04/13 Before School

I woke up the next morning and made my way to school after taking Nanako to school. I stepped to the right just when I heard something barreling towards me from behind and waited as a guy on a bike past by me. It was that Yosuke fella and in three, two, one… Boom!

"Ehhh!" I'm not sure how he did it but he hit the pole once more and popped the curb at the same time in a way that catapulted him up and over head first into an open trashcan. I shook my head as he rolled around the trash taking the can with him. That was so unreal that, that was just funny, and everyone around me seemed to agree. A bunch of girls were taking out their phones and taking pictures and giggling like crazy. I was tempted to do the same, but sadly I'm not that much of a bastard, yet.

"Someone… Help me!" Can he literally not climb out of the can without help? The guy isn't even that shorter than me. I have a centimeter on him at most and it's in his hair. "Go Ahead!" He screamed while the can muffled his voice. "Take out your phones and laugh at me! Just leave me," he cried almost pitifully.

Great, now I have to help this pitiful peer of mine that somehow fumbled his way into a trashcan. I walked up to him and placed my bag down. "Hold still," I advised as I grabbed his belt and plucked him out of the trashcan like a carrot then helped him up to his feet.

"Pleh," he coughed in disgust as I stepped back away from him before he could get that old food and whatever is on him, on me. I'm a bit of a cleanliness freak and hate to be dirty so left him as is.

"You okay," I asked as I picked up my book bag and faced him. Yosuke rubbed his blazer with a look of disgust on his face before looking up to me.

"Hey," his eyes widened when he realized who I was. "You're that transfer student right? The one how called out King Moron," Yosuke said with a smile with a string of noodle hanging from his ear. "Yū Narukami right?"

"Yes, are you okay?" I asked again. I had to make sure before I left him to his own devices.

"Huh? Yeah I'm fine. Thanks for that man. I owe ya." He owes himself to get a bath in before going to school. I nodded my head to him with a typical smile that everyone gets before leaving him to his devices like I said before. "Hey, wait up!" Yosuke grabbed his bike and quickly caught up to me. "Names Yosuke. Yosuke Hanamura," he introduced himself to me. "We're in the same class encase you didn't know that."

I nodded and kept walking.

"Hey, you hear about that freaky stuff about the dead body and such," he said to fill the silence. I'm not one for conversations unless interested and I'm not interested. "It's crazy how they found that announcer dangling from an antenna." Maybe just as crazy as him fumbling into a trash can and walking next to me with some still on him. This guy is bad luck. "You'd think it was some kind of warning or something? That it was no accident."

"It was weird," I admitted. I feel if I stayed silent he'd just keep talking in an attempt to get me to talk back.

"I know right? That was messed up to kill someone and then just lob them up there… shit! We're gonna be late," he said after looking at his watch. Yosuke mounted his bike and looked at me expectantly. He wants me to jump on? Dad always told me if you're not in front then don't be in the back when it comes to bikes. How do the Americans say it again? I'm not riding bitch.

"I think you should clean up first Yosuke." I pulled a noodle off his ear and held it in front of his face before pointing to a park and the bathroom at the entrance.

"Uh, gross! Thanks man I really owe ya!" Yosuke rode off towards the park leaving me alone. Nice guy, a little too bubbly, and really clumsy. That's an accurate enough description. I pulled my music player out and started playing a little Extreme Instrumental Beethoven before reaching the school. If I'm late then I'm late. I'm not running without good reason. I don't like running.

As I walked up the incline to the school I noticed a guy who was also taking his time as well on his way to school. Guy has blond hair but he's Japanese meaning it's dyed more likely than not. His blazer is hanging off his shoulders like a cape and he's taller than I am. I can see that his build is pretty rough. If I got into a fight with him I'd regret it pretty fast. I got a glance at his collar and saw a single roman numeral meaning he's a first year and my junior. The guy glanced my way and had a serious Yakuza level hate glare pointed my way. I've seen looks like that on some real crazy people, but couldn't get on guard like normally. I'm not getting a negative vibe from him.

