Chapter 16

Today was Sunday so Ellen didn't have to go to school. So she thought the day was her's until she got a phone from Chie saying "Oh, hello? It's me, Chie. Would you mind hanging out with me for a while today? I need to get my mind off to studying for a bit..."

Ellen shrugged her shoulders, thinking she needed a little break too saying "Sure."

"Great! See you soon!" Chie said excitedly.

Ellen hung up and rubbed her ear thinking "Did she have to say that so loud on the phone? God..."

Ellen met up with Chie and they walked over to the Samegawa riverbank together. "Hmmm, this looks like a good spot." Chie said.

"A good spot indeed...to read." Ellen thought to herself as she pulled out her book.

Chie turns around looking ready to fight saying loudly "Y'know, for training!"

However, Ellen had already begun to read her book, excited for what was going to happen to the heroin next. Chie yells "Hey!"

Ellen wasn't listening and Chie got a soon to be stupid idea. She takes the book from Ellen's hands and she looks at her shocked as Chie said "We're hanging out to get away from studying, remember?"

"That book is for fun, not for study now give it back." Ellen said raising her hand for it.

"Oh reeeaalllyyy?...What's it about?" Chie said beginning to look at the title.

Ellen said without thinking, afraid Chie would know her sercet "Fine! You want to train? Let's train!"

"Hhhmmmmm...I'm more interested in this book now, cause come to think of it you never show this book to anyone. I wonder why that is?" Chie says smiling with delight know she may have caught a juicy sercet.

"Beat me in a sparing match and I'll tell you what the book is about." Ellen said quickly.

"Now we're talking!" Chie said ready to fight.

Despite Chie's excitement though, Ellen beat her with a few punches. After it was over, Ellen said getting back her book "Sorry, I didn't mean to be so rough on you."

"Are you kidding me!? That was amazing. You were like a real pro! Who taught you how to fight like that?" Chie asked.

"...My brother." Ellen simply answered.

"You have a brother?" Chie asked.

"Yeah, Yu."

"Me?"

"No, his name is Yu. He's my older brother."

"Ooooohhhh! I get it! So where is he?"

"Over seas in America. He's studying to be a world culture teacher."

"Oh...guess you don't see him much, huh?"

Ellen shook her head saying "No, but that's ok. I'm still rooting for him here, but anyway back when he was in high school he was part of a fighting club and he always took me along."

"I wish we have something like that here." Chie said with envy.

Ellen shook her head again saying "Nah, it's not needed here. This is a small town, so violence happening here is slim...you know, besides the murders."

"Right...so anyway, you want to teach me some of those moves?"

"Ummm...sure?" Ellen answered confused almost as no one ever asked her to teach before.

After a few training exercises, they took a breather under the tree. As Ellen laid down on the grass, Chie said leaning on the tree "That thing...Y'know, from that time? I mean the Shadow that came out of me."

"Yeah, what about it?" Ellen asked.

"I feel pathetic knowing that's another me. Makes me feel like I gotta work harder!" Chie said with confidence.

Ellen giggles a little saying "Whatever floats your boat."

"And you're going to help, right?" Chie asked.

Ellen shrugged her shoulders saying "Why not? I help you with your studies so helping you fight shouldn't be a big deal."

Chie said a little offended "Now I'm starting to get what Yosuke is saying about you being brutal sometimes..."

Ellen got up saying "Honest is important...but, you know to be completely honest, you don't need my help."

"Huh?"

"You do kick attacks like nobody I've seen. I can say your fighting skill isn't the problem but, if you want my help I'll give it either way." Ellen said putting her hands behind her back looking at the river.

Chie smiles and says "Thanks, Ellen. You know...you're alright. Between you and me will be unstoppable!"

Ellen smiled feeling a little stronger and closer to Chie somehow. Ellen went home after training with Chie, to see Nanako sitting at the table with paper flowers looking lost in thought. "What's wrong, Nanako?" Ellen asked.

"Um, well...I made flowers at school yesterday. They said today is Mother's Day. My teacher told us that's a day when you give your mom flowers. I don't know have a mom...so I don't know what to do with these flowers." Nanako said looking upset.

Ellen didn't blame her at all for being confused about today. Ellen thought on a solution. Nanako could give them to Ellen but, it be weird giving them to her cousin. Then she had an idea saying "Let's give them to your dad."

"Huh? But, it's Mother's Day! Is it okay to give them to dad? Wouldn't it make more sense to give them to you?" Nanako asked.

"It's okay, Nanako. It will be a fun surprise for him." Ellen said smiling.

"Okay! Then, I'll give them to him! Um, I did a really good job. My teacher said they were pretty! *giggle* I wonder if Dad will be happy to get them."

"I'm sure he will, Nanako. There's no doubt." Ellen said happy to see Nanako happy again.

"You should make a flower too, big sis! Then we can celebrate Mother's Day together!"

"Alright, that sounds great to me."

