Okay, Winter Break is over for me so uploads will be pretty slow. Hopfully I can get chapters to you guys at a good pace.
Ch. 4 Midnight Channel
April 13, 2011
It was a nice, cool, breezy morning in Inaba. Souji was walking to school, with not many thoughts in his mind. Suddenly, a person zoomed right past him! It was a familiar young man, riding a yellow bike.
Then he instantly crashed right into a dumpster! His bike flew away as he landed into a trash can! He rolled around as the other students walked right past him.
"S-Someone..." He groaned for help.
I guess I should help him. Souji thought, and pulled him out of the dumpster.
Soon he was back on his bike. "Whew, you saved me. Thanks! Umm..." He tried to remember hard. "Oh yeah, that's right. You're that transfer student, Souji Seta. I'm Yosuke Hanamura. Nice to meet ya."
"Nice to meet you too." Souji replied.
Yosuke grinned.
Looks like he'll be alright. Souji thought.
"Say, did you hear about the incident from yesterday?" He asked. "They found that announcer lady dead hanging from an antenna! You think it was some kinda warning? There's no way something that wierd could be an accident."
"You might be right."
"Dangling a dead body over a roof like that... That's just messed up." Yosuke said. "Then again, it's pretty messed up to kill someone in the first place."
Yosuke looked down at his watch. "Oh crap, we're late! You wanna ride? It's a little squeaky, but it should be fine."
Souji's sweat dropped.
Soon the kids were in class, sitting down to Mr. Morooka. Everyone was chattering as usual about different things, whether it be rumors, gossip, or secrets.
"Be quiet, you idiots!" Morooka yelled. "You guys ARE in high school, aren't you?! Can't you shut up during class? Don't you have any common sense? First of all, my job is to waste precious time teaching you philosophy! And since I'm so nice... I'll straighten up your rotten attitudes while I'm at it! Aren't you honored?! And I'll be going especially hard on any of you morons that're curious about the murder! Got it?! Now get your books out!"
Everyone got out their books as soon as Morooka's speech finally concluded. Souji listened very intently, with it being his first day.
After school...
Yosuke yawned very loudly as soon as class was over. He blinked a few times and rubbed his eyes, then walked over to Souji.
"So, you getting used to this place?" He asked.
Souji shook his head. "Not yet."
"Yeah, well, you just got here." Yosuke said. "There isn't much to do here, compared to the big city, but there is that certain... something you can't get anywhere else. The air's clean, the food's great... Oh, you know about the local delicacy? It's grilled steak, man! Like that's anything special, huh? I know a place where you can get it cheap. Wanna come? You helped me out this morning, so it's on me."
Suddenly Chie walked up to them. "What about me, huh? No apologies? My 'Trial of the Dragon'."
Yosuke groaned. "You always come around when I'm talking about food..."
"How about it, Yukiko?" Chie asked her friend. "Don't you think he should treat us, too?"
Yukiko finished gathering her things and stood up. "I'll pass... I don't want to gain anymore wait. I need to help out at the inn today, anyway."
"Wow, Yukiko-san!" Yosuke exclaimed. "You started training to take over the business?"
"It's not like that." She said. "I'm just helping out when it gets busy. Well, I should be on my way." And she walked off.
"Oh well." Chie said. "We should get going too."
"Huh?" Yosuke complained. "Do I seriously have to treat two people...?"
They ended up in Junes, a giant mega mall in the eastern part of Inaba, probably the biggest building Souji had ever seen in this town. It had four or five or even more floors, with tons of stuff in between. However, these three ended up in the food court, a nice area with small tables with few people there.
Yosuke walked back to the two with a tray of food, but there was no grilled steak. Instead, he came with a burger, some fries, and three sodas.
"THIS is the cheap place you were talking about...?" Chie groaned. "They don't even have grilled steak here."
He sat down angrily with his arms crossed. "Yeah, well, once you hopped on the freeloader train, I had to change my plans."
"Still, that's no reason to take us to your place."
"Dude, this isn't my place or anything."
Souji looked at the two with a confused look.
"Oh right. I haven't told you yet, huh?" Yosuke started. "I moved here from another city about six months back. This location just opened up, and my dad was assigned to manage it. So our entire family came out here."
"Here, this is to welcome you to town." Souji took his drink as Yosuke said, "Satonaka, yours is on me too."
"Yeah, I know." She puffed.
