Chapter 4: The Fool and the Midnight Channel.
Waking up to "Wake up, Get up, Get out there" is so nice. Makes you wake up and have a good morning with style.
Dressed, fixed my bed head. Alright, time to have a nice breakfast.
I shut off my music and head down stairs… and what greeted me was Nanako cooking breakfast.
"Good morning, Nanako."
I must have scared her, because she jumped a little, flinging a pancake into the air.
I quickly snatched it from the air and put it in my mouth. "Thank you." I smile, patting her on the head.
She blushed and turned away from me. So… cute…
As she was trying to recover from my awesomeness, I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.
"Ah, where are you going?"
I look back at her. "I wish I could help you make breakfast, but I'm going to be late for school." Being late wouldn't be that bad, but with Morooka… That's another thing. "I'll see you when I get back!" With that, I left the house.
I guess I wasn't the only one running late. I barely caught a glimpse of that guy with his orange bike fly pass me. I bet a can of TaP that he's going to crash again.
Actually, is anyone that stupid to take that bet?
I found him up ahead in a garbage can, rolling around wildly.
"S-someone…!" Fine, I'll help him. I did ignore him, TWICE, yesterday. This'll be my good deed of the day. It would be a lot easier of he would stop kicking around.
"Thanks! You saved me… um…"
"Narukami." I reminded him.
"Oh yeah, that's right. You're that new transfer student, Yu Narukami." Oh, he did remember me. "I'm Yosuke Hanamura. Nice to meet ya."
"You too. Are you alright? You've been having a horrible week so far from what I could tell."
"Hehe. Yeah, it's fine. Chie's kicks are brutal, and she always aims for the weak spots."
Me and him wince simultaneously. "I remember."
You know what. He doesn't seem like a bad guy. We decided to idly talk about the murder that happened yesterday. He believed that it was a murder, and I think so as well. There was no way that was an accident. When we eventually decided to check the time, we saw that we were going to be late. Yosuke gave me a ride on his bike. We made it just in time for first period. Victory! But with it being Morooka's class… so not really?
…
And so begins Morooka's class of philosophy. Joy. Nothing crazy happened. He just yelled at us whenever the class brought up the murder last night.
And thus, a day of tolerable school, ended. "Yo, Yosuke." I greeted as such orange student walked up to me. He gave me a funny look. Oh right, Japan and their honorifics… "Look, I've been living in America for a long time, I'm just used to calling people by their name normally." Plus, I pulled you from a garbage can this morning. He dropped the funny face and nodded.
"So, you getting used to this place?"
"Nah." It might be because of the whole dead body incident. "Not yet."
"Yeah, you did just come here a few days ago, so that's normal. There isn't much to do here compared to the big city, but there is that certain… something you can't get anywhere else." Pretty much what Chie said to me. "The air's clean, the food's great… Oh, you know about the local delicacy?" I shook my head. "It's grilled steak, man! Like that's anything special!"
"Don't diss grilled steak." I countered. "That can be great in the right moment." Now I want some…
"Oh yeah? I know a place where you can get them for cheap. Wanna come? You helped me out this morning, so it's on me."
"We are now bros, please lead on!" No, I'm not being over dramatic. Grilled steak is amazing.
Chie thought it was good to destroy this moment. "What about me, huh? No apologies? My Trial of the Dragon…" Woman, you are in the way of me, uh- us eating steak.
"Urgh… You always come around when I'm talking about food…" Yosuke grumbled.
"How about it, Yukiko? Don't you think he should treat us too?"
"I'll pass…" Yukiko responded as she got up to leave. "I don't want to gain any more weight. I need to help out at the inn today, sorry." Good. Steak. Us. Now.
"Wow, Yukiko-san! You started training to take over the family business?" Does he not see me glaring at him?
"It's not like that! I'm just helping out when it gets busy. Well, I should be on my way."
With that, she left. Leaving Me, Yosuke and Chie.
