Chapter Three: Unusual Encounters and Self-Doubt

Hinata sat outside the school office as she waited for Shinra to finish talking to the school administration.

It was still pretty early in the morning, and even though she should have headed straight for her assigned homeroom, she had decided to wait until Shinra was done.

This went on for about ten…maybe fifteen minutes before the office door finally opened.

"Alright, thanks for your time!" Shinra closed the door behind him before he sighed in exasperation.

"…Shinra?" He had assured her originally that it wouldn't take too long, but apparently that wasn't quite the case here.

"Everything's fine, Hinata." He was quick to assure her, although…there was a bit of tiredness in his voice. "We just kinda went back and forth for a while, but there shouldn't be any problems whatsoever."

"…But everything's okay now?"

"More or less. But never mind any of that. Do you know where your classroom is?"

Hinata nodded.

"That's good. It's kinda slipped my mind, but you do have your phone with you? Just incase you need to call either me or Celty for an emergency."

Hinata paused for a moment before she slipped her backpack off her shoulders as she began looking through it.

After shuffling around through the notebooks and other supplies, she finally found it tucked over to the side.

Hinata nodded once again as she slipped her backpack onto her shoulders.

"Good. I shouldn't be too busy during the day unless I get called in for a job. But if I don't answer, then you should try Celty. She might be busy, but she does always keep her phone on hand. So it won't take her too long to respond to you."

Right… Because Celty's only form of communication was her PDA.

But doesn't that make it somewhat hard for her to communicate with others?

Before she could ponder on it for too long, she felt Shinra's arms wrap around her in a somewhat loose, but gentle hug.

Hinata's eyes widened at the unexpected display of affection.

…How long has it been since someone has hugged her like this?

…She doesn't remember.

"Have a good day at school, okay?" Then he lets go of her before she could even have a chance to reciprocate it. "I'll see you later when you get home! Bye, Hinata!"

"B-Bye…" She gave him a small wave as she watched him leave before she looked down at the floor.

The idea of going back to school…wasn't really one that she has thought about all too much.

If she was being honest…it only left her feeling a little bit stressed.

She slowly turns around as she headed for her homeroom before sitting down in her assigned seat.

And without meaning to, she couldn't help but think back to the conversation she had with Celty just the other night.

[Are you excited to go back to school, Hinata?] Celty inquires once the movie that they were watching went to a commercial.

Hinata looked down at the phone for a moment before she raised her eyes to meet Celty's gaze. "…Not really, no. Is that a bad thing?"

Celty was quick to shake her helmet before she typed up another message. [Not at all! I'm not all that too excited myself whenever I have to leave for a job.]

Right, her job… Shinra had told her before that she was a transporter.

"…What exactly is it that you do?" Hinata couldn't help but to ask her. "Shinra had mentioned earlier that you were a transporter…but I don't really quite understand what he means by that."

Even when he spoke about his own profession, he was still somewhat vague on the subject.

[Well, you see…] She seemed to hesitate for some unknown reason before she quickly began typing on her PDA. [It's kinda hard to explain…but I transport items of the uttermost importance from one place to another. I'm a…go between, if you will. Does that answer your question?]

"I think so…" It certainly did clear up some things. "Do you like doing it?"

[Well… I wouldn't say I like it, but I don't mind it at the same time.]

Celty was a transporter…and yet…she didn't really seem to mind the job all that much.

Hinata didn't mind going to school…but she didn't particularly like it either.


The day went by relatively fast…and yet for some reason…she couldn't help but feel more alone than ever.

Was it because she has gotten so used to Shinra and Celty's presence in the past couple of days…that the moment that they weren't there by her side, it left her feeling incredibly anxious for some reason?

She pulled out her cellphone as she contemplated whether or not she should call Shinra.

She knew the way back…so it wasn't really that much of a big deal, but…

…Did she want to go back right this instant?

Shinra would most likely ask how her day went…which was something that she kinda wanted to avoid.

She pulled her phone close to her chest before she looked over to find a bookstore nearby.

While she has developed an interest in video games, she didn't mind reading a book every now and then.

She thought about it for a moment before she headed inside as she began browsing through the aisles until she eventually stopped in the manga section.

Then she pulled one out of the shelves as she began reading a few pages in…until a rather unfamiliar voice had stopped her from going any further.

"Aw, isn't she just the cutest?!"

Hinata couldn't help but to jump upon reflex as she quickly turned around at the source of the voice to find two people she clearly doesn't know.

One of them was a young brunette woman who was dressed almost entirely in black while her companion, the young man with squinted eyes, was dressed somewhat casually with a dark green backpack strapped to his shoulders.

"She's like a precious cinnamon roll, don't you think so, Yumacchi?" The brunette remarks as she looks over at her companion.

Hinata couldn't help but blink as she stared at them.

