Hello~! Sorry, I'm back after probably 3 months without updating this story...and with a short word count compared to the rest. However, there's an explanation. I recently graduated, and with my job-hunt going on I haven't had much time to focus on this story. Until I realized I can just pick my time to write and write as much as I can.
And so, I am going to do so at the moment! I'm hoping to be able to write chapters that are longer than usual, but not like 10k words every time. And so, I am hoping y'all are good with the changes!
Now, onto the reviews!
Alex Acost: I'm glad you saw what I was trying to do! He can't act like he did back in Re:zero so he has to be a bit more conscious of his behavior, all the while dealing and wrestling that he's still filled with a lot of self-loathing. So thank's for the review!
SugoiMasta'69: Well...I'm back! And hopefully I'll be updating more chapters that are a bit more bite-sized but consistent!
Xandrom: Thanks!
The Heretic Slayer 69: See, as much as I'd like to answer your question, and trust me I do! I want to keep that a secret for now, but if you PM me about it I can tell you a bit more!
Phantomwriter226: Thanks!
leo0074: Slow and steady wins the race after all!
Raj8: Oh trust me, even if he is the wild cared I don't intend to let him off easy. But I will say, I like your thought process!
MikeThatOldKid: Yeah, I have been trying to tone down the stuttering in this chapter, so thanks for that!
LightDusk16: Well, I certainly hope to take it into other directions as the days go by! Thanks for your support, and I hope to show you what he can do.
Chapter 4: Midnight Stories of the Midnight Channel
Another silent dinner with Nanako in the Dojima Household, and Subaru at least got to try a more home-cooked meal thanks to Nanako's help. He doesn't know whether to be proud she can cook this well or be slightly insecure about how the older cousin in the household doesn't know how to cook much beyond microwavable Ramen.
Bah, how could I be sad or mad about her cooking? Subaru shakes his head with a rueful smile, as he takes one bite, and glances up to see Nanako…frowning sadly once more. How often does this happen between her and Uncle Dojima? In fact, is this often for her to be alone in dinner time?
Even I tend to get breakfast and dinner with mom and dad…Subaru kept feeling a pang of sympathy, although he does start wondering.
"So…Nanako-chan" Subaru begins with a careful step to his tone, smiling awkwardly. "Did he call at least that he was going to be late?"
"Yeah…but he's always busy…" Nanako remarks, resigned but she admits to herself. "I wish he wasn't…"
Subaru didn't have much to say to that, although he chuckles awkwardly. "Well…Detective business is still pretty difficult…he's probably having a lot of trouble—"
"I'm home…" Suddenly, with an exhausted sigh, the house door opens as Dojima walks into the living room. Subaru turns his head to see him. "I'm back…did anything happen while I was out."
"No…not much." Subaru shrugs.
"Your late again…" Nanako states, slightly a bit annoyed at that, although it causes Subaru to wince slightly.
"Ouch…" Subaru remarks, although he chuckles awkwardly. "She just wanted to see you here, ya know?"
"Well, I'm here now…" Dojima nods, not in the least bit frustrated but also apologetic, before taking a seat and leaning back on the couch. "Work's been busy. Mind putting on the news for me?"
"Gotcha, Uncle Dojima." Subaru nods, as he takes the remote and turns on the news. Although, as soon as he turned it on…he half-lidded his eyes in slight annoyance and redundancy.
"Next, more details in the developing story on the incident in foggy Inaba." The newscaster's voice resonates as it began to list off the relevant news. "Announcer Mayumi Yamano's dead body was found hanging above a house in this isolated rural town. It is confirmed that Ms. Yamano had been involved in an affair with Taro Namatame, husband of enka singer Misuzu Hiiragi."
They are still talking about this…? Subaru kept eating as he watched the news, although he remembers this being a follow-up report of the incident from yesterday. A churning sensation in his stomach returns, trying to forget the idea of a dead body. However, he keeps wondering how much are they going to focus on something like this.
"The police plan to investigate this relationship and question any personnel involved with them. In addition, we now bring you an exclusive interview with the local student who found Ms. Yamano's body."
At that Subaru widened his eyes only briefly, admittedly curious. But not too much anyway, something like this feels a bit…unsanitary.
"An interview with the kid…? Where the hell did they find her?" Dojima sighs with annoyance, although Subaru turns to him with an arching eyebrow.
He was about to ask, but he decided it'd be best to continue watching the news. Although the idea left him frowning consciously. They got an interview with…a kid, if Dojima said it right.
Yep…unsanitary… He frowned as he looked to the TV, revealing a student who wore the same uniform as his school. Although, her face and hair were blurred out to keep her identity a secret.
