Jun waited for the letter to arrive while he was tending to some of the plants. Once again, he couldn't see a single customer come through the door.

"Once I get that money, I should really buy some flyers for this place," he mused. Suddenly, he heard a chime permeate across the rather silent shop.

"Here's your mail, sir," the delivery person said.

"Alright then, I'll take that from here." Jun carefully opened the letter, finding a neatly hand-written note inside.

Congratulations on having been chosen! We were especially impressed by your performance, and you seem to have quite the potential within you. Come to our address at 3:00 PM and we will provide all the details there. Please do not delay in carrying this out, for it is not especially wise to test our patience.

The slender brunette saw that directions to get there were at the bottom of the note, so he would have no problem getting there. Thankfully, the town wasn't as busy as one would think for a place in Tokyo. Following the road signs, he stopped at what appeared to be a gigantic mansion.

Jun was in absolute shock. "The people here must be really rich! I mean, look at the size of this place! No wonder why they decided to put an academy in here..."

The gates were open, so it seemed as though they were expecting him. He tried ringing the doorbell, but there was no response. Looking to see another way to enter, he saw a note next to an electronic lock system.

Remember the room you were assigned to?

"Hmm... I think I remember what it was. Lemme see, it was 5...1...77. Perfect!" He pressed the enter key, prompting a short ding! and causing the huge doors to slowly creak open as if he were in some sort of medieval fantasy.

As the doors swung open, Jun saw something that could frankly be described as "anticlimactic." Sure the ceiling and stairwell were huge, and everything was unusually ornate, but there were barely any people around, even though it was rumoured to be bustling at nearly every hour with promising students from all across the city. The only person there was a petite young lady with small bunny hairpins accenting her bright red hair and sharp green eyes. She turned to Jun with a look of joy on her face, but that quickly turned to one of disappointment.

"She looks really cute!" Jun thought. "...Are you the only one here?" he asked.

The young lady looked at him with a hint of contempt in her eyes. "No, actually. And I assume that you're the replacement. Follow me into the office where we will discuss your plans."

The two of them walked to a small room that said "Administrative Office." She opened the door, and in a desk sat a man not much older than Jun was, in between someone who was bald and someone whose long hair was in a braid. The man in the middle had fair blonde hair at waist-length, matched with what was possibly the most ridiculous pair of eyebrows he had ever seen. They were shaped like spread wings that extended past his face. That combined with their neat suits and obviously fit physiques made the whole scene look like a message from the US President.

"Please, take a seat," the man in the center said coolly. Oddly enough, he sounded very familiar to Jun. "Would you care for a spot of tea?"

"No thanks, sir. Aren't I here to find out about the academy, anyways?"

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to have one at the moment, especially since today's weather isn't exactly all pleasant. So, how do you like our headquarters? Does it seem like the type of place you want to stay in?"

"I guess..." Jun didn't really see the point of this conversation, so he decided to clear some things up. "What are these 'details' that you wanted to talk to me about? I want to be sure that I've made the right decision."

"I suppose I should fill you in on the details, then. You see, we are currently a little short when it comes to membership..."

"I can see that, judging by how many people are here. Are you four the only members right now?"

"Not entirely, although you've got more than half our current roster in this room. The rest are at a meeting to discuss a recent turn of events. I, as the current leader, have to remain here in case something happens." He cleared his throat a little. "And to be honest, this is a different offer."

"A different offer?" Jun asked.

"Yes. You see, we saw your performance back at the Dome, and so we decided to interview you personally."

"So that's why I remember you… What was up with that accent?"

"Believe it or not, I'm actually from Kyoto. But enough about that, we have observed you and would like to consider this: you can still join the Academy if you want, but there is a way you can get more. There are significant risks, however."

"Well, what's the catch, then?"

"If you are truly dedicated to the people, then the only major risk is failure to help those in need. Otherwise, you must also promise to remain in this squad at all costs, otherwise you would violate our existing contract with the neighbouring town. Are you sure this is okay with you?"

Jun paused and thought for a moment. "Well, helping people is always a big plus, and I really do need the money, but about the no quitting part—"

"Did I forget to mention that we have free access to every spa in Tokyo?"