I waved at him and my junior snort and looked forward. We walked quietly until we reached the gate which happened to be closed at the moment. I don't think home room has started yet so best I jump the gate and get in there.

"Hey!" I heard through my music and pulled of my right earphone. I noticed my junior waving at me to follow and walked along the wall in a strange version of low profile like this was COD or something. I rose an eyebrow and looked towards the gate and frowned. Going in through the front would be stupid to do. Everyone and their mothers would be able to see me walking up. More than likely Mr. Delinquent knows a way around without getting caught which would come in handy. I put my earphone in under my shirt and followed the blonde junior as he trailed along the wall. He looked back to me in surprise when I came through the bushes with his arms crossed.

"Ya followed me huh?"

I wiped down my blazer of leaves and nodded. "You did call me. I assume you have a way in other than the front." The blonde junior's eyes widened and he nodded almost impressed with my deduction.

"I do. Come with me eh… senpai?"

"You can call me Yū. Yū Narukami." My junior looked back once again surprised by something as simple as an introduction.

"Whatever," he dismissed and walked to a different entrance in by the looks of it. I took note that a garden shed of some sort was to my right so this must be for the men or women that service the school grounds. He must use this? It's so inconspicuous and yet obvious so of course no one would use this. Then again at closer inspection I could see a lock on the gate meaning her can't enter this way. I looked around the gate until I saw a hole a couple meters away from the gate. I guess that's the way.

"Ah, damn it." I cursed when I felt something get caught on the fence on my way through. I looked back and it turned out to be my little treasure. I leaned in and pulled the metal of the fence off of the bracelet around my wrist. God I forget that I have this thing on most days. I don't even remember that last time I took this off now that I think of it. I checked the bracelet and the beads and found it to be okay along with its message. I sighed and relief and kept moving.

"Usually, when someone introduces themselves you respond in kind," I remarked after I went through the hole. I wiped off my pants legs and my book bag before standing up before my junior.

"Ya better off not bothering with me. Might save you some trouble later." Now I'm really curious. This guy dresses like a punk with the air of a belligerent prick and yet he seems to worry more for my standing being spoiled just because I know his name. That's weird but I can sort of understand.

"I wouldn't worry about that," I dismissed his words this time. "What's your name?"

"Kanji Tatsumi," he grumbled and walked away from me. "Later," he waved and walked into the school through the side entrance. I stood perplexed only to shrug for now. Whatever is going on and whatever is happening to him isn't really my business, and I doubt it will. I followed along with him to the school and made my way to class.

"Narukami!" I heard my name called just as I opened the door to the class room.

"Present," I said and closed the door behind me and sat down in my seat. I don't see Yosuke anywhere but I'm sure he'll get here eventually.

"Where have you been punk?" My teacher ranted and raved for a good couple minutes. I didn't have a chance to answer before he cut himself off and started the lecture.

Kanji Tatsumi. I'm going to remember that name.

Yosuke got to school after lunch time and slipped in unannounced as if nothing happened. I studied a bit of history and some math including some of the topics Mr. Morooka brought up during his lecture just as school was about to end for the day. Once the bell rang he walked out the door to go do… whatever he does when school ends. I pulled my books together and got ready to leave and go home until I heard someone call me.

"Hey Yū." I looked back over my left shoulder and saw Yosuke coming up to talk to me. He looked cleaner than he was before. I wager he went home to shower that being why it took him so long to get here. "You getting used to this place man?"

I thought on it for a moment. I've only been here for like a couple days but despite this it's a bit of a relief to be away from the city. I'd like to say that "yeah, just about," for it was true because I like the atmosphere despite it giving me the creeps. That fog especially. I just can't yet. The people are simple and the area just as plain compared to Osaka or Kyoto.

