Chapter 1: Haunted House

"I can do this. I can do this." Yogi chants quietly to himself, staring at the haunted house and the line of people waiting to get inside. He glances away in embarrassment when he catches the blue eyed gaze of one of the boys in the group ahead of him.

He must look nervous, but he's absolutely going to go through with this and prove to Jiki and Kiichi both that the second ship isn't frivolous. Tsukumo didn't care about their accusations, but he refused to let them think he was incapable. It was only a haunted house, he could handle it.

Yogi lets out a quiet squeak as the line moves forward and he's grouped with several more people, he takes a deep breath at the entrance. None of it's real, it's just a few rooms and it'll be over.

He enters along with the rest of the group and immediately everything is pitch black, but his awareness tells him everyone is moving away while he's petrified in place. Once he realizes this, he practically stumbles over himself to catch up, just in time to exit the hallway and for the first ghoul to pop up.

The scream the blonde male lets out is one of the most undignified he's ever made and he latches onto the closest thing, squeezing his eyes shut from the horrors. He has no idea who he's holding onto, he just needed something, anything to ground him and between his mantras of 'I can't do this, I can't do this,' he can't bear to let go.

"Uh…what are you doing?"

"I'm sorry," Yogi says weakly. "This ah may be too much for me."

"So...you're going to hold my hand the whole time?" The stranger questions, wiggling his fingers.

Yogi blushes as he realizes he is indeed holding onto the other male's hand tightly. "Can I please?"

The stranger gives an exasperated sigh, "Only for this one, then you're on your own."

He nods eagerly even though he can't be seen, "Okay! Thank you so much!" Yogi lets himself be dragged forward to catch up with the rest of the group while keeping his eyes barely open, although that doesn't stop him from jumping every time something pops out at him.

Whoever he's clinging to must be really brave, he hasn't flinched once, but Yogi can feel the tension in the other male's body every time he scoots closer. Of course Jiki would challenge him to the biggest haunted house possible and his nerves are shot by the time they reach the exit, plus he can practically feel the irritation radiating off the other from the amount of squeezing and screaming he's had to endure. It's harder to control his strength when he's terrified.

"Looks like you picked up a stray Gareki," someone laughs.

Now that his heart and pulse have both calmed down, he realizes the male, apparently named Gareki, is futilely trying to pull his hand from Yogi's death grip. He glances over and flushes when he sees it's the navy eyed boy from earlier who was watching him.

"Yeah," Gareki responds. "And now he won't let go," he shoots Yogi a look of annoyance.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't realize." Gareki gives him a pointed look. "Right," he hastily lets go.

"I can't feel my hand anymore."

"It was a lot scarier than I thought."

"Why did you go in there then?"

"...I was dared."

Gareki squints at him, "How old are you anyway?"

"Not that old!" Yogi defends.

He watches Gareki's eyes skim over him, resting on the Nyanperowna logo on his shirt. "Yeah...have fun."

"Wait!" Yogi yells at his retreating back, "Are you leaving?!"

"We're going to finish the rest of the haunted house."

"You're really going to leave me alone?" He asks sadly.

Gareki looks at him in disbelief, "I don't even know you. I still can't feel my hand."

Yogi gasps, "Ano….I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. L-let me make it up to y-you," he stutters out in embarrassment.

The other male looks at him contemplatively. "Buy me some if those meat kebabs and we'll call it even."

"Okay!" Yogi brightens, "I can definitely do that!"

"Let's go."

"Um..can I hold your hand again?" Eyebrows raise in surprise. "Well, it's dark out here and I'm still a little nervous from the haunted house." That was part of the reason, but also holding the other boy's hand was comforting in a way he hasn't felt in a long time and despite Gareki's reluctance he wasn't completely put off by Yogi, nor had he put him down for his fear which was something he experienced often.

Gareki waves his friends ahead and Yogi drags him by the hand to a grilled meat booth, promptly ordering a bunch, it's the least he can do.

Yogi hands him several kebabs, "I'm sorry I ruined your night."

He shrugs, "It's fine, I didn't really want to come anyway. I just came for a chance to get away from school."

"Where do you go?"

Gareki eyes him, "...Kuronomei."

He lights up with interest, "You're at Kuronomei?!"

"Yeah…"

"I'm with circus! On the second ship!"

Gareki's eyes close, "Oh no."

"Yes! This means we may work together in the future! Wouldn't it be great if you ended up on the second ship too!" Yogi exclaims, grabbing him in a hug.

"Definitely not," he grunts out.

Even Gareki's lack of enthusiasm can't reign in his excitement, he may have just met someone who could actually stick around and be a part of his life, especially if he ends up on the second ship!

"This is great! I'll be cheering for you to join our ship! Do your best! I'll give you my number, if you need any help, text me!"

Kiiichi can call him a coward all she wants, but he made a new friend and that means so much more.

"Second ship...that's the coward ship, right?"

"No, we are NOT cowards!"

"There's no way I'll let myself get stuck on there."

"Gareki, noooo!"