"Oh well. We should get going too." So she's going too? Whatever, as long as I get some steak, I don't care.
"Huh? Do I seriously have to treat two people…?" Yes.
…
Junes, eh. Alright. I bet Nanako would be jealous if she knew I was here. I should probably bring her here sometime.
"THIS is the cheap place you were talking about…?" Chie complained to Yosuke, as he brought a tray of sodas. "They don't have grilled steak here." What.
"Yeah, well, once you hopped on the freeloader train, I had to change my plans."
There will be repercussions woman… better sleep with one eye open…
"Still, that's, no reason to take us to your place." His place? Sweet! I'm going to get a bunch of free- actually, since he brought over sodas, he won't be able to give anyone discounts.
"Dude, this isn't my place or anything." Huh? "Oh right. I haven't told you yet, huh?"
He explained that he moved here a few months ago because this store just opened up and his dad was assigned to manage it. We both have parents forcing us to move. Sucks to be us.
"Here, this is to welcome you to town." Yosuke slid one of the sodas toward me. "Satonaka, yours is on me too."
"Yeah, I know." Woman… you better be grateful.
We all took a giant gulp of the soda and started to talk about all different kinds of thing. From school, to the incident from yesterday. Chie says that people blame Junes for their stores closing down. Just like the old man said from earlier.
While we were talking, a girl who looked like she worked here sat down at a table near us. I would've ignored her, but as soon as Yosuke saw her, his eyes lit up. "Hey… It's Saki-senpai! Sorry, be right back." And just like that he left.
I decided to ask Chief about her. "Is she Yosuke's girlfriend?"
"Haha, he wishes."
"He's not really hiding it, is he."
"No, not really. That's Saki Konoshi. Her family runs a liquor store in the shopping district."
Than why does she work here? Shouldn't she help out her family business? Is Junes- AH! Why is she so close to me now!
"Are you the new transfer student?" She giggled. "Oh, did you hear about me already?"
Yes. Now can you please give me some personal space.
"It must be nice to have someone else from the big city to talk to, huh?"
"Well, act-"
I don't see Hana-chan hanging out with the other guys much. He doesn't have too many friends, so I hope you two get along good."
"Yeah, we-"
"Hana-chan's a good guy, but he can get nosy sometimes. You gotta tell him right to his face when he starts to annoy you."
…Hm? I can finally talk now? How very kind of you. "Nah, he's a great guy." You are the annoying one. Hopefully my tone got across to her that I really didn't like her.
"… I know… I'm just kidding." Sure you were. Yosuke you should stay away from her. "Well, my breaks just about over. Back to work I go…"
"Oh, uh, Senpai…!" Yosuke watched her leave, as she completely ignored him and sat back down. "Hahah, Saki-senpai says I'm annoying, but she's even nosier than me. She treats me pretty much the same way as her younger brother."
"Ohhh, you don't want her treating you like a brother, huh? I get it. The daughter of a local family-run liquor store and the scion of the invading chain. The flames of forbidden love!" Wow, Chie can use the word 'scion' in a sentence correctly. You're smarter than I thought.
"Wha-!? Dude, it's not like that."
Oh reaaaally… Well, I know just the thing to cheer up that lovesick heart. You ever hear about the Midnight Channel?" Midnight Channel? Is that some kind of local superstition?
Chie explained that you are supposed to look at a TV, switched off along, exactly at midnight on a rainy day. While watching it, a image of your soulmate appears on the screen or whatever. Me and Yosuke thought it was stupid, but Chie insisted that we try it. So guess what I'm doing tonight…
After hanging around Junes for a little while longer, we all went our separate directions. Chie reminded us both to check it tonight before she left. She's really into this stuff, huh?
…
Nanako was depressed as we ate dinner. Uncle still wasn't back yet. I decided to reassure her. "Don't worry, I bet he's on his way right now."
"… Yeah." Nanako gave me a half-hearted reply.
All of a sudden, almost on cue, the front door slid open.
