"Yurei-san's rumor has been one of the most popular lately. I'm surprised to hear you haven't heard about it."
"What? Do you want to know? Well, if I remember correctly, the rumor says that in the bathroom on the top floor of the old building, Yurei-san recides. You can call him from both men or women, it really doesn't matter which one or where, but the conditions must be met."
"These dictate that once you are in front of the fourth place, you must knock three times, wait, clap twice and finally call his name once without showing any signs of fear."
"If you're lucky, Yurei-san will appear and grant you a wish, in exchange for a photo of something precious to you."
"But it is said, once you give the photo to Yurei-san, he will steal what you love so that it will never be seen again."
One two Three. Silence. One two. Silence.
"Yurei-san." No fear. "Are you here?"
Silence.
Then,
"Ugh, Him again?" Kou manages to hear someone whisper on the other side of the door.
Wait.
Someone behind the door.
In a empty bathroom.
"I knew it!" He exclaims excitedly, making a small victory motion with both fists. "Get out of there evil spirit! I, Kou Minamoto, have come to exorcise you!"
"He can hear me!?" The voice screeches in response.
"I can hear you!" He claims irritably, kicking the door when ignored.
No word is exchanged afterwards, silence quickly taking over. Removing the waterproof cloth that resembles his cane so that others think of it as an umbrella, Kou moves it out of the way and then with both hands exert a firm grip on it. Keeping his eyes on the door at all times he hurries to change his current position into one more prepared to attack.
"Huh," Kou hears above him. Looking up, he can see someone lean over the door of the stall, a single pink eye watching him with annoyance. "So this is how you look? Your appearance matches your voice; they are irritating." They spit with rancor.
"Silence!" He protests. "I've been calling you for a week, and now that I've confirmed you are real. Why didn't you get outraged to show up?" He questions still cautiously, positioning his cane in front of him in case he tries to do something. The ghost rolls its eyes.
"That is called harassment, you know? Don't you get tired of teasing me, Mr. Traffic Safety Earrings?"
"...traffic safety?"
"Get out from my sight, you have no business here." He dismises simply, his voice starting to fade away while his hand shakes as if he wants to scare away a cat. "Go moderate the traffic or something."
"What? I mean, of course I have business here!"
"Goodbyeee. Please do never come baaack." He singsongs in a low voice.
Oh no, this doesn't stay that way.
"I said...!" In an act of impulse, his body moves again, Kou preparing to lift his foot. "Answer my question!" He kicks the door open.
At first, he doesn't see anything inside the small cubicle, however, it is when Kou lowers his gaze that he finally has a clear vision of the specter in front of him.
The first thing that reaches his eyes is his bright pink hair, hiding half of his face, it is slightly long but short enough to be over his shoulders. His features being delicate but recognizable enough to be a boy in Kou's eyes.
He was wearing an old uniform that Kou could suppose to be a Gakuran, however, it did not look entirely correct since he also had a yellow scarf on his shoulders along with bright dark pink tennis shoes and finally a teal piercing in his ear. Somewhat modern accessories for its apparent old appearance.
On his cheek lays a mole and fluttering his long eyelashes the ghost saw him offended with an expression of between fear and deep annoyance.
"What's the matter with you?! Do you want to break the door?!" He exclaims altered. Kou can't help but feel bad about it. It was too much? "This is a burglary! Housebreaking! A crime I said!" Perhaps yes.
"I-i'm sorry." He tries to apologize, amshamed for his behavior.
"Who do you think you are? A goat? A horse? Just look what a blow you left my poor bathroom." He cries indignantly with an exaggerated false pain.
"You are faking it." Now it is Kou who frowns.
"Of course I don't, traffic light boy. Or should I tell you horse boy? Anyway, can you say what you have against doors?"
This guy...!
"I wouldn't have kicked it if you had answered!"
"Says the stalker."
"Enough!" He yells irritably, stomping as he raises his staff at the ghost in front of him. Watching his past mocking grimace automatically change to fear, he shrinks in his place.
"I called it!" He points accusingly, referring to the stomp.
"Just answer my question!" Complains already fed up. Maybe going after Yurei-san was a mistake. "To be an apparition you are too loud." He mutters. Kou can listen to the other snort.
"What do you want to know anyway? I am a wish-fulfilling apparition, but it seems you are not coming to grant one because if you know my rumor, you know you need a photo and apparently you don't have any. If you don't want a wish, what do you want from me then? " Crossing his arms, he gently disappears from the cubicle. "Other than exorcising me. " he hastens to add. Kou turns on his feet as he hears the voice behind him, encountering the ghost standing in front of the window. Another thing that Kou gets to notice is the few centimeters of difference they share, being himself taller.