A…what now?

What did that even mean? And how could she look like a pastry dessert of all things?

"Hi!" The woman smiles at her. "What's your name?"

"…H-Hinata Hyuga." Usually, she wouldn't even think to introduce herself to a complete and total stranger…

But she was kinda at a lost as to what to do…

And for some unknown reason, it made the brunette woman squeal in utter delight.

"Her name is just like a heroine's name!" …What?

"You're right!" Her companion agrees with her as he gives her a wide smile. "Like a heroine who has been dealt a harsh hand from those around her! Don't give in, okay? Fight with all you got!"

The indigo-haired girl could only stare at them in utter disbelief before she took a hesitant step back.

They were starting to creep her out…

"That's enough, you two." Someone pushed past the two of them before they were on the receiving end of a glare. "You're starting to creep her out with all that talk."

"Oops! Sorry, Dotachin!" The woman sheepishly grins as she rubs the back of her head.

"Sorry, Kyohei."

Hinata watched as the man only sighed somewhat tiredly at their antics.

Was this a normal, almost everyday occurrence?

"Sorry about them." He apologizes to her as crouches down to meet her gaze, who only stiffened slightly upon reflex. "They're not bad people, I promise. Just a little bit too eager at times. Think of them as stray dogs."

"Dogs?!"

"We're dogs now?" The man slightly tilted his head to the side with a hint of amusement on his face.

"Does that make you our owner now, Dotachin?"

"Quiet!" He sends them another glare before he looks back at Hinata. "That's Erika and Walker. They're a bit crazy at times, but they're alright people. And I'm Kyohei." He gives her a smile. "And what's your name?"

"…Hinata."

"How come you're here by yourself?"

"I…was just coming back from school…and I saw that the bookstore was nearby…so…" For some unknown reason, it felt like she was being scolded.

"That's okay. Can I see?" He says as he points to the manga volume in her hands.

Hinata slowly nodded as she held it out for him to grab.

"Servamp, huh? That's a good choice." He says as he hands it back to her.

"Thank you…" It was only then that she had decided to look at the clock that was located on a nearby wall, which made her quickly realize what time it was. "Oh, no… I-I have to go! Bye!" She quickly puts the manga back on the shelf before running out of the store.

"Bye, Hinata!" Erika and Walker waved to her while Kyohei watched the young girl quietly.

By the time she managed to make it back to Shinra's apartment, she was panting with her hands against her knees as beads of sweat started to pour down the sides of her face.

Hinata took this chance to catch her breath before she finally decided to go inside.

Not too long after she entered the front door, she heard someone call out to her.

"Welcome home, Hinata!" Shinra greets her as he rounds the corner as he gives her a bright smile. "How was school today? Did you make any new friends?"

"It was okay…" She began taking off her shoes as she exchanged them for a pair of slippers. "Well…"

She always found it so hard to communicate with others in her class.

Luckily enough, Shinra seemed to have caught on to what she was trying to say before he lightly smiles at her. "That's okay. I didn't exactly make any friends either when I was your age."

"You didn't…?" But he seems so friendly to her.

"It wasn't like I was incapable of making friends." Shinra told her as he heads towards the living room with her not too far behind him. "I just wasn't really interesting in the other kids. But there was one kid that did interest me."

"…So…you became friends with him out of self-interest?"

Shinra stopped for a moment as he looked over at her. "When you say it like that, you make it seem like it's a bad thing…" Then he lightly shrugs without a second thought. "But you wouldn't be wrong there."

Hinata looked at him curiously. "What was it about him that interested you so much?"

Shinra grins as he turns around to face her. "It was his physical strength! Shizuo was able to lift up objects that surpassed his physical limits! Although, it did always break his bones in the process." He headed towards the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee while Hinata took a seat over at the table. "But honestly… We probably spent more time at the hospital than we did at school."

"…It sounds like you visited him a lot." She pulls out her notebook as she began drawing in it in order to pass the time.

It must be nice…to have a friend that you can talk to…

It was too bad that she couldn't relate to it at all…

"Yeah, I did." Shinra smiles. "Even though I do aggravate him at times as we grew up, he still comes to me occasionally to tend to his injuries." Then he looked towards the window. "Although, his bones no longer break under pressure… So it helps to go to someone who is a specialist."

Hinata paused for a moment as she looked up at Shinra.

For some unknown reason…the way he phrased those words sounded a little bit off to her.

She didn't get to ponder over it for very long when she heard the distinct sound of a door being unlocked.

"Celty!" Shinra's features lit up right away as he came barreling over in the transporter's direction with his arms raised up with the full intention to hug her. "Welcome back! How was work? Did anything interesting happen?"

Hinata turned her attention back to her drawing, only to grimace slightly when she heard Shinra let out a slight yelp of pain.

…They have a very strange relationship.