"What went through your mind when you saw it? Could you tell she was dead? Did you see her face?" The reporter asked the questions with seemingly no pause for breath.
"U-Um…" The girl in question stumbled out, although she looked away almost unsure how to respond to the questions.
"Don't you think it's scary that someone was killed on a foggy day?" And the reporter kept asking her questions that Subaru frowned at. What kind of questions are these anyway? Heck, why the heck would they want to look for someone like her?
A classmate probably, but she felt familiar.
"Huh…? She was killed?" The unknown classmate replied confused, although that told Subaru that she only knew about as much as anybody else.
And yet, the reporter didn't let up. If anything, he only grew more aggressive with the questions. "Oh…Errr… SO did you see anyone suspicious around here?"
"No, Not really…"
"We heard that you found it when you left school early. Did you have some personal business to take care of?"
"Huh? T-That's…"
"What is up with these questions…?" Subaru mutters under his breath, realizing the slight frustration he's feeling at the reporter's enthusiasm over something like a potential murder.
What's so exciting about a murder in Inaba? That's usually something that should make people more careful when walking outside! Subaru unconsciously clenched a fist, and for a moment his eyes looked sharper than before…frighteningly evil you could say.
Then upon closer look…he realizes that she reminds him of Saki Konishi. The same girl who Yosuke was fawning over just today.
"—a tragedy that occurred near the local shopping district." Suddenly, the report moved back to the announcer, who seemed to have a more professional attitude it seemed. Subaru finally rolled his eyes in satisfaction. "Many store owners are raising concerns about losing customers as a result."
"Hmph. If they lose more customers, it'll be 'cause your making such a stink of it…" Dojima grumbles although Subaru does agree with his sentiment.
"It really is a bizarre case, isn't it?" One of the commentator's remarks with an interest in it. "I mean, hanging someone upside down from an antenna…I'd have to say it's a warning or a sign from the culprit."
"Yes, but so far, no one has come forward to take credit for the crime."
"Loads of prank calls, though…" Dojima sighs all the same.
"So the cause of death is still unknown? And they don't have a single suspect yet?" The commentator asks. "Taxpayer's funds are going to a police force who can't even figure out if this is an accident or a homicide?"
Easy for you to say. Subaru sighs at that, taking a bite as he tries to not think too much of it.
Although Dojima's long sigh told Subaru everything that his uncle took it hard.
"We'll be right back after these messages."
Subaru sighs in relief, that is until he blinks and—
"GEH!" He croaks with an annoyed eye.
AT Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products! That darn commercial again! Just how many times does it even need to be broadcast as a commercial!? "Every day's great at your Junes~!"
"Every day's great at your Junes~!" Nanako's singing helps curb Subaru's annoyance…although he sighs and has a small smile for Nanako.
Gotta up my game one of these days.
"Hey Dad, can we go to Junes together sometime?" Nanako looks to her father with hopeful excited eyes.
Only to be met with Dojima's snoring, and his closed eyes. His posture relaxed as he leaned back onto the couch.
"…no?" Nanako tilts her head, although she seems to be waiting for a response.
"…he's definitely tuckered out," Subaru mutters to himself, with an awkward chuckle.
"…geez." Nanako sighs, although she seems mildly disappointed.
And…this is my life now. Subaru remarks with a neutral expression.
Subaru scratches the back of his head, finally putting on his pajamas and sighing as he sits on the couch of his room. Currently, he's been busy playing video games on his 3DS ever since dinner. Eventually, when he looks at the clock and notices that it's 5 minutes to midnight, he closes his 3DS and leans back to his couch.
Seriously, today's been a busy day. First, one act of kindness results in him meeting Yosuke, and for a moment he didn't seem too bothered by it. If anything, when him, Yosuke, and Chie went to Junes, Subaru seemed to relax at least a little bit. Only a minute detail, but he wouldn't deny they were great company.
And then meeting Saki Konishi, who if Subaru's suspicions were right, might have been the girl that the news reporter was interviewing. An interview that felt too eager to get a good scoop, rather than any truths.
Although, with the sound of rain pitter-pattering outside, and the dark atmosphere of the guest room…Subaru then eventually reminds himself of that stupid rumor…albeit a curious one.
If I turn off my TV, and watch it at midnight while it's raining…I'll see my soulmate? Subaru didn't really take it too seriously, but he is a curious young man. Plus, it doesn't help that in some way he's desperate to know.
So…he begrudgingly sighs and has a smirk. "Guess one try wouldn't hurt."
Taking a look at the clock, Subaru notices that there's four minutes left…and so he stands from the couch, and walks every heavy step to the front of the TV. It was a square box, but he investigated it and kept looking at the empty screen.
