CHAPTER 7: Perfect Crime Love Letter pt. 2; Obsession
It was already after school. Rain poured and Mikuo placed down his bag onto an old desk when the door opened with a loud clatter and Mikuo turned to see a furious Rin and beside was Miku, smiling nervously at her.
"Oh? You seem awfully angry today." Mikuo comment as he walked over to them. Rin huffed and marched to him with an angry frown. "Cant you do something about that childhood friend of yours? Mikuo."
Mikuo just smiled. "Ahh, that rumor? Isnt it a masterpiece? As usual, its the best. As expected of my childhood friend." He chuckled as he moved towards a desk and sat on it. Rin frowned even deeper. "Why you-" Then the door opened once again and Len entered the room.
He looked at them passively before he greeted. "Hey." Rin glared at him. "Oh dont "hey" me." She huffed angrily. "I dont really care about your bad taste but would you stop using other people as your topic?"
Mikuo watched as Rin and Len once again argued. A week has passed since they discovered the diary and once again ,the members were all together in the old building. Apparently, Rin was angry at Len again because of another rumor he made up, about an "impostor" walking around.
Mikuo mentally sighed and grinned. "Pfft." He snorted. "As usual, Rin has a soft spot for Miku, huh?"
"Shut up Mikuo!" Rin yelled at him. "But its not like he meant to tell a pointless lie..." Mikuo leaped to his feet and placed a hand on Len's shoulder. "Right, Len?" Len stayed silent as Mikuo continued. "And it matches our activities so perfectly too..."
Rin scoffed. "Club activities? Can we really call it like that?" She sighed.
And they all started discussing about useless things as usual. Lately, Mikuo realized there would always be at least one person in this classroom before the others. Before they discovered the diary, they would only meet once a week and even sometimes not meeting at all but now they basically see each other in that old music room everyday.
A few days ago, him, Len and Rin were all in the music room and decided to try the game. Miku unfortunately, wasnt there during that time because of reasons Mikuo wasnt interested to know.
They simply tested the game out but as soon as they started...they suddenly felt an indescribable fear and ended it before they couldnt even finish it.
"Now that I think about it..." Len started between the conversations. "There's something that I've been thinking about recently..." Everyone reverted their attention to him. "What is it?" Rin asked curiously. "Well, I dont know if its a unnatural phenomenon or not and it might just be my imagination but..." He paused. "When I wake up in the morning, I feel like I'm being...watched."
Mikuo narrowed his eyes a bit as Len continued. "I'm certain that I can feel someone's gaze on me."
"Being watched you say...are you sure its not just your family?" Miku asked. Len shook his head. "My parents leave early in the morning so its impossible..." He explained. "How should I put it...I feel like someone's watching me from behind but when I turn around, there's no one there. Nothing. This has been happening a lot lately."
Mikuo scratched his head. "Something like a Zashiki-Warashi?" He guessed. "If its Merry-san, it would be a phone or something right?" Rin added. "Lately Merry-san seems to even use text messages."
"There's something else...thats also been on my mind." Len continued. "Do you have some kind of idea?" Miku wondered and Len nodded. "The other day, Rin, Mikuo, and I...the three of us did kokkuri-san didnt we?"
Mikuo nodded. "The following day, I started to feel someone's stare on me..." Lenstopped for a moment. "Thats why...perhaps this has something to do with the "Bookmark of Demise"...is what I thought."
The air in the room suddenly turned cold. Mikuo mentally scoffed. Can feel a gaze, huh...
If Mikuo remembered correctly, Len's parents does indeed leave early so whenever Len wakes up, he's all alone in that house... Mikuo glanced at Len and noticed that Len did have dark eye bags under his eyes, if you dont look at it closely you would be able to notice it at first glance but of course, Mikuo could easily tell.
After all, he was the only one who understood Len the most.
"Lets do it one more time."
At Len's words, they started the "Kokkuri-san" game again as instructed by the diary in order to obtain the "Bookmark of Demise".
"Next, everyone will ask each other questions in turn, to start off someone try asking me something." Len instructed. Rin went first. "Okay, was Len's dinner last night made of meat?" The coin moved.
