Evening- Matsuda Residence

Hamuko had spent the rest of day inside her new home, still trying to piece together what Iris had told her earlier about the incident. Once the sun had started going down, Iris had finally arrived.

"Hey guys I'm back!"

Hamuko was watching TV with Takao at the moment and turned to her. "Oh, welcome back Iris. Did you find out anything new?"

The reporter nodded. "Sure did. Even though most of what I had found out was what I had told you guys earlier, there was one really important thing that I got out of Ryo- err Detective Dojima."

"Well, what was it Ayame?" asked Takao.

"As it turns out, that woman was none other than Mayumi Yamano," said Iris.

"Isn't she that lady that was on the news last night?" asked Hamuko.

"Yep! And get this: When I was at the Amagi Inn earlier today, they told me they hadn't seen her since last night!"

"So, Ayame, was it a murder or something else?" asked Takao.

Iris shrugged. "That's the other funny part about this incident. Dojima told me that there wasn't any sign of foul play on the body. In fact, there wasn't a single scratch on her!"

"So what, she climbed up there herself and died?" asked Hamuko as she scratched her head.

"I seriously doubt it," sighed Iris as she sat next to Hamuko. "But until an official autopsy is done, that's kinda what it looks like. I'm sure they'll be looking into Nametame, the guy in the middle of the whole love triangle deal, but I seriously doubt a creampuff like him would do something like that."

"Um, this sort of thing doesn't happen a lot in this town does it?" asked Hamuko.

"Of course not," said Takao as he shook his head. "There is always a small element of crime but almost never anything of this scale."

Iris nodded. "Gramps is right. This sort of thing is super-ultra rare here in Inaba, so don't worry. Anyway, enough about the morbid stuff, how was your first day at school?"

"Oh, it was, um, interesting," said Hamuko. "Chie and Yukiko seem like nice people, and they did help me out."

"Good, good," said Iris. "I told you you'd like it there. Just hang in there, and it'll only get better."

Hamuko suddenly gave a loud yawn.

"Hmm, you know, you look pretty beat kid," noted Iris.

"I'm sure it's because she's still getting used to an active life now," replied Takao. "Still, it may be best if you turned in early Hamuko-chan."

The girl nodded and stood up. "Yeah, I think I will. I'll see you two tomorrow."

April 13th Morning

The new day started almost the same way the previous one had, with Hamuko being greeted in the kitchen by Iris and another plate of fried eggs and toast.

"How you feeling kiddo?" asked Iris as Hamuko arrived. "Rested I hope?"

"Yeah, I sure am," said Hamuko as she sat down and began eating. "I feel pretty good today, actually."

Iris nodded. "Good to hear. You'll be okay getting to school by yourself today right?"

"I should be able to," said Hamuko. "I'm guessing you'll be doing more investigating into yesterday's incident?"

Iris took a sip of her coffee before answering. "Yep. There's still a lot of unanswered questions that I want answers to. Everything about this case stinks."

Iris really seems fired up toady, thought Hamuko as she continued to eat. Maybe it's because she knew Mayumi Yamano? They were both reporters after all.

"Okay, I'm off Iris," said Hamuko as she stood up grabbed her things. "Thanks for breakfast!"

"See ya later kiddo," replied Iris as she waved to Hamuko as the girl left.

As Hamuko began walking, she noticed that even though it wasn't raining the sky was extremely overcast. I hope it's not an omen... She walked to the crossroads to the Amagi Inn and paused to see if either Chie or Yukiko were around, which unfortunately they weren't. Oh, well I guess I'll be by myself this morning. Suddenly the sound of a loud crash nearby broke Hamuko from her thoughts. Just across the street she saw Souji standing next to what looked like someone who had somehow managed to crash headfirst into a trash can.

"What happened Souji-kun?" she asked as she rushed over to Souji.

Souji looked looked up at her with a slightly amused expression. "Oh, hey senpai. I think this guy lost control of his bike and managed to end up like that."

