Journal Entry #1

I honestly feel like this is ultimately a waste of my time. My friends are dead, murdered by the vice-president of my club, (how weird is that?), who was also one of my closest friends. But the guidance counselor in her infinite (subjective) wisdom suggested that I find 'peace' and 'closure' with this unfortunate occasion. What. The. Actual. Fuck. My friends died. Like in actual death, not death-is-a-revolving-door-and-thus-is-meaningless. They haven't even been buried yet!

I can't get what Shin said out of my head. "It wasn't me!"; was it the rambling of a lunatic who actually committed the crime (doubtful, Shin hated confrontation and avoided it at all costs, If he was going to murder someone I would have thought he would have chosen a method a bit more… discreet like poison, social sabotage was never going to be his forte, so that's out.) or is Shin actually innocent and is just paying for someone else's lack of restraint?

Whoever it was they were sloppy, or just really smart. (We are so screwed if it's someone methodically murdering people 'til there is no one left). I mean if it was me framing someone for murder, I would join the drama club… because of the shoulder length gloves. And that way all I would have to do is use the object that, for lack of a better word, my rival has touched. And bam! My rival takes the fall for me.

I mean I could be wrong and it could really be Shin, and I'm in one of the five stages of grief (denial). Or maybe someone else killed my club members and is still wandering around.

Maybe I should just avoid the drama club for a bit.

-A.A.

I closed my journal and fell against the pillows of my bed. I set it on the nightstand by my bed as I stared at the ceiling to help calm my turbulent thoughts. Why was I the only one who Shin or mystery guest, didn't kill? Was it timing, I just so happened to stay late and talk to Saki and Kokona, so thus I wasn't killed?

I turned to my side staring at the shrine that my mother had built for me. My jaw clenched as my stomach rolled over itself: again and again and again. With bile rising up scorching a path through my body, I jolted up grabbing the closest object I could and I threw it with as much force that I could. Watching my bedside lamp collide with a solid crack , and seeing it break the shrine for my 'Senpai'. Well, I definitely took more satisfaction from the destruction of a symbol of my mother's insanity, than I probably should have. But so worth it.

I looked at my phone as it buzzed with a group message with both Kokona and Saki.

Kokona & Saki: hey Yan-chan how are you holding up?

Me: been better. I don't think I've gotten over the shock.

Saki: do u want us 2 come over? U r by urself in that house rite?

Kokona: say the word and we'll be rite there.

Me: its like 3 A.m. guys

Kokona: that's not a no.

Saki: Yan-chan I don't think you should be alone rite now.

Kokona: and I don't want to be alone rite now either. I'm freaking myself out and I could use your pragmatism.

Me: alright, I guess I'll see you guys soon.

Not even two minutes later and I hear the doorbell ring. Well, at least they're dedicated. I stood from the bed and made my way to the front door when I noticed the curtains in the kitchen gently rustling in the night breeze. I paused, I didn't open that window when I left for school and I am positive that I didn't open it when I came home.

Straining my ears I tried to hear if there was anyone in my house. Fist clenching I moved to the kitchen, the silence broken by the soft rustle of fabric against the windowsill. I grabbed the first knife from the rack as the hairs stood up on the back of my neck.

I looked at my shadow casting itself across the floor and partially onto the counters. I screwed my eyes shut when more rustling of fabric came from behind me. I could feel my heart pounding away in the confines of my chest, almost as if it beat fast enough it could break free and run away. I turned my knife poised to strike, only to see a vacant space that hasn't been occupied. My heart nearly stopped dead, when my doorbell rang again this time accompanied by the buzzing of my phone.

"Yan-chan? Are you there? It's Saki and Kokona?"

I set the knife back and braced my hands against the counter. My breath escaping in shaky gasps of air. It's been a long day, and I've just been paranoid. There is no one in my house.

"Yeah, I'll be right there!"

When I opened the front door I was enveloped into a hug from two sets of arms. We stayed like that for a few minutes, not saying anything just being. When we pulled back Kokona smiled at me and linked arms with me as Saki linked herself to my other.

We made ourselves comfortable on the long couch in front of the television a bowl of popcorn settled in my lap, as we talked about asinine topics and giggled at each other's jokes.

"Do you guys really think Shin actually, you know…" Saki trailed off in the end of her question, biting her lip and looking nervously at me and Kokona.

"The police said that Shin's fingerprints and DNA were on the weapon. So, I guess?" Then they both turned to me, sharing a worried glance between themselves. Apparently it was my turn to share.

"I don't know. It could have very well have been Shin-senpai but it could have been someone else."

Saki grasped my hand her fingers lacing through mine. And Kokona looking contemplative, gave me an encouraging nod.

"It could have been someone from the drama club."

Saki nodded her head, when I gave her a curious look she rolled her eyes and bumped shoulders with me.

"Just because I'm a social butterfly doesn't mean I don't notice things. If I wanted to frame someone the drama club is the club that I would choose too."

Kokona smiled and nodded as if coming to a realization. "Yeah! Hey, don't all drama club members get elbow length gloves as part of some standard club uniform?"

"That's convenient, don't they also let anyone who's in their club use one of their masks too?"

Saki groaned resting her head against my left shoulder as Kokona slumped against my right. Well at least three of us are on the same page.

Kokona broke the tense silence as she hugged my right arm to her. "I'm sorry about Shin-senpai, I know that you liked him."

I must have looked shocked because Kokona snickered at me a little. "I may not be novice detectives like you and Saki, but people I understand. You liked him, and he liked you. I may have found the occult club to be creepy but he was cute, and I don't think I've seen you smile at anyone the way you smiled at him."

Before I could interrupt she cut back in. "Besides I don't think Shin-senpai even had a motive. I mean he was vice-president of your club, he hung out with a doting kohai. All he had to do is ask you out and you probably would have said yes."

I felt my lips quirk up into a smile, "Yeah, I probably would have." I gained two very certain nods before I continued; "can you two do me a favor? And maybe avoid the drama club. If Shin-senpai was actually framed I don't want you two caught in the crossfire."

Kokona's lips thinned into a straight line her amethyst eyes hardened before solidly shaking her head at me, rejecting the idea. "You helped my father get out of debt with the Ronshaku loan sharks. You not telling us everything either, but I'll say this; You are not doing this alone. Saki and I, we're here for you because you are our friend. I don't know how else to convey that to you. You are stuck with us."

Saki grinned at me and nodded towards Kokona, "She's right you know. Granted what you did to Musume was harsh; but her father wouldn't have stopped if you hadn't. And I think that the whole school is stuck in the crossfire of whatever psychopath's game we are playing. I just think we should even the playing field a bit."

We all looked at each other eyes serious and faces set with grim determination. Before we shared secret smiles with each other.

"So, who's up for joining the photography club?"