A/N: Sorry it took us so long to bring up the sequel, but after a long wait here it is, the first chapter!
***: *mashes Empyrea with a hammer*
Empyrea: Hey! I said I was sorry! *mashes *** with a bigger hammer and then turns to readers*
Anyways, same pattern here as with the prequel.
Words in italics: Narrator (some will now be in a certain character's pov)
*…*: Character's action
"…": Character's thought
1st Case: Phantasmagoria
My sight is being clouded but I believe that I wasn't where I was supposed to be… I seem to be elsewhere and that only my mind has settled here… But, is that even possible? I asked myself that, but I suppose that it was too late to know the answer after I had already began to see my surroundings. Before my eyes lay a velveteen interior of a grand vehicle which I did not know where was headed I looked around me, trying to figure out where I am. Until, to my surprise, I noticed that in the direction across me, a human was sitting in the seat of the vehicle across mine. It was a man, he didn't seem to see me but he was looking straight at my direction. He wasn't saying a word but his eyes somehow attracted my attention, those eyes that seemed to gaze right through my soul…but his felt very deep that I could feel nothing but a certain passion for this so called life. Just who is this man? Why is he sitting in front of me? Better yet, why am I even here? Those questions were what filled my thoughts until suddenly I heard a voice…
Voice from the vehicle: Welcome to the Velvet Room, you are our guest here. I would like to welcome you properly but the time is moving on your world, and so, I must bid you farewell for now.
Shortly after that was said, my sight began to dim and became pitch black. After a few moments in the darkness, I was suddenly blinded by the light I saw, the light of the day as I was sitting at the back of the train, and then, I saw my destination, Inaba.
White haired teenager: "Inaba… So, I will finally see my uncle again, huh. I wonder what he looks like now."
So, I was here, in this small, yet peaceful rural town. I waited a while at the station as planned and looked around while waiting for my uncle to arrive when I remembered about the man I saw in my dream if that was even a dream... I can't answer it yet, I wonder why though. Just then, my uncle had arrived, he is Ryotaro Dojima and he had with him his daughter and my cousin, Nanako Dojima, who seemed pretty impulsive as they approached me.
Ryotaro: I see you're here earlier than we had expected. Did you wait long? Oh, that's right. You might not remember me anymore but I'm your uncle and this here is Nanako. *holding the cute little girl who is hiding behind him and is holding the side of his pants and turns to her* Now, now, say hi Nanako.
Nanako: *comes out and greets* H-Hello.
White haired teenager: Hello. It's nice to meet you.
Nanako: N-Nice to meet you too.
White haired teenager: Nanako, right? I'm Souji. Souji Seta.
Ryotaro: Oh, you must be tired from your trip. Let's go home now, ok?
Souji: *nods* Thank you.
Ryotaro: *smiles at Souji* Now, now, no need to be so formal to me.
Souji: *smiles*
And so, the three went home together, meanwhile, in another side of town, not too far from where Souji and his family are…
Yukari: *looking outside from a window of a bus* "This…kind of suck."
Why you ask? Why else but because of these miserable events that is happening right now! Ugh… I wonder how I can even take all of this. First, Mitsuru-senpai asked me to sit beside her because she told me that "She might not feel comfortable sitting with anyone else and stuff, that I don't even remember the rest of the explanation, but heck, I know fully well, that isn't the reason why I feel so disappointed. I wanted to sit next to him, too, but, senpai insisted and he just held my hand firmly for a few minutes and gently whispered to my ear "Don't look so worried. I'm not bothered, I know the reason, so don't think about it. There's always next time, okay?" All I could do was nod to what Minato told me. Not to mention, I couldn't say another word, not after his second statement that followed that too, "I love you" Oh God! Why is he doing this to me?! Why?! But, geez… I got to admit I love the ring of those words to my ears. Now I'm more depressed that he is seated at the back while we're seated at the front rows.
Mitsuru: *turns to Yukari who is actually tormenting her mind* Takeba?
Yukari: *still looks at the window* …
Mitsuru: *pats Yukari's shoulder* Takeba? Are you alright?
Yukari: *shocked from the sudden break of her concentration* …!!! …Whoa! *stands up*
Mitsuru: Takeba? What's wrong?
