"Geez, where is he..."

"SOUDA!"

No response.

Kuzuryuu glanced around the room, before heading off to the next one in search of the pink-haired mechanic. They had arranged to meet together at one o'clock to prepare Hinata's birthday party, but now, at one-thirty, Souda was no where to be seen. Kuzuryuu sighed and knocked on the door that he stood before. No one answered.

"SOUDA! Souda, where the hell are you!?"

He saw a familiar face when he approached the stairs. It was Souda, though with a very frightened face.

Kuzuryuu glared at the other man. "There you are! Why are you all the way over here? We're supposed to meet up an hour ago!" He turned away, muttering.

"S-Sorry, dude... But y'see, down there, there's-"

He peered down the stairs. Komaeda stared back up at him with a sly grin.

Souda trembled. "I've been stuck up 'ere because of him... No use going 'round the other way either. With that guy staring at me, it's like a thousand ghosts, trying to creep me out... Not that I'm scared of ghosts, of course, but..."

The mafia leader huffed. "If you aren't scared, then just come with me to the meeting place. It's quicker to go down this route." He pointed to the place where Komaeda was now reading a thick book.

"Y'sure?"

"Yeah, so hurry up! Else, I'll kick you down!"

"Woah, woah, I'm going! Don't kick me-!"

Kuzuryuu didn't kick him. But a light punch pushed Souda down the flight of stairs, who was now fumbling about. Kuzuryuu joined his friend downstairs, smiling. Watching the mechanic fall down was amusing with his facial expressions and responses. Souda scratched his hat, his face reading what the hell, Kuzuryuu?!

"No need for an explanation. You probably would've been too scared if it weren't for me."

Souda pulled himself up and scowled. "Hey, I'm fairly sure most people are creeped out by Komaeda." He paused, and glanced around. "Wait, where... where is he?"

He shrugged. "Beats me. Probably left because we were disturbing him. Lets go."

"S-Sure, but firstly... what's that?" Souda pointed to the book that Komaeda was reading. Two people sat on the grey cover.

"It's a book, idiot. Soul Mates." Kuzuryuu picked up the book, and flipped it over. "Lets see the blurb..."

"Some people are like slinkies, not really good for anything but they put a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs. Sometimes, these people seem to be your 'soul mate'."

Kuzuryuu blinked, then grinned.

"Heh, sounds like you."