Izaya dragged his feet toward the path leading into the school. He'd barely gotten any sleep the previous night due to that God damn building constantly on his mind. That ghostly figure in the window yesterday had him a little anxious. Normally, he could ignore it, but for some reason, this felt different. It could be due to living in a different town. Everything was still new to him, and since he had to look after his sisters, he couldn't research anything to do with the building. What was the building originally? Did it have any kind of past? Why was it blocked off? How long ago had it been abandoned?

Izaya rubbed his temple with two fingers. Perhaps it was stupid to get all worked up over it, but he was so damn tired. I'm going to fall asleep in class. Maybe he could nap at lunch hour? Izaya was sure there was an entrance to the roof. When he stepped through the school gates, he heard his name in a lilted tone and sighed; why couldn't this person leave him alone? They had only met yesterday, and Izaya hoped it was just someone to tolerate to get him through the first day. Izaya suddenly remembered the surprise. Something about a club? Izaya had to admit he was curious.

Izaya turned to see Shinra's smiling face as he ran up to him. "Izaya! How are you?" Shinra asked with glee when he matched his steps. Izaya suddenly stopped. He was sure that he hadn't told Shinra he'd be here this early. Shinra turned when he noticed Izaya wasn't walking beside him anymore. "What's up? Didn't get enough sleep or something?" Izaya could only stare wide-eyed at him; what was with this kid?

"How did you-" the raven frowned. "What do you want from me?"

Shinra's smile faded when he noticed Izaya's sudden hostility toward him. "What do you mean?"

"Don't talk to me anymore." Izaya pushed passed him and quickly made his way to the building, leaving a confused Shinra to stare after him.

"What did I do?" Shinra said to himself and ran into the building. "Izaya! Wait up!" Out of breath by the time he caught up to him, Shinra panted as he leaned against the locker. "What's wrong?"

Izaya opened his locker without a reply, placed his bag inside, and swapped his shoes. He shuffled his feet into the appropriate footwear and almost slammed his locker. Shinra flinched at the aggressiveness and started to open his own locker, glancing at Izaya, who, despite obviously being annoyed with him for some reason, hadn't left yet.

Izaya turned his back slightly to lean against the locker next to Shinra's. For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to leave without receiving an explanation for his mind's question. Usually, the moment he felt like someone was messing with him, he'd either ignore them or try to ward them off, but with Shinra, he couldn't do either. Why was this one any different? "How did you know I would be here this early?"

Shinra raised his head, blinking in surprise at the sudden conversation, and almost sighed in relief. "Is that why you're acting so different compared to yesterday?" Shinra gave a small smile when he watched Izaya's body tense slightly. "Izaya, I'm not trying to cause you any misfortune or anything. I wouldn't do something like that because I know what that feels like. People pretend to be your friend, then they find someone else clearly better, and that can lead to some nasty comments, or maybe even bullying."

Izaya turned around, facing Shinra, almost scowling at him, but grinned. "Talking from experience?"

Shinra smiled sadly at him. "Maybe. Seriously, why did you think I was messing with you?"

Izaya looked away, clearly embarrassed he'd been wrong. Of course, Shinra could still be lying, but Izaya knew that wasn't the case given how honest Shinra had been thus far. "I never told you I would be here this early."

Shinra chuckled. "Okay, it might sound bad if you look at it like that, butI can honestly say that this was a complete coincidence, I swear. After yesterday's crowded fiasco, I figured it would be a lot easier if I arrived when no one was around. I hate being late, so I chose to get here early. When I saw you at the gate, I figured you had come up with the same idea, though I think you're the type of person who doesn't really care if you're late, so I was a little surprised to see you here."

That's it? That's why I was so annoyed? It was a simple coincidence? He couldn't help but feel slightly relieved, but now, he was annoyed that he was. "And the no sleep comment?"

"Huh?" Shinra laughed. "That's just observation. Your eyes are so dark and sunken."

Izaya felt his cheeks heat up slightly. "Shut up. I was just thinking about things, and I didn't get much sleep."