Yukari realizes the situation she is in and begins to get real embarrassed for shouting out loud and making a scene. She then looks at Minato's direction and sees that he is staring into the view outside the window. Then she stopped for a while and sat down and thought to herself "Good thing he didn't see that" and sighed…
Mitsuru: *looks at Yukari with a worried face* Are you alright, Takeba?
Yukari: *turns to Mitsuru* Huh? Oh uhm… Yes, of course. I'm perfectly fine. *smiles at Mitsuru* Sorry about that, I just got startled.
Mitsuru: I see. *leans backward towards her seat*
Junpei: *is sitting at the chair beside that of Mitsuru's and Yukari's and suddenly stands up* Are we here? Oh baby! I-na-ba!
Aigis: *sitting beside Junpei* Junpei-san, please sit down.
Junpei: *turns to Aigis* Look, Aigis! *points towards the direction of Inaba*
Aigis: Yes, Junpei-san I see our destination.
Junpei: *raises his arms and shouts* Woo-hoo!
Mitsuru: *looking at Junpei with a worried look on her face* Iori…
Yukari: *holds her forehead with her right hand* Stupei.
While all of this chaos was taking place due to Stupei's ruckus, I couldn't help but look at how he was doing. He was all alone there, too…
Minato: *staring blankly outside the window of the bus* … "That dream… I was in the Velvet Room… Why? And who was that…? He seemed troubled… And this place, Inaba… I feel uneasy all of a sudden… I hope I'm wrong."
We made it to Inaba after about 2 hours of travel, but I mostly slept all the way here. We went straight to the inn where we were supposed to stay, Mitsuru-senpai even made the preparations for this, I believe it was called the Amagi Inn. I was wondering though, as to why Yukari had a sour face when we went down the bus. It was almost as though she had a fight with Mitsuru-senpai but maybe it was just me. But, right now I keep thinking about that dream I had and also… I wonder what this rural town really is… Is it an ordinary one? Or maybe…
Ken: *inside the Amagi Inn's room with the other guys* So, senpai… *looks at Akihiko*
Akihiko: *looks at Ken who is sitting across him* Huh? What?
Ken: What do you think of this Inn? Isn't it really famous and all?
Akihiko: Uhhh? W-What?
Junpei: *sitting beside Minato then suddenly stands up* You're asking the wrong guy, Ken-kun!
Ken: *looks at Junpei* Huh? Then, who do you think should I ask?
Junpei: *stands up tall and might in his feet* Who else do you think?
Ken: *stares at Junpei* … *suddenly turns to Koromaru who is sitting beside him* What do you think, Koromaru?
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Junpei: *His mouth is hanging wide open and without a second's delay, his body was gone, washed away by disgrace*
Akihiko: "Poor Junpei."
Minato: *sitting across Akihiko and Ken with his chin resting on his right arm which is leaning on the table* …
Akihiko: *looks at Minato* Something wrong?
Minato: *turns to Akihiko* Huh? What did you say senpai?
Akihiko: Are you okay?
Ken: *turns to Minato and sits next to him* Is something wrong, senpai? Are you ill?
Minato: *shakes his head and smiles at them* No, I'm fine.
Akihiko: Then maybe you should get some rest.
Minato: *nods then stands up and walks towards his futon to rest*
Ken: Oh, but senpai we'll be going to the hot springs ok?
Junpei: *smiles to everyone in the room* Yup, it's supposed to be the time for males by now.
Akihiko: *looks down* Why are you always so excited about this?
Junpei: *looks at Akihiko and gets his face a little bit closer to Akihiko's* Do you have to ask that, senpai? *suddenly moves away and cheers for himself* The girls, of course!
Ken: *looking at Junpei* Huh? *slowly turns to Akihiko* Senpai, what does he mean?
Akihiko: *stands up with an irritated face* Knock it off, Junpei! Look at what your teaching Ken!
Junpei: *stops cheering and looks at Akihiko* What did I do, senpai?
Akihiko: *gets more irritated by the minute* Do you have to ask that?!
Junpei: Why? You also want to see the girls, senpai? Ohhh… I get it now.
Akihiko: *looks surprised* Huh? W-What?
Junpei: *grins at Akihiko* You want to see Mitsuru-senpai, huh? Don't you worry because she's all yours, man!
Akihiko: W-Wha?! N-No!