"Oh! He's home!" Nanako exclaimed, hopping up off of the ground.
Uncle staggered in, looking very tired. "What a day…" I don't blame him, he was probably going non-stop all day. "I'm back. Did anything happen while I was out?"
Nanako shook her arms, trying to look angry. "No. You're late again…"
"I'm sorry. Been busy at work." Uncle walked over and sat on the sofa. "Can you put the news on for me?"
Nanako reluctantly sat back down and flicked on the news. It was just a follow-up report about the incident yesterday. Just confirming a few facts about the affair and stuff. Maybe the whole murder is revenge from the councilman secretary's angry wife? It said that the police would investigate there relationship. Oh, they even have a interview with the one who found the body.
Uncle sighed. "An interview with the kid…? Where in the hell did they find her?"
The girl had her eyes covered by a black bar and her voice was changed. The whole privacy problems. She seemed very confused and didn't really say anything informative. She seems familiar though, but I just can't pin point where…
Now because of the whole body incident, they say that the shopping district might lose customers.
"Hmph. If they lose more customers, it'll be because you're making such a stink about it…"
The news continued, commenting on how no one came out to take credit for the crime yet. Well, no shit. Who would say, "I did it!"
"Loads of prank calls, though." Uncle grumbled.
Now they're even dissing the police for not figuring out the cause of death. Finally, it's over. Oh, Junes' commercial came on.
Nanako sang it like always and turned to Uncle. "Hey Dad… Can we go to Junes together sometime?" But uncle was completely out of it, which I mean, he was asleep. "No…?" Nanako sighed. "Geez…"
With that, dinner was over. Uncle was sleeping and Nanako was watching her favorite quiz show.
"When I go to bed, I'll wake Dad up and tell him to go to his own room."
I nod at Nanako and stretched. I guess I'll just chill out in my room in till midnight.
I decided to sit at my desk and listen to some music as I read some manga. Looking up at my clock, it was five minutes before midnight. I quickly shut off all my lights, closed my curtains and sat watching a blank TV screen for five minutes.
57
Chie better be right about this.
58
Even though it would never work, right?
59
…
00:00
…
…
Nothing? Well Chie wa- huh? What the? Something is really happening!?
… there was a girl with light brown hair…
… oh HELL no. Was that Saki? Yosuke can keep her, I don-
-I ART THOU-
Where was that coming from?
-THOU ART I-
Argh!... My… my head hurts!... It won't stop ringing!
-THOU ART THE ONE- … please stop… -WHO OPENS THE DOOR-
STOP!
...
… Huh?... It stopped? What was that just now.
I stare at the TV some more. Does this thing even work anymore? I reach out my hand to flick it on, but that whole, voice in my head thing, through me off and I totally missed it.
Now my whole hand was missing! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!
Did I just feel a tug on my- "YAH!" I fell forward, I only escaped falling in fully, due to the size of the TV screen.
No way in hell I'm dying like this. I push against the TV casing with my one free hand attempting to free myself. All of a sudden there was a lack of resistance, causing me to fall backwards.
… and crack my head open on the table behind me. Why was that there?
"Are you okay…?" Nanako's voice. Dammit, I must have woke her up.
"Maybe…? Actually, yes, I'm fine."
"Okay." That was a close call. "Well, good night."
"Night." Right, sleep. You know what? This ground looks very inviting, I'm just sleeping here tonight. Don't want to fall through a portal on my bed, now would I?
…
… Argh… my head… I am not in the mood for waking up in style today.
What happened last night. I guess the Midnight Channel thing was real. But the whole entire incident after? I'll just have to discuss with them later.
Dressed. Grabbed breakfast. Gone.
…
I used to like the rain, but this is on the ridiculous side. It's literally pouring buckets outside. Glad I have my trusty um- ah, green decided to run under my umbrella.
