Chapter 7

Unusual Ally

'Natsumi Kimiyoshi'

That was the name of the girl that had saved Keiichi this day from being mere inches from death, much quicker than previous worlds. That was the girl that Hanyuu had non-stop questions about. A completely unexpected phenomenon that has occurred in this world.

First, there was Keiichi. Albeit a strange and unknown occurrence, he was now able to not just communicate with her, but could be able to use her power, God's world, at his disposal. Truly, there was a large struck of luck on this point.

But then there was the stranger from earlier. The man dressed up in Yamainu clothing, who had been somewhat spying on the boy, and had also beaten him up like a punching bag with ease. She had never in her existence, along with Rika, seen someone as ominous as that man, and she was to bet that they would see him again.

And now? Now there was Natsumi. Sure, she exists but not all the time. She was a somewhat rare occurrence that happened after the Great Hinamizawa Disaster, and had nothing to do with the group of friends she resides amongst. In fact, she's never had contact with them at all, except for her childhood with Mion. But here she was, right here, right now, walking with Keiichi and speaking to him.

Truly, something was going on with this world. The dice had been rolled, and for some reason that roll has been making somewhat big changes. Keiichi's luck, current events changing, new people appearing. It seemed as if for their last world, their last chance, their world was changing to a major extent. Possibly even bigger than they could imagine.

"So, you live around here right?" Keiichi asked the dull green-haired girl beside him.

"Of course. What gave it away? That I'm a Kimiyoshi?" She remarked sarcastically, winking at him with a cheeky smile.

He rolled his eyes, unamused. "Hahah, very funny. But seriously though, I don't think I've ever seen you here at all."

As Hanyuu listened in to their conversation, she thought about what he said for a bit. She remembered Natsumi being an antisocial person, in fact silent and refined to herself. Though she was hard-working and diligent. It would probably explain why she hasn't tried to make friends. But here she was, being social, talking to Keiichi and acting so friendly towards him. True, she was somewhat shy and nervous at the start. But as he talked more with her, she gradually became more comfortable, which reasured Hanyuu.

Natsumi responded to the brunette, "Ah, that's because I live outside the village. I live in Okinomiya, usually working at the noodle shop." Well that explained it. So, it was confirmed as well that she doesn't live with her family, along with the Kimiyoshi clan, though the reason why isn't known.

Currently, the two were walking to the said city Okinomiya, Natsumi insisting on walking with him there so he can meet up with Mion and the others, so they weren't worrying about him. Even though he had been out for, oh I don't know, two hours! So yes, they would be worrying right now. Though it was also because so Keiichi wasn't jumped again by another thug from the shadows. He was somewhat cautious of her at the start, considering she was a random stranger. But soon after they had talked for a bit, he somewhat got used to her. For the most part, she was nice, charming, and just easy to get along with. Though a bit cheeky, she was someone he'd say was cool. Hell, if he got the chance, maybe he could get her to join the club...

Though that was the least he could think about. What he wanted to know was one thing: Why did she save him? He was just a random stranger, someone just getting a proper beating from a mysterious stranger. She could have just gone another way and ignored it, letting it happen. But she didn't. She went out of her way to chase away the fiend and helped him out when he was injured.

For now, though he'd enjoy more of the moment with talking to this new-found girl as they were walking. "That's neat." he said. "So, what's with the hair?"

"Oh, this mess?" She asked, pointing to her hair, "I just like it that way, it's nice you know. Or do you not like it?"

"What? No. I really like it. It's unique. In fact, I don't think I've seen many girls with hair like that." True, Keiichi hung out with his usual friends with their own unique hairstyles. Mion and Shion with their pale green hair, one tied back in a ponytail and the other with a yellow ribbon. Rena with her short brunt orange hair. Satoko with her blonde hair. And Rika with her long blue hair in a hime cut. But for those five, you could probably see anywhere. Girls with short twin tails though? That was a delight for anyone. For now, he will control his eagerness to see her in the punishment outfits. For now.

Natsumi however, looked away, smiling slightly as his compliment. "Thanks." She replied to him. "I can't say the same for you though. Brown and short isn't original you know"

He snapped around to her, stopping in his tracks "Hey! At least say a compliment back!" She pulled her tongue out at him teasingly. Hanyuu couldn't help but chuckle to herself, seeing the two like this was certainly fun. Though she thought of Natsumi to be an unknown for this world, she indeed was happy to see her, for once, interacting like this with him of all people. Something she just can't get tired of is when he reacts that way. Just simply cute. And funny too.

They had arrived at the town, in front of the dessert glory known as 'Angel Mort'. A place where there were treats in both kinds. Food, and women. The food was mostly as said, desserts. Cakes, chocolates and all sorts, made to be rich and delicious. Though that wasn't the only thing that attracted the customers here. The workers here were not just all women, but they all wore sexy maid outfits, which explained the number of male customers they had (even if they were...questionable). The only reason he goes here with the girls is because of two reasons. Other than Shion works here, it was because it was one of their favourite places to hang out at, since they loved the treats here, and how Rena found almost everything here cute.

Natsumi however gave a raised eyebrow at the place, her hands on her hips as she looked at the boy. "I see someone has a favourite place to look at women, other than his magazines." She remarked with a smug smile.

"H-Hey! It's not like that! I have self-control you know!" He exclaimed at the twin-haired girl. She giggled at his reaction, holding her hands up in front of her.

"It's fine, I'm joking. I go here a bit myself any ways." He gave her a slightly annoyed look, sighing has he went back to normal. In a way, he was used to this kind of stuff said to him, by guess who, the Sonozaki twins. "Well, I'll be going now."

