12:00 pm

The bell chimes under the rustling of bags and a flood of chatter from the students. Glad to already be half way done with her daily classes, Yashiro sighs and leans forward on her desk as her stomach growls.

I was in such a rush to get to school today that I forgot to grab my lunchbox. Not to mention my purse. Her stomach grumbles more intensely as she curls in on herself with a groan.

"Nene-chan, are you okay? Don't tell me you forgot your lunch!" Yashiro looked up to see her childhood friend standing across her desk, watering can already in hand as she was about to water the flowers on the windowsill.

"Aoi-chan~" Yashiro cried. "Could you share yours with me today? I swear I'll repay you!" She pleads with slightly teary eyes. Her friend just looks at her, then sighs and shifts into her mischievous grin.

"Only if I can tell you about a new rumor." At this, the cream haired girl paused. A rumor?! Oh no, that's gotta be the third one this week! Please don't be too bad… "Okay fine, only if you promise that you didn't bring any radishes."

An ongoing joke between her and Aoi since being rejected by that one guy only a few months earlier. The purple-haired girl giggled.

"I thought about it, but lucky for you I ran out the other day." She teased, tilting the watering can and handing Yashiro her lunchbox simultaneously. Dark pink eyes sparkling as she opened the box to a beautifully made and organized design. "Take as much as you like, I'm not all that hungry today." She smiled sweetly at her friend.

"Thank you so much, Aoi-chan!" Yashiro clapped her hands gratefully, picking up the chopsticks and bringing a piece of food to her mouth. She loved Aoi's cooking; she always had really good food and would often trade what she could to get a taste. Aoi smiled at her friend, putting down the watering can and sitting across from Yashiro.

"Now, about that rumor." Yashiro gulped, looking at her friend with worry. "Apparently, there's a necklace hidden somewhere in the drama club's dressing room. It's said that anyone who wears it will instantly become more popular." Popular. Yashiro echoed in her head and her eyes lit up, now more intrigued. "They say it'll make you seem more attractive to the person you like too, almost guaranteeing a confession or even for you two to get together."

"Woah, seriously? That's so cute!" Yashiro fonds over the idea of her getting a confession, but her mind trailed to the memory of Hanako's. Wait, this is like that confession tree one. Hanako is definitely going to want in on this one. She sighs. Well, if that happens again, at least I'll know he doesn't mean it this time.

"However..." her friend's voice drops an octave to her spooky, scary story-telling voice; startling Yashiro. There's more?! "Once you put it on, you can't take it off. And the longer you wear it, the tighter it gets."

"Tighter? You don't mean..." Yashiro tries to swallow her fear, holding her own neck.

"Yep, you're forever stuck wearing that necklace until it finally chokes you to death." The girl's face twists into a satisfied grin with her hand on her cheek. "Isn't that such a strange rumor?"

"Uh, yeah, strange." Yashiro forces a laugh, thinking of what Hanako would say to this if she told him.

Sounds spooky, let's check it out!

Sounds spooky, let's check it out!

Yashiro froze; dropping her chopsticks onto the desk as she creaks her head to look to her side. Sure enough, Hanako was standing next to her with his goofiest grin.

"Heya~!" He smiled widely, his voice causing her to jump back in her seat.

"WHA-" Aoi was startled by her sudden outburst.

"Nene-chan? What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." Aoi said innocently, unaware of the irony of her statement.

You have no idea. Hanako chuckled at this. "I'm fine! It's just uh- the thought of that is so horrible and I imagined it." She tried to play it off, knowing full well that that was lame. Aoi tilted her head curiously, studying her friend's nervous face.

"I know! Why don't we find the necklace after school?" Aoi piped in excitement, clapping her hands together with an innocent smile.

"What, why?" Yashiro squealed, looking at her friend in worry and disbelief.

"Cause it'll be fun! Plus we haven't hung out since school started, so it'll be great!" Aoi smiled brightly.

Hanako beamed. "This would save us the trouble!" He smiled widely, looking at Yashiro. "Can we?" Yashiro gave them both a blank stare.

How did I know this was going to happen? And why me? She sighed. "Fine, but I'm not putting it on if that's what you're try-" she caught a glimpse of Hanako's face, freezing. He was giving her his puppy eyes. Aoi grabbed her hands.

"But, if you don't put the necklace on, how will we know it's true?" Yashiro stammered on her words. Because every rumor you tell ends up being true! Is what she wanted to say. "Plus, you won't be able to see her without it." The purple-haired girl gave another one of her creepy grins, making Yashiro shiver.

"Who?" Yashiro squeaked as Aoi held her hands tighter.

"Ren-san."

"Ren-san?"

"She's the one who owns the necklace." Aoi added. "In order to activate the necklace and get it's benefits, you have to make a deal; exchange something that you love."

"Oh, this is interesting." Hanako chimed, leaning against a desk as he listened. "It's kinda like my rumor." Yashiro sighed in exhaustion, eyes slightly watering.

"Aoi-chan, why can't you wear it? Wouldn't it fit you better?"

"But I'm already pretty and popular." She said innocently, holding her own cheek. Yashiro scoffed at this. "Besides, you definitely need it more. You with your daikon legs, flat chest, and chubby cheeks." Each point sent a strike through the smaller girl. "You'll never get a boyfriend with your traits, you need the boost."

Hanako bursted out laughing, holding himself as he floated above the two girls. So mean. Both of you. "Fine, I'll do it. But I'm haunting you if I end up dying."

"Fine by me." Aoi teased, patting her friend on the shoulder. "Let's do our best!"