"Wow! That was fast." Yosuke said dryly like he couldn't believe me. "Believe me, I know this isn't the big city and there isn't much to do. Even I'm not used to it yet and I've been here for a while. Then again there's something here you can't get anywhere else."

"But that can be said about anywhere," I stated with my back to my chair to break my "perfect" classroom posture.

Yosuke chuckled a bit. "That is true. Clean air and good food can be found almost anywhere… Speaking of food, you got to try the local delicacies!" Yosuke leaned in with a smirk on his lips as if he's about to give me the scoop or something. "It's grilled steak," he said slyly. I gulped just at the thought of getting some nice and steamy grilled steak. "You look eager and I got just the place man. Wanna come?" I nodded my head. "I knew it," Yosuke said with a smile. "You helped me out so it's on me."

Free food, how can I say no?

"Yoohoo," Chie came walking up towards us with a snarky grin on her lips. "Do thine ears deceived me or did you just mention… steak," she winked at us with that grin growing as Yosuke's frown followed.

"I don't…." Chie pulled out that DVD from before from her bag on her back and twirled it around. Her copy of "Trial of the Dragon" by the looks of it. The same one that Yosuke broke. At this moment I really wished she would stay out of it so I can get that steak but I don't think it's to be. If Yosuke can't afford a movie like that or a new bike to replace his old one then he must be tight on money. That means no steak me.

"Urgh," Yosuke let out an annoyed sigh. "Like a hound once you smell meat you come…"

"Hiya!" I winced as Yosuke suffered a kick in the stomach and coughed as he stepped back into his deck and into his seat. I felt no sympathy after all he did just call Chie a dog. Her being a female doesn't help as well. I'd say he got off easy. "You know Yosuke I think you should treat all of us, right Yukiko?"

Yukiko, who had no part in this conversation at first, cleaned up her desk of her books silently as if she didn't hear a thing. She stood up after a couple seconds with her hands behind her back along with the bag of hers in hand. "I'll pass," she declined like I assumed she would. This is the seventh so far I believe. "I don't want to gain any more weight. I'm needed at the inn anyway." Just 16 and already being trained to take over the inn. I can relate being why I was taught computer processing and business management once I hit 14 as the sole heir of my family's growing business. Dad does his overseas thing and mom holds the fort with my stepdad here in Japan and the Pacific Islands. I wouldn't mind going back to Guam or Hawaii again.

"Well, okay then. I'll see ya later Yukiko," Chie said bye to her friend.

Yukiko nodded. "Yeah, bye." Yukiko left with a tire look in her eyes to her job. I wonder if I can work at the inn. I don't have much better I could be doing after all.

"Hey, Yosuke." Chie loomed over the pained man with her hands on her hips. "You gonna wallow all day. Let's go."

"Uhg," Yosuke groaned. "Do I seriously have to treat two people…? Damn it."

I stood up with my bag in hand. "You don't have to worry about me. I can treat myself," after all I still have some money left over from buying groceries yesterday. I spent most of the money uncle gave me and kept the change Nanako used with her bill so I have about 950 yen on me which will be enough for a single steak I'm sure.

"N-no man I got…"

"Me later," I finished for that guy before helping him up on his feet with a pat on the back. "You need to pay your dues first before offering favors."

"You should learn from him Yosuke," Chie snort. "He's making sense."

"Come on," he groaned again and I just smiled amused at the antics between the two of them. They bring the bitch out of each other that much is for sure.

I helped Yosuke up to his feet and made my way out the door with the two of them behind me. Before I do anything I need to get that baseball bat bag while I'm here as school. I don't want to pay for one and know they have an abundance here somewhere. I think I know who to ask as well.

I asked around a bit and was pointed to the direction of the school gang boss name Kanji sitting alone at a vending machine on a bench. I told my two new "friends" to hang back and wait for me at the shoe lockers while I took care of business. Hopefully they don't burn the school down while I'm gone.

I stopped in front of Kanji and said, "Excuse me" to get his attention.