'Ha, ha, very funny," said a voice from within the trash can. "Can I get some help here please?"

Hamuko nodded at Souji and the two of them lifted the trash can off of the boy.

"Whew, thanks," sighed the boy. "You guys saved me." He paused for a moment as he looked at Souji and Hamuko closer. "Oh, hey you're that transfer student, Souji Seta right? And wasn't she with you, Chie and Yukiko yesterday after school? She your sister or something?"

Souji scratched his head. "Uh, yes and no. You got my part right but she's actually our senpai, and a transfer student herself."

"Oh, is that so?" asked the boy as he studied Hamuko.

"Um, yes," she said. "I'm Hamuko Arisato, third year."

"Well it's nice to meet you guys," said the boy with a smile. "I'm Yosuke Hanamura."

The name Yosuke was familiar to Hamuko. Wasn't that the name of the person who broke Chie's DVD thing? She looked over at the trash can that Yosuke had fallen into and the bike that was next to it.

"Um, is your bike okay?" asked Hamuko, pointing the subject in question.

"Huh? My bike?" Yosuke gave her a confused look. "Wait, shouldn't you be asking if I'm alright, senpai?"

"Sorry, I thought you were okay..." trailed Hamuko.

"Ah, don't worry about it," sighed Yosuke as he retrieved his bike. "Anyway, did you guys hear about the incident from yesterday?"

Souji nodded. "We actually stumbled onto where the body was found."

"And, no, the body was already gone when we arrived," added Hamuko.

Yosuke shook his head. "Man, hanging a dead body from an antenna, that's messed up I tell you." He looked at his watch and sighed. "Crap, we're gunna be late if we keep standing around here. Do either of you want a ride? The bike's a little squeaky but it should be fine...I think."

"Uh, I'll pass,." trailed Hamuko. She wasn't too thrilled with the prospect of being dumped into a trash can like he was.

"Same here," said Souji.

"Okay, suit yourselves," said Yosuke as he got on his bike. "See you guys at school!"

Hamuko watched as Yosuke wobbled on his bike towards school. "I feel safer at least..."

Souji let out a chuckle. "No kidding, senpai. Come on, we better start running or we really will be late!"

"Run?" Hamuko was hesitant about doing such an activity. The doctors had cautioned her about overexerting herself; it might make her pass out.

"Well, more like a jog," Souji clarified. "We're not that far behind everyone, and the school itself is pretty close."

Hamuko nodded. I should be able to manage that. "Alright then, let's do it!"

Ten minutes later...

"Agh, I feel like I'm going to dieeeeeee," groaned Hamuko as she struggled to catch her breath at the school gates. "You're not even winded Souji-kun."

"Sorry senpai, I guess you're not quite used to running around huh?"

"N-no I'm not," Hamuko sighed as she leaned against the gate wall. "But I guess now is as good a time as any right?" Just then the bell for the first period rang. "Ugh, we'd better hurry!"

"Yeah, good idea," agreed Souji as he waved goodbye to her. "I'll see you later senpai."

Hamuko's legs already felt like lead weights as she trudged into the school and up to the third floor where her classroom was. As she plopped down in her desk she heard Saki chuckling next to her.

"Whoa, what happened to you Hamuko? You look like you just ran a marathon or something!"

"I feel like it," sighed Hamuko as she put her head on the desk. "This'll teach me not to be late again..."

"Ah, I get it," said Saki. "Yeah, that's how I learned that lesson."

Their conversation was cut short by Ms. Toriumi's arrival.

"Alright everyone, quiet down," said the teacher as she began flipping through her folder. "I know you're all probably excited about yesterday's incident, but you can all talk about it once class is over, alright? Now then take out your textbooks and turn to page..."

As Ms. Toriumi began her lesson on Composition, Hamuko found it rather easy to follow. It was just as the doctor had said at the hospital; her intelligence was right where someone of her age should be, at least academically. As for other things...that was another story. Still, at least it was one less thing for her to worry about. Maybe school life won't be so bad after all.

