A/N: To find the one true path, one must seek guidance amidst uncertainty.
Ken started going to school again. His distant relatives paid for the school expense. School was normal. His friends asked him questions which weren't too hard to answer, but the eyes teachers sent him made him uncomfortable. Adults pitying him. He didn't need that.
When Ken came back from school, he watched TV in the lounge. Elementary gave him plenty of time after school compared to the seniors. The TV was showing animal documentary. It was better than watching the news.
Ikutsuki, Akihiko, Mitsuru… They all had read his files for sure, so they should know his mother had died on that day, the day he was aware of the Dark Hour for the first time. The seniors and he were seven years apart. These must be why the seniors stopped Ikutsuki yesterday.
Ken didn't mind joining. They were aware of the green sky. They might know something about his mother's murderer. When he found that monster again, he would kill it.
Ken was bored and went to the strip mall. The seniors, they let him stay in the dorm for safety reason. Shadows attacked people, right? How do they fight back? Ken hadn't joined the group, so he could understand if they kept it a secret. He wanted to know. Joining might not be so bad.
Ken walked past the shops in the building, then he heard… familiar voices.
It came from downstairs, in front of Hagakure. Ken moved closer to the railings. He saw Akihiko talking to a person with a maroon coat.
"Get lost, Aki."
Ken checked the time on his phone. It wasn't that late yet. Akihiko couldn't be here unless he skipped classes. He didn't seem like the type.
"Be more grateful," Akihiko said. "Your money's running out, I bet."
The other guy gave Akihiko a look and walked away.
"Hey, Shinji!" Akihiko followed him.
Ken looked at them disappearing into the crowd from above. Shinji... huh. It sounded familiar. Really familiar.
A few days later, Ken was watching TV at the lounge. The seniors were there too. It was unusual. Akihiko should be training and Mitsuru should be reading in her room. Ken finally understood when the door opened and someone entered.
That guy wearing a maroon coat and a beanie.
"Shinji!" Akihiro stood up and ran to him. "I've been waiting. You really come."
That guy glanced at Ken and back at Akihiko. "Is my room still vacant?"
"It's untouched." Mitsuru smiled from the sofa. "I am glad to have you back, Shinjiro."
"I've been waiting for this day, Shinji." Akihiko followed the guy who was heading toward the stairs.
Shinjiro seemed tired and ready to go to bed. Just when Ken thought that guy wasn't going to talk, he halted, turned around, and looked at Ken in the eye. "I'm Shinjiro Aragaki. I'll be living here."
"Hello." Ken forgot his usual script for a moment. "Nice… um, welcome."
"No need to be formal." Shinjiro went up the stairs.
Ken learned that this guy was also a senior and Akihiko's friend. They went to the same school. The way Shinjiro talked suggested he had been at the dorm before. He didn't go to school lately.
"Ramen tastes a lot better when you're cutting class…" Shinjiro said before he earned a smack from Mitsuru.