"Heh?" He growled and looked up and saw me. "Huh? The hell you want?"

"I need a baseball bat bag. You know how I can get one?" Kanji pointed behind him to a shed near the track.

"Thanks."

"Whatever," he rolled his eyes and went back to resting his head back on the bench.

I walked to the shed and saw a bunch of stuff inside from kendo club armor to soccer balls and the like. I walked to the first baseball bat bag I could find and picked it up for me to use. It's black with red stitching and a red cap at top that zips open. I had to pull the Yasogami stickers off but this will do just so I can conceal carry without policemen jumping me every step of the way. A high school student with a sword would not look good during a murder investigation after all. This will fit my katana pretty well that's for sure.

"Thanks again," I said to Kanji as I pass by him on my way back into the school.

"Nice bracelet," I heard behind me from Kanji. I looked down my cuff and found it sticking up a bit.

"It's girly," I muttered before hiding it back under my cuff like before. I pulled down the excess cloth at my shoulder until I could move my arm without it showing.

"It's still nice."

I left it at that and left that guy on the bench. I'd rather this not be brought up even though I know eventually it's going to be brought up. I never take it off no matter what I do so someone is going to ask me about it eventually. As I took to the front entrance of the school found Chie leaning on the cases and Yosuke sitting down on the step. Both of them are quiet and a bit… boring. This isn't what I expected but I just met these two. I can't just go off base assumptions. Life isn't that predictable.

"Hey, what took you Narukami? What's that?" Chie pointed at the bag on my back.

"I wouldn't worry about it."

I put on my shoes and walked out the doors with Yosuke with me. He grabbed his bike and we were off.

04/13 After School: Rainy

The steak here is good. One of the best in fact because while I was in America with dad most of the steak I had was poorly processed and tasted like it wasn't even alive before. The taste was terrible but that's an American city for you. It wasn't until we traveled south to Texas and Louisiana that I finally got myself a decent steak. Here in the country the meat is on point but the milk is bad. I'm not sure why but this sounds about right to me. I spent the rest of my money on that steak but it was worth it that's for sure.

I met a very strange girl as well at this place near the steak place called Aiya's. The girl there was a bit strange. She's putting a stoic guy like me to shame with her bearing and speaks in a monotone with an all work demeanor. She was riding a scooter around doing deliveries past we're we sat down and was going fast. Like Tokyo Drift through the central shopping center of Inaba just to deliver her orders. It was sort of amazing to witness. This Inaba place just keeps getting better with how animated it is sometimes. I saw a guy get kicked twice and nobody bat an eye. The norm in this town is so strange. In the city I never once had to deal with situations this crazy but this town… it's different that for sure.

Currently I'm alone in my room sharpening my sword with a small welt stone. Today was quite nice. I met some interesting people, got a bag for my sword, and even got a taste of the local food. With my uncle out cold downstairs I won't have to worry much about making too much noise with my sword sharpening and servicing. It's not like I need to make it samurai sharp like some people believe but just enough that it pierces skin with a slightly weighted slide. I'm not out to cut off limbs but maybe those Onizuka guys from Iwa might visit me so I need to be ready. Hopefully this won't be the case and I won't have to use this blade's edge. If I can just stick to the back then I'll happy. I need to oil up my bokken as well.

I stopped by the armory on the way home and worked behind the scenes for one. The man wanted me to hold the calipers while he hammered away. I had gloves and all manner of protective gear on and the smith had on only an apron. Sparks and hot metal touched his skin and he didn't bat an eye. I sort of wish I could be that hardy. I was rewarded with a wooden sword or a bokken for my troubles and was told to drop by any time after school or at night. That's was nice of him.

I worked all the way to midnight with my music playing but my earphones hanging over my shoulders. It was getting close to the witching hour now. I remember Chie bringing up something called the Midnight Channel. Apparently at midnight if I turn my television off and look at the screen in the dark I'll see my soul mate. I found this a bit crazy but it's not like I'm doing anything better with my time right. I returned my sword to its sheath and placed it in my bag along with my bokken a moment later. I cut off the lights and my music leaving me in the dark with only the ominous pitter patter of the rain fall outside my window.

