October
I woke up on Saturday morning to the sound of stuff being moved in the apartment next to me. I groaned. Why do they have to be so loud? I tried to go back to sleep, but it wasn't happening. I sighed and got up. Might as well. I have some homework to finish anyway. I made me some breakfast and as soon as I settled down to get my homework finished, my door bell rang. I pouted. I guess I'm not allowed to do anything today. I went to the door and opened it see Kojima-kun there. I was stunned. "Kojima-kun." I said in surprise.
"Haru-san," He said in surprise as well. Then he chuckled. "I guess that means we're neighbors." He said with a grin.
"So, you're the one who woke me up this morning." I said teasingly.
"Oh, sorry about that." He said smiling sheepishly.
"It's fine. Do you want to come in?" I asked him.
"Sure." He said as I stepped aside to let him in.
"Do you want something to drink?" I asked him.
"Do you have any lemonade?" He asked, curiously.
"I do!" I said going to the fridge and getting it out. "How do you like the town?"
"It's nice. I'm finally able to get to places without getting lost." He said chuckling as I handed him a glass of lemonade.
"Where were you staying at before you moved into the apartment next door?" I asked curiously.
"I was staying with a friend of mine until I had enough money to get my own apartment." He said shrugging. "I've got a new job here now."
"Ooh where?" I asked curiously.
"The Star Café." He said smiling.
"Really?" I asked surprised. "You're our new waiter?"
"You work there?" He asked surprised.
"Yep!" I said grinning. "What a coincidence, huh?"
"At least I'll know at least one person." He said smiling. We talked a bit more and I learned he goes to a different high school, Furuya High School. "My classmates keep saying our homeroom is haunted. Do you believe in that stuff?"
"I do." I said smiling. Should I tell him about my ability? Maybe I'll wait.
"Cool, me too! Want to check it out tonight?" He asked grinning.
"Yes, that sounds fun!" I said beaming at him.
"Sweet!" He said doing a fist pump.
"When do you start work?" I asked him.
"Tomorrow." He said finishing up his lemonade. "I have to get back to unpacking. I'll come by at 8."
"Okay, see you later." I said following him to the front door.
"Thanks for the lemonade." He said, smiling.
"You're very welcome." I said winking at him. Did I just wink at him? What is wrong with me? Why do I have to be so awkward? I have to tell Mai about it. If I don't and accidentally mention it, she'll get mad at me. She's at work right now, though. Hm... should I go bug her at work? I'm sure Naru won't mind if I bug her during her lunch. I grinned and started on my homework. By the time I finished it, it was almost Mai's lunchtime. So, I put my stuff up and stopped by the Star Café. I texted Mai to let her know I was going to bring her some lunch. She told me I was a life saver.
"What are you doing here on your day off?" Hajime-san asked shaking her head.
"I'm here to get lunch for Mai and I." I said shrugging. "Also, our new waiter is my new neighbor."
"Oh? How is he?" She asked curiously.
"He's very easy to get along with, I think the customers will love him." I said excitedly. "He told me he starts tomorrow."
"Yes, Izumi-san told me about it. She's happy to have some help." She said smiling. "I am too, of course."
"I know! I feel like we've been swamped a lot lately." I said shaking my head.
"I think we've gained some popularity since you had your classmates here that one day." Hajime-san said chuckling.
"I'm glad for the business, but I need a break from the constant rushes." I said sighing.
"I feel you there." She said before going to the back. After about ten minutes, she came back with mine and Mai's usual orders. I paid her and told I'd see her tomorrow. I arrived at SPR headquarters in time to see a girl storm out, tears in her eyes. What the heck? I went inside and saw Mai scowling at Naru and Naru looking indifferent. Typical.
"So... I brought lunch." I said brightly.
"Aki, Naru just denied that girl's help and made her cry." Mai said crossing her arms.
"I see that. I'm sure Naru has his reasons." I said shrugging. "You've got to look at these kinds of things logically. Not everything that happens is because of a ghost."
"Not you too." She groaned. "He said the same thing."
"Here, eat this before it gets cold." I told her rolling my eyes. "Plus, I think you'll be happy when you hear what I have to say." She pouted and went to her desk. Naru sighed.
"I'll be in my office." He said getting up from the couch.
"Are you sure you don't want any lunch?" I asked him. I haven't given up yet!
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you." He said before disappearing behind his office door. I sighed.
"I've been trying for ages and have failed every time." Mai said shrugging. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
"It's about Kojima-kun." I said grinning.
"Ooh!" She said excitedly. "What about him?"
"Well, for starters, he's my new next-door neighbor." I said, shrugging. "Also, he's our new waiter."
"And?" She asked after finishing what she was eating.
"And... he invited me to check out his homeroom tonight. Apparently, his classmates think the room is haunted." I said shrugging.
"A date?" She asked, wide-eyed. "You two literally just met!"
"It's not a date, Mai." I said rolling my eyes. "I doubt it's haunted though."
"What makes you say that?" Mai asked curiously.
"Most 'hauntings' start out as rumors and ninety-five percent of rumors are false." I said shrugging.
"That's true..." She mumbled, blushing.
"Anyway, so what was that girl asking help for?" I asked curiously.