11:57
The rain pours heavily over the town, and the night becomes silent and deafening with nothing but the falling shower. Subaru keeps taking a small breath as he looks to the TV.
11:58
The tension and surprisingly pensive expression on his face spoke volumes of heavy anticipation.
11:59
The clicks of the second-hand continue, as the final minute arrives and…so far nothing.
12:00
…
…
…
Nothing. Subaru remarks with a silly but almost relieved sigh. Just nothing. There isn't anything going on now. If anything, it's just the same empty screen on the TV. Somehow, a heavy burden on Subaru was lifted…and yet again, another reason not to think much of his own future.
As he smirks ruefully, he turns around intending to go back to sleep—
*Bzzzzzttttt*
Huh? Subaru opened his eyes curiously, as he hears static wiring and buzzing from the TV, to which he turns around and notices a pale-yellow static glow coming from it…and immediately he widens his eyes and flinches with a noticeable reaction. "Geh!"
Holy Shit, Holy Shit! He did turn the TV off right? He swore he did, yep, he did! So what's going on? It didn't matter, as for now the panic and slight surprise on his face were only furthered by the fact that eventually the static…began to clear up only slightly. Whatever is happening, there seemed to be a clear picture going on.
Wait a minute… Subaru noticed a young girl in the screen, although for the brief flashes of static that obstructed clarity and lagged…Subaru widened his eyes for a moment and seemed surprised.
Wait, what's going on? Is this showing me…a girl!? I'm gonna get a soul mate? Subaru for a moment couldn't help a dumb smirk, being surprised and glad this is happening…but—
The girl on the screen flinched, and between every moment of clarity seemed to be writhing in pain, and in torment. This left Subaru confused and blinking with a frown…confused, and unsure what exactly is even going on. However, this did not last long, as eventually…a buzzing in his ears penetrated his thought.
And then, a headache…along with a voice.
I am thou.
"GAH!" Subaru yelps out as he grasps his head, splitting in pain as he squeezes his eyes shut and feels lightheaded. The sensation is sudden, and it doesn't leave him much time to think.
Thou Art I.
"G-Guh…!" He falls to his knees, wincing and grunting as the pain only worsens. Stop it…!
Thou art the one.
The one…for what!? Subaru groans louder now, although his headache only worsens even further. Gritting his teeth and contorting his face in pain…he can't help but writhe.
Who opens the door.
Suddenly, lightning crashes, and a fuse box from outside short-circuits. Alongside the brief short-circuit. The voice leaves, and the buzzing as well. If anything, Subaru's headache fades away as he breaths heavily and recovers from the sudden pain.
Fuck…Fuck… That much pain in a brief few seconds, and he finally opens his eyes to see that he was on his knees. He stands up shakily at first but manages to find his balance as he brings a hand to the side of his head. "The hell…did I just get a migraine…?"
No…more like a small hallucinatory episode… Subaru remarked to himself, although he didn't seem to believe it himself…as he then looks to the TV…which stared back with nothing but the same black empty screen.
The static screen and the girl that it showed…no longer in sight. However, Subaru couldn't help but find a morbid sense of curiosity in him. He reaches a hand to the TV, and as he touches the glass panel…something supernatural occurred.
As his fingers touched the screen, white rings spilled across the screen like waves in water. However, Subaru blinks and opens his mouth ajar…as reflexively…he pushes his hand deeper…and finds himself going through the TV.
What…What the fuc—
"UWAH!" Suddenly, he feels a force tugging at his arm, forcing his upper body to be pulled into the TV. "WHA-WHA-WHAT!?"
He feels his hand outside the TV, and for a moment tries to push himself back out of the TV. For a moment, all he saw was yellow fog, but nothing else.
Eventually, once he found the corner of his TV, he successfully managed to push his body out of the TV. That is, the force led him backward to fall on his ass and hit his head on the table!
"GAH! FUCK!" He hisses in pain as the thud was certainly loud enough. Almost seemingly on point, after a few seconds came to a voice from downstairs.
"Are you okay…?" Nanako asks, concerned about the racket that Subaru must have caused.
"O-Oh, Uh, It's fine, Nanako-chan! I-I'm alright!" Subaru calls out in a whisper, although he's hoping for Nanako to not come in.
"I heard a really loud noise…but if you're okay…then that's good." Nanako still seemed cautious, but when she spoke again, she seemed more relaxed. "Well, good night."
After a few moments of silence, Subaru noted she must have returned to her room. At that idea, Subaru released a relieved and almost anxiety-filled sigh.
How am I supposed to explain what happened? Subaru groans out silently, although he rubbed his still sore neck. Like hitting wood on bare flesh, which hurts more than it should. All the same, Subaru stood up and tiredly landed face-first onto his futon.