Okay, I'm a bit spooked right now but this wasn't bad. I sat down on the table and waited at midnight came around to…

Nothing.

I smiled and shook my head. I knew it. These supernatural things never happen because it's impossible. Ghosts, demons, shadow devils, or espers do not exist. I'm sort of relieved that Chie was blowing smoke for the most part and nothing happened. I climbed up to my feet to turn my light on and get ready for school later today. It's a new day seeing that it's…

Screech~ Static…

The room lit up faintly and I whirled around to face it.

"I-Impossible," I freaked. The television cut on? How? I made sure to unplug my television before I left this morning like I do most of my appliances so to save energy. I didn't bother with plugging it back up and yet it's on right now! This is insane!

I checked behind the television and picked up the cable and brought it up to my faced. I examined the plug in front of me and lifted it up to the television, being the only source of light in my room. To my horror I noticed that my television is still unplugged and yet it's on right now. This has to be a trick. Some sick joke. It had a capacitor maybe and it using up the rest of its charge. I thought of more logical reasons to make this remain in the realm of possible, but I know what I'm witnessing, impossible as it may be, is happening. The Midnight Channel is real and it works on televisions that are unplugged. Does that mean I'll see my soul mate?

I moved back in front of the television and looked into the screen. I could barely make out anyone with all the static but I saw someone. Suddenly the picture grew clearer. That's a girl, thank god. Long brown hair, black boots, the Yasogami School uniform, and vaguely familiar. I can just about make her out.

"I Am Thou."

I felt my head pulse and pain spread throughout my brain. It was like it was being split open at the seams.

"And Thou Art I"

I leaned forward as the pain grew for something to grab onto. My hand reached for something and I felt cold all of the sudden. I opened my eyes and saw that my hand was in the screen if my television. Not on it but through it.

What the hell!

Just as I was about to yank my hand and arm out of the television, the pain in my head forgotten for the moment, something latched on to my wrist and then pulled. Something in the television grabbed my hand and is currently pulling me in, wherever "It" is. I know for sure that I don't plan to find out. Not today.

I pulled back but suddenly it pulled even stronger before until my shoulder went through. My neck and a part of my head followed. I was starting to get scared now. It was pulling even harder now. I braced my feet down and pulled back in a sudden jerk until my shoulder left the screen. I felt the grip wane and pulled the rest of the way.

Success. I was out. I was out and flying back and landed in my table. "Ah," I grunted as my back hit the table and I fell to the ground. I panted and fell over to the floor and on my back.

"What…the… literal hell…is going on?" I said between pants. This is the last time I listen to my friends when they suggest something crazy.

I climbed up to my hands and knees and crawled to my bed. I fell on top and closed my eyes. I'm done for one morning.

04/14

I took a breath and opened my eyes only to find light outside shining through my window. A restless sleep is one of the worst ones I swear. It's like you never once fell asleep at all.

I groaned and leaned up on my bed to check the clock. I found it to be five thirty in the morning right now so I've only been asleep for five hours. That's enough time guess to get by with. I pulled my hand up and rubbed it through my hair. Last night I swear was crazy. It wasn't dream. It can't be a dream. My wrist hurts a little from the grip of whatever grabbed me from within my television.

I pulled my hand down from my head and looked over my wrist to make sure that I wasn't bruised or anything of the sort. To my luck I didn't see anything despite the hours that went by in my restless sleep. I rubbed my wrist and then finally noticed that while I don't have a bruise or mark on my hand I can see that I'm missing something on this wrist as well. I'm missing a bracelet that I wear. One of which that I always wear was gone from my wrist.

I never take that off.

Never.

I know that I didn't remove it before I went to bed so that means that thing within the television took my bracelet… it took my bracelet!

