Chapter 1: Inaba

There was a thick fog, so thick that nothing could be seen. Slowly, a light came out of it. The light comes from a blue limousine that was driving slowly in the fog. Inside of it, the driver couldn't be seen, but the people sitting in the back could. There was an elegant lady with platinum-blonde hair, pale skin and golden eyes. She was wearing a dark blue dress with matching high heel shoes and uses black and golden accessories. On her lap, she had a huge book. Next to her, there was a round table, in it, there was a bizarre old man with a long nose, pointed ears and bulging, bloodshot eyes. He was wearing a black suit with white gloves. In front of him was Yu Narukami sitting in a blue chair, looks like just woke up. His first action was to look at him, Yu was surprised and scared of the unknown surroundings. The old man look right at him and give him a creepy smile.

"Welcome to the Velvet Room" He said. "Ah... It seems we have a guest with an intriguing destiny..." He chuckle

"The... Velvet Room?" Yu ask. "Who are you? and what is this place?" Yu remain calm and try to not lose it.

"My name is Igor... I am delighted to make your acquaintance" Igor introduce himself. "This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter..." Igor explains. "It is a room that only those who are bound by a "contract" may enter... It may be that such a fate awaits you in the near future. Now then... Why don't you introduce yourself?" Yu tries to recall if he had signed something recently, but nothing come to mind. He decided to be nice with Igor at least. He might look weird, but he seems friendly... Or at least he thinks that.

"My name is Yu Narukami" He said.

"Hm... I see. Now, let's take a look into your future, shall we?" He asks and places his hand on the table. Out of nowhere, a deck of cards appears in the center of the table. "Do you believe in fortune telling?" He asks him.

"Not really" He answers. "Is all that actually true?"

"It is..." Said Igor, he moves his hand and the cards move on their own and form a circle. "Each reading is done with the same cards, yet the result is always different... Life itself follows the same principles, doesn't it?" Igor moves a card of his left and shows the Tower. "Hm... The Tower in the upright position represents the immediate future. It seems a terrible catastrophe is imminent"

"Catastrophe..." Yu thought. "What does he means by that?"

"The card indicating the future beyond that is..." Igor more another card, this time the one to his right. Revealing the Moon. "The Moon, in the upright position. This card represents "hesitation" and "mystery"... Very interesting indeed. It seems you will encounter a misfortune at your destination, and a great mystery will be imposed upon you" Igor explain. "In the coming days, you will enter into a contract of some sort, after which you will return here. The coming year is a turning point in your destiny... If the mystery goes unsolved, your future may be forever lost. My duty is to provide assistance to our guests to ensure that does not happen" He said and move his hand over the table, the cards vanish.

"I see... So whatever happened to me, you will help me... This is a strange dream" Said Yu.

"Ah! I have neglected to introduce my assistant to you" Said Igor and look at the woman next to him. "This is Margaret. She is a resident of this place, like myself"

"My name is Margaret" She said. "I am here to accompany you through your journey"

"We shall attend to the details another time" Said Igor. "Until then, farewell..." Everything went black and Yu lost consciousness...


4/11 Monday, 2011

Yu and Azami Narukami were looking outside the window of the train that was taking them to Inaba. They were wearing the uniform of their new school, Yu was attending the second year, while Azami was going on the third year, this was her last year in school, after that, she'll go to college... That or start to work. On the way to Inaba, they had to take at least three different trains to get there and was really tiring. Yu close his eyes for a moment and Azami takes out a book and starts reading. She yawn. There was no one else in the train beside them. The silence was almost intolerable, Yu decides to speak up.

"Azami, what do you think of this?" He asks while watching outside. "Inaba, I mean" Azami look at him and focus her eyes on the book again.

"It's nice... But it's not the kind of place I would like to live in. The only thing we can do now is to at least enjoy it... Or pretend we enjoy it" She said.

"So that's your plan? Pretend?" He asks.