It was probably the most strangest thing that she has ever seen…

Actually… That might not be entirely true…

Their relationship might be a little bit strange…but it probably doesn't compare to the encounter she had with those two people at the bookstore.

She still didn't quite understand why Erika had called her a cinnamon roll in the first place.

Hinata felt someone lightly tap on her shoulder, which made her look over to find that it was only Celty.

[How was school today, Hinata?] Celty asks her. [Did you make any new friends?]

"Uhm… Not exactly…" She did meet some new people today…but she wasn't about to bring that up just yet.

"It's only just the beginning of the school year, Celty." Shinra assures her, which made Hinata look over at him along with Celty. "I'm sure she'll make a few friends before too long. And if she doesn't, then that just means she'll get to spend even more time with us!"

Hinata just stared at him with a blank face while Celty placed a hand against her helmet.

"What? Did I say something wrong?"

Celty only lightly shakes her helmet in slight exasperation while Hinata looked over at the young woman.

For a while now…she has noticed that Celty has never once taken off her helmet.

Why was that?

"…Can I ask you a question, Celty?" She tentatively calls out to her.

Celty nodded her helmet at the young girl's inquiry before she typed up another message. [Of course, Hinata. What is it?]

"…I know that I've only been here for a couple days now…but I couldn't help but notice that you haven't taken off your helmet." At least…not in front of her… "…Why is that?"

It was an innocent enough question…and yet…for some reason…they both gave her different reactions.

Celty almost dropped her phone before she quickly tightened her hold over it while Shinra's eyes only narrowed slightly.

It wasn't exactly a cold expression that her father would typically display…but it was somewhat guarded.

Then he lets out a soft sigh, which made both Hinata as well as Celty look over at him.

"There is a reason why Celty hasn't taken off her helmet in front of you, Hinata." Shinra took a seat at the table. "That being said… It might be best if she sees it for herself."

[But, Shinra!] Celty shoved her PDA in front of Shinra's face before she pulled it back to type up another message. [I could scare her! I don't want to traumatize her! It's my job to protect her!]

"I understand that, Celty. But you can't keep hiding that from her forever. It'll be alright." He assures her as he gives his roommate an encouraging smile.

Hinata watched as Celty's hands lightly trembled for a moment before her shoulders dropped slightly in dismay.

It was almost as if…she was anxious for some reason.

[…Are you sure about this?] Celty asked her. [I really don't want to scare you.]

Hinata's only response to Celty's words was a look of confusion.

Why would she be scared of Celty?

As far as she could tell, Celty seemed almost normal to her…at least when she compares her disposition to someone like Shinra's.

Hinata watched as Celty raised her hands to her helmet before she lifts it up…only to reveal something that was clearly out of place.

Hinata's eyes widened in surprise as she watched a trail of black smoke coming out from the base of Celty's neck.

She…didn't have a head…

But how was that possible?

"Did you hear about the Headless Rider?"

Hinata paused for a moment as she looked over to find a group of her classmates discussing something.

"Are you talking about the Black Rider?"

"Uh-huh! They showed up in south Ikebukuro just last week!"

"Really?! That's so cool!"

The Headless Rider…

She has heard plenty of rumors about them…but was it really true?

Back then…she wasn't entirely sure about the rumors themselves…

But now…she was really starting to see that the rumors were indeed true after all…

Which meant…that Celty wasn't human…even though she seems more human than Shinra, who was kinda strange in her opinion…

"…So that's why you never took it off." It certainly made so much more sense now.

Celty seemed to jolt at her words before she rapidly began typing away at her PDA. [Wait! So then… You're not scared? But why, Hinata?]

"Because you're not scary at all, Celty. You're a very kind person."

Celty stared at her for a few moments before she typed up another message, which she quickly turned to Shinra, who had a curious look on his face. [She's too precious, Shinra. Can she stay here forever?]

Shinra only laughed, which only served to confuse Hinata to no end.

"What is it? What did she say?" Hinata tried to look over, only for Celty to immediately close it, which left her unable to see the message.

Shinra could only laugh once again as he lightly ruffles her hair. "It's really nothing, Hinata… Celty just said something really cute, that's all."

Which automatically made him receive a rather painful pinch to the cheek.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow! Celty, that hurts! That really, really hurts!"

Hinata could only sit there as she observes them for a few moments before she returns her attention back to her notebook.

Celty wasn't scary at all, that much was true…

But she was certainly an enigma.

Both her and Shinra…

That wasn't typically a bad thing…but she couldn't help but wonder why her father left her in their care in the first place.

Was it really for her own protection? Or did he…just wanted to get rid of her?

Who knows…


I decided to change a few things here and there as well as change Hinata's thought process throughout the chapter since meeting Erika and Walker would be a little too much for her since she's not used to people of their caliber.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.