"Seriously? All of them? If so, then I'm sold!" Jun looked at a contract that was handed to him earlier and hastily signed it.

The blonde grinned in a charming manner. "Very well. It is a pleasure to have you on our team. My name is Saionji Hayato, and the two at my side are Sugita Kenshin and Moriyama Tsuyoshi. Together, we make the "Bold" line-up for the Kouketsu no Ouendan."

Jun paused for a moment. "Wait… What? You're telling me that all these fancy deals and persuasion tactics were made so I could join a cheer squad."

"Not just any old cheer squad, Kashihara-kun. We are a squad with the unique ability to see spirit. You are one of the very rare people who have the potential to do so, although your potential remains dormant at the moment. As part of a deal with the Kokou no Ouendan, we have been requested to have at least 8 members in case something dangerous was to happen. Oddly enough, we've always had seven."

"Wait… If finding someone with this potential is so rare, then why do you already have seven people?"

"Because those with strong spirit tend to gather near each other, that's why. The Hanatori Union Group was formed because of this squad, you know."

"I see… Well, it's kinda awkward being told about how you have some sort of secret potential you've never heard of."

"I've had similar feelings. Now, as nobody else is here, you are hereby excused from practice for today. Please remember to come to practice on Wednesdays and Saturdays!"

As the newly appointed rookie left the room again, Sugita leaned towards the blonde, whispering in his ear.

"Don't you think he seems a little too... out of place for this squad? I mean, he just doesn't fit in thematically."

"He might not be of the same refined mould as ourselves, but he's not a complete nobody in this city. He is Junko's precious son, after all."

"Junko? You mean Junko Kurosu, that old model?"

"Precisely. And the odd name could be excused as well, considering how excited Rin seems to be about nicknaming our young florist."

"Ah, right. I forgot that he was also said to be skilled in flower language. So this is the hand that fate has given us... I apologize for not knowing of this information earlier, Saionji-san."

"It's perfectly fine, Kenshin. We are only human after all. Well, all of us except maybe danchou."

Jun quietly walked across the empty halls, hoping to see the exit nearby. After a couple of minutes passing by the exact same rooms and near-identical features, he was almost about to give up on himself, until he heard that strange voice again.

"Umm, Kashihara-san! May I speak to you for a moment?"

Jun looked behind him to see a person–no, a vision of a person–still in the same odd uniform. He got a better glimpse of his face, revealing large eyes and an odd bob hairdo, kept afloat by a long headband. Oddly enough, he couldn't make out any of their colours, as everything about the mysterious person was a pale blue. On top of that, seeing him made Jun's head hurt for no apparent reason, preventing him from getting a better glimpse.

"H-hey! Are you alright there?" the person said.

"Yeah, just a bit of a headache."

The mysterious person sighed in relief. "Well, that's good. It would be pretty disastrous if you got injured on your first day, you know?"

"Thanks for worrying about me anyways." Jun rubbed his head, trying to find the exit again. "Just who are you anyways, some kind of ghost or something? If you are, then you're not scaring me!"

Now the person looked a little embarrassed. "You really are new to this town, aren't you? Yes, I'm a ghost. I don't exactly know how I died or how I got back here again, but it's not like I'd let something like transcending to another plane of existence stop me from doing my job!"

"So who exactly are you then?" Jun then remembered something that the girl at the entrance said to him. "Are you the guy I was said to 'replace'?"

"So, Honoka-chan really did phrase it that way... Well, you can't replace me that easily! I, eighth member of the Kouketsu no Ouendan, Kikuchi Shinta, will not allow it!"

Jun was still confused. "You're who?"

"You know, my aunt, the politician... that Kikuchi Shinta!"

"Who? Well, I think I've heard of a Kikuchi that kind of looked like you. Was she in the Ministry of Health?"

"Yeah, a lot of people say that I look like Oba-san. Even if you can't remember me, I'm still relieved that you can see me!"

"Why can't anyone see you? And for that matter, why did that guy Saionji-san say that there have always been seven members if you're saying that you're the eighth?"

