Izumi only wanted to find her book.

You can see them too, can't you?

Izumi stood in the middle of the library after school, positively fuming. So it was a joke. How cruel of her to do something like that? How had she been able to create a prop like that. Psychics were all frauds and it was downright ridiculous that she had been temporarily fooled. Kouichi must have taken her for a fool.

"Psychics" were cruel people that played on people's insecurities. Izumi hated when people lied to her. At least she wouldn't run into Kouichi in the library. She almost wished she could just leave but she wanted to see if they had a copy of the book. It was one of her favorites.

She quietly paced around the back of the library. Her footsteps barely created a whisper against the faded rugs. She looked everywhere around the back rows, checked every individual book for a solid hour. She couldn't find a single copy of the Picture of Dorian Gray.

"Damn it." She swore softly. She backed up, hands on her hips. They had to have thrown it away. She moved to turn around when she heard it.

It sounded like deep groaning and dripping dripping water. Maybe thicker than water even. She froze mid movement and glanced around without moving her head.

She felt a hand on her shoulder.

She spun around fists up and was greeted by Kouichi's soft face. Up close her frames were thicker and the lenses finger smudged.

Izumi's hands drifted back down to her sides, slightly guilty.

"Izumi chan, what did you need? If it's about the note then I'm gla-"

"I came here for a book." Izumi said, then she continued as if an after thought.

"Quit playing pranks on me I'm not an idiot!"

"I wouldn't play any jokes on you. What book did you need?"

"I was hoping my Picture of Dorian Gray was here. I think I left it in my desk over the summer on accident."

Without looking Kouichi told her "We don't have any copies."

Izumi felt like she was keeping a secret from her.

"Do you have a copy, personally?"

Kouichi gave her one of the most serene smiles she'd even born witness to. The edges of her mouth contained out of reach secrets.

"I do. I got it from an old friend."

"Can I borrow it? There was a message in mine that I read everyday and I really want to remember it… Kimura." She felt a little embarrassed that she was being so formal while Kouichi automatically fell into first name basis with her.

But then again Kouichi had been playing tricks on her, getting her hopes up. It really was her own fault.

"As soon as I finish it." She said, that same smile on her face. She only came up to Izumi's chin. "You can call me Kouichi, you know?"

Izumi flushed slightly, shaking her head. She couldn't. Kouichi really was playing with her now. Trying to convince her that ghosts and weird monsters were real. Being friendly with her. She wasn't sure which was worse.

"Kimura san." she insisted and Kouichi's face fell just ever so slightly. It was enough to make Izumi feel bad but not go back on what she said.

"Izumi chan?"

"H-huh?" Izumi snapped out of her daze, and focused on the girl before her. She was staring off into the distance, blue eyes taking on that glassy gaze.

"You really need to run."