Author
Thanks for all who reviewed/liked/followed this little ficcie of mine! I am humbled by your support.
Next up, some other characters that we missed will be coming up, and I must say-
It's getting exciting! :3
I'm excited myself. Hohoho. All right, have fun reading! ^^


[FLASHBACK STARTS]

Naomi
[Hey, Seiko, if I were an animal, what would I be?]

Seiko
[Hmm? Why the sudden question?]

Naomi
[Just wondering!]

Seiko
[Hmm... Let's see...
Ah! I know! Definitely that!]

Naomi
[Eh? What? What?]

Seiko
[A rabbit! So innocent and fluffy and adorable!]

Naomi
[S-stop it! Seiko! Not my bossom again!]

Seiko
[Hehehehe...]

Naomi
[Mou..! If Seiko were an animal, you're definitely a cat!]

Seiko
[A cat...huh? Nya~ Suits me fine~]

Naomi
[S-Seiko! Stop it!]

[FLASHBACK ENDS]

She fumbled with her cellphone, switching it on and off again.
It has been 3 months since she had try sending any messages out but it was to no avail.
The message titled 'No hard feelings' stared back at her with a 'failed delivery' notice on top of it.

Seiko
[*sigh* I guess it can no longer be sent after they've gone back…
*big sigh* Haaaaaaaaaaaa. *pause*
OH HOW I MISS FONDLING YOUR BREASTS, NAOMI!]

Seiko laughs to herself.

Seiko
I'm sure Satoshi's taking care of her well. I'm sure they're safe back home, soaked with happiness.

Her face stared blankly into an empty wall while a dark shadow appeared behind her.

Seiko
And soon, I'll be forgotten.
*pause* No, no, no! What am I thinking?!
*hits her head* Silly me! I mustn't think like that!
I must wish for their happiness!

Boy
[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH !]

Seiko
[! Time to go now!]

Seiko moved toward the scream and saw Kizami
holding a young boy by his neck, and a knife on his other hand.

Seiko
[Stop it, Kizami!]

Kizami turned to look at Seiko, his eyes dark and his smile crooked.
He laughed hysterically and dropped the boy on the ground.
It was then when Seiko realized the boy had been stabbed twice, one on each leg.
Kizami vanished for a second and appeared right in front of Seiko the next.

Kizami
[Why so serious?]

Seiko
[! You…!]

Kizami put his hands around Seiko's neck and Seiko could not breathe properly.

Kizami
[Would you like to feel that again? Suffocation?
HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!]

Kizami held Seiko high by her neck and squeezed tight.
It's that same pain and despair that Seiko felt when Naomi had hung her up while she was possessed.
She looked at the young boy on the ground, crying silently, his expression full of panic and fear.

Seiko
This is bad… He can't run away with those injuries..!

And what happened next surprised Seiko the most.

Boy
[Let… Let big sister go!]

Seiko & Kizami
[!]

Kizami
[Hahaha.. Hehehe… Hahahahahaha! Hehehehehehehehahahahahahaha !
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!]

Kizami dropped Seiko and appeared right before the boy immediately.
The young boy started to wet himself. Kizami smiled viciously.

Kizami
[You seem like a fun toy to have…Hehehehehe…Hahahahahaha!]

Kizami's hysterical laughters stopped abruptly and his face grew serious.
He took out his knife and struck at the boy.
But he had missed.
Seiko carried the boy and teleported before the bloodied knife went through the young boy's chest.

[THE AFTERMATH - CHAPTER 3: START]


Naomi
[I-it's... It's Yuu-chan... Seiko's brother!]

Satoshi
[?]

Naomi released herself from their embrace and ran toward the boy no taller than 4"4.
She grabbed him by his left arm and turned him around to face her.

Naomi
[*gasp* *gasp* Yuu-chan, isn't it?! It's Yuu-chan, right?!]

Yuu
[Eh? U-uh, yes, I am... But who are you..?]

Naomi
*sudden realization* He... doesn't remember me..?
*heart aches* Of course he doesn't...
There's no link between our relationship anymore,

Now that Seiko's gone...

Yuu
[Um, *hesitate* big sister?]

Naomi
[! I-I'm, I'm sorry, I was..!
You looked like someone I knew...
He was called Yuu-chan too..]

Yuu
[*shifty* *nervous* U-uh, I-I see...]

Naomi
[Sorry to bother you!]