"Well, that's the tricky part," Shinta said, looking rather down. "For some reason, nobody in this town can remember me except Honoka. And even she can't see me, which is pretty strange seeing as how you can. Worst of all, I can't determine my own motive for returning here, and why I have no return limit."

"... Say what again?"

"Maybe you should read 'The Lovers' Recollection: A Guide to Ghostly Motivation'. I'm not really that well-versed in why ghosts exist, anyways. But considering how ghosts are supposed to appear to people they're connected to, and I can only appear to you, I'm thinking that means I have to train you! But first, you're going to need to get prepared and move in!"

"What? But I thought I was going to stay in my own house!"

"Well, since you're pretty much a trainee right now, sometimes you'll have these coping exercises where you'll live with us for a while. Don't worry about beds and stuff because we've got that covered too. That, and with some of the training you're going to do, you might not even be able to walk back to your house."

Now Jun was getting even more wary about the job he was pretty much forced into. "And you're sure I can't back out?"

"Well, not until we've seen your skills after a month. If you happen to be really good by the time you're evaluated, you become a permanent member, and only leave when there's a large shift of events. If you don't meet the standard requirements by the time your training is done, you may choose to quit if you want to. I had no such intentions, so I decided to become a full-time member."

"That sounds okay, then. I'll even try helping you out of that return motive thing! Anything else I need to know before I go?"

Shinta smiled before stopping at a large door. "Don't get too close to sempai."

"W-What's that supposed to mean?" Jun asked nervously before hearing the rev of an engine. He turned around and thought to himself, "A motorcycle? That must mean I'm close to the exit... Thanks–"

Then he saw that Shinta was wielding a chainsaw, still smiling.

"So that's what you mean. Well, I'll be off before you try and slice my head off. Don't worry, I'm not really all that into him anyways!"

"{Okay, bye-bye!}"

And that's how Jun ended up helping a ghost.

I did it! I finished the into and stuff! Of course, now I need to actually sort out a plot... I really should stop posting multiple-chapter things if I'm not going to finish them.

I retconned some things in the earlier chapters (Continuity errors, my ignorance on how Japanese addresses work... It might still be wrong though)

The curly braces indicate some Engrish is being spoken. Considering how my headcanon dictates that everyone in the Kouketsu is part-foreign save Moriyama and maybe just maybe Kaoru... Other random languages (Like the ones Aoi might know) don't need to be curlied.

Also, it might be good to know that the next chapters will probably focus on Mizuki now, and her interactions with her oddball family and the oddball neighbors they live right across from... And it'll probably involve Anna too, so stick for that, whoever is bothering to read!

And now I rewrote part of the story. I wanted to make the interactions between the characters more solid, and I wanted there to be a better way to have Jun stay in the squad, along with more plot hole fixing. (Although "free spa!" isn't that great an incentive, but whatever.) I've also been thinking of ways to get that VN/RPG done, as well as other random projects I want to do. (Yes, these notes are in anachronistic order, so maybe I might refer to things in later notes.)

-An April Fools type of thing where everyone has random dialogue. (Wants references to Phoenix Drive and Regular Ordinary Swedish Meal Time)

-Seven deadly weapons. But they'd look so adorable!

-Parts of it may be made using different game engines, for somewhat spoilery reasons. (I have ideas in anachronistic order too, so I have trouble putting them down on paper. I may want to make a TVTropes page for this to make things easier for myself, and not just because I want to stroke my ego.)

Random projects, not in thinking up order:

-Finish the damn crossover trailer I had.

-Cross Channel/P3 fusion fic. Both MC and FeMC would be involved in CC, although P3 has a shortage of girls. (Maybe add some from the FeMC's route, I guess? That could work)

-Cross Channel fic with what happened to everyone in the future. Would have different times from a short while after the epilogue to way into adulthood.

-P3 fic with Minato getting hurled into an alternate universe where Tartarus never formed or anything like that. Would notably feature bishie!Shinji and some other stuff I forgot.

And lastly, I just had a cool alternate name for Mizuki. Minazuki Alice. And the Kira Kira games on DS (I have officially beaten both on Normal) have given me a partial obsession with Pinky dolls. Does anyone know the dolls those customs were made of? You know, the ones of Shinta and Starr?