"Huh? You're leaving already?" He asked, surprised.

"Well yeah, I don't think I could deal with that many new people. Besides, I'm a stranger, right? You'll be fine now, no jumpers around here."

'Stranger'. She was indeed that. But even though she was, he didn't feel like she was any more. But that reminded him of what he wanted to ask the dull green-haired girl before she left.

"Well, seeya then." She waved at him, as she started to walk away from him. No, he couldn't let her just go like this. Not someone like her.

He clenched his fists, before letting them go, as he turned to her. "Hey uh, Natsumi."

She turned around, her full attention to him, "Hm?"

He looked down for a moment, before looking back up to her, "Why did you save me back then?"

Her smile disappeared, replacing it with a more calm, neutral look on her. "What do you mean?"

"I mean" he sighed, "You could have left me, but you didn't. Instead, you went out of your way to help someone you didn't know. But why?"

She looked down at her hand, holding her wrist with the other. "Well, why not? You're one of us." Keiichi gasped slightly; his eyes widened a bit at her words. "It's our job to look out for each other, for everyone that lives in Hinamizawa. We're all like a big family, protecting each other." He was touched by her words, the fact that she said he was a part of this village, that he was...apart of their family. Almost like the club. Family.

She continued, "I'm not going to lie to you Keiichi, I'll admit I'm, well, not so social when it comes to people. In fact, when I was there, seeing you in distress, I was scared myself. I didn't know what to do. Hell, I even contemplated on leaving you there. But who would just leave someone to die like that? Not me, that's for sure. And there's just, something about you that makes me feel calm, even happy. How social you are, and carefree, and funny too. You're a great guy is all I can say." She slightly smiled looking away.

Hanyuu understood now. This Natsumi was...somewhat different. Her courage, her sociability, her happy nature. It was the same as everyone else, the same reason they were somewhat the way they were. Because of him. Because of Keiichi. She remembered how they were without him, including the worlds where he never existed. Bored, hopeless, sad. They were like a candle without a spark of flame to light them up. That's when he comes in, when they find that happiness. True, they may tease him, dress him up in funny outfits and mock him sometimes. But they were, in a way, like sisters to him. Funny, kind, brave, silly, but most of all, they were there for him. Just like Natsumi was, right here, right now.

"Natsumi..." He said calmly. He walked up to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, getting her attention as she turned back to look at him. "...If you want to ask me out, you should just ask!" His serious tone shifted immediately into a comedic one, a goofy grin on his face.

Her eyes widened as her face went beet red, shutting her eyes as she flailed her hands. "N-N-No I d-didn't m-mean it like t-t-that!" She pounded his chest as he laughed hysterically at her embarrassment. "Keiichi, you jerk! Iwasbeignseriousandeverythingandyoujustwentupandjustdidthistomeyou..." As she trailed off with her embarrassed bickering as he found enjoyment in his teasing, he couldn't help but think of how it reminded him of the others. Yep, she was going to fit in just fine.

Meanwhile behind him, Hanyuu looked at them dead-panned, completely unsurprised at the turn of events at this point. Keiichi was good at what he did sometimes. Almost too much for his own damn good.

He calmed down, wiping the tear from his eye. " Sorry about that, just testing you, heh."

She puffed her cheeks out in response, before stepping back, a deep sigh before she looked back at him with a smile. "Jeez, you're such an ass." They both laughed a little. "But seriously, is there anything else before I go?"

He thought to himself for a moment, placing a hand on his chin. Was this it? Did he just let her go and never see her again? Just 'goodbye' and that's it? No. Of course not. She was someone unique, someone who was irreplaceable. Someone who he saw had potential. It would just suck to never see her again, a person who was so far interesting in her own way. And if he wanted to save this place, this last 'world' that Hanyuu put it, then he was going to need help, And Natsumi Kimiyoshi was someone to start off with.

He nodded, "Yeah actually. I was wondering if, you know, we could keep in contact. It would be nice to see you again sometime." She was silent for a moment, giving Keiichi a somewhat nervous feeling. "I, er, I mean I-If you want to! I-I'm not trying to force you or-"

He was immediately interrupted by her, holding his hand, with a pen in the other. She shook her head, smirking a bit at his somewhat stupidity as she began writing on his palm, making his face red. What was she doing? Wait, she's not...

She let go of his hand, putting her pen back into her pocket, as she looked back up to him, her eyes half-lidded and smiling. "There's your 'contact'." She closed her eyes, giggling. "See you later." She went off, leaving him there dumbfounded. What on earth just happened? Hanyuu peered over him, a finger on her lip as she looked at the hand she had been holding.

"What did she write?" She asked, eager to know herself. He raised his hand up, looking at his palm. Immediately, both of their faces turned tomato red, with Keiichi a somewhat lighter shade. It was her phone number. This girl, a girl, just gave him her phone number! Hanyuu was a sputtering mess, flailing around both frantically and somewhat happily. "Auauauauau! Keiichi! Finding love at such a young age! Au au au!"

His eyes widened, his face now much hotter than hers before, holding his hands up in defence. "Wait a second! It's not like that! I'm not even into her! It's just her phone number, don't just assume stuff like that!" He was lucky that no one else was around at the moment, because if there were, then right now they would be looking at a raving maniac flailing and shouting at himself. A funny one at that.

But for now, the better news was one thing; Natsumi Kimiyoshi, rather she knows it now or not, is now a part of a life-saving crisis.

End chapter 7

A/N. Hey guys, I know this is a short chapter, but it was sort of just filler for the story. I had to think of a way to write Natsumi's character, since I'm eager to write about/add her into this, so I gave her some writing time for this chapter. Hopefully you guys will love the addition of her in this.