticed if the door opened while he was in the area. What could have happened?

As he was in his thoughts, Aerys didn't even notice said door opening while he stood at the top of the stairs, hands on his hips in thought. From the door rushed a blur of color, and the courtyard's new resident bumped right into Aerys' person. He stumbled, almost falling down a step, and hastily mumbled a "sorry" as he helped the person who ran into him to their feet. When he realized that this person had to be an upperclassman, Aerys' face reddened and he stepped downward with another apology.

On the step above him, a girl with luxurious straight black hair and bright green eyes smiled at him as she clumsily rearranged the books in her arms. "Oh, it's alright," she stated. As her eyes opened from her bright smile, she looked over Aerys. "Oh, you must be an underclassman! I'm Kasumi Mizuki. What's your name? Aren't you a little far from your class?"

Aerys, struck by surprise and suddenly cornered into a conversation, only managed to further redden and look away from the pretty girl. "Oh, I'm... Ryuugamine Aerys. Pl-pleased to meet you..." He mentally kicked himself for being so feeble.

"Not so talkative, huh? That's cool. You're going to class, right?" Kasumi started walking down the stairs energetically, and with a tug of Aerys' sleeve, she brought the underclassman along. "I've got to go over in that direction anyway. Why don't you introduce yourself on the way there? Are you going to the club festival today? What class are you in?" Just like that, Aerys found himself dragged along by his senpai back to class. One mystery unsolved, one uncomfortably social situation initiated. What a day this was going to be!

Not too far away, Chiharu was signing up for the Martial Arts club. Again. Her mind was apparently full of unpleasant thoughts - both of her parents arguing and the dread that Kamiko might join the same club. Which was why she had very little sleep, and why she needs to move out and soon. As she was about to enter her homeroom, she saw Kasumi with a short blond-haired dude who appeared to be feeble. She's probably friendly to everyone, she figured as the pair approached them, not bad for someone on their second day of school. "Oh, heya!" she greeted Kasumi before she noticed the guy. "Well, well. If it isn't little Ryuugamine-kun! Still too shy for your own good?"

"L-little!? Hey! I resent that objective!" the guy protested before stuttering once more. "Oh man... What did I get myself into..."

Chi let out a sigh. "That's just like you. You're always-"

"Now, now. Be nice, Fukui-san," Kasumi interrupted.

"Eh, he just needs to come out of his shell, that's all," Chiharu explained. "By the way, aren't you supposed to be in class?"

"Yeah, but..." Aerys trailed off as Kasumi looked at Chi with concerned before the latter took notice.

"You don't look well," Kasumi said.

"Who? Me? What are you talking about?" Chiharu fumbled then laughed nervously. "I'm fine. I'm just...tired, that's all. Nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure?" Kasumi asked.

"So...Ryuugamine-kun! You're living by yourself, right? You must be one of the lucky ones!" Chiharu said. "I'm planning on living on my own myself! I've been working doing summer jobs! Gonna get my driver's license and everything! Just as long as I keep my 'inner beast' in check."

"Inner beast?" Kasumi was a little curious.

"Uh, you don't wanna know. It's a personal issue of mine," Chiharu replied. "Well, anyway, we better get to class before we get our asses in trouble, know what I'm sayin'?"

Day passes Kasumi finish up her classes for the day, she look outside at seeing park and blood red cherry blossoms still there, and notice local shrine. She thought to herself for moment and decide to visit it for today, she got out her phone and text Aki, 'Im going visit shrine today see ya at home. ^^'. Kasumi put her phone away and pick up her stuff and heads out. On way Chiharu walk up to her and begin to talk about class. "Ugh finally classes done, I nearly fell asleep hearing Mr. Kaname's lesson."

"Don't like set down in one spot too long huh, Chi-san?" Kasumi respond while giggling afterward.

"Nah not really, you have any plans this afternoon?" Chiharu asked Kasumi while rubbing her left arm and her expression changing being bit worry.

"Well I was going visit shrine today, wanna come with?" Kasumi ask her while showing her bright smile.

"Uhm... nah I'm good... I need try get my license first so I can move out my patents place. I'll see ya tomorrow Kasumia-san, later!" Chiharu ran off before Kasumi can respond.

"Uhm okay then..." Kasumi look puzzled and bit worry for Chiharu, but went out to go with her plans and visit shrine.