However, even as he laid there with his thoughts, he still wondered whether he dreamt it up or not. Either way, he might need to talk to Yosuke and Chie about it…Chie did suggest they all do it tonight.
If they all did it as well, that is. Subaru rolls his eyes, sighs as he rolls in his body and eventually relaxing.
Eventually, his body relaxed despite the pain in his neck…and slowly sleep would take hold.
(April 14th, Thursday)
On the third day of school, and Subaru still found it oddly surprising how quickly he is acclimating to it. Mind you, he didn't go out of his way to interact with anybody but at the same time, nobody seemed to be ignoring him or talking behind his back. If anything, everybody just did their usual business.
Go to school, listen to the teachers, try not to get chewed out by Mr. Overbite for 5 minutes, and do your best in your studies. Surprisingly, the first week was going well for Subaru…outside of the weird dreams and that *freaky* TV rumor from last night.
…then again it could have been just a dream. Subaru tried to convince himself that, but that seemed way too vivid to be just a dream he'd forget. He was wide awake for that 'Poltergeist' paranormal activity!
Either way, he currently packed all his school supplies back in his school bag. Occasionally he still played with the collar of his uniform, too tight and suffocating for his tastes, but he would have to get used to it. The last thing he wants to do is attract attention.
The classroom was lively as ever, with two female classmates that Subaru didn't recognize talking at the edge of the room. Subaru couldn't help but overhear what they were saying.
"Seriously? What's up with the body being hung upside-down? That's so freaky!" The shorter girl spoke with a shudder.
"Is it supposed to be like, mimicking an execution? It's messed up…" The girl who sat in her seat had the same response.
Like it should be. Subaru thought, at least glad that not all the students are looking at this like it's interesting or constantly hot news to fawn over.
"My senpai told me it was a third-year named Saki who found the body." The other girl responded, and it seemed that Subaru's suspicions were shared.
She did seem familiar with hair and vague facial structure… Subaru put his pencil in the right pocket, although he looked pensive and in thought. Konishi-senpai found the body sure, but then that doesn't explain why an image of her would be in the midnight channel last night…
It could have just been a coincidence, but for some reason, Subaru didn't believe that. But what else is he going to say for that? There isn't much evidence or even proof that what he saw was real, and suddenly he felt stupid for not having used his cell phone to record that.
I wonder if Satonaka-san and Hanamura-san ever saw that? I mean, unless she was just kidding and being petty, they both might have done it—
"Y-Yo, um…"
"GAH!" Suddenly, Subaru flinched in shock as he jumped from his seat for a moment.
"W-Whoa, dude, y-you, okay?" Yosuke backed off with a surprised and startled expression of his own.
Subaru blinks and finally sighs in relief, before leaning back on his seat and exclaims. "W-warn a dude next time before you just sneak up on him! Geez…"
"Well, sorry, I didn't expect you to be so out of it all day!" Yosuke defends himself with raised hands, before sighing once again and folding his arms. "Not that I'm any better…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Subaru quirked an eyebrow.
"Well, uh, it's not really that important, but…" Yosuke begins before his voice is lowered to a whisper. "Well, yesterday on TV, I…"
Yesterday…on TV? Wait a minute, Subaru recognized what Yosuke was talking about, so it wasn't hard to figure.
"You…what?" Subaru tilted his head with a furrowed brow.
"Oh, uhh…" Yosuke blinks, before glancing to the side and rubbing the back of his neck with a nervous chuckle. "Never mind. Look, I'll tell you later."
"Dude, don't leave me hanging like that." Subaru deadpans with an annoyed sigh. Before he could talk more, footsteps approached the two, and Subaru turned to see Chie going towards them.
Oh, thank god… Subaru inwardly sighed in relief as he waited for her to just play this off like some joke. At least, a joke she didn't know would be real. Subaru at this point really didn't care if it was real or not, he just wanted some confirmation.
"Hey, Yosuke…did you hear the rumor?" Chie asked. "Saki-senpai's supposedly the one who discovered that body."
"I wonder if that's why she looked so down…" Yosuke remarks with a saddened expression, and Subaru for a moment considered it unlucky for both. "She doesn't seem to be at school today either."
"That's odd…isn't she usually working over at Junes?" Subaru quirked an eyebrow in confusion.
"Yeah, but that's usually by the middle of school hours…nobody's seen her all day since yesterday," Chie explained, although even she seemed a bit unnerved. "Kinda weird, but at the same time, concerning."