After School

The first real day of school was quite painless for Hamuko, much to her relief. As she prepared to leave the classroom, she noticed Saki had a rather downtrodden look about her.

"Is everything okay Saki?" asked Hamuko. "You don't seem very happy..."

Saki turned to Hamuko and gave her a weak smile. "Oh, it's nothing. I have to go to work now, so you know...It's not the most fun thing to look forward to."

"I guess not," said Hamuko. Still, going to work didn't seem like it would warrant such a sudden mood change. "I'll see you later then."

Saki nodded and left the classroom. Hamuko waited a few minutes before she left herself. After descending down the stairs to the second floor she heard Chie calling her name.

"Hamuko-senpai, wait up!"

Hamuko turned towards the direction of her voice and saw that Chie was approaching her from outside of a classroom, followed by Souji and Yosuke.

"Hmm? Is Yukiko not with you guys?"

Chie shook her head. "Nah, she's already headed home. She couldn't stick around because she has to help at the Inn. Anyway, you got any plans? We were heading over to Junes, and you can come with us if you want."

Hamuko recalled that Iris had told her that Junes was a shopping center of some sort. As she didn't have anything else to do, she didn't see the harm in joining them.

"Sure, why not?"

Yosuke sighed. "Oh, man please tell me I don't have to treat senpai too?"

Hamuko gave him a confused look. "Treat me?"

"Well, you see Yosuke here is the one who broke my Trial of the Dragon DVD," explained Chie. "Since he was going to treat Souji to some grilled steak, he graciously decided to treat me too. For breaking my DVD and all."

"More like coerced," said Yosuke as the group headed down the stairs to the bottom floor. "It was either that or endure another critical hit. But whatever. I guess it'll be okay to treat you as well since you're new here too."

"Well, I don't want to force you to or anything," trailed Hamuko.

Yosuke shook his head. "Nah, don't worry about it senpai. It's all good."

"How far away is Junes exactly?" asked Souji as the group walked out of the school. "It's not like thirty miles away or something like that right?" Hamuko realized that Souji wasn't asking that for his benefit, but rather hers, due to their jog to school that morning.

"Nah, it's about a fifteen minute walk from here," said Yosuke. "Nothing major."

"Oh that's good," said Hamuko with a slight sigh of relief.

As the group passed the school gates, Yosuke looked at Hamuko and pointed at her music player and headphones. "Hey are you big fan of music senpai?"

"Oh, uh yeah kinda," said Hamuko as she gripped her music player. "It was my older brother's and it's sort of like a keepsake; oh, but I still use it too."

"Oh, I see," said Yosuke as he pointed at his orange headphones. "Well, I don't go anywhere without my headphones either. I guess it's kind of like a lucky charm or something."

Hamuko wondered just how much luck they brought him, considering she had found him inside a trash can earlier that morning.

Junes

The walk to Junes wasn't long at all, just as Yosuke had said. Upon arriving at the place, though, Hamuko could see that it wasn't just a run-of-the-mill shopping center. It was more like a mall, with three stories. Even Port Tatsumi Island didn't have anything that was of this size.

"Well, here we are," said Yosuke, his hand on his hips. "Whadda ya guys think?"

"Um, it's...big?" said Hamuko, unsure of how to describe it.

Yosuke sighed. "Geez that's it senpai?"

"Sorry," trailed Hamuko. "I've never seen anything like it before."

"I guess that would make sense then," said Souji. "I kind of had the same impression actually."

"Well, I was hoping for something a little flashier from you guys," said Yosuke as the group went inside and headed for a pair of elevators. "I don't think we'd get too many customers with, 'Come to Junes: It's BIG!' "

The others laughed at Yosuke's joke, much to his satisfaction. Yosuke pressed a button to call the elevator nearest to them, and a moment later the doors to the other elevator opened.

"We really need to fix that," sighed Yosuke as the group walked over and entered the open elevator. Hamuko noted that the jingle from the commercial she had seen the other day was playing in the elevator.