Shinra stood up, clapping a hand on Izaya's shoulder. "Now that we've cleared up that misunderstanding, wanna come to the library with me before lessons start?"

Izaya looked at the clock on the wall below the stairs. "It's only eight. The library isn't even open yet."

Shinra grinned. "Ah! That may be true, but like I said, being class reps, we get certain privileges."

Izaya returned the grin, removing Shinra's hand from his shoulder because this boy had no worries about personal space. "Not everyone would consider getting into the library early a privilege."

Shinra's grin didn't falter, and he grabbed Izaya's wrist and led him toward the stairs. "Good thing we're not like them. It's good to be different."

"No argument's there," Izaya replied honestly, trying to free his hand. Shinra wasn't getting the hint, so he simply let himself get dragged along the halls.

Once they reached the library, Izaya finally got his hand free, and Shinra mumbled an apology, slightly embarrassed. They showed the librarian their class rep passes and sat in the far corner, opposite a computer. "You know, I'm the type of friend you can share anything with. I might poke fun a little, but I can be counted upon."

Izaya raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you supposed to let other people figure that out for themselves?"

Shinra smiled. "Normally, but usually when I do, it doesn't go anywhere. I'm not everyone's preference when it comes to friends."

Izaya thought he'd figured Shinra out yesterday, but this friend thing bothered him more than he let on. Izaya honestly didn't care if he made friends or not; it was his overall attitude and intelligence that scared people off, and he was fine with that. Shinra lacked confidence, but he had a sharp mind - an easy target for people to pick on him or use him. "If you show it doesn't bother you like how you were with me yesterday, they'll respond differently."

Shinra laughed lightly. "Like you did? Isn't that the same thing? I'll still end up with no friends."

Izaya shrugged. "Maybe." He smirked. "But you'll be less of a bullying target."

Shinra pouted. "Mean."

"I'm just giving you advice. I really don't care what you do with it."

"Meaner."

Izaya chuckled and watched Shinra switch on the computer. "So, what are we doing here anyway? I'm assuming we're not just here to discuss our social status."

Shinra nodded with a grin. "Correct. I was going to print these off to show you, but since you're here now, it'll be easier."

Izaya eyed him suspiciously and glanced at the screen when Shinra found the site he was looking for. Izaya's eyes widened, and he tensed in his seat, gripping the desk with one hand while he read over the news article's headline: Yamanashi, Eiwi Middle School student, Gen Aoi, committed suicide after he and some other students used a Ouija board.

Shinra looked at Izaya; he expected that reaction but hadn't meant to scare him. "Izaya?"

Izaya clenched his fist and switched the computer off. "How did you find this?"

"Huh? The newspaper."

Izaya glared at him. "Why did you look this up? And what has this got to do with me?"

Shinra tilted his head. "It does though, doesn't it?"

Izaya stood up. "It's none of your business." He started to walk away, but Shinra grabbed his wrist. "Let go," Izaya hissed angrily, but Shinra could feel him shaking.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I only half guessed that the story was connected to you. I only made the connection through various research."

"Stop fucking stalking me!"

They received a hush from the librarian, and Izaya bowed his head in apology before turning back to Shinra and yanking his arm back. "Just hear me out. I'm really not stalking you. Remember how excited I got when I found out you were from Yamanashi?"

Izaya wasn't in the mood for his explanations, but he gradually returned to his seat. "You practically jumped on my desk," he replied after a few seconds of calming down.

Shinra scratched his head sheepishly. "Yeah, I did that, didn't I." Shinra continued. "Anyway, last night, I looked up the city because the haunted places there really are true, and being one of the more recent events, the article popped up, so I got curious."

Izaya sighed. "Why did you look up the city anyway?"

Shinra shrugged. "Since you said you didn't know anything about haunted places, I thought maybe I was wrong."

Izaya looked away from him; maybe he should have been honest with him, then Shinra might not have felt the need to look up the city and, therefore, wouldn't have found out what he did.

"Was Eiwa your middle school?"

Izaya frowned at him but sighed in defeat. "Yes."