Nanako taught Ellen how to make an origami flower. When they finished, they set the flowers on the table with a letter to Dojima. As it got late, Ellen put Nanako to bed and head back to her room. As soon as she did, she decided to call her own mom. She didn't talk to her parents much because of work but, still she thought her mother would be happy to hear from her. She didn't have to wait for two rings as she heard the phone pick up immediately and heard her mother's usual happy voice say "Good evening, my darling Ellen! Oh, how I miss you so much!"

Before Ellen could even say hi, her mother said "Wait...you're calling me? Oh my god! Did something happen, sweety!?" Are you ok!?"

"Mom, Mom, I'm fine...I just wanted to say...Happy Mother's Day, Mom."

"Oh, is it that time already? My goodness time flies so...how are you doing over there, dear? I know we make you move around so much but-"

"It's ok, mom. I really like it here. I'm having a great time."

"Really, that's a first I've ever heard you say that. Are you sure you're alright? Didn't hit your head?"

Ellen giggles and says "No, I'm fine. I just like the quiet, is all..."

"...That's not what I've been hearing, sweetheart."

"...The murders came over there too?"

"No, Dojima told me. Now that doesn't mean I'm getting you out of there. Nothing we can do at this point but...please, be careful. Your father watches the news over there every night to make sure nothing further is going on."

"Wait, button up shirt father is doing that?"

"He may seem all business like but, he still loves you and so do I and all we want is your safety dear...so please-"

"Its ok, I am. Everything is fine. You guys would be the first to know if anything happens."

"Oh good, I'll tell your father that. Oh, who am I kidding? He'll still be a worrywart, hahahahaha!"

Ellen laughs back at the silliness of it all. Her parents were always like that though, strong but, very odd. Her mother ended the call saying "Well, thank you for the call! I really needed it to be honest! I love you sweetheart!"

"I love you too..." Ellen said softly.

"Oh by the way! I sent you a few lovely dresses and kimonos for you to have. Top of the line! Well, goodnight Ellen!" her mother said quickly.

She hung up before Ellen could protest and Ellen just fell on the futon remembering why she didn't call her mother that much. Still a cute little princess in her eyes...

The next day until Thursday was the mid-terms exams. Through those days, Ellen went through it with ease seeing her other classmates struggle aside from Yukiko. After school on Thursday they all hang out in the classroom with Yosuke saying stretching his arms "It's finally over. Whewww! What a load off! I bet every student feels like this after exams are over!"

"I thought it was a breeze." Ellen said reading her book.

"Well no duh! You have your nose in a book all the time!" Yosuke yells feeling jealous.

"Is that a bad thing?" Ellen asked not looking up.

"Why are you so brutal to me!?" Yosuke asks feeling defeated.

"Hey, quiet down!" Chie yelled at Yosuke.

Chie then asked Yukiko "So, what did you write for number seven? The one about what "that" referred to in the sentence."

"Um...I put "her sorrowful expression." Yukiko answered.

"Oh crap, then I got it wrong! I put, "the rice cakes on top of the table."

"Rice cakes...? Wait, was that what the story was about...?"

"Alright, I'm giving up on composition. I'm gonna bet it all on geography!"

Chie then taps Ellen's shoulder and asked "Hey, what did you choose for the tallest mountain in the solar system?"

"Olympus Mons." Ellen answered.

"Oh, seriously!? I chose the wrong one..." Chie yells with disbelief.

"Oh, I put that one too." Yukiko says to Ellen.

"Whoa, you too!? THen it's probably the right answer...*sigh* Boy, I can't wait for our grades to be posted out in the hall where everyone can see 'em. Geez..." Yosuke said.

"Its been like that for years. A sad truth of life we must accept." Ellen simply says.

"Whhhhhyyyyyy?" Yosuke says hanging his head down.

Suddenly they heard two boys talking saying "Hey, did you hear? A TV station's filming here in town."

"They're probably just doing more stuff about that hanging corpse case."

"No, it's not that. You know the highway nearby? They're gonna cover those biker gangs that hang around there. A friend of mine goes to the biker meetings sometimes. I heard it from him."

Dude, what're you doing hanging out with a guy in a biker gang? Well, anyway...whaddya think about tomorrow's group blind date? WE were gonna meet outside, but...it's gonna rain soon, right? Won't it be better to play it safe tomorrow too?"

Yukiko soon asks to the others "Biker gang?"

"Oh yeah...they raise a ruckus from time to time. I guess your place is too far away to hear 'em." Chie says.

"We live right by the road. The noise can drive you insane." Yosuke said.

"I hear some guys at this school are part of it, too." Chie said.

"Yeah, I know there are some rumors about a first-year student here who's a total hellraiser. One of the guys working at Junes said the dude's been a legend ever since middle school. Although...was he in a biker gang." Yosuke said.

"D-Did you say he was a legend?" Yukiko asked excited.

"Uh, it's not what you think, Yukiko..." Chie said.

"Forget about the stupid rumors for a moment. It's going to rain soon. We should all be focus on that." Ellen said closing her book.

They all nod in agreement knowing that was true.

Hey guys! Sorry this came so late! Life has been insane but, I'm trying to get back in the groove. Thank you all so much for enjoying this story. It hasn't been easy but, it's been a lot of fun. I wouldn't be continuing this if not for you guys! Thank you all again and I hope you have an awesome day!