"I pretend most of the time, you know?" Azami closes her book. "Did you saw me talking with my classmate last year? Did you saw how nice I was with them? and in return, they'll help me with some of my homework. I was pretending to be nice so I can get things from them. Of course, they didn't know that. The Drama Club worked at the end, I think" Yu didn't like it what Azami was saying, but he can't deny that he did it before too. But the difference was that Azami is a compulsive liar. She builds a wall around her, so thick, so big that no one can see her how she really is, only him "Anyway, I'll give you an advice... Don't make any friends here. It'll be a waste of time and when we leave next year it will be a pain" Azumi sighs. "Lay low and this year will be over before you know it"

"I can make a friend or two, Azami" Said Yu. "Still, they forget about me as soon I'm gone, so it doesn't really matter. At least we should socialize a bit. You need it more than me... Can you make an actual friend at least? How long it's been since last time?" Yu was right about it. Azami didn't have any friend at all. She enjoys being alone, Yu enjoy it too, but he likes to have someone to talk with at least.

"... I don't care, Yu" Azami shrug. "We'll arrive soon" She looks outside the window and saw a little town in the distance. "Grab your bag" She grabs her bag. Yu did the same and they get out of the train. They enter Yasoinaba Station and Azami takes Yu to the entrance. The whole place was desert, there was nobody around.

"There's no one here" Said Yu and take out his phone. "Dojima-san said he'll be here by 4PM... It's 4:30" He looked around and a middle age man appears with a little girl.

"Hey! Over here!" He raises his hand. Azami walk to him and Yu follow her. "Wow, Azami. It's been a while since I saw you. You remind me of your mother when she was young... except for the hair color"

"Thanks" Azami smile at him. Dojima takes a look at Yu.

"And you look more handsome in person than in your photo, Yu. Welcome to Inaba. I'm Ryotaro Dojima. I'll be looking after you" He said. "You might not know me that much so... I'm your mother's younger brother... and that about sums it up"

"I knew that already, but it's okay. It's nice to finally meet you, Uncle Dojima" Said Yu.

"You might not remember it, but I change your diapers..." He said a little ashamed.

"... That's awkward" Said Azami. She looks at the little girl hiding behind Dojima. She smiles at her and the girl hides again. "And who is this little girl?" She asks.

"She's my daughter. Your little cousin. Come on, Nanako, introduce yourself to your cousins" Said Dojima. Nanako looks at them.

"... 'lo" She said and hide behind him again.

"Sorry, she's shy sometimes. Then again, she barely knows you both. Well then... Let's get going. My car's over there" He points at the car parked near the station. Azami follow Dojima to the car, Yu was about to follow them, but someone stop him.

"Hey..." Yu turned around and saw a girl around his age. She was wearing a sleeveless white shirt, a short black necktie with various safety pins and a checkered skirt along with a black belt and a fancy, golden buckle which resembles a heart with wings. Additionally, she has black-striped red protective sleeves and black-striped white stockings. Her black long, dark gray heeled boots are checkered as well. Yu look at her from head to toes. "You dropped this" She said and give him a piece of paper. Yu grab it and was Dojima's address. He writes it before leaving home.

"Thank you" He said with a smile.

"Whatever. All I did was pick it up" She said. She didn't look quite friendly "..." The girl didn't say anything else and leave. Yu go to the car and they leave the Station.


Dojima stop in the Gas Station to fill up the tank and to let Nanako go to the bathroom. Yu and Azami get out of the car. Yu start to look around the place, he enjoy the place for the moment. It looked peaceful to him. Azami takes out her phone at look at it for a moment.

"Some times I ask myself why I even have a phone" She said out loud and Yu heard her. "I barely use it"

"You might not use it, but we call you often. It's not useless" Said Yu.

"I know, but what I mean is... I could have an old model. I don't need my phone to have internet or a camera. It's supposed to be used to call, not to mess around. If I want to use the internet, I use my computer. If I want to take a picture, I use a camera. I prefer it that way. Call me weird if you want, but that what i prefer" Azami explain. She likes simple things.