"I take it that you were one of the other students who used the board?" Shinra didn't seem like he was prying; he genuinely wanted to know, but it didn't seem like he was pitying him either.

"I was."

Shinra shifted in his chair as if trying to pluck up the courage to continue. "It also says that a student had an accident and fell down the stairs the next day, but his injuries were light. Was that you?"

Izaya tensed again. I was fucking pushed! "What makes you think that?"

Shinra shrugged. "The article mentions that the stairs led straight to the library."

Izaya chuckled. "That's your reason? The person could have been anyone."

Shinra nodded. "True, but it seemed the librarian's comment about not having any other students around at the time, indicates that someone like yourself would be the only one around at that sort of time."

"You're not really making a lot of sense, Shinra. You're just looking for excuses that aren't there."

"I'm just trying to figure it out. You don't strike me as the clumsy type, so I highly doubt you fell down the stairs. If what the librarian said is true, that there were no other students around, how did the accident happen?"

Izaya was taken aback by Shinra's inquisitiveness; did he really figure it out just from that article? "Let's say it was me. What exactly are you implying?"

Shinra smiled. Izaya's way of opening up to him was to agree to disagree. Shinra leaned forward, looking at the now blank computer screen. "Kind of sounds like you were pushed, despite what the article says."

Izaya's heart skipped. No one, not even his parents, had truly believed him before. "Why?"

Shinra shrugged. "The article doesn't say anything about it, so I doubt they wanted a panic on their hands."

"Not why about the article. Why do you think that?"

Shinra looked at him. "Huh? I told you, you don't strike me as the clumsy type."

Izaya sighed, glancing at the blank screen. "Right."

Shinra tilted his head. Izaya seemed disappointed with his reply. "Izaya, do you think you were pushed?"

Izaya remained quiet, wondering whether he should admit to something like that. He'd never voiced it to anyone before. Did he honestly want to trust Shinra after only knowing him for a day? It didn't matter now because Izaya had already nodded. What's wrong with me?

"I believe you."

Izaya chewed his thumbnail. "You do?

"I don't think you'd make up something like that, and you're not the type to spread rumours." Izaya grinned at him, and Shinra chuckled. "Or maybe you are, but not about this. The paranormal and spirits that linger around us aren't to be joked about, and I think you respect that."

Izaya clenched his fist. "I felt it. There was a hand on my back, and the next thing I knew, I was at the bottom of the stairs, then I blacked out."

Shinra could tell how much Izaya had wanted to talk about this. "Did - did you see anything?"

Izaya looked at him but wasn't ready to give that part of himself away just yet. "No."

Shinra tilted his head in thought, and Izaya didn't care whether Shinra knew he was lying. Izaya came to terms with the fact he could see ghosts and spirits a long time ago, but admitting it out loud was a big no-no. "Okay." Shinra looked up at the clock. "We should probably get to class. What's your first lesson?"

Izaya cringed. "Math, 1A."

Shinra grinned at him. "Me too!"

"You already knew I got in because of my grades, so don't act so surprised."

Shinra shrugged with a grin. "I was just giving you a chance to admit it." The two walked out of the library as Shinra raised his arm up triumphantly. "Honesty is the best policy."

Izaya rolled his eyes, and they made their way through the corridor and descended the stairs just as the bell rang. "God, you're lame."

Shinra laughed and followed Izaya into their first class of the day. They were the first ones there, so they took the two seats in the back of the right corner with Izaya next to the window.

…..

Lunch hour, rooftop.

Izaya lay on one of the benches with one hand resting on his stomach and the other behind his head. The sun was half blocked by one of the roof's walls and only half covered his body in warmth. Izaya didn't care. He was so tired that he just closed his eyes, and a peaceful smile spread across his face when he began to doze.

"I am meeting someone here, I swear! Please leave me alone."

Izaya opened one eye when the familiar whiny voice reached his ears and sighed before sitting up. He glanced over to the roof's exit to find two boys grinning down at Shinra as they cornered him on either side of the wall. It appeared Shinra knew them, probably from his middle school.