A few seconds passed by before the elevator slowed to a stop and the group exited out to what was the Junes food court.

"Here we are," announced Yosuke. "Alright you guys go find a table to sit at and I'll go get the food." The others nodded went and sat at a nearby table. A few minutes later Yosuke returned with a tray containing four sodas and four plates of steak croquettes.

"Wait, this is the cheap place you were talking about?" asked Chie with an annoyed expression. "They don't have grilled steak here!"

"Well, since I suddenly had to treat you and senpai, I had to change my plans," argued Yosuke.

"Well, that's still no reason to take us to your place," Chie shot back.

"Hey this isn't 'my' place or anything like that," sighed Yosuke. Both Hamuko and Souji gave him quizzical looks after hearing that.

"Oh, that's right, I haven't told you guys huh?" said Yosuke. "I moved here from the city six months ago. This Junes just opened and my dad was assigned to manage it. So the entire family moved out here." He then handed a soda can to the other three. "This is to welcome the two of you to town. And of course yours is on me too Chie..."

"Yep, I know," said Chie. Then the four of them raised their soda cans in a mock toast and then began to drink. "So, anyway..."

After a few minutes of talking about school and the incident from yesterday, Yosuke suddenly perked up when he saw a girl dressed in a Junes uniform sit down a few tables away.

"Oh, it's Saki-senpai!" he said. "I'll be right back guys!"

Hamuko watched as Yosuke walked over to the girl, who turned out to be Saki Konishi from her homeroom.

"Is she his girlfriend?" asked Souji as he watched the two talk.

"Ha! He wishes," laughed Chie. "That's Saki Konishi. Her family owns a liquor store in the shopping district, but I think she works here part time. Go figure huh?"

After a few minutes of talking with Yosuke, Saki approached Hamuko and Souji.

"Oh, hey Hamuko!" she said with a smile. She then looked at Souji. "You're that other transfer student right?"

"That's right senpai," replied Souji.

"Oh, you heard about me already?" said Saki. "Must be nice to have other people from the big city to talk to. Hana-chan doesn't hang out with the other guys much."

"Wait, that's not entire true," mumbled Yosuke.

"He doesn't have a whole lot of friends so I hope you two can get along with him," continued Saki. "Hana-chan's a nice guy but he can get nosy sometimes. You gotta tell him up front when he starts to get annoying." It was strange to Hamuko that she would say that. It was almost like Saki was trying to make fun of Yosuke.

"Nah, he's not a bad guy," said Souji.

"I-I don't think so either!" added Hamuko.

Saki let out a small chuckle. "I was only kidding." Hamuko wondered if she really was.

Yosuke let out a relieved laugh. "You had me going there senpai."

"Well, time for me to get back to work," said Saki as she began walking away.

"Oh hey senpai-" Yosuke tried calling out to her, but she apparently didn't hear him and left.

"Well, Saki-senpai might say that I'm annoying, but she's even nosier than me," he said. "She actually has a younger brother and I get the same treatment from her."

"Oh, so you don't want the brother treatment huh Yosuke?" teased Chie. "I get it, that's how it is."

"He likes her?" asked Hamuko.

"What? No it's not like that," trailed Yosuke trying to hide a blush.

"Is that soooo," chirped Chie. "Well, I know just the thing to cure a lovesick heart you know."

"And what would that be?" asked Yosuke, clearly not believing her.

"You ever hear of the Midnight Channel?" replied Chie. "You're supposed to look into a TV that's turned off, alone, at the stroke of midnight when it's raining at night. While your staring at your reflection, another person will appear on the screen! And they say that person is your soulmate."

"You know for a second there I thought you were going to say something useful," sighed Yosuke.

Hamuko nodded. "That does sound kind of silly..."

"Yeah," trailed Souji. "Isn't that just some urban legend someone made up?"

"What?" fumed Chie. "You guys don't believe it?"

"Of course not!" answered Yosuke.

"Well, it's going to rain tonight!" declared Chie. "Let's all try it out- then we'll see who sounds silly!"

