Chapter 03

Gekkoukan High, Rooftop

"As one responsible for your stay, do you mind if I ask you some questions? I have the right to since I'm the Student Council President."

"Sure, fire away."

"Why did you transfer here? I've been told that you went here to continue your education."

So Kakei did take care of things...he thought. "Yeah, that's why."

"I won't ask you about your first day since you've come late. This next question might confuse you a little... Do you happen to experience strange happenings during midnight? I mean, if there's anything out of the ordinary happening during that time."

Rikuo's eyes narrowed, "No, why?"

"Oh, I see. Very well, let's move on to some basic personal questions if you don't mind."

"Just what is she trying to say...?" he thought.

"I've already asked for your name, and the Principal told me you will be in the same year and class as me."

"Oh? Then I'll get to see that pretty face of yours every day."

Mitsuru felt her face went hot, "Hmph, I see you're a bit of a player."

"Heh, I may not be someone like you think I am."

"What else are you known for? I'm not a fortune teller who will guess your personality. If I don't know at least a bit of yourself, I will have a hard time accompanying you around here, especially you've come from another city."

Kakei's voice is ringing in Rikuo's mind: Don't tell anyone about the store nor your ability to destroy small things. If that happens, it'll raise suspicion; and you'll get half of your reward or worse, none. Rikuo, as long as you're there don't tell them why. Just reply the questions you can answer without blowing your cover.

"I'm fond of literature; Shakespeare's one of the poets I usually read on. I'm more of a poetic one, though no one else knows that yet."

"Really? I am too; I'm sure we'll be friends quite easily."

"I'm glad if it will-or maybe beyond that."

"...Excuse me?" she thought she heard him say something. Mitsuru then checks her wristwatch, "We've taken up time. Shall we head to the dorm now?"

"You'd still escort me there?" Then he thinks, "Why did I say something like that earlier...?"

She chuckles, "Of course, since I live there."

oOo

And so the two went to the dorm, the rest of the students saw them and started gossiping. Some sees the two as a nice couple even though they barely knew Rikuo. Others were just the typical types who would easily jump to conclusions. At the Dorm, S.E.E.S. greeted Rikuo happily, they welcomed him. He felt a slight doubt that they all aren't as normal as they look.

Iwatodai Dorm

"Wow, you're so tall!" Yukari said, "I've seen you earlier, but I didn't bother to know more since I'm busy with the club. Speaking of clubs, you'd be perfect for basketball! But I don't think we have a club for that..."

"You have great features too," said Fuuka, "I'm sure everyone, mostly the girls, were following you too."

"A tall guy gets all the girls," Junpei laughed. "Man, I wish I had your looks!"

"Welcome to the dorm, Himura," Mitsuru said. "It's not that fancy, but I'm sure you'll get accustomed to it."

"Thanks," Rikuo replied. "It's actually nice; simple and fits the people living in it."

"Is it me, or is there something weird about him...?" Yukari whispered to Minato.

"I dunno," he replied. "Maybe?"

"You never give any good answers...why did I bother asking you?"

"You just think that," he said.

Mitsuru gives him a room key, "Your room is at the second floor, the one near the vending machine."

"What's on the other floors?" he asked.

"The third floor is the girls' rooms including mine; the fourth has a locked room, and the fifth is the rooftop, but you can't get those two doors to open unless I say so."

"Fine with me," he said. Maybe that's where they keep those clues and secrets I'm looking for, he thought.

"You have tomorrow to try familiarizing yourself with your surroundings. By Monday you will start school," Mitsuru finished her sentence. Rikuo went to his room.

xXx

Rikuo's Room

"So I'm here now, in the place Kakei told me to stay," he held up his phone with the dorm's location. "This isn't the same as the ones Kazahaya and I had encountered before. I can feel that this time it's going to get a bit dangerous." He slept without changing out of his clothes.

oOo

Iwatodai Dorm, Lounge

"Good morning, Himura," Mitsuru greeted from her seat after drinking coffee. "How was your night?"

"Fine."

"Nothing unusual happened?"

"What do you mean...?" he said while giving her a glare.

Mitsuru went silent. "It's nothing, forget about it. If you wish to go out, do so. This dorm doesn't have that many rules; but we have curfew: be back by this dorm before midnight. I'm responsible if anyone here gets harmed during that time."

Rikuo looked at her as if he knew she's hiding something from him. "I'll remember that."

"Hey, Rikuo!" Junpei tapped his shoulder, "Minato and I are going at the arcade, wanna come? We'll show you around the city too."

"I'm joining in!" Yukari said.

"Haha, Yuka-tan's going for the new guy too!" Junpei teased.

"I am so not doing that!" she kicked his leg. "There's nothing wrong if a girl suddenly wants to join in a group of boys."

"Yes, there is," Minato said. "People will think weird and going to say what they think."

"You're really annoying sometimes," she said. "Fuuka, are you coming?"

"No, thanks," Fuuka replied, "I'm just going to de-clutter my laptop's files. It's been stacked up since I lived here."

"O-kay, see ya, Fuuka!" Yukari said and went outside.

oOo

Iwatodai Strip Mall, Octopia

"Ooh, let's buy some takoyaki!" Junpei ran towards the takoyaki stand.

"Junpei's jumpy when he meets a new person," said Yukari. Rikuo just nodded at her. "Um, Himura-kun, can I ask you something?"

"About what?"

"Uh, don't you feel strange during midnight? E-Er, I usually wake up at that time because, uh... W-Well never mind, I was just gonna ask if you wake up feeling very stressed," she laughed nervously.

This one's acting strange as Kirijo...he thought. He leans over her, "Why, what's happening during midnight?"

"G-Geez, you don't have to lean over like that...!" she blushes, embarrassed. "You're big and tall, it started to scare me when you did that, no offense."

"It's okay. You remind me of a friend of mine, he's jumpier than you are."

"Really?" she just stared at him. "Nothing's happening during midnight, don't worry. Just forget about what I said." I almost spilled our secret...! Yukari thought.

"I've got us each! Sweet or spicy hot?" Junpei held out two small plastic bags.

"Spicy!" Yukari took the plastic with the spicy takoyaki.

"Sweet," said Minato.

"I'll take the spicy one," said Rikuo.

"Man, I want the spicy one! Then again, sweet takoyaki's yummy too."

"This is a first," she munched, "You rarely treat us like this. Is it something you ate this morning?"

"Hahaha, you're too funny, Yuka-tan! I'm just making our friend here feel welcomed."

"Then we should always have a new guy huh?" Minato is busy eating.

"Not a chance!" Junpei threw his empty box in the trash can.

Rikou unintentionally ruins the moment, "I've been hearing news about these illness spreading around the city... Do you mind telling me what it is?"

The three S.E.E.S. members became silent and tries to avoid answering him.

Chapter 03 End