"Don't lie, Kishitani. We both know you don't have any friends. Nothing changes with you. Did you think that because you're in high school that we'd just leave you alone?" The one on the left snickered.

Shinra shook his head and tried to smile, but it faltered. "It's a harsh world out there, so someone's gotta keep you on your toes, and you're such an easy target," countered the one on the right.

"Yeah, we're just doing you a favour."

Shinra stammered; he had a sharp mind, but he simply froze when it came to bullies. "But - I haven't done anything wrong."

The two laughed again and pat Shinra on the head. "I don't know, I think you just got that kind of look. Thinking you're better than the rest of us."

"You're probably right," a voice suddenly said.

"Yeah I-" the left one stopped talking when he realized the reply didn't come from Shinra. They both looked behind to see Izaya sitting on the bench, leaning over with both arms resting on his knees. "You say something runt?"

Izaya grinned at them, his bangs half-covering his eyes. "I was under the impression the school had a no bullying policy."

"So what! What are you going to do about it?"

Izaya grinned. "Nothing."

"Then stay out of our business." Thinking their conversation was over, they turned back to their' target.' Suddenly, something smacked into one of their heads, causing the one on the left to double over. They looked down to see a water bottle, and one of them snapped their attention to Izaya. "Did you just throw that at me!"

Izaya laughed when he stood on the bench and clapped. "Very good!"

Shinra couldn't believe Izaya's confidence; he was absolutely awed by it. No one had ever stuck up for him before, and it was mind-boggling.

"When I said that I'd do nothing, I should have specified. What I meant was that I wouldn't rat on you to the head. I didn't say I wouldn't get involved. Tell me, how did the likes of you two get into such a school? I'm quite positive it wasn't due to brains."

Completely forgetting about Shinra, the two began to approach Izaya instead. "You better watch your mouth, runt!"

Izaya's eyes widened in mocking fear. "Scary!" Izaya laughed. "So you're that type."

"What fucking type! I'm going to kick your ass!"

Izaya wasn't fazed and placed his hands in his pockets. "Like all bullies, you compensate everything you lack with violence. Anytime someone is remotely better than you, which in your case is probably all the time, you feel the need to bully them for their one shortcoming. Which, in Shinra's case, is confidence." Izaya skipped and spun around on the bench. "But! Then you come across someone like me, and you don't know how to deal with it. A person who's so far above you that it's laughable. Hahaha, it's really quite sad." Suddenly, Izaya dodged a punch, jumping off the bench. The two tried multiple times to hit their new target but found that Izaya was very quick. Izaya drew his flick blade and continued to evade their attacks, moving his blade with practiced precision.

He's amazing! Shinra thought, watching the scene. He's smart and confident.

Izaya jumped backward over the bench until he felt the tall metal fence surrounding the roof. One of them followed suit, which Izaya had figured was the better fighter of the two. He grabbed Izaya by the shirt and shoved him against the fence, but the raven never lost his grin. "What now, you little shit!"

Izaya glanced behind and saw the shock play across the other male's face. The angry look from the one in front faded as he suddenly looked down when he realized his clothes had begun to shred away from his body. "I think you need a new tailor. The one you have is currently not very good." Izaya's grin widened as he watched the two freak out and run to the roof's exit. The one who was now only clad in boxers turned angrily, pointing his finger at Izaya.

"You'll pay for this! No one makes a fool of me!" and then they were gone.

Izaya laughed loudly and waited until they were both out of sight before taking a breath and sliding down the fence with a sigh. Shinra was grinning from ear to ear, running up to Izaya with wide arms. "That was amazing!"

Izaya smiled up at him; he didn't really do anything, but to Shinra, he supposed it was everything. "So you weren't kidding about being a target."

Shinra shook his head but was still smiling. "You were awesome! That was absolutely incredible! You're smart and strong! You're the whole package!"