"Perfect timing! Sorry, move over!" Why must you be so pushy. You took away my steak and now this? "I did have my own, but I saw this Kung Fu movie where they used an umbrella to pull off some sweet moves…" Chie cringed. "And… I accidentally broke mine trying to mimic the movie."
"Well, not everyone can have nice things…"
Chie looked away embarrassingly, and shook her head. "What do you know… By the way… did you see it!?"
I'm gonna assume she ment the Midnight Channel. I nod. "I did."
"Aha! Do tell. But the person it showed… Never mind. I'll save it for when the others are around. We're gonna be late for school."
We continued down the street, when Chie started to fidget around. "Oh… U-Uhh… It's kinda awkward to only bring this up now, but… we're pretty close here…" Even green can be like this? Better store this info for later. "U-Um, I'm gonna just go ahead and run the rest of the way!"
Chie was about to run off but she stopped when I tugged on her jacket's sleeve. "Don't worry about it. With this rain, you would probably get a cold." Tell me why I'm being nice to her? She was the one who got my head cracked open last night.
"Huh…? Are you sure? If you say so, then… I guess it's okay. Thanks." Chie gave me a cute smile. Yu, get a hold of yourself! "Alright, let's go."
…
So, apparently my world history teacher is some kind of Egyptian fanatic. She was literally wearing a pharaoh hat, or hood?, and was even holding the cane. Her name was Kimiko Sofue.
"Our new transferee, Narukami-san, please stand up." Huh? I pull out my seat and stood up. "The western calendar is based on Anno Domini, the traditionally believed year of Jesus Christ's birth. What is the year before 1 AD called?"
I raised an eyebrow at her. Is this actually a high school question? "1 BC."
"Ah, you seem to understand this well." She went on to talk about how history is like math and the different calendars, blah blah blah. I just sat back down and ignored most of it.
Anyways, about last night. What was that voice I heard? And the whole TV business? I was getting pulled into the TV. It was some kind of dimension. Maybe I was just imagining it. I did hit my head pretty hard.
Huh? School is already over? I guess being lost in thought on strange TV things makes the time go by. Actually… did I even have lunch?
"My senpai told me it was a third-year named Saki who found the body." Did she?
You know, not important. I got to find green and orange, to discuss some things.
"Y-Yo. Um…"
There's one. "Hey, Yosuke." We stood there, awkwardly staring at each other. I guess he had something strange happen to him too.
"It's, uh, it's not really that important, but… Well, yesterday on TV, I… Oh, Uhh… Never mind. Look, I'll tell you later, heheh…"
"Yosuke, did you hear the rumor?" Hey Chie. "Saki-senpai's supposedly the one who discovered the body."
As we were talking, Yukiko got up from her seat to leave. Chie noticed this and turned to look at her. "Huh? Hey Yukiko, are you helping out at the inn today too?"
Yukiko looked down. "Things are really it of hand right now… I'm sorry." With that, she left.
"Is it just me, or does Yukiko-san seem way stressed out today?" Wow, Yosuke, great deduction.
"By the way, did you see… it… last night?" Thank you Chie, for bringing up the important matter.
"Huh…? Uh, well… what about you?" Yosuke, don't answer with another question.
"How can you be so calm Chie? THE FREAKING SUPERSTITION WAS ACTUALLY REAL!" The two of them looked at me with shock. All of the students in the classroom are now too apparently.
"Wait, so you saw it too?" I nod to Yosuke.
"I did! I seriously saw a girl!" Chie chimed in. Totally more spooky than falling into TVs. "But… my soulmate's a girl? What's that supposed to mean?
"Well…" I began.
"I couldn't quite tell who it was, but it was a girl for sure. "I wanted to tell. "Her hair was brown, about shoulder length. She was wearing out school uniform, and…"
"Hey!I think that's the same person I saw!" Yosuke interjected. "Though I couldn't make out that much detail. The image I saw was much blurrier…"
"…Same." I could easily guess who it was though. But, if what we saw was all the same person, this Midnight Channel has a another purpose than Chie talked about… "Did anything else happen to both of you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well…" Here it goes. "After the Midnight Channel ended I heard a strange voice calling me inside of my head. Saying, "Thou art I" and stuff and I got a sudden pain in my head. Than I touched my TV screen and my hand went right through it, something tugged me forward to the screen until my head went through. I would of went all the way in, but my TV was too small.." I need a breather…
"…"
"…"
Chie was the first to laugh. "Hahahaha!"