"I'm not calling you weird" Said Yu with a chuckle. "I think you are... Cool. Well, when you don't shut yourself in your room doing "Only God knows what" in there... Sometimes you worry me"

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine" Azami sigh. "I should be the one looking after you, I'm your big sister, Yu" She crosses her arms and look away. "... I miss the old days"

"You're starting to talk like an old man"

"Do you have a problem with that, Yu? You should respect your elders, Young boy" Azami says with a serious tone and then chuckle. Yu laugh with her and wait for Nanako to come back. Dojima walks away to smoke for a little while. The two siblings wait next to the car and then the Gas Station attendant walk toward them.

"Hey, Are you two in high school?" The gas station attendant asks them. Yu and Azami turn to him, Yu nodded and Azami simply ignores his question. "Does it surprise you both to see how little there is out here?"

"Not really. It's a little town, but not that little" Said Azami. "Still... It looks desert"

"That's almost every day of the week. There's so little to do, I'm sure you'll get bored fast. You'll either be hanging out with your friends or doing part-time jobs. Speaking of which, we're actually looking for part-time help right now. What do you say? It's easy" He asks.

"Thanks but first we need to think about it a little" Said Yu and Azami nodded.

"Good, I'll be waiting here. Give it some thought, We don't mind if you're a student" the gas station attendant give Yu a handshake. He does the same with Azami, but she denies it.

"Sure, we'll think about it" She said. "Sorry, but I don't give handshakes to strangers"

"Oh, I understand. Well, I should get back to work" The attendant leave and Nanako comes back from the bathroom. She was looking at them.

"Hey... Are you okay?" Nanako asks.

"Who? me?" Azami asks and Nanako shakes her head.

"Not you, him" Nanako point at Yu, looks like he has a headache. He grabs his head for a moment, he wasn't feeling well.

"Yu, Are you all right?" Azami got worried.

"Yeah... I'm okay. I just feel a little dizzy" Said Yu and Dojima return to the car. He looks at Yu.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"I just feel lightheaded" Yu explains

"That's understandable. It must have been a long trip for you. What about you, Azami?"

"I'm fine. Trips don't usually get me sick or anything"

"Alright, why not take a little walk, get some fresh air? Just let me know when you're ready to go" Dojima said to Yu "Go with him, Azami"

"Okay" Azami takes Yu for a walk in the Shopping District. Everything was closed and quiet. There were a couple of students walking around and talking to each other. "How are you feeling?" Azami asks Yu while they walk. She was worried, but didn't show it.

"I'm okay now..." Yu shakes his head and start to look at one side of the road. He stops suddenly.

"What? Did something happen" Azami ask and look at his direction. Yu was looking at a girl at the other side of the street. Azami looks at the girl and then at Yu.

"... Is that girl from before" Said Yu. "I saw her in the Station" Yu explained. Azami looks at the girl again. She looks Unfriendly... but rather beautiful.

"Yu..." Before she could continue, Yu was already walking at her "What are you doing?" Azami follows him. Yu approach the girl, she saw him and raise an eyebrow.

"Hey, it's weird to find you here" Said Yu.

"Hm...? Have we met before?" The girl asks him. Azami remains silent behind Yu.

"I met you just now in the Station" He said and Azami starts to wonder. If that was true, then how come she forgot him that quickly? "I said it was weird because the station was a little far away from here and you... are here now. It was like you just teleport or something"

"I met you...? Just now...? In that Station Hmm, okay" She shrugs.

"... That's not an answer I was expecting actually" Said Azami. "Anyway, sorry to bother you. We are leaving" Azami grab Yu's arm and drag him away. "Why did you just walk to her out of nowhere? And that thing you said... It sounds crazy"

"I know, it's just... It just happens" Said Yu with a poker face.

"Hmm... I see... Whatever. If you are feeling better, we should go back. Dojima is waiting for us" Azami take Yu back to the Station. She looks back to the place that girl was, but she disappears. She was nowhere to be found. "Now that's crazy..." Azami thought.