Okay, he wasn't really that great. Izaya felt his cheeks heat up at receiving such honest compliments. "If you say so." Sure, Izaya was confident on the outside and was quick on his feet, but he wasn't that strong. He relied on evasion, and his words were his weapons, his flick-blade notwithstanding, but once the moment of adrenaline passed, his bravado would completely leave his body, and he was usually left feeling shaken. Izaya didn't even think he could stand up right now.

Seemingly catching on quick, Shinra held his hand out. Izaya looked at him, grinned knowingly, took Shinra's hand, and stood together.

They sat on the bench, and Shinra grinned as he opened his bento. "Man! This is the first time since I can remember that I actually get to eat."

Izaya chuckled and resumed his resting position, propping his leg up to give Shinra the room to sit down while his other foot touched the ground. "You're welcome."

Shinra smiled, looking down at his lunch. "Seriously, Izaya. Thanks. I really am grateful."

Was this what friendship was all about? To have each other's back, teasing lightly, and sharing their thoughts. To Izaya, it sounded rather lame, but he found that he didn't hate it. In fact, he just smiled. "Anytime."

Shinra couldn't help but laugh. "I can't believe it. Think me pathetic if you want, but I can't believe I finally have a friend."

Izaya did open his eyes then and sat up, leaning on his palms. "You're weird, you know that? I mean, can you just call someone a friend after such a short time?"

Shinra nodded. "Only when I'm a hundred percent sure."

Izaya raised an eyebrow. "Isn't this the first time you've ever been a hundred percent sure?"

Shinra nodded again, more enthusiastically. "Which is why I'm so sure!"

Izaya shook his head and chuckled. "Weird." Shinra beamed at him, and his eyes became teary. Shinra threw himself forward, embracing the other raven. Izaya fell backward, and they toppled off the bench. "Shinra!"

Embarrassed, Shinra quickly stood up and laughed nervously at his new friend's glare. "Whoops. Sorry!"

Izaya stood up, brushing himself off. "You really don't care, do you?"

Shinra chuckled as he placed his bento box on his lap again. "What do you mean?"

Izaya rolled his eyes and poked a finger against Shinra's forehead. "No regard for personal space."

Shinra couldn't help but laugh, causing Izaya to chuckle as well. "I was just happy. You were kind of my saviour."

The bell rang, and they both sighed in annoyance. Izaya grinned and plucked a piece of sushi from Shinra's box. "Which is why I'm stealing this," he said before heading toward the exit.

Shinra looked down to see what Izaya had taken, laughing at the irony. He didn't even like fatty tuna. Maybe Izaya noticed Shinra avoiding it.

…..

End of the school day.

Izaya walked down the corridor, ignoring the students running past him, eager to get home or wherever they were going after school hours. Izaya was meeting Shinra and would finally get the explanation he wanted about the club. He made his way into room 5-B, knowing Shinra's chosen subject, biology, was there. Izaya didn't care for biology; something was disturbing about touching dead reptilians. He stopped when he saw Shinra with another male; he had brown hair and wore a blazer, but it wasn't the high school's uniform. Why is he wearing a middle school uniform? Izaya didn't care and made his presence known by knocking a couple of times on the empty tables. "I already stripped two bullies today, and I don't think you'd appreciate your blazer ruined now, would you?" Izaya tapped his closed blade on the table.

The new boy simply smiled at him.

Knowing what Izaya was doing, Shinra quickly stepped in front. "Wait! It's not like that. It's okay Izaya, he wasn't picking on me."

Izaya blinked, pocketed his knife, and caught the chuckle from the other in the room.

"So, that was you huh? Gotta say, I wasn't expecting someone of your - erm, build, to pull off something like that. Though you're every bit as devious as they said. You got the intimidation down to an art form."

Izaya narrowed his eyes, becoming suspicious that someone he hadn't met yet knew about him. "And you are?"

"This is Kyohei Kadota," Shinra answered. "He's in my biology class."

Izaya leaned against the desk, slightly grinning. "Obviously."

Shinra smiled sheepishly. "Actually, he overheard us talking this morning in the library."

Izaya tensed, glaring at the boy, not liking that their conversation wasn't private as he had thought.