Clearly…and it still doesn't explain why I saw her in the TV last night…
"Huh?" Chie hummed, noticing that Yukiko had stood up from her seat. "Hey Yukiko, are you helping out at the inn today too?"
"Things are really out of hand right now…sorry," Yukiko admits with a tired, admittedly downcast expression, packing up her stuff and stepping out of the classroom.
"Is it just me, or does Yukiko-san seem way stressed out today?" Yosuke remarks offhandedly.
"That's not the word I'd use…" Subaru said. "Maybe…more burnt-out than anything else."
"Yeah…they must be really running her ragged," Chie said with some concern, which Subaru couldn't help but share.
It's probably tough having to work at an Inn like that, but Subaru didn't really have too much of a problem with it. He wasn't involved in it, and it wasn't really his place to ask or even get involved.
Not like I could do anything anyway.
"By the way," Chie spoke up, before leaning in and huddling the three of them close "Did you two see…it…last night?"
"Huh?" Yosuke and Subaru blinked before the latter looked up with a hum, and the former stammered out as he glanced to his side. "Well…what about you?"
"I did! I seriously saw a girl last night!"
"Eh!?" Subaru gawked at that, surprised that he nearly jumped out of his seat. Chie saw a girl? In the Midnight Channel!? Wait, so that meant…and if what Chie said was true then…
Wait, Wait, Wait…that's probably just a coincidence, right? Subaru shook his thoughts away, before looking to Chie and Yosuke. "You serious!?"
"I just said it, didn't I?!" Chie repeated with even more shock. "But…my soulmate's a girl? What's that supposed to mean? I couldn't quite tell who it was, but it was a girl for sure…"
Subaru wasn't sure, but somehow he had a distinct gut feeling that Chie saw the same thing he did. "So…Satonaka-san, what did she look like?" He asked carefully.
"Oh, right, I guess that helps explain who it was…" Chie put a finger up as she listed. "Her hair was brown, about shoulder length. She was wearing our school uniform, and…"
Wait a minute…that's…! Subaru for a moment widened his eyes. That's the same description as…
"Hey…I think that's the same person I saw." Yosuke remarked with some realization, only eliciting another confused, but even more suspicious picture. "I couldn't make out that much detail, though. The image I saw was much blurrier."
"Wait…so you saw it too!?" Chie exclaimed. "And we saw the same girl..? Does that mean…we have the same soulmate?!"
"How should I know!?" Yosuke shook his head, but even he looked creeped out by the similarities. He turned to Subaru and asked. "How 'bout you, did you see it?"
"Eh?" Subaru blinked, before looking down at his desk. "Y-Yeah, I did! Exact same description and everything! Heck, something weird happened when I saw it but…"
"But what? Don't leave us hanging!" Yosuke exclaimed as he got closer.
"But well…" Subaru glanced to the side, before chuckling nervously and scratching his cheek. "I uh…may have got sucked into my TV…? Got stuck in it too…it's kinda small."
…
Dude, that's just creepy. Subaru immediately regretted it as he had a nervous grin, and Yosuke and Chie are confused almost unbelieving expressions that made the shame…slightly even worse.
"Well…I guess the three of us actually did see the same girl last night. But weird voices aside, what was that about getting sucked into your TV…?" Yosuke had a half-lidded expression as soon as he said that with a tilted head.
"U-Uhm, W-well, to be fair I might have just been too tired! Y-Yeah! That's what it was! I fell asleep right after I saw that!" Subaru waved his hands in a panic, as he tried to maintain a smile with surprising conviction.
Dammit, dude, what gave you the bright idea to tell them that!? This just makes you look crazy or something!
Luckily, after a moment of stunning silence, Yosuke chuckled lightheartedly. "Well, I can't blame ya, even I slept like a log after that!"
Ho-kay…! Subaru sighs in relief, looking relieved. "Well, glad ya believed me at least."
"That'd be one interesting dream, though." Chie remarks with a surprisingly amused smirk. "I mean, getting stuck in your TV was pretty realistic, if it had been bigger—"
Chie gasped, before stamping her fist into her open palm. "Oh, that reminds me! Our family's been talking about buying a bigger TV."
"Oh yeah, well, Flatscreen TVs are definitely in these days." Yosuke nods in agreement before flashing a grin to the two of them. "Hey, why not go check 'em out on the way back? We're beefing up our electronics department this month."
"Huh, sounds like a plan," Subaru remarks, shrugging with a smirk.
"Oh, definitely! My parents don't know anything about electronics, and I've just gotta see my kung-fu movies on the big screen!" Chie remarks with an excited nod, before striking a crane pose and, cheesily mind you, shouts, "HWA-TAA!"
"Well, we've got some pretty big ones in stock," Yosuke remarks, before snickering. "I bet they'd be big enough for you to fit into!"
