Alright, here's another chapter. A bit short but I covered enough. Also this is the first chapter where Ryo will get to roam freeley. I think to make this story less of a drag, I'll just briefley go over what he did. I'll get to social links later, but I'm thinking about having like 2-3 in a chapter. I don't know just yet. Well give me your opinion on this, becuase I could also go the route of P4 The Animation where I could devote a chapter to a person and get their Social Link over with.
Chapter 9 – Silent Night
February 17, 2018 – Monday [Fujihara Apartment, Night]
He wanted it to all end. Ryo was struggling on his way home. When he heard the voice back at school, he was scared. He bolted back to his apartment feeling as if someone was watching him. He became paranoid, looking around whenever he was by a dark alley or some trees. People looked at him wearily, avoiding him at all costs. To everybody else, he was that strange person you see in big cities doing weird things, like walking without a shoe. It didn't help when Ryo saw police cruisers outside the apartment complex.
Ryo stopped, "No… Not now!" He ran inside and went to his apartment. The door was wide open and loud chatter could be heard from down the hallway. Ryo carefully walked forward stopping just before the doorway.
"…Okay well what about this 'monster'?" Ryo heard a gruff man speak.
Aimi's sniffling could be heard as well, "W-Well it was black, with these…"
"Yuuma, we're not getting anywhere!" A second voice said.
"Let the lady speak!" The first voice barked back, "Okay what was that about the monster again?"
"I-It…" Aimi stopped. She saw a glimpse of Ryo's head before he receded again. "U-Um…"
The men took notice of Aimi's gaze, "Is there somebody there?" The second voice called.
Ryo appeared from the left of the doorway and walked inside. He sat next to Aimi dropping his book bag and staring at the two police officers. They wore the generic blue suits, complete with shiny gold badges, flat-top hats, and a wire cascading down their chests to a microphone. The first one had a wrinkled and aged face, but still very serious and determined. The second was a younger and skinnier-looking man. "Who are you?" The first one, with the gruff voice, said with a harsh tone.
Aimi spoke up, "This is my brother, Ryo. He was there on the night of the incident." Aimi still looked a bit shock, but cleaned up well over the day. Her tone was still shaky though and eyes were milky and red.
"Ah, good we need to ask you some questions too." The first officer said, "I am Officer Ikeda. My partner and I are here to ask you about the incident that occurred on the night of the 16th. Your sister has been very kind in detailing everything that's happened. Now from what she said, is it true that you two were having an argument that night?"
Ryo looked away, "Yes."
"Good, now did anything happen after she left?" Officer Ikeda continued. Ryo recalled back to the text message, but remained quiet, knowing they wouldn't believe him. Instead, he shook his head and averting his eyes. "Hmm… Okay that's fine."
The second officer tapped Ikeda on the shoulder, "Hey, we gotta get going. I told you coming here was a waste of time!"
"Hold on!" Ikeda said and turned toward the twins again, "Listen, I don't what's going on, but I don't believe you kids are guilty. For right now we have to leave the case open. Now I'm assigning you both therapists to try and get information and calm the situation. You're first appointment is at this location just after school for you guys on the 19th." He handed them two business cards with the information he just said. "Remember to go, if you don't we have to take you to the appointment ourselves." Ikeda got up and talked to the other officer for a minute and then looked back, "You two kids have a nice night! We'll be back soon, maybe then we'll get better information." With that the two policemen left the apartment.
Just as fast as the officers left, a new presence stomped up and slammed his fist on the closed door. "I KNEW YOU DAMN KIDS WERE NOTHING BUT TROUBLE! WHERE THE HELL IS MY MONEY!" He continued to slam on the door, and Aimi grabbed onto Ryo's arm tightly and pressed her face against his sleeve.
"Just wait okay! We'll have it by midnight!" Ryo stated, not knowing if that was true.
"GOOD THAT'S JUST ENOUGH TIME TO PACK YOUR BAGS. ROTTON-ASS KIDS BRINGGING THE COPS IN HERE!" The landlord finally stomped away grumbling underneath his breath.
Aimi looked up at Ryo, "I-Is he gone?" She was trying desperately to speak while crying, but failing miserably. "I-I think there's a job opening tonight, check the table."
Ryo looked over and saw a small newspaper add. She was right! There was a bar hiring 16-year olds with no background check or anything, it would also pay just enough for the rent. Ryo left the room and got his things ready to go, he checked the location, and it wasn't that far from home which is good. Before Aimi knew it, Ryo was gone.