Junpei: Is that inspiration I here from your words, senpai? Well then, never fear cause Junpei's here! *places his arm in his hips and smiles like there is no tomorrow*
So, we all went together to the holy land of happiness! Huh? I meant the hot springs, of course. Although, to our greatest disappointment, we were all just a bunch of blokes there along with guys with these huge bulking muscles. Geez, what a pain in the ass. Oh God, why am I reduced to this fate? I feel so unlucky lately, but heck, we stayed to take a bath until 3 hours or so passed, it felt good but the view was killing me. I almost forgot, but, he didn't come huh? He went to bed early I think. Lucky him, he doesn't have to see what I'm seeing. It's like a view to hell, man. I wonder what the girls are doing…
Fuuka: *sitting on her futon and is getting ready to sleep* That bath was great, wasn't it, senpai? *turns to Mitsuru who is sitting in the futon next to hers*
Mitsuru: *smiles at Fuuka* Well, yes, I must say that this inn truly is worthy of its title.
Fuuka: *looks a little bit surprised* Wow, is it really that famous?
Mitsuru: Well, yes.
And so, my talk with Yamagishi continued on, but I can't help but notice Takeba worried as she stares blankly at space. She seemed deep in thought about something that's enough to make her space out like this…
Yukari: … "I wonder how he is… He hasn't spoken to me and to the others… Is he okay? Maybe I should see him." *turns to Mitsuru* Senpai.
Mitsuru: *turns to Yukari* What's the matter, Takeba?
Yukari: I'll just be going out for a little while… *smiles* Or better yet, I'll take a bath but you guys can go ahead and sleep without me, okay?
Mitsuru: *looks more worried* …I understand.
Yukari: What? Don't worry about me, senpai, I'm fine. *smiles* Okay?
Mitsuru: *nods*
So I left, I wanted to tell senpai I'm sorry as soon as I left because I know I'm lying to her… I just wanted to see him so badly… Like how he is and all… He seemed sick too, though maybe I should've just been honest to senpai, but I'm not that strong… Another thing is that I just noticed how he was just now, which is making me even more depressed. I thought of those things as I walked down a floor towards their room and eventually I was there, after a few moments of dilly-dally I guess…
Yukari: *slowly opens the door* Minato?
Though there was no reply and the room was dark and silence filled the night, luckily Yukari thought of this beforehand and brought with her a flashlight…
Yukari: *turns on the flashlight* "This kind of makes me feel like I'm spying on someone." *walks towards the only futon set in the room* …
Minato: *sleeping soundly in his futon* …
Yukari: *sighs* Thank god you're all right. *smiles and places her left hand on Minato's forehead and then gets ready to leave*
Minato: *slowly opens his eyes as Yukari stands up and leaves the room and whispers to himself* Yukari?
Yukari: *closes the door slowly as she leaves the room*
Minato: *sat up on his futon* Yukari… "Is she worried about me…that much to go here alone? I should apologize to her" *stands up and goes out of their room and looks around him* "Yukari… She's not here… Maybe I should take a walk to clear my head and all."
And so I went out alone and took a little hike towards the town, it really is a rural town, with it being silent and all… All the people are asleep and the streets are not occupied by some weird students who lurk around like those in the city. But the best thing here is the fresh air… I just wanted to forget about that stuff I saw; I don't want to think about it, but no matter how hard I try…this feeling I have about this town won't go away… Why is that? What is it with this place that just won't leave me at peace? I thought about things like these as I walked aimlessly and I eventually reached a riverbank. I was surprised to see someone there… He is standing in front of the river, staring at it. I slowly walked closer to him, trying not to make a ruckus since I just want to see his face that was covered by the darkness of the night. But then he suddenly turned… I stopped and was taken aback, I nearly fell on my knees, but I stood my ground as I looked at him…
A/N: And just as the sequel's first chapter is out, I'm back with my cliffhangers! Mwahahahaha!
***: *glares at Empyrea*
Empyrea: Hey, c'mon now, don't get mad. There's always the next chapter. Oh yeah… *turns to readers* Before I forget, we will now be including previews to the next chapter in this fic. Well see you guys in the next chaper. Ciao.
Preview to the next chapter:
Minato: You're-
Boy with headphones wrapped around his neck: Yo, I'm Yosuke Hanamura, but, you can just call me Yosuke.
Junpei: Huh? What the-
Mitsuru: They will be our underclassmen and this would be Yasogami high.
Junpei: AHHHHH!!!!! HELP ME!!!!