They cheered first, then drank their drinks. Afterwards, they ended up talking about small things, until Chie decided to change the subject.
"It's only been half a year since this place opened up, but I haven't been to the local shopping district much since." She said. "A lot of stores there started closing and... oh, uh..."
She looked down a little embarrased as Yosuke said, "You can't blame it all on Junes, can you?" He sighed.
Then a young woman went to a table and sat down, a depressed look on her face. She had long, gray hair with a mature face. She also wore an apron with the words Junes on it, signifying that she worked there.
Yosuke turned and saw her. "Hey... it's Saki-sempai! Sorry, be right back."
"Who's that?" Souji asked as Yosuke got out of his seat and walked towards her.
"Oh, that's Saki Konishi. Her family runs a liquor store in the shopping district." Chie explained. "...I think she's working here part time, though.
"Hey, how's it going?" Yosuke asked Saki when he got over to her. "You look beat."
"Heeey!" She said without much enthusiasm. Her voice seemed tired as well. "I'm finally on break. What's up Hana-chan? Boosting the family business by bringing your friends here?"
Yosuke scoffed jokingly. "Madam, you wound me! Kidding aside... you look down. Did something happen?"
Saki sighed. "...It's nothing. I'm just a little tired."
"Hey, if you need to talk, I'm always willing to listen." Yosuke said. "I..."
She chuckled. "I'm okay. Thanks, though." Then she sighed again and muttered. "Why'd I leave school early yesterday...?"
Saki looked away and blinked. "Hey... is he the kid who transferred here?"
She walked over to Souji as Yosuke followed. "Are you the transfer student? Oh, did you hear about me already? It must be nice to have someone else from the big city to talk to, huh? I don't see Hana-chan hanging out with the other guys much."
"N-Not necessarily..." Yosuke said.
"He doesn't have too many friends, so I hope you two get along good." She said. "Hana-chan's a good guy, but he can get nosy sometimes. You gotta tell him right to his face when he starts to annoy you."
"Nah, he's a great guy." Souji said back.
She laughed, although there wasn't much humor in it. "I know... I'm just kidding."
"C-C'mon, Sempai! There's no need to worry about something like that." Yosuke said.
Saki turned to him. "Well, my break's just about over. Back to work I go... Laters!" With that, she walked away.
"Oh, uh, Sempai...!" He tried calling to her, but she didn't hear and continued walking.
He sat down and chuckled. "Saki-sempai says I'm annoying, but she's even nosier than me. She has a younger brother, and she treats me pretty much the same way..."
"Ohhh, you don't want her treating you like a brother, huh?" She asked with a spark of curiosity. "Oh, I get it... So, that's how it is... The daughter of a local family-run liquor store and the scion of the invading chain... the flame of forbidden love!"
"Wha?!" Yosuke turned to her surprised. "Dude, it's not like that!"
"Oh reaaaally..." She grinned. "Well, I know just the thing to cheer up that lovesick heart. You ever hear of the Midnight Channel? You're supposed to look into a TV that's switched off, alone, exactly at midnight on a rainy night. While you're staring at your own image, another person will appear on the screen... and they say that person's your soul mate."
"What? For a second, I thought you were actually going to say something useful..." Yosuke said. "How can you get all excited over such a childish urban legend like that?"
"Childish, huh?" Chie said angrily. "You don't believe it, do you?!"
"Of course I don't!"
"Well, it's raining tonight!" She said. "Let's all try it out- then you'll see!"
"Try it out...?" He said. "Wait, you haven't even tried it yourself?! Wow, I'm trying to remember the last time I heard something like this... All that aside... you know that 'incident' yesterday? You guys think it was murder? Ooh, what if the culprit behind it was still lurking around...? Heehee..."
"Sheesh, you shouldn't joke about stuff like that." Chie rolled her eyes. "Now who's the childish one...? All I am saying is, you guys better try it out tonight."
Seeing your soul mate inside a TV turned off? Souji thought. Hmmm... interesting.
Soon, it was night. Just as Chie said, it was raining. Souji and Nanako were eating dinner, while watching television.
Another dinner alone with Nanako... Souji thought. "Don't worry."
"...Yeah." She muttered.
Suddenly, the door slid open. "Oh! He's home!"
She got up as Dojima walked to the living room.
He groaned. "What a day... I'm back. Did anything happen while I was out?"
"No." She said, with sadness in her voice. "You're late again..."