[Fujihara Apartment – Crow's Tavern]
Like the name suggested, this bar was dark. Ryo had to be guided by the few lights alongside the walls. He quickly found the manager and asked about the position. Ryo was immediately put behind the counter with only two rules: 1. No Drinking the Merchandise and 2. Get Customers Whatever They Wanted. He was given an apron to wear until he could get his real suit. Work began slowly, no one coming in or out. Most of the people already inside were half-asleep or severely drunk. Ryo began to clean the counter to try and get on his boss' good side until a lone man walked up. He had bags underneath his eyes and a cigarette in his mouth. He had messy black hair with a leather jacket on. His gaze was quickly moving, from the alcohol to Ryo then back. The man slumped down in a bar seat and waved his hand for Ryo.
"You must be new here…" The man commented when Ryo came, "Probably don't know how to make shit; just get me some sake…" Ryo quickly did as he was asked and thee man gulped it all down. "Ugh… What're you staring at! Get me another glass!" Ryo took it the empty glass and quickly refilled it for the man. Instead of staying there, Ryo continued to clean the counter. After a couple hours, the man left without leaving a tip for Ryo. At 11 o' clock, he left with that night's pay, 1,600 yen, with both Aimi and Ryo's savings it was enough to pay rent. He rushed home to make it before midnight, determined and strong.
When the leader got to the complex, the front door was locked as usual. It stays open until 10, after that point, people would have to stay somewhere else for the night. Ryo began to bang as hard as he could on the metallic door, but it fell on deaf ears. After five minutes of waiting, Ryo took a small rock and threw it up to his and Aimi's apartment. The brunette stuck her head out to find her brother. "Oh my god! Thank god you're here!" She called down, "Hold on, I'll let you in." Ryo waited by the door for another few minutes while listening to Aimi and the land-lord's fight. The door eventually opened and Ryo strode confidential inside. He walked up to the land lord, who was doing some filing, and slammed the money on his desk.
The land lord looked down and snorted. He took the money quickly and counted it up. "1,600… Not enough!" He spat. Aimi then walked up with another wad of yen and handed it to him. He counted that as well, "Fine… You can both stay here… You're damn lucky that that frickin' orphanage is paying me to keep you…" Ryo and Aimi were taken back at the comment. "Get outta here! Your power and water will be on tomorrow!" The land lord grumbled on as the twins walked back up to their apartment. Tension was lifted from the atmosphere; both of them could get some needed sleep.
February 18, 2018 – Tuesday [Jundo Street, Morning]
Aimi and Ryo were walking toward school in the new routine they had adopted. Aimi still didn't look like herself, but she couldn't afford to miss another day. Michio walked up to the twins as they walked. "Hello Aimi, are you feeling any better?" He asked.
"Y-Yes, thank you." Aimi responded.
"That is great! Well I will fill you in on the meeting we had yesterday after classes." Michio offered.
"No thanks… Bro already told me…" Aimi looked up at Ryo and he nodded to Michio.
"That is good; well I still cannot decipher the code that was sent to us." Michio explained, "I will keep trying though. We should also be more careful of what we do with that message. It is the clue we have currently." Aimi and Ryo nodded and the three walked toward school together.
February 18, 2018 – Tuesday [Class 2-F, After School]
Ryo began to pack up his things as the class ended. Aimi walked over and greeted her brother. "Hey, I'm going to go home. I don't care if you go out though, j-just be home soon, okay?" Aimi then left for home.
Ryo got up and began to ponder his next move. He remembered the plaza where he got some ice cream with Michio and Takeo and decided to head there.
February 18, 2018 – Tuesday [Fujihara Apartment, Night]
Ryo returned home after trying the mystery flavor at the ice-cream parlor. Today's flavor was earwax which sickened Ryo to his stomach, but he felt a bit more courageous after the ordeal. When he opened the door he found a brightly lit apartment, and for once, a smiling Aimi. She was eating a cup of ramen while watching a soap-opera. "Welcome back!" She called.
Ryo walked back up and sat next to next to her at the dinner table. "You seem a lot better!" Ryo commented.
"Yeh, well I think it's because of getting the TV back on. I've missed sooo much of my shows. I've been able to catch up on it and that made me feel a bit better." Aimi looked genuinely happy, nothing like she was a couple days ago. "Oh, I also made you some dinner." She pushed another cup of ramen towards Ryo. He was about to scarf it down, but his stomach rejected the delicious noodles.
"S-Sorry, I had some bad ice cream," Ryo tried to explain while gagging, "I'm gonna go to bed."
"'Kay!" Aimi said understandingly. She then took the extra cup and began eating it herself. Ryo rolled his eyes and went into his small room. He was relieved that he could finally plug in his PSV for the next day. For once, he felt like nothing had happened, and maybe everything would be alright.
Well no new reviews last time, but thank you everyone who put this in your story subscriptions. Not much else to put down here... :/