Than Yosuke soon joined her. "Hahahaha!"
I knew I should of just been quiet about it.
Strangely, Yosuke was the first to recover. "So you heard some weird voices and than you got sucked into your TV? Were you that tired last night? You've must just fallen asleep in front of your TV."
Chie eventually stopped laughing. Eventually. "Yeah, I like the part where you got stuck 'cause your TV was too small. That's pretty realistic." Screw you guys. "Ohhh, that reminds me. Our family's been talking about buying a bigger TV."
"Oh yeah? We've been beefing up our electronics department this month. So you wanna stop over on the way home?"
"Oh, definitely! My parents don't know anything about electronics, and I just gotta see my Kung-Fu movies on the big screen!" Chie struck a Kung-Fu pose.
"Well, we got some pretty big ones in stock." That ends the conversation about the Midnight Channel. "I bet we could find one big enough for you to fit into, heheh." Except the mocking, of course.
…
When we got to Junes, we went straight to the electronics department.
"Wow, this is huge!" Chie exclaimed next to a pretty huge TV. "And… Holy crap, it's expensive! Who buys something like this?"
"I dunno… Rich folks?" Yosuke answered. I didn't tell him that my parents have one of these in one of their houses they own. I don't know why they bother having multiple houses. "Honestly, not many people shop for TVs here. That's why we don't he clerks around."
"Huh… not worth trying then, I guess. Well, at least looking's free."
They looked at each other, nodded, and walked toward the TV. Both started to tap the screen.
Oh I see, you haves jokes now, huh? Hilarious.
"… Nope, can't get in. Figures."
"Haha, this proves it. It was all a dream."
"Oh really?" Screw it. I don't care I look if I stupid. I tapped the TV's screen. It rippled just like last night!
Yosuke and Chie walked away, with Yosuke showing her some more TVs. I motioned to them to come here, than stuffed my whole arm in, elbow deep.
Watching them try to register what happen was so beautiful. Their emotions went from, confused, horror, than panic. Serves you right for trying to… Wait a second, it actually worked.
Last night did happen. My arm is actually inside the TV…
Both of them started to freak out, me included. I quickly pulled my hand free of the TV.
"Oh man… This is for real… That's some magic trick, man! How are you able to do that?"
I guess I can pass through TV screens? "I dunno." I simply answered.
"What do you mean you do-" I interrupt Chie as I try to put my head through. "What are you doing!"
"I'm going in." This power of mine, isn't from the Midnight Channel. It's from that voice in my head saying that I can open a door. "I got to see what's on the inside. You two just keep watch."
"But, what ar-" I couldn't hear what Yosuke said as my head passed through the TV.
Hm. Can't see much from here. Looks like it has a bunch of space. I pulled myself out of the TV and told them.
"Wh-What do you mean empty space?"
"I mean empty space. I can't see very clearly, but there is a lot of space in there. I'm going in to check it out."
"Holy crap… I-I think this is all to much for my bladder…"
"W-what!? No, it's too-" I felt bad for interrupting Chie twice, but I had to check this out. "I'll be fine. Be back in a minute." I pull my left leg inside, searching for a footing.
Chie grabbed my arm, but that only made me lose my balance on my other leg. Falling in, Chie gripped me tighter, but only got pulled in with me.
Last I heard was Yosuke shouting out our names, and than falling….
…
Okay, done. A much longer chapter than the others, but it is the weekend, so I had a bunch of more time to type out all this.
Hope you all been enjoying this so far and I'll see you next time.
Dusk Emperor signing out.