"Try it out?" asked Hamuko. "Um, you haven't tried it yet Chie?"

"Speaking of trying, I'm trying to remember the last time I heard something this stupid!" groaned Yosuke. "Anyways, about the incident yesterday; you guys think it was a murder? Oooo what if the killer is still lurking about? He could be right behind you Chie~"

"Cut it out," said Chie as she shivered slightly. "You really shouldn't joke about things like that! Oh wait, you live with Iris right, senpai? What does she think?"

Hamuko thought back to their conversation last night. "She's not sure herself. She said that the body didn't have any signs of a struggle; in fact there wasn't a scratch on her!"

"That is weird," said Souji. "But she had to get up there somehow right?"

"Ugh, I don't even wanna know how!" said Chie as she finished her soda. "Anyways, you guys had better try out the Midnight Channel tonight, got it?"

"Yeah, yeah," sighed Yosuke. "If anything, I'll get to say 'I told you so'..."

Evening

Hamuko had spent the better part of the day at Junes with the others, and by the time she had gotten home, it was starting to get dark, and it had just begun to rain. When she arrived home, she saw that Takao and Iris were talking about something in the kitchen.

"Oh, hey there you are," said Iris as she looked at her watch. "Wow, you sure were out for a long time!"

"Oh, sorry I was at Junes with some of my friends," explained Hamuko. "I guess I should have called earlier huh?"

Takao smiled and shook his head. "No, that's all right Hamuko-chan. The fact you've already made friends in such a short time is a good thing. Are you hungry?"

Hamuko shook her head. "Actually I ate when I was over at Junes."

"Anyway, it's good that you're here," said Iris. "You happen to know a girl by the name of Saki Konishi?"

Hamuko nodded. "She's in my class at school."

"Well, it turns out she was the one who found the body yesterday," said Iris. "A whole bunch of reporters were all over her earlier when she had left Junes. I didn't even get to talk to her..."

"So that's why she was so glum looking this morning," said Hamuko. "Hmm, it makes sense now."

"Well, other than that, there's been no new information on the incident," sighed Iris. "This really is a baffling case." Hamuko listened as Iris told her about her day.

"Anyway I'm tired. I'm gunna turn in early," said Iris. "I'll catch you two tomorrow."

Hamuko forced out a yawn. "I think I'm going to do the same actually."

Takao nodded. "I'll see you two tomorrow then.

Midnight

Hamuko was restless as she waited for midnight to roll around. Everything was silent save for the sound of rain hitting the roof as Hamuko waited on her futon, dressed in her pajamas.

Your soulmate appears on the TV huh? Hamuko sighed as she recalled what Chie had told them at Junes as she watched the final minute count down to midnight on the wall clock. Yeah, right. I agree with Yosuke that this whole thing is just plain silly... She stood up and approached the small TV in her room until she could see her face reflected. 11:50. 11:51 11:52. This is sooo dumb. Why am I even...

Her thoughts were interrupted when the TV suddenly lit up and the image of a girl appeared on the screen. It was extremely blurry and out of focus, but she could tell it was a high school girl. Is this supposed to be my soulmate? She wondered. But it's a girl...

Suddenly a female voice in her head interrupter her thoughts. 'I am thou. Thou art I. Thou art the one who opens the door..." As the voice resounded in her head, it felt as if her head was being split open it hurt so bad. She quickly sat down on her futon to try to endure the pain, and as soon as she did, she felt it begin to subside. When it was over she looked back at the TV.

What just happened? She wondered as she stood back up and approached it. Even though the image had disappeared, she decided to reach out and touch the screen with her finger. Upon doing so, she saw that the screen actually rippled, as if it were a pool of water. W-What is this? Hamuko decided to try something else. She pressed her right hand on the screen and to her shock and amazement, it went through the screen! Fearing that something might grab her, she quickly removed her hand from the TV and immediately curled up on her futon, shivering in a cold sweat with fear and confusion.

That did not just happen, she told herself. That didn't happen. I'm just going to forget this whole thing...