They finally arrive at their new home for the year. When they enter Dojima tell them where they will be sleeping for the next year. Yu will stay in the guest room, upstair. Azami will stay with him. Dojima wants her to stay with Nanako, but her room wasn't that big, so they'll be sharing the same room for the year. Yu didn't care and Azami was not going to complain at all. They share rooms before, it's nothing new. They grab their stuff and leave them in their new room, Azami leaves her bag in the floor while Yu leave them on the sofa. The boxes with the rest of their stuff were already there. Azami sighs and looks at the boxes, next to them there was the suitcase she had in her room, alongside with the guitar. She decided to take some of her things out of the boxes, she has clothes, books and nothing else. It doesn't look like it but she read a lot, especially horror and detective novels. From time to time, she talks with Yu about them and considering they'll be sharing the room for a whole year, they'll be talking more often with each other. Yu take his stuff out of the boxes, he only had clothes, nothing more. They decide where to leave their clothes, which drawer which one was going to use and if they need to change clothes, one of them will go and change in the bathroom. Dinner was ready and they go downstair to have a family dinner.

"All right, let's have a toast" Said Dojima. Everyone raise their glasses and make a toast. They drink and Dojima was the first to talk "So... your mom and dad are busy as always... They're working overseas, was it?" Yu and Azami nodded "I know it's only for a year, but getting stuck in a place like this because of your parents... it's rough being a kid sometimes. Well, it's just me and Nanako here, so it'll be nice having someone like you two around. So long you both are here, you're part of the family, so make yourself at home" Dojima said with a warm smile.

"Thanks for your kindness" Said Yu

"C'mon, there's no need to be so formal" Said Dojima

"True, but we barely see you, Uncle" Said Azami. "We'll try to get used to this place..."

"I understand, still, don't worry too much. Inaba is a quiet place, nothing really happens here. There's no need to be nervous. Well, anyway... Let's eat" Then Dojima's phone ring, talk about timing "Ugh... Who's calling at this hour?" He answers the call "Dojima speaking... Yeah? I see... So where is it?" Dojima sigh "All right, I'm on my way... Looks like I made the right choices to skip the booze..." He turns to the kids. "Sorry, but I gotta go take care of some business. Go ahead and eat without me. I don't know how late I'll be. Nanako, you help them out, okay?"

"Okay" Said Nanako, she looked sad. Dojima grabs his keys and went out. As soon he open the door, everyone could hear the rain hitting the floor.

"Nanako, it's raining out. What did you do with the laundry!?" Dojima asks while grabbing his umbrella.

"I already brought it in!" Nanako responds.

"All right. Well, I'm off" Dojima leave and the awkwardness didn't wait. The place was in complete silence and no one says a word.

"... So" Yu didn't know what to say "Laundry... You do Laundry?" He asks.

"... Yes"

"Such a mature girl..." Azami whisper, Nanako heard her but ignore her and turn on the TV. The news was on.

"-for this week. Next, let's take a look at the hourly breakdown of tomorrow's weather" Said the Weather announcer. "With storm clouds moving in from the west, expect rain throughout the day tomorrow in most areas"

"Let's eat..." Said Nanako. They start eating without Dojima and the silence in the table keep going. Yu sigh and look at Nanako.

"... What does your dad do?" Yu asked

"He... investigates stuff. Like crime scenes" Said Nanako "My dad's a detective" Nanako said. Yu was surprised, his uncle is a police officer. Azami knew that already, but forgot to tell him that, mostly because she didn't think it was something important to mention. The news was still going...

"And now, the local news" Said the Announcer. "City council secretary Taro Namatame is under fire for an alleged relationship with a female reporter. His wife, enka ballad sensation Misuzu Hiiragi, revealed to this station that she will likely pursue damages. In response, Eye Television has decided to cancel all of announcer Mayumi Yamano's televised appearances. Until allegations of an affair with Mr. Namatame are resolved, she'll remain off the air and out of the public eye" The announcer keep talking.

"What a nice mess" Said Azami.