"It says "yes"" Rin noted. "So what did you eat?" Len was hesitant at first but then he sighed. "It was...hamburger steak." Mikuo blinked at that. "So it was right?...Hamburger steak, huh. The hamburger steaks at Len's place are pretty good..."
Mikuo could remember the time he once visited Len's house when they were still kids, they use to eat together as they chatter about everyday things. Mikuo smiled a bit at the memory. "I want to eat them again sometime." He sighed.
The game went on and everyone answered each others question in an orderly manner and soon, it was Mikuo's turn.
"Hmm, I wonder what kind of question would be good?" Len pondered. Mikuo then chuckled. "How about this?" He said and looked at Len. "The doll that was in my house long ago was a penguin." Len blinked in surprise as the coin slid through the paper.
Rin raised a brow. "Mikuo what does this...?" Mikuo shrugged. "Whether Kokkurin-san was really right or not, we dont know right?" He explained. "Thats why I thought I'd ask a question that Len knew the answer to, as well." Mikuo turned to Len expectantly. "Len, the doll that was in my house long ago...you know what it was right?"
Len was quiet for a moment before he answered. "It was a rabbit." Mikuo lit up instantly. He remembered! He really did remem-
"...Right?" Len said hesitantly.
...
...Huh?
Mikuo thought the whole world dimmed.
Wait.
It was a very important doll to Len right? So why...did he sound so unsure about it? "Right?"? Why would he...?
Mikuo was probably making a strange face because Len looked at him with a confused yet baffled expression but said nothing. Mikuo didnt notice as went to deep thought. Len couldnt have...He just couldnt have...before Mikuo couldve noticed...
BZZZZTT
The TV that sat on the table at the front burst to life, startling everyone in the room. They turned towards the TV as static echoes in the room. "-Due to a single traitor, a "fox", the game has begun." A high pitched voice said.
"If you wish to escape, please pay attention to the following conditions and seek the end..."
Mikuo gulped silently as the voice continued in such a sinister tone.
"To reach the end of the game, you must kill the "fox." If you are unable to find the "fox" everyone dies, while searching for the "fox" you must follow kokkuri-san's demands.
Kokkuri-san's demands are delivered via letters, you are allowed one week to fulfill kokkuri-san's demands. In the case, that you ignore the demand, you will die. If the contents of the demand are seen or discovered by an outsider, that person will die until you reach the end of the game, there is no way out.
Until the end of the game is reached, you absolutely cannot escape..."
Mikuo paled at the instructions. Game? Fox? Traitor?...Kill? Die? Just what the hell are they saying?!
"Now, let this fun demise game begin..." With that, the TV shut off instantly. There was complete silence as all four of them stared at the TV in shock.
"W-What was that...j-just now?" Rin questioned. There was pause in the air. "I dont know." Mikuo murmured. "'Fox"? "Traitor"?"
"I-Its just some kind of bad joke right?" Rin gulped. No one answered, the heavy silence was deafening. "Anyways, lets just go home for today." Mikuo suggested reluctantly and no one objected to that. They left the old school and left without even saying anything to each other.
Mikuo tossed his bag onto his bed with a passive expression and walked over to his computer, turning it on. "Can feel a gaze...huh." Mikuo murmured.
The screen light open and on it was what looked like a monitor...in Len's room. Len was curled on his bed, scared and tired and Mikuo smiled a bit as the sight of a helpless Len.
He stayed there for hours in from his computer, watching Len. It was already late at night and Mikuo watched as Len restlessly moved around his bed, he saw him burst out of his blankets frantically and grabbed the remote to turn on the TV.
"Are you scared Len?" Mikuo asked as if Len could hear him. He watched as Len threw the remote and yelled into the silence before falling back into his bed. Mikuo sighed. "I'm scared too..." He mumbled to himself and held up his trembling hands. "I've been shaking ever since a while ago..."
At first, Mikuo intended to make this -monitoring Len- a joke. It all started when Mikuo planted a tiny microphone deep into one of the pockets of Len's bag, a microphone so small that no one would notice it. He even placed tiny cameras that was connected to his computer in Len's room to observe him.
Mikuo had grown so interested in other people's lives (specifically Len's) that it went up to this point. Since their families were so close, Mikuo also knew where the spare key of his house is and found nothing suspicious.
That's right, this was all for Len's sake...