Naomi turned around and ran away before her tears start pouring from her eyes.
The reminder that Seiko's existence was erased pained her heart once again.
She ran back to where Satoshi was and collapsed in his arms.

Satoshi
[?! Naomi?! Are you all right?!]

Naomi
[*cough* *cries* Satoshi..!]

She grabbed Satoshi by his collar and started wailing away.
The pain was so sharp that she knew it wasn't a dream.
After having met Yuu, she's determined.

Naomi
[Satoshi... Let's bring their existence back...
*cries* No matter the cost...!]

Satoshi
[...Naomi...]

Satoshi continued to hold her in his arms for another thirty minutes before she calmed down.
He constantly patted on Naomi's head gently to comfort her.
His heart ached every time she had cried and decided-

Satoshi
I will do everything to make those tears go away.

While walking her home, they held hands in a tight grip.
It was a sign of their determination.


Yoshiki just came out from the bathroom.
He had a long and good soak in the bathtub
while recollecting pictures of Ayumi in his mind.
Even as he walked out from the bathroom,
he wondered to himself how was Ayumi doing now.
Is she still upset about Ms. Yui?
Is she stressing herself up about the spell?
Is she crying?
He entered his room just as his cell phone rang.
He stared at the screen as he picked up his phone.

Yoshiki
[?! Shinozaki?
*pause* *clears throat*
Hello?]

Ayumi
[Ah, Kishinuma?]

Yoshiki
[Um, yeah, whaddap?]

Ayumi
[Sorry to bother you, but is it possible for you to come down?
To the convenience store, just for a while!]

Yoshiki
[*blush*...S-sure.]

Ayumi
[That's great! I'll see you in ten!]

Yoshiki hung up and ran toward his closet.
He opened wide his closet and realized he was feeling both hot and cold at the same time.
He was so happy to receive a call from Ayumi, had that warmed his heart,
yet his body was shivering just from a tint touch of excitement and nervousness.
It took him too long to decide what to wear,
and finally decided to just calm himself down.
He grabbed a navy blue jersey and a pair of chocolate brown berms.

Yoshiki rushed out of the door, forgetting to tie his shoe laces.
He ran down the street, his body pumped with adrenaline to meet Ayumi.
What could it be possibly that Ayumi would ask him out?
No matter what the reason was, he was just glad she asked him out, even for a little while.

Ayumi
[Kishinuma!]

Yoshiki looked up to see Ayumi waving at him ahead.
She was wearing a yellow pullover and a pair of khaki pants.
Her hair was tied into her usual ponytails, but somehow seeing her in casual clothes made him breathless.

Yoshiki
*blush* C-cute...

Yoshiki
[W-what is it, Shinozaki.]

Ayumi
[*smiles brightly* Heh, thanks for coming, Kishinuma!]

Yoshiki
*blush* Dang, you gotta stop smiling at me or else...!

Ayumi
[This is regarding the spell... *pause*
I decided I couldn't talk to Naomi about it...
She's been looking so pale lately... I'm worried about her health.
The last thing I want on Saturday is for her to collapse half way through the spell.
And as for Mochida...]

Yoshiki
[...So, what's this about?]

Ayumi
[Well, about that...
I missed out a point for the spell to work today.]

Yoshiki
[?]

Ayumi
[We'll need one of Naho's possession for the spell to work.]

Yoshiki
[Eh?! But how are we...?]

Ayumi waved her fingers toward herself,
signaling Yoshiki to bent forward, making him blush further.
His heart was drumming so loudly he was afraid she could hear it as she drew near.
He knitted his brows together to cover for his embarrassment.

Ayumi
[*whispers* We'll sneak into her apartment.]

Yoshiki
[EH?!]

Ayumi pulled Yoshiki aside and placed a finger over her lips.
Yoshiki was no longer blushing.

Yoshiki
[Are you kidding?! That's a criminal...!]

Ayumi
[SHHHHHH! Quieten down, are you trying to attract attention!?]

Yoshiki
[Ah! S-sorry, sorry!]

Ayumi
[*sighs* *whispers* I've gotten her address, but I'll need you to do this with me.
You're the only one I can depend on now, okay?]

Yoshiki
[*shrugs* I guess... *sighs* I can't leave you alone, can I?]

Ayumi
[Thanks, Kishinuma!]

Yoshiki
[*sighs* *smiles* All right. So when's the action?]


Yuka
[Brother! Broooother!]

Satoshi
[..Hmm..? *grunts* What is it..?]