"I've already said it," Stepping forward, the other silently watches him with raised eyebrows and unimpressed eyes. "Tell me why you didn't show up the times I called for you.
Daylight collides with his figure, making his transparency terribly obvious.
"Oh, that." It sounds monotonous. "You don't meet the conditions."
"Huh? But had I brought the photo with me the first few days?"
"Not that." He rushes to interrupt. Extending his arm, he points completely at him. "I mean this."
"The way I look?"
"Neither. Are you really that stupid? I meant you. Your own being. That's what doesn't meet the conditions."
Kou frowns.
"Explain yourself."
"Bossy as well, are you, huh? Relax, it's nothing to worry about. Quite the opposite actually." he laughs. His pink eyes staring at the boy in front of him show noticeable confusion, a grimace on his face and his lips without moving.
"You will have a good life." A smile.
A good, long life.
_
You will have a good life.
The words bounce off inside his head, unable to leave him alone.
Climbing the last steps, Kou rushes to the top of the school roof. Resting both hands on the doorknob and the door surface respectively, he shakes his head in hopes that whatever bothers his head will leave him alone. He'll have enough time to think about it when he gets home.
Venturing out, Kou smiles with relief at the familiar silhouette he expected to find. Inhaling deeply, he brings his hands to his mouth, simulating a small makeshift speaker.
Then; he shouts.
"Amane!"
"Wah!?" The named one exclaims, staggering into place. Once recovering from the shock, he focus on the increasing steps, shortly after the moment, Kou's face comes into view, allowing him to relax his body knowing that it is someone he knows.
"Ah, Minamoto-senpai." He murmurs, relieved with a soft tone, offers a tired smile. "Do you need something?"
"Amane you were right!" The brunette blinks, that's not the answer he expected.
"I was right?"
"Yurei-san is real!" Taking a seat next to him, Kou gazes the city. "He's an irritating bastard though. Pretty annoying if you ask me." Somewhat lost, but intrigued anyway, Amane nods showing he's paying attention.
"Annoying you say? Wait, did you go see Yurei-san?" Inquire. Kou laughs, pride slipping away from his tone.
"Of course! I need to prove to my brother that I am capable of being an exorcist just like him. What better than way than taking care of some ghost? After all, Yurei-san is a recent rumor compared to the others, so he technically shouldn't be that strong."
"But if you want to prove yourself capable, what about the seven mysteries? Isn't that more ideal?" He asks again, this time cocking his head. Kou snorts with slight disappointment.
"I would like to, but I'm not powerful enough to cope with them yet. I need to improve!"
"I see. Little by little you mean." Kou snaps his fingers.
"Exactly." Confirms. "Anyway," He deviates, a curious look on his face. "What are you still doing here? Classes are already over." Amane hums, closing his eyes for a moment.
"Waiting for someone." He explains easily, turning his gaze away from the blonde to focus once again on the landscape in front of both of them. "Right now they're attending the broadcasting club." When he's done, a soft "ohh" can be heard next to him. Amane laughs softly for himself, not wanting to be heard.
"What about you, Minamoto-senpai?" Breaking the silence, he gets the other's attention. "I'm assuming you're waiting for your brother since he's the president, but why did you came up here?
"Well," A pause, golden eyes fall on him. "I knew you would be here!"
"Oh." That was unexpected. "Were you looking for me?" Pointing at himself he observes him foolishly. Kou, like the good boy he is, nods enthusiastically.
"What better than to hang out with a friend? Besides, I wanted to tell you about my meeting with Yurei-san. Oh also, Amane! Please tell me more rumors! Maybe that way I can find the right one to face!"
A friend. A friend? Does Kou consider him a friend? Amane has no friends, so he doesn't know what expression to give or how to react. He hopes he didn't make any face that made him look stupid. Shaking his head, he ignores the slight confusion reflected in Kou. Allowing is past sadness to fade away for the moment, it vanishes like water vapor. Amane decides it is enough to think about himself, so he dedicates himself into focusing on the latter said.
It is the least you can do for a friend.
"Uhm, let me think." Taking a thoughtful pose with a finger to his lips, his eyes travel to the sky above as he digs into his memory searching for possible options of rumors that he has been told along with those he has heard.
Something comes to mind.
"I think I have one," Watching Kou's eyes shine, Amane's lips curl with delightment, a funny cat-like smile.
"Have you heard this rumor? About Yousei-san."