"Hey, I said it was a dream, okay? No need to rub it in." Subaru groaned as he shook his head, before sighing for a moment. It seemed that Yosuke isn't gonna let it go…then again, Subaru should have figured that when he said it.
Anybody would be the target of some jokes after a dream like that… Subaru smirked ruefully, but he still felt..anxious. How long until the jokes start getting mean-spirited? Might take a while but…
No, don't think like that. Subaru dispelled such thoughts from his head. He just had to be positive!
Besides…now that he thinks about it…it might have been a lucid dream after all.
Junes, Electronics department…
"Wow, this is huge! And…Holy crap, it's expensive! Who buys something like this!?" Chie exclaims as she stares at the wide flatscreen TV. It wasn't the only one, as there were various inside the electronics department, but this specific one was the biggest out of what is being displayed, so Yosuke brought them to it. Like it was their best price.
How the heck…is this a fair price though!? Subaru had to refrain from gawking with an open jaw once he saw the damn price…that's a lot of zero's for one TV!
Yep…can fit a person inside. Subaru twitched an eyebrow as he smirked oddly, staring at the black screen, the glass pane sleek and clean and on display in the stand. Subaru kept his arms folded as the air was cold. During this season it ought to be, considering it's comfortable so on Subaru's uniform. He tugs at the collar once more, holding in a groan.
"I dunno…Rich folks?" Yosuke bluntly remarks as he shrugs.
"More like the Prime Minister…not even my uncle has this in his house." Subaru comments as he turns to Yosuke.
"Huh, really? I'd figure that since he is a detective, he'd be able to afford one!" Chie remarks with some slight surprise.
"Guess a local detective doesn't really get paid much when everything's quiet around here." Yosuke comments, although he seems to catch himself and corrects with a finger. "W-well, not so much anymore with that murder down the street."
"Ugh, don't even talk to me about it…" Subaru rolls his eyes, but looks more uncomfortable as he frowns. "I still get the jitters thinking about it…"
"R-Right!" Yosuke nods quickly, before looking at the TV and folding his own hands. "Honestly, not many people shop for TVs here. That's why we don't have clerks around."
"Huh…Not worth trying then, I guess." Chie tilts her head, leaning in and getting a better look…and smirking. "Well, at least looking's free."
"I think that's just window shopping, Satonaka-san." Subaru does lean in, looking at the glass pane…and for a moment wonders what it would feel like if he touched it…
Huh? But turning his head, he notices Chie and Yosuke already touching and poking at the glass pane carefully, so as to not leave any finger prints…and Subaru deadpanned. Seriously…?
"What are you guys doing…?" Subaru asks bluntly.
"Just checking to see if you weren't dreaming." Chie remarks as if that was completely natural, as she kept poking and prodding with a snicker.
After a few seconds, Yosuke leaned back, and shook his head. "Nope, can't get in. Figures."
"Dude…I admitted to it being a dream, did you really just take me out here to do that joke?" Subaru remarks with a sigh.
"Haha, don't worry about it Natsuki-san! Besides, this just proves it was a dream. Not like you were being crazy insistent." Chie snickered, but she waved it off with a carefree smirk.
"I guess…" Subaru rubbed the back of his neck, although he looked slightly embarrassed all the same. Who wouldn't be when they play a small joke like that?
"Even if it wasn't a dream, I doubt you would see anything on the inside." Yosuke chimed in with a grin. "These flat-screen TVs are so thin, you'd just end up on the other side…argh, what am I saying, that's kinda crazy."
Guess…it really might have just been a dream. Subaru sighed as he closed his eyes. And he was so sure of it too, but he guessed that maybe it might have been better for that. Sure, it would have been somewhat exciting…but even Subaru wasn't sure how he'd react in a situation like that. "Well, if we're done checking about rumors and dreams that happened in my head…is there any other TVs you got on sale Hanamura-san?"
"Oh, right, well we have cheaper prices on the other side of the department store if you want to check them out." Yosuke jerked a thumb behind him.
"Oh, Oh, that's what my family's looking for! You got any suggestions?" Chie put her hands on her hips as she asked Yosuke before he led the way and she walked two TVs down.
"Well, miss, might I suggest this one over here? It's the newest model, just released this spring." Yosuke put on a salesman voice that showed he was obviously selling hard.
"Whaaaat!? This isn't cheap at all! There are too many zeroes!"
"I should've asked wat you meant by 'cheap' right off the bat…"
"You got connections, right? C'mon hook me up!"