Kasumi took a peaceful walk to park on her way to shrine, walking through sakura trees she felt bit creep out by how color of petals are and unnatural they are. She pass through the cemetery before getting to the shrine, she first walk to Chōzuya a place for her cleanse her hands and mouth before she enter in shrine. Once she enter she walk over to offering box, she put 5 yen in book she then bow twice then clap twin while her hand stay together after second and made her pray. Please, allow me help those who need me, especially friend I make this year. After her pray she bow once more and leaving the shrine.

As she leaving she pass through cemetery once more noticing young man close to her age, kneeling next to one the graves. She watched him as she passing by until she stopped in shock, seeing him pulling out a handgun and over hear him talking to himself as he haven't notice her yet. "I'm sorry mom, because my stupid fucking mistake I got you into this. Now you're gone, my life is nothing but hell, and I can't take living with dad without you." Man loads the gun and place next to her head getting ready shoot himself. "I'll be there soon mom, I can finally be done with this."

Oh god, is he really going kill himself... He doesn't seem see me but what can I do? I need do something stop him but what if he... no I can't think about that I have to before it too late! Kasumi quickly thought to herself before running to him shouting out to him. "Wait! Stop!" She quickly ran to him trying stop him only to lose her balance from running to quick and falls.

Man lower his gun hearing and see her yelling falling close by, "shit..." he mumble to himself, he got up and walk to her, putting on safety of his weapon while aims it to her. "You know quite stupid of you to run to someone with a gun, you don't even know me I might shot you dead just for being here.

Kasumi looks up in fear see gun pointed at her, took deep breath and get right back up believing he not going shoot. "Because looks like you need help, I dunno what going on with your life, but killing yourself can't be right answer! I over heard what you said is this what your mother wants!? Would she really want you shoot yourself just find happiness!"

He sigh lowering his gun, "you're moron you don't even know me, and why you talking me like this when I have gun?! And how would you know!? You have no idea what my life is like, just shut up and forget what you saw and get fuck out here you dumb bitch!?

"No! I'm not turn my back on someone in trouble! You might be right, I don't know what your life is like but please! Let me help you, can you give me a chance please." She begged armed man while grabbing hold of his gun.

"You dumbass, I could shoot you for being this stupid..." He looks at her bright green eyes seeing him begin tear up. "Why you want help me, you have no idea who I am are you that stupid or what?"

"It because I want to, I don't think I need reason help someone who needs it. It just in my nature to help people, by what you told you mother seem like you need it." She explain to him while showing him her bright smile.

"Fine, but word of advice don't go blindly running to armed man again, it not brightest idea do." He told Kasumi and then see her grabbing his gun from him. "Hey give that back!"

"Sorry but just want be sure you're not going lie to me. I'll be holding on to this for time being, I might give back if you decide you going keep living, Don't worry I'll show there still more to life." Kasumi keep smiling as she puts the gun in her school bag.

"You're really pushing me, what you so sure I wont do anything to you, to point you just take my gun from me. How stupid are you!?" Begins grow angry to her until she begins to talk right back at him before he can finish.

"Okay first off stop calling me stupid, I dunno what kind person you think you are but you don't scare me! Second I doing this help you and I like you give me a chance instead yelling at me and make empty treats at me! If you going keep talk like you want hurt me then just do it!" Kasumi make her stand to him.

Man sigh and gives in, "fine you got me, I can't hurt girl already. Doesn't feel right to me. But you first person I know actually stand up to me, I guess I should respect that."

Kasumi giggles before apologizing and greeting herself, "I'm sorry, I hope I wasn't too harsh. I'm Mizuki Kasumi, It's fine if you just call me Kasumi though."

"I guess it nice name, I'm Tatsuo Ryuu, but rather you just call me Ryuu, don't really like my surname." Ryuu introduce himself.

"Oh! I remember that name, I think you're in my class but I never see you come in"

Ryuu sigh again while looking away. "Yeah... I haven't feel like going school lately, really don't want deal with anyone bullshit, there no one I really like there anyway."

"You can give them a chance at least, so far I've meet some really nice people, beside I'm there, I just transfer this year would be nice see you more." She walk right into Ryuu viewing while smiling at him still.

"I guess if get you off my back, you are rare one, usually people just avoid me. But if you want help me so bad I'll let you."

"Great!!! Okay lets exchange numbers lets try do something after school tomorrow, I need get home before my Sister get home." Kasumi pulls out her phone and exchange her number with him. "Okay, I'll see you around, hope see you in class tomorrow." Kasumi bow to Ryuu before leaving.

"I wonder sometimes how get myself into these things," Ryuu comment to himself after watching Kasumi leave. "But she seem be nice girl, better then some bitches I've seen"