"This is boring" Said Nanako and change the channel. A commercial was on.

"At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself, and get on touch with our products! Every day's great at your Junes!"

"Every day's great at your Junes!" Nanako sings along. Azami and Yu look at her, weirdly. "Aren't you two going to eat?"

"Y-yeah..." Said Azami and finish her meal. After helping washing the dishes, she heads to her room. There she saw two futons on the corner of the room. She looks at the clock, it was a little late and she was tired. She decides to take a shower and go right to bed. When she comes back from the shower, she saw Yu looking at her guitar.

"What are you doing?" She asks with a tired voice.

"Nothing, just looking at it, that's all" Yu grab the guitar. He touches the guitar strings, it was out of tune. "Why did you stop playing? You were really good"

"Just like school, Drama Club, Sports and everything else... and the same happens, I just... Lost the interest. To tell the truth, I only bring it because I didn't want to leave it behind" Azami explain.

"Hmm..." Yu leave the guitar in the corner of the room. "You are going to sleep now?" Azami nodded. "I'll take a bath. If you are sleeping when I come back then... Good Night" Yu get out of the room. Azami prepares her futon and goes to sleep. She falls to sleep quickly...


Yu was blinded by the fog around him. He doesn't remember how he got there, he looks around and he couldn't see anything but fog. He looks down and he was standing in a road made by red blocks. Yu shakes his head and start hearing a voice coming from behind. He turns around and saw the silhouette of a man.

"Do you seek the truth...?" He asks. Yu tries to walk toward him, but he couldn't reach him.

"Wh-Who are you?" He asks, almost in a whisper.

"If it's truth you desire, come and find me..." He said and the fog got thicker. Yu was completely blinded by the fog and fall unconscious...


Yu wake up and slowly get up. He looks at his new room and Azami wasn't there with him. He stands up and shakes his head. That weird dream was still in his head, he remembers it clearly. Yu decided to stop thinking about it, for now, it wasn't important. It was just a dream. He changes into his new school uniform and goes to the living room. There he saw Nanako eating her breakfast with Azami.

"Good Morning" Said Nanako. Azami nod at Yu. "Here's your breakfast" She said and Yu sit down. He looks at his cup of tea and the toasted bread, he then looks at Nanako.

"Did you cook this?" Yu ask

"Yes" Azami answer for Nanako. "I was surprised too. I was about to wake you up, but we still have time until we go to school"

"I can toast bread... and cook sunny-side up eggs in the morning. Dad can't cook, so I buy dinner" Nanako explain.

"Huh, maybe it's because of his work. I bet he doesn't have the time to eat properly" Said Azami. "But I'm not the one to talk about properly eating..." Azami sighs and eats her toasted bread. "It's delicious, Nanako"

"Thank you" Said Nanako with a smile. "You two are starting school today, right?" Nanako ask

"Yes, Are you coming with us?" Said Yu

"Yes, my school's on the way" Nanako smile. "I'll guide you there"

"Good" Said Yu and finish his breakfast. He, Azami and Nanako leave the house and go to school. It was raining that day and Nanako only had a spare umbrella so Yu and Azami had to share it. They were now in the school Zone, Samegawa flood plain. Nanako was guiding the siblings to their new school. The rain didn't stop at all which bothers them a lot. The umbrella was a little small, so both of them got wet in the shoulders.

"You two keep going straight from here" Said Nanako, she turns to the other direction "My school's this way. Have a nice day in School, Bye" She said and leave. Yu and Azami walk at a slow pace to school.

"Azami, do you think this school would be good?" Yu asks.

"I don't know, it can't be worse than the one we were in" Azami respond.

"You are right there... Anyway, I had a weird dream last night" Yu said out of nowhere.

"Hm... I didn't dream last night" She said. "What it was like? A nightmare or just a weird dream?"

"Just weird. I was surrounded by fog and a man was talking to me" Yu explains the dream and Azami listen.