Yuka
[You're gonna be late for school if you don't wake up now!
*pulls* Broooootheeeeer!]

Satoshi
[..Three more minutes...]

Yuka
[... *jumps on Satoshi* Wake up!]

Satoshi
[?! All right, all right! I'm awake!]

Yuka
[Hehehehe... That's good! *gets off*
Breakfast's ready! *runs out*
Brother's awake, mummy!]

Satoshi rubbed his eyes as he got off his bed.
He walked to the bathroom and looked into the mirror.
He looked terrible. His eyes were dark and he looked tired.
He could not sleep well last night, thinking about Naomi.
He was worried everything is too hard for Naomi.
Sure, it was harsh for everyone. But definitely more for Naomi,
especially when she had witness herself killing her best friend on a video.

Satoshi
All right, I gotta be strong for Naomi..!

He washed up and changed into a clean set of uniform as he went down to the dining table.
Awaiting for him at the dining table was Yuka and his mother.
Mrs Mochida looked like a matured version of Yuka with shorter hair and a fuller figure.

Yuka
[Brother! Today, it's pancakes!
Mummy and I made it together!
Right, mummy?]

Mrs. Mochida
[That's right! We did well, didn't we, Yuka-chan?]

Yuka
[*brightly* Um! *blush* T-that way, I can be a good bride!
*blush* *smiles* Don't you think so, brother?]

Satoshi
[...]

Yuka
[*worries* B-brother..?]

Satoshi
[..! Eh? Um, that's right! The pancakes are delicious!
You're going to be a great cook, Yuka!]

Yuka
[... *pouts* Brother's a fool!]

Satoshi
[Eh?]

Yuka left the dining table, grabbed her back and walked toward the door.

Yuka
[I'll be heading off first!]

Mrs Mochida
[Be careful!]

Yuka opened the door and was surprise to see Yoshiki at the door.

Yoshiki
[Yo!]

Yuka
[Brother! Yoshi-bro is here!]

Satoshi
[Eh? Yoshiki?]

Yoshiki entered the house.

Yoshiki
[Sorry to intrude...
Ah, good morning, Mrs Mochida!]

Mrs Mochida
[Good morning, Kishinuma-kun!
Would you like some pancakes?]

Yoshiki
[Nah, I'm fine! I had something before I came.]

Satoshi
[What's up?]

Yoshiki
[Nah, just thought of catching up.
We haven't really spoke, you know...
*whispers* Since we came back.]

Satoshi
[Ah... Sure. Gimme a sec.]

Satoshi gobbled down his food and orange juice,
grabbed his bag pack and started wearing his shoes.

Satoshi
[I'm off!]

Mrs Mochida
[Be careful!]

Yoshiki and Satoshi walked toward the school along the familiar street.
Although Satoshi and Yoshiki lived in quite a distance,
Yoshiki had often stayed over his house,
playing games and reading manga during summer holidays.
They walked on until Yoshiki broke the silence.

Yoshiki
[So... How's Nakashima?]

Satoshi
[... Well, I'm not sure. *sighs*
No good, to be honest.
She's very affected by what happened, you see.]

Yoshiki
[Um, I would think so...
After all, Shinohara and her were such close friends...
She must have been devastated.]

Satoshi
[Ha.. Tell me about it..]

Yoshiki stopped on his tracks and Satoshi followed.
Yoshiki looked into Satoshi's eyes as he put his hands on his shoulders.

Yoshiki
[Hey, if it gets too tough... J-just, uh, how do I put it...
*blush* Don't keep it all inside.]

Yoshiki looked away in embarrassment and walked on.
Satoshi was shock.
It was the first time he had seen Yoshiki concern himself with someone else.
Yoshiki's words sent him a huge relief, lifting his burdens.

Satoshi
[*smiles* Thank you, Yoshiki.]

Yoshiki
[... Un.]

Satoshi could not see his expression, but from his back,
he could imagine Yoshiki's embarrassed face.
Satoshi could not hold in his amusement and chuckled.

Yoshiki
[W-what?]

Satoshi
[*chuckles* N-nothing. *smiles* Let's go.]


Author
Awwwwww. Some bro-mance from Yoshiki and Satoshi... /
Hope you liked Seiko's appearance like I did.
Seiko's like some kind of heroine-spirit of her own now.
Or at least I'd pictured her to be.
Comments and reviews for this story will be appreciate!
All right, next chapter's going to get exciting~ ^^v