"Oh, she was telling us how she thinks her house his haunted." Mai said thoughtfully. "She said at night she hears a lot of loud noises coming from the walls. Naru suggested that it was probably some loose pipes."
"Makes sense." I said nodding.
"And then she said kept hearing whispers at night too..." Mai said sighing. "Now that I think about it, I don't think her house is haunted either."
"Let me guess. He just told her it was the wind?" I asked snickering.
"Yes. And then he told her what you said earlier, and she ran out of the office, crying." Mai said shaking her head. "I understand where he's coming from, but he didn't have to make her cry."
"I think she was crying more out of embarrassment, rather than by hurt feelings." I said chuckling.
"Yeah." Mai said giggling. "What school does Kojima-kun go to?"
"Furuya High School." I said smiling. "I think he's a second year like us."
"Oooh, good for you, Aki." Mai said teasingly. I stuck my tongue out at her.
"At least the person I like isn't as stubborn as yours." I whispered, smirking. I did not need Naru or Lin to hear this.
"Hmph." Mai said crossing her arms. "I can't help who I like."
"I know." I said grinning. "I'll get out of your hair, so you can work."
"Just be careful tonight." She said sighing. "I know how you are sometimes."
"I'm always careful." I said rolling my eyes.
"We'll see." She said chuckling. "Thanks for lunch."
"You're very welcome, my dear Mai." I said winking at her. I decided to be nice and tell Lin and Naru that I was leaving. Well, I thought it was nice, but I was probably just interrupting their work. Oh well. It's not my problem. I thought as I finally left the office. Now then, I should go back home and get ready for tonight. I know I said this wasn't a date, but there's a part of me that feels like I should look a little nice for Kojima-kun. I won't go full out, but just enough to look like I don't live on the streets. I mean, I don't live on the streets, but I normally don't put a lot of effort into my looks. When eight o'clock arrived, I was excited to hang out with Kojima-kun, but I'm nervous at the same time. God, it's not like we're going on a date. Get your crap together, Aki! There was a knock on the door, causing me to snap out of my thoughts. "Coming!" I called going to the door.
"Hey, Haru-san." Kojima-kun greeted me, smiling.
"You can call me Aki." I said shyly.
"Okay, Aki. You can call me Tatsumi, then." He said grinning. I nearly blushed, but I caught myself. The two of us finally left and took the last bus to Furuya High School. It was completely dark out, besides the street lights. Tatsumi handed me a flash light and the two of us hopped the fence near the back. We didn't use our flashlights until we got inside the school. No need to draw attention to ourselves. I looked around and I didn't see anything or feel anything for that matter. Hm... "The classroom is this way." He said taking my hand and guiding me in the right direction. I am so happy it's dark and he can't see my face right now! I thought as my cheeks started to feel warm. When we got to the classroom, he opened the door for me and let me go in first. I looked around and didn't see or feel anything again. I knew it wasn't haunted.
"What kind of things happened in here?" I asked curiously.
"A few girls claimed they heard lady wailing in here one day after their club activities." Tatsumi said shrugging.
"Do you believe this room is haunted?" I asked looking at him.
"No, I don't. I can tell you don't either." He said chuckling.
"Sorry." I said grinning.
"Nah, it's cool." He said shaking his head. "You honestly didn't believe this room was haunted for a minute."
"Nope. I've seen actual haunted places, and this isn't one of them." I said smirking.
"Really?" He asked a bit skeptical.
"Yep. I..." I hesitated.
"What?" He asked curiously.
"When I'm not working at Star Café, I help out with Shibuya's Psychic Research on their cases." I said shrugging. "I can see and communicate with spirits like I'm looking at a living person."
"You can speak to them... and see them?" He asked sounding intrigued.
"Yeah, it's a thing I do." I said shrugging. I hope he doesn't think I'm a freak or something.
"That's awesome! So, you can't see any ghosts right now?" He asked eagerly.
"Nope, nada." I said shrugging.
"Do you mind telling me about some of the cases you worked on?" He asked as we made our way out of the school.
"Sure!" I said grinning. We spent the whole way home talking about the cases I've been on with Naru, Lin, Mai, and the others. I like that he thinks my ability is the most interesting thing in the world and that makes me happy. A few blocks away from our apartment, a branch from a tree we were walking under fell and Tatsumi pulled me away in time.
"Are you okay?" Tatsumi asked wide-eyed.
"Yeah." I said sighing. "Thanks for saving me."
"Wait, you're acting like this happens all the time." Tatsumi said frowning.
"It does happen all the time." I admitted. "Stuff like this always happens to me and I'm not sure why."
"It doesn't have anything to do with the paranormal?" Tatsumi asked curiously.
"I think it does, but it's really strange." I said sighing. "When they happen, sometimes I see a shadow of something and then it's gone."
"Weird." He muttered.
"I know, right? I'm still trying to figure it out." I said, and we started walking again. Things were awkward for a little bit, but soon we started talking about random stuff again. Tatsumi walked me to my door.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Tatsumi said smiling at me.
"Okay. Good night." I told him smiling.
"Good night, Aki." He said before I went inside. I can't believe Tatsumi knows about the incidents. I hope he doesn't think I'm a freak...