Koneko & I
Chapter 3
(This one is using an inspiration from two other animes. But which ones? Hint: One is horror genre, the other is horror/fantasy/action.)
Riiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiing! Riii-
"Hello? This is the Baek residence."
"We need to talk. Please come to the Occult Research clubroom."
It was towards nightfall. I got a call from the president of the Occult Research Club, Rias Gremory. My heart sank and I stuttered through most of the call, but either way, I was on my way to Kuoh... at night. She requested my presence and made it sound casual, but I'm not dumb; I knew this call orbited around the topic of Koneko.
"Don't keep a lady waiting too long."
As I prepared for the trek, my imagination ran with the questions and possible situations that could happen tonight. I thought of Koneko first and then I began to premeditate my sound bites.
Who were these friends of hers? The only ones I knew were Rias, herself- and that was only by image and reputation- and Akeno Himejima by visual. Was there more? Was that it? Could I have been entirely wrong? Could she have called me out for a different reason? I spaced out at the coffee vending machine mulling over my choice, letting the electric hum sing as I drowned into my recent memories of the semester.
***XXX***
It began to rain when I got close to the academy. My hair which stretched to my shoulders was drenched in seconds. The hoodie I chose to wear didn't stand a chance. For a moment, before I entered through the gates, I smelled something foul. It was overwhelming yet familiar. Then I began to notice... the droplets that collided with the concrete sounded... heavy. I let out my hand then retracted it for a closer look.
Blood streamed through my fingers.
I gasped and jumped at this, but the first time I blinked after I noticed, it was just... water? What's going on here?
After making my way through the spacious old building littered with shadows, I knocked on the door to the clubroom which responded with a hollow echo. I felt uneasy so I kept my eyes moving around. Somewhere within the darkness, I swore I could have heard something. Rebelling against my good sense, again, I closed my eyes slowly and focused all my attention into my ears.
Where are you? I know I heard you.
Clop, clop, clop.
THERE! Are those... footsteps?
Clop, clop, clop.
Clop, clop, clop.
Clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop!
Is that coming towards me? It sounds like it's getting closer.
Clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop!
Clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop!
I opened my eyes and looked around hastily, trying to filter through the darkness for something, but all I could see was an empty hallway. My stomach shrank, adrenaline began to flood my brain and the hairs on my neck shot straight up.
Clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop!
Clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop!
I almost decided to start banging on the door. Rias. Please, tell me you're in there! Open this god-damned door! RIAS!
Clop-clop, clop-clop, CLOP-CLOP, CLOP-CLOP!
SQUEEEEEEEEAK!
I screamed. I squatted with my head between my hands. My brain shut down momentarily and that's when I saw her. My savior. My scarlet-haired savior. The one that silenced everything and made it all go back to normal. She had a warm, welcoming smile infused with an expression that said something along the lines of, "How silly, to be afraid of the dark."
"Hanul Baek, whatever are you doing outside? Please, come in. I've been waiting for you."
"I-I..." I turned from her and surveyed the area one last time to no avail. Was that just in my head? I can't even... I sighed and counted my blessings as I stepped through the threshold of her territory.
***XXX***
After a few questions- no- after the interrogation, I got heated. I felt like something within me was bubbling as it experimented with my emotions. The way Rias talked was, both, sarcastic and matter-of-factly on a high horse. Condescending, maybe? I didn't know what, at the time, but I could swear she was trying to pin something on me.
"It's good to finally meet the famed Baek. I didn't mean to make you come out so late, but when my heart is set on something, I simply can't shake it loose."
"I see. I understand. I am Hanul Baek. It's nice to meet you, save for the time." I bowed halfway in formality to which she rejected with a wave of her hand.
"Trust me, the pleasure is mine, and don't worry about formalities, it's just the two of us. Now, Baek, do you know why I've summoned you here?"
"I don't suppose it was because you were lonely and needed company."
"On the contrary, that's exactly why."
"No way."
"I want to get to know you. Personally. Who is this Hanul Baek that goes to our school? Where did he come from? And why does he have an interest in someone from my circle?"
How could someone keep a smile for so long when the topic was so dreadful? She barraged me in questions before I could even think of an answer to keep up.
"What are you like in school? Academically-speaking."
"So, what about your parents? Are they separated or together?"
"What kind of hobbies do you partake in?"
"Have you ever been diagnosed with something abnormal?"
"Where are you from, exactly?"
This wasn't just pleasantries and protecting a friend, this was... This was...
BOOM!
A large explosion, as loud as the length in which the door flew off the hinges in six pieces. It slid against the floor's woodgrain while kicking up dust, and kept sliding until it stopped right before Rias' desk. She stood up instantaneously with a form that demanded order then slouched casually at the sight of the uninvited guest.
"Well, well," she noted enthusiastically. "Just in time. I knew you'd be here, sooner or later." I pivoted towards the doorway and saw the last person I ever expected to see.
"What's going on here?" she sounded infuriated.
"Why, nothing at all. Baek was just leaving after our very friendly chat. Baek?" I looked to Rias then back at the girl at the entry, Koneko, and in an instant, I decided to comply.
"R-Right. I'll be taking my leave then. It was good seeing you, Miss Gremory." I kept my head down and my hands in my pockets hoping to just pass by Koneko, but the moment before I passed her, my body fluttered in emotions I never thought I had, and she gripped my arm, tightly, without notice, before I went through the door. This simple interaction even made my soul jump.
"You. We'll talk. Tomorrow. Don't be late. Rooftop."
I nodded then averted my eyes. The fears I had hiking up to this door no longer invaded my thoughts and I was purely focused on getting home.
***XXX***
Thanks for reading! 3
I know it seemed like filler, but every great story needs a bridge!
Chapter 4 in progress!