"Hm, that's a little weird. Maybe it's because of the trip" They were talking about the dream when a boy in a bike crash with a telephone pole. He was trying to ride with one hand while with the other grab his umbrella. He looked okay, except his crotch. He was in a lot of pain right now.

"Ow!" He yells. "Motherfuc... That hurts!" He said. Yu and Azami look at him and a couple of seconds later walk away.

"... Let's leave him be" Said Yu

"Okay, let's go" Azami wanted to help in some way, but that... It's better to leave him alone for a while.

They arrive at Yasogami high school, it was a big building, bigger than Yu and Azami were expecting. They enter and went straight to the Faculty Office, what they encounter wasn't what they were expecting, an empty room. There were no teachers around.

"There no one here?" Yu ask. "Where are the teachers?" A Shadow appear behind them. They turn around to find what many consider to be the worst teacher ever...

"Huh? Another bunch of student that arrive late?" He said, Yu and Azami remain quiet, looking at him right in the eyes.

"Umm... It's not late" Said Azami and look at her watch. "We are on time"

"If all the teachers already left to their classrooms it's late then" He yells at them.

"... Sorry?" Yu apologise. The teacher goes inside the Faculty Office and grabs the files that were on the table and start to look at them. "Who are you brats!?"

"My na-name.. is Yu Narukami" Yu answer with a little of fear mixed with anger. That teacher was the yelling type and he hates those. The teacher turns to Azami.

"What about you!?"

"Azami Narukami, I'm his older sister" She answered calmly.

"So we have a family here... Thank god that I only have to deal with one of you" Yu gulp and Azami just ignore him. "You!" He points at Yu "You are in my class, and You!" He points at Azami "You are in 3-1 with Ms. Sofue. I bet she's waiting for you right now in the classroom... Don't just stand there! Go!" He yell at her. Azami sighs and walks to her classroom. "You, come with me" The teacher guide Yu to his classroom. Once he enters, all the students that were standing and talking to each other go back to their seats and shut up.

"Awright, shut your traps!" The teacher yells at them and the classroom remains quiet. "I'm Kinshiro Morooka, your homeroom teacher from today forward! First things first! Just 'cause it's spring doesn't mean you can swoon over each other like love-struck baboons. Long as I'm around, you students are going to be pure as the driven snow!"

"Oh God, it's one of those teachers again..." Yu thought. "Why I'm the one with the worst teacher? Azami always had to quiet ones. Why can't I have one of those for a chance?"

"Now I hate wasting my time, but I'd better introduce this transfer student. This sad sack's been thrown from the big city out to the middle of nowhere like yesterday's garbage" Morooka keep talking and didn't show any signs of stopping. "And he's just as much of a loser here as he was there, so you girls better not get any ideas about hitting on him! Tell 'em your name, kid, and make it quick!"

"Is he calling me loser!?" Yu thought. "Fuck this guy..." Yu calm down and introduce himself. He didn't want to cause any troubles on his first day. "I'm Yu Narukami. Nice to meet you" He said with a little fake smile.

"What's that look you're giving to that girl back there by the window!? You thought I wouldn't notice!?" Morooka yells at him.

"Wait, what?" Yu asks, surprised. "I didn't-"

"Now listen up! This town is miles away from your big city of perverts and assholes, in more ways than one. You better not even think of getting involved with the girls here, let alone abusing them!"

"... Excuse me?" Yu didn't know how to respond to that. The conversation takes a quick turn and he was now lost. He takes a quick look to the class. He was clearly asking for someone to help him. A girl with a light green jacket raises her hand.

"Excuse me! Is it okay if the transfer student sits here?" She asks and points at the empty space next to her.

"Thank God, someone is helping me" Yu thought.

"Huh? Yeah, sure. Ya hear that? Your seat's over there" Morooka point at the chair and Yu walk right at the chair and sit down. The turns turn to him.

"He's the worst, huh?" She asks him.

"I know, what's his problem?"

"I don't know, but rotten luck for you to get stuck in this class... Well, we just have to hang in there for a year" She said and Yu sighs.

"I wonder how Azami is doing..." He thought.


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