I shot up to my feet and walked to my television and reached for the screen but stopped. I'm crazy. That was too crazy to be real… right? I reached for the screen and to my surprise my hand went through… again. It really wasn't a dream.

I pulled my hand back and looked at it. Nothing was different about my hand but still no bracelet. I clenched my fist and reached in once more to the top of my shoulder like last night. I felt around and my hand touched a rough surface of some sort. I felt around until my finger brushed against something. I grabbed it and pulled back. I examined the thing in my hand and noticed it was a handkerchief. A black one with yellow star designs on top. It's not my bracelet but it's something, I suppose.

I rose it to my nose and took a whiff. Perfume, this belongs to a girl. This perfume is familiar though. Does it belong to the girl I saw in the television? If so doesn't that mean she's in the television? If she's there then that means so is my bracelet. If I can get a hand and arm in then I should be able to get my body in as well. I just need a television I can fit into. Last night proves that I can't manage this here because my shoulder got caught on the edge.

I need my bracelet and I'll damned before I let anyone take it.

I clenched my fist and finalize my thoughts.

Like the last couple days I got ready for school but made sure to grab my sword as well. This is insane of me to think of or even do. We feel as if that going through with this will put me, the small fish, into the shark tank, but the thought of losing her bracelet... I need to get her bracelet back and whoever owns this handkerchief has it.

I was silent and focused as school pass me by. I can't think right without my bracelet. I need it. I need a television I can fit in as well as a way to enter without anyone noticing. My answer came to me in the form of my friend Yosuke who happened to be the Prince of Junes because his family manages the store. He even works there on weekends, a job I'll never have if I have a choice. Junes has large flat screens and those stands that can support human weight. I weigh only 165 lb so I'll be fine making my way into one of the screens.

I can only wait for school to end and for me to politely ask Yosuke to lead me to be store and his electronics department.

That clock was moving too slow. Maybe I should have just skipped class and walk in anyway but a student walking around while school is in session is a target for police to question just to help alleviate boredom. The bell rang and I was quickly putting my books away. I don't remember or care about the talk between them until we got to Junes.

I had to stop by my house to drop off my book bag first though. These books are expensive and I don't wish to buy anymore.

In little to no time we reached the store and Yosuke showed me around. We reached the televisions and I found one I could fit into well enough. Chie and Yosuke touched the screen and I watched as nothing happened. They walked away towards another television and I waited as they began to turn away from me. I checked around for a moment and saw that there's a good amount of cameras around us. None are pointed towards me.

I placed my hand on the screen and my hand went in almost instantly and smoothly. I pulled back and checked my hand. I was okay.

I took a breath and rolled my shoulders. I thought of maybe going in with Chie and Yosuke as back up, but what if there's like Sword art online level monsters back there? I'm the only one armed. This is personal as well. I can't let this go.

I took one last breath and looked around. I was clear. I leaned in and climbed into the television.

After School - The Shadow World

I was falling for a moment before I hit metal below me. It didn't hurt as much as I expected so I stood up and brushed off my clothes. First thing I noticed was that I'm surrounded by fog. I can't see too far in front of me. Maybe ten meters or so. I pulled my bag over my shoulder and grabbed my sword from inside. I sharpened it already so I'm ready for anything or anyone. I placed my bag down and pulled out that handkerchief enough to show out of my pocket and looked at the designs again. I've seen these before but I can't place where. Before I start walking around aimlessly without a plan like a damned fool I need to put on some music. Something…upbeat.

I thought on it and for some reason the song "God Knows" came to mind. I've always love the guitar solo for that song to the point I taught myself to play it and I hate musical string instruments. With this in mind I started my music player, found my song, and put in my earphones. Might as well get this over with.

A/N Another chapter out of the way. I will be implementing factors of P3, the original P4, and P5 into this keeping to most of the game factors but adding a touch of realism to base on the rule of the outerverse.

Next chapter might be a long one.