"You know I can't do that…" Yosuke shook his head with a frown. "Hey, how about this one over here? It's a display unit. It's a little old, but…"
Did they just forget I was here? Subaru deadpan with an awkward grin, before shrugging and looking into the TV that was in front of him. Looking back on it now, the concept looked ridiculous. Of course nobody would believe him. It's not like it made sense for it to happen!
…
Still…it didn't change that the memory is still fresh in his mind. It isn't hazy, or fragmented…but lucid.
Too lucid… Subaru frowned softly, as he held out a hand. And then put his palm flat onto the Tv…unsure of what exactly he was doing. The surface was flat, smooth, and his hands—
…!
Slipped through the TV, where his arm dipped into it like water…except he felt nothing on the other side.
"Eh?" Subaru blinked, as a wave of white rings suddenly erupted like water along the TV screen, with the young man wrist deep inside of it. No wiring, no motherboard; heck, not even his hand is on the other side.
It wasn't like he broke the screen, his hand sunk into the screen…and when Subaru realized this little detail…he suddenly felt a tight grip on the other side…trying to pull him in. However, the grip felt like it moistened the cuff of his sleeves before Subaru felt a similar texture to liquid ink. However, the grip tightened up roughly, before Subaru jerked forward slightly as he grounded his feet into the stand…grunting as he felt himself pulled.
And that's when he shouted.
"EHHHH!? G-Guys!" Subaru exclaimed as he yelled from where he was, almost panicking and his eyes small as he looked quite literally flabbergasted.
"Huh? What, did you find a model Natsu—" Yosuke remarked as his eyes glanced over at him…before gaping and gawking in silence.
"Huh? What'cha gawking at—?" Chie arched a brow, turning to where Yosuke was staring…and her eyes widened up in surprise just as much as they were….
"I-Is…is his arm…in the TV?" Yosuke muttered out.
"WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO YOU!?" Subaru exclaimed a bit too loud and too high than what he'd like to admit, but he seemed to be struggling as he tried to pull his arm back out…but something's trying to pull him in! Something…like a human hand, but the amount of strength with which it's pulling is leaving Subaru gritting his teeth.
"W-wait…I-I'm not hallucinating, am I? I-Is that…a new function!?" Chie recoiled at that, before dashing over to Subaru's side and seemingly too caught up with the panic.
"Hell no!" Yosuke shook his head as he also dashed over to where Subaru was. "Holy crap…y-you're seriously fist deep inside of it!"
"Oh, ya think!?" Subaru snapped at Yosuke, before wincing as the grip suddenly pulled him deeper inside, until he was entirely arm deep. "F-Fuck!"
"You gotta be kidding me…you're fitting in your arm through the screen!?" Chie panicked as she recoiled, almost shocked to see this.
"Oh man…this is like some magic trick…! Like a really messed up magic trick!" Yosuke stepped back, but he seemed even more pale considering the phenomenon he's witnessing. "So how's it work, huh!? What's the magician's secret!?
"How should I know, I wasn't planning on this!?" Even Subaru can barely register it! He wasn't really trying to see if this was real or not! It was just a reflexive move, and now he's arm deep into the TV, feeling a tight grip on the other side! "It's like thin-air on the other side, but on top of that something's holding my wrist! I can't…pull it out—!"
Suddenly, his entire body jerked forward, and now everything from his chest upwards sunk into the TV. However, Subaru yelped as what he saw seemed to be a black gooey hand clutching his right wrist…stretching upwards from the bottom of a seemingly endless white hole.
"H-Holy…shit!" Subaru whispered out with trepidation and anxious fear.
"W-what, What, What!? What's going on!?" Chie yammered out as Subaru barely steadied his other hand on the edge of the TV outside…and somehow stated through muffled voices. "T-There's empty space inside the TV!?"
"What do you mean 'inside'!?" Yosuke exclaimed with astonishment.
"What do you mean 'empty space' !?" Chie replied with even more surprise
"It's like…it's spacious inside? Guys, help me I am freaking the fuck out!" Subaru exclaimed, almost desperate as he kicked his leg backwards, almost terrified of everything that is going on!
Holy Shit, Holy Shit, Holy Shit…!
"W-what do we even do!?" Chie's confounded voice muffled through Subaru's ears, as he stared openly at the black hand holding his wrist and his breathing turning shallow. The hand seemed to stretch upwards from a gfreat distance. If the hand was trying to pull him downwards, then the height would surely kill Subaru if he landed anywhere fragile!
"Oh!" Yosuke winces out, before Subaru noticed his slight whimpering and groaning. "Holy crap…I-I think this is all too much for my bladder!"
"Are you gonna pee your pants, dude!? Get me out of this flat-screen piece of junk!" Subaru shouted at the top of his lungs, desperate as he tried to keep his shallow breathing under control. However, he only heard even more desperate, muffled, albeit rightfully terrified conversation between Chie and Yosuke.
