Game of Courage
The three students carried their box of costumes to a hidden part of the forest. Tomonori and Yurina each grabbed a ghost costume and Kyoko took a demon-like one.
"We better get ready, the first group will be coming soon." Kyoko muttered. "Hey, Yorou, can you take pictures with this camera? It's not like you have anything else to do." She held her camera up.
"I am suppose to protect you three, not leave you alone, especially at night," Yorou stated, eyes narrowed.
"Just take it, Yorou. Have some fun while you're at it. Yukimura-san already gave us some demon-warding talisman," the girl answered. She raised her hand as to pat his head.
"Don't," Kuro growled, moving away.
Kyoko tilted her head, questioning. "Why not?"
"Do you remember when I had to surround you three with myself?"
"Yeah"
"Every time someone passes though a shadow, they see some of our memory...or what we are made up of," Yorou explained, taking the camera.
"Oh, so...Shadows are like embodiments or something?" Tomonori asked, finish putting on his ghost-like costume.
"Yes, we are, though there are all kinds of shadows, just as there are all kinds of spirits. Therefore, it'd be better when you two discover your abilities."
"Oh...okay..." Kyoko replied, not knowing how to respond to that.
"Kyoko! Are you done yet?!" Yurina called out.
"I'm done!" Kyoko yelled back when Yorou tapped her shoulder. "Yes?"
"How does a camera work?"
"Weren't you with the twins for a while?"
"Well, they usually train with me and werewolf demon. Sometimes, they take out their electronics, but never a camera, not once."
Kyoko groaned. "Yuri! Come over here for a second! Now, Yorou. Here's what you have to do..." After explaining the device, Yurina walked into the hidden spot.
"What are we doing?" her friend asked. "The first pair will be here soon."
"We're taking a picture. So you can two get into a pose?"
"Sure" "Okay"
Tomonori lifted the sheet of clothe that was covering his face. Yurina clenched her fists with a determined face and Kyoko did the victory sign. Kuro quickly snap a picture.
-Friendship Pairs-
"Wooooo,woo-ooooooo." Yurina popped out of the bushes, doing the ghostly motion.
The close friends stared at Yurina and laughed. "Aww, you're such a cute ghost, Kanda-san."
The small ghost groaned. "And I thought that might have scared you."
-/-
"Hi, juniors, Julia here." Said girl waved to the pair. Yuuto had don on his paper covered costume but the pair took no note of him. They had already ran downhill from the horror called 'The Pantheress of Karasumori'.
"Why is everybody at school afraid of you?" Yuuto couldn't help but to ask, staring at the trail of dust left behind.
Julia shrugged. "I don't know. I just go after guys." Her partner paled at her answer, as he started to understand the reason.
-Sibling pair-
The twins hugged each other, screaming. Kyoko swayed side to side in her costume as they backed away. As they walked away, laughing at the fright they had, Kyoko quickly hid. Soon, there was a sound of footsteps coming but from the opposite direction. The friends Yuri had tried to scare had to be running from Roppongi-san. Who else could they be running away from?
-/-
"Hello, there. I won't hurt you," Julia said, having an annoyed look at all the previous pairs running from her.
The elder twin was standing protectively in front of her sister. "I don't know about that. There are all kinds of rumors about you and they're all quite bad."
"Can't you two just pass us please?" Julia asked.
"Can you please get off the path?" the elder one retorted. Julia responded by stepping into the grass. "Thank you."
Soon out of hearing range, the younger one stuttered in relief. "Thank you, sister."
"Anything for you." The twins continue down the dark path.
"Boo-ga-boo-ga." A blood-covered person popped from the bushes, yelling. They screamed and ran a few meters away. They didn't notice that it was one of the members of group 5 until one of them looked back.
"Wait, sis, she's not chasing us." The younger one pulled the elder one back.
"You're right...Wait, isn't that Yukimura-san? Is she cover in red paint? I thought she was one of those serial killers you see in those movies for a moment there."
-Love pair-
"I'm scared."
"Don't worry, I'll protect you," the guy repeated for the 20th time, rolling his eyes.
"BOO!" Tomonori yelled, jumping from the darkness of the night. The girl screamed and clung tight to her boyfriend's arm, who groaned.
"I'm certain this is one of our juniors," he stated. Tomonori lifted the clothe covering his face. "Aww. You got me."
"Well, try harder next time."
They continue, encountering Julia on the way. "Hi-hi. Please ignore me and con-Wait a second, aren't you the one I dated before the middle schooler?"
The male gulped and looked away. "I-i'm pretty sure you got the wrong person." He answered a little too quickly.
Julia stared at him and grabbed his face, turning it back to full view. "So it is you!"
The spiked-hair male fled from the spot. "Don't you dare run away! You will pay!" Julia yelled chasing after the poor guy, who left his girlfriend behind.
"I can't believe you ditch me!" She yelled after her boyfriend. The girl then glanced at him. "Am I suppose to continue on alone or return?"
Yuuto shrugged as he raised his katana prop threateningly, in an attempt to scare her.
-Rival pair-
"May the next pair come up." Everybody stared at the last pair and cheered. The two boys were well-known for challenging each other in anything. The two rivals glared at each other.
"I'll be the first one to reach the end."
"No, I'm the first one."
5