The boy seemed to get the hint and placed his hands up for peace. "It's okay, I wasn't trying to eavesdrop or anything. I was just – interested. Trust me, I'm not making fun."

"I don't trust anyone," Izaya said without hesitation.

Kadota just smiled. "I hear ya. Can't be too careful. I'll see ya around." Then just like that, he left them alone. Izaya watched him walk out and turned to Shinra.

"Another hundred percent?"

Shinra shook his head. "Probably not, but he approached me first. He seemed nice enough, and he's actually interested in the paranormal just like us."

"You were going to invite him to come with us, weren't you?"

Shinra chuckled. "Maybe, but it didn't seem like you would get along with him, so I didn't say anything."

Izaya was dumbfounded. "You can trust all the people you want. It's up to you."

"There's not really much point if the other doesn't get along with them, right?"

"Just what part of that made any sense?"

Shinra laughed. "It totally makes sense. If I'm making friends, I wanna make sure we all are."

Izaya shook his head. Shinra was beyond weird, and his logic was completely irrational. Izaya followed Shinra down the corridor, up another flight of stairs, and along another corridor until they stood outside a closed door. Shinra smiled and opened it with excitement. "Welcome to our new club room!" he said loudly.

Izaya leaned against the door frame with nothing but a bored expression. "Shinra, there's nothing in here."

Shinra spun around with a grin. "Not yet, but that's what makes it even better! The head agreed that we can decorate this room to how ever we like it. For now, all we need is a couple of tables and some chairs, get our laptops set up-"

Izaya raised an eyebrow, cutting Shinra off. "What makes you think I have a laptop?"

Shinra grinned as he tilted his. "You don't?"

Izaya rolled his eyes. God damn him. "Whatever. So, what exactly do we do here?"

Shinra thought for a moment, still eyeing all the space, already planning where everything would go. "Research about paranormal activities."

"With what exactly?"

"Equipment and stuff."

Izaya would bet that Shinra didn't know where to start, which was probably why he was here. "You don't know, do you?"

Shinra laughed. "Not a bit."

Izaya sighed. "You're hopeless. Anyway, what are we going to do if we happen to find something during our research?"

"No idea, I was kind of hoping you would fill that part in."

"So, you just wanted to pump me for knowledge," Izaya said as he whirled around the empty room.

Shinra grinned when he recognized the teasing tone, ready to come back at him. "What else would I pump you for?" Izaya turned to him with a dark grin, and Shinra soon realized his slip up and grew incredibly embarrassed. Izaya laughed at him when Shinra covered his face. "That didn't come out the way I planned."

"Teasing is definitely not your forte." Izaya chuckled.

"I guess not." Shinra could barely look him in the eyes. "I can't believe I said that."

Izaya merely shrugged and leaned against the wall by the window. "What do you know about the building down the road?" he said, completely changing the subject.

"What building?"

"A few blocks from here. It's blocked off by wired fencing, and kind of old-looking."

Shinra nodded, forgetting his previous embarrassment. "Well, not much really. I never thought about it to be honest. I've not heard any rumors about it being haunted or anything. Why do you ask?"

Izaya was hoping for a different answer. After all, he couldn't simply tell Shinra he'd seen a spirit there, could he? Izaya cringed when he imagined Shinra laughing at him. Probably not. "I was just curious."

Shinra pondered the thought. "Because it looks old? I thought that type of cliché wasn't part of your logic."

Izaya didn't even want to know what Shinra thought about his logic. The other raven seemed extremely confident that he'd figured him out already. "Just forget I asked."

Shinra waved his hands. "No no, it's a great starting point for our club! Once we get this place set up, we can use our laptops for research, and we can even document all our discoveries."

"What for?"

Shinra looked confused now. "What do you mean?"

"Why document them if we're the only ones who can see them? What's the purpose?"

Shinra shrugged. "I don't know. I hadn't thought about it. It just interests me."

Izaya sighed. Shinra really was one-track-minded. Izaya looked at him with a grin. "So, up for a little stakeout?"

25