"I'm sorry..." He said. "Been busy at work." He sat down on the couch very heavily. "Can you put the news on for me?"
Nanako looked down sadly then sat back down. She picked up the remote and changed the channel.
"Next, more news in the developing story on the incident in foggy Inaba." The announcer said. "Announcer Mayumi Yamano's dead body was found hanging above a house in this isolated rural town. It has been confirmed that Ms. Yamano had been involved in an affair with Taro Namatame, husband of enka singer Misuzu Hiiragi."
Again with this story. Souji thought. When that announcer was alive, she had an affair. And his wife was an enka singer. I wonder if the murder is connected to this.
The announcer continued. "The police plan to investigate this relationship and question any personnel involved with them. In addition, we now bring you an exclusive interview with the local student who found Ms. Yamano's body."
Dojima sighed. "An interview with a kid...? Where the heck did they find her?"
"What went through your mind when you saw it?" The reporter asked. "Could you tell she was dead? Did you see her face?"
A person appeared on the screen. She wore a school uniform, but her face was blurred out. Her voice was also changed, but you could tell she is a female.
"Umm..."
Haven't I seen her before? Souji wondered.
"Don't you think it's scary that someone was killed on a foggy day?" The reporter asked.
"Huh...? She was killed?"
"Oh, err..." The reporter was startled. "So did you see anyone suspicious around here?"
"No, not really..." She replied. It seemed like she was very nervous.
"We heard that you found it when you left school early." The reporter said. "Did you have some personal business to take care of?"
"Huh? That's..."
That reporter's really confusing this girl... He thought. She kinda looks like that Saki Konishi girl though.
"-A tragedy that occured near the local shopping district." The announcer picked up. "Many storeowners are raising concerns about losing customers as a result..."
Dojima scoffed. "If they are losing more customers, it'll be because you're making such a stink about it..."
"It really is a bizarre case, isn't it?" A commentator said. "I mean, hanging someone upside down on from an antenna. I'd have to say it's a warning or a sign from the culprit."
"Yes, but so far, no one has come forward to take credit for the crime." The announcer said.
"Loads of prank call, though..." Dojima yawned.
"So, the cause of death is still unknown?" The commentator asked. "And they don't have a single suspect yet? Taxpayers' funds are going to a police force who can't even figure out if this is an accident of a homicide?"
Dojima closed his eyes.
"We'll be right back after these messages."
Another music played. "At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products!" Then it began to play that song again. "Every day's great at your Junes!"
Nanako began to sing the song as well. "Every day's great at your Junes!" She turned to Dojima. "Hey Dad... can we go to Junes together sometime?"
All that was heard was a snore.
"...No?"
His head was bent down, and snoring sounds could be heard. It was pretty obvious he had fallen asleep.
Nanako sighed. "Geez..."
It was near midnight when Souji returned to his room. He had turned off all his lights to make sure he would be able to see if it was real or not.
It's raining pretty hard tonight. He thought. It's almost midnight. "Your soul mate appears if you look into a TV on a rainy night'. Was Chie right?
He then stood up as the clock was a few seconds away from hitting midnight. He stared at the TV as the clock finally hit midnight, but nothing appeared. He smirked at the fact he almost believed that story, then was about to walk away, when something happened.
The screen began to flash images of something on the TV even though it was off! He gasped and looked at it again.
It seemed like a girl was prancing around the screen shown, with two machines behind her. You could tell she was a girl because of the uniform. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed as Souji stared at the screen.
I am thou. Thou art I.
Souji blinked as he heard a voice inside his head. More lightning flashed as this continued. He groaned in pain as this voice continued to speak.
Thou art the one who opens the door.
The slumped down as he placed his hand on his head. Lightning struck a lamp post nearby, destroying it! He breathed heavily as he looked at the clock: past midnight.
He got back up and stared at the TV in disbelief. He walked over to the television and placed his finger on it. It rippled like water when he did! He placed his hand in it again, with the entire thing going in. He tried taking it out, but instead, his head got sucked in as well!
Souji struggled to get himself out, and when he did, he slammed his head right against his table! He grabbed his head in pain!
Footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. Small, light ones.
"Are you okay...?" Nanako asked from behind the door.
"K-Kind of..." Souji replied, although his head was screaming in pain.
"Okay." She said. "Well, good night." Footsteps were heard going down the stairs.
What just happened...?
Okay, that's that. Like I said, I'm back at school, so updates will be slow. I hope you continue reading though.