The hand pulled tighter making Subaru yelp out in fear before he felt both of his legs being lifted on the other side. Yosuke and Chie must be trying to pull him back outside…or inside. The panic of the situation had Subaru hoping, and shouting out for help. He couldn't help but kick his legs even as his classmates were trying to hold him down.
Come on, come on, Come on…! Subaru prayed to whatever god that may be watching that he doesn't fall into some weird hole!
But as he tried to pull his hand out, amidst the open white space…the hand of black gripped tightly, enough to leave Subaru wincing and yelling out in pain—
Ah! Subaru hitched his breath, as the last pull thrust him into the TV. He felt his entire body feel the weight of gravity as he fell helplessly into the open space. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
His screams were that of terror, as he couldn't feel anything else but whirling air, and eventually spiraling through black square frames…as if he had been traveling down a wondrous hole of madness. The vertigo nearly left Subaru lightheaded, and tumbling down. His body felt light, and yet he couldn't help but scream into the white void.
This lasted no more than 10 seconds, before Subaru's vision changed into yellow—
"Gahaaagh!" Subaru felt a heavy impact in his shoulder, as he toppled over onto the hard ground. His eyes remained closed as he winced from the pain, rolling over once or twice…before he heard two more thuds.
"GWAH!"
"HYA!"
Those two voices sounded familiar, but Subaru winced as he sat up on the floor, before stretching and wincing due to a sharp stinging pain in his shoulder, as he realized that it hurts too much.
"Fuck…!" Subaru winces, before looking to the two people who ended up landing with him. He noticed that one of them had noticeably brown auburn hair, as he rubbed his back pocket in pain, wincing.
"God damn…I landed right on my wallet…!" Yosuke groaned out loud, before looking trepidation.
"Where…are we?" A second, feminine but energetic voice came from Chie, who sat on her knees, before standing up…and looking confused.
Confused by what though?
"Is this somewhere inside Junes?" Subaru whispered underneath his breath, before trying to stand up and wincing out his pain.
"H-Hey, take it easy!" Yosuke held out his hands to make sure Subaru didn't move more, but he helped him up slowly. "Man…where exactly are we…? I never knew about this place…"
Subaru stood up as he held his right shoulder, before noticing the heavy fog all around them. Subaru noted it wasn't quite mist, or humid, or even anything of the sort that seemed natural. The yellow that had entered his vision before slamming into the floor?
The fog held a distinct off-color yellow, hanging all around the group, and thick to the point that Subaru couldn't see any more than 10 feet in front of him. He barely had to squint to even get a better look—and even that was minimal—
"H-Huh?" The next thing Subaru noticed were the equipment, and the floor they were stepping on. The hazy off-color light that seemed to be around them—only covered by a smothering fog—came from spotlights in four corners of the floor or platform they were in. Scaffolding tied them together, wires twining in bundles through the metal framework…and the stage they were standing on seemed even more morbid.
If the chalk marks of various unidentified human bodies left any clue at least. Whatever sick fuck thought it was a good idea to leave something like that lying around…Subaru shivered almost confused.
"W-w-W-here are we…?" Chie stammered out, and Subaru glanced at her to the point that she looked like she was on the verge of breaking down from the panic. "And what's with this studio…?"
"How should I know…?" Subaru breathed out, before blinking almost…unreal. "Wait a minute…"
I know exactly what sort of situation this is…!
"H-Huh? What is it?" Yosuke asked as he made sure to keep a close eye on Subaru, although even the auburn-haired teenager looked on the verge of a panic attack. "W-What is it?"
"…we're in another world."
…
"Huh?/Excuse me?" Yosuke and Chie blinked almost…confounded and befuddled.
"…we…we've been accidentally pulled in through a TV…" Subaru started, as suddenly…his mind leaped to a conclusion...before shouting out into the empty fog. "And into another world!"
Sort of, Subaru, sort of.
Now, Subaru's not really understanding the whole picture yet. But this is the first reaction he is taking to an absurd reality happening in front of him, and even more so when you consider the sort of life and media he has been consuming his entire life.
Now, I know this was a much shorter chapter than many of you probably expected, but after 3 months of waiting I like to think this is the start. In the future, I will focus on delivering 6k to 7k chapters for this story, and on the occasional chapter I might go over 10k. However, I hope all y'all will be patient with me, considering I need to start working harder and making a schedule for myself.
Either way, I hope all of you enjoyed the chapter! Please leave a review, and a follow or favorite!
It is I, The Maelstrom, and I will see you on the horizon!