After all, Mikuo was Len's one and only best friend! No one else!
"You're really just...so helpless Len." He said in an oddly gently tone as he caressed the image of Len's terrified form on the screen then he frowned. "Since you're the one who said you wanted to do this right?" He grunted. "There's just no way it could really be true..."
Mikuo clutched his hands tightly. Dying and Killing...Can things like that even be done? Mikuo took a deep breath. He shouldnt worry. Even if...it were true, as long as the book and the bookmark of demise doesnt appear, there shouldnt be any problem. All they have to do is find this so-called traitor then there wouldnt be a reason for all of them to die.
But...Mikuo still has his doubts...
He groaned to himself. "I need to get a hold of myself." He said. "Because...I'm the only one who can save Len!"
Its been an hour when suddenly, Mikuo's eye lids began dropping a bit and he wobbled. He rubbed his eyes and leaned back on his chair. He was tired, exhausted even. Mikuo glanced at his clock.
It was already 3 in the morning...
"Guess I'll lie down for a bit." Mikuo stood up but then he heard something flop onto his bed. At first, Mikuo thought it was just his imagination but when he turned around, his eyes widened.
There it was...
"The Book of Demise."
Mikuo screamed and his heart raced rapidly. He back away and hit his desk as he stared at the book with a horrified expression on his face. Whats the meaning of this?!
More importantly, it just appeared out of no where in front of him! How could such a thing even exist?! Scary! Very Scary!
What should I do?! What should I do?! What should I do?! What should I do?! What should I do?! What should I do?! WHAT SHOULD I DO?!
Mikuo quickly grabbed the book and shoved it into his bag. Firstly, he should get rid of this thing... He threw the bag across the room and cursed. He sat on his bed, his knees to his chest as he held his head, feeling terrified for his life...
His phone rang in the silence all night...
The next morning, Mikuo confirmed that Len left his house already and so he headed off to school.
Mikuo gripped his bag tightly. That damn book was still inside, he has to find a place to get rid of this book and he has to find it fast. Mikuo wasnt sure whether or not he would...die after receiving the book and bookmark but he didnt mind it..for now.
As he walked into the school, he saw Len talking to someone with dark blue hair. They didnt notice him and continued talking. Mikuo quickly hid and watched as they spoke to each other.
"Hm? Whats that?" The guy pointed at the ground after Len opened his locker then he picked up something. Mikuo's eyes widened when he saw what he was holding.
It was letter and Mikuo knew instantly what it was. No way...it couldnt be...that the letter had been sent to Len!
Mikuo's heart stopped for a second. What should he do?!
"Oh! Could this be...a love letter?!" The guy exclaimed annoyingly. Mikuo saw Len flinched. "Hey...cut it out." He reached out for the letter but the blue haired boy pulled away. "I wonder who its from~" He sang. "Aw, come on, just let me take a little peek okay?" Len narrowed his eyes at him and his expression darken which scared Mikuo.
No way...
It cant be...Len couldnt possibly...be actually considering this?!
Len certainly has a subservient personality, yes but...in reality, he's so timid to the point he couldnt even hurt a fly. If he so much as hurt someone else, he would end up hurting himself. Thats the kind of personality Mikuo always thought Len had.
So there was no way he would say yes to that, right?
"I guess...it cant be helped." Mikuo felt his heart skipped a beat when he heard Len say that. Oh no...No, No.. "Dont tell anyone else, okay?"
NO! This cant be happening!
He heard the other person cheer and then the sound of paper rustling. Mikuo flinched and turned to them. What was going to happen to him? The one who has seen the letter? If...If that thing was really true then that person will-!
There was a heavy silence. "...What is this?" The guy murmured. Mikuo shuddered when he heard the horror in his voice. He notice Len's face pale and looked at him in fear as he started mumbling things Mikuo couldnt hear.
Mikuo watched as the guy passed the letter to Len and then wobbled out of the school, passing Mikuo without even looking at him. "H-Hey." Len called out to him but the guy continued walking.
Mikuo didnt know what to say as he watched him go as well.
And then it happened...
That incident that occurred during lunch break.
It was real...They were all real! The Letter, The Book, The Bookmark- Everything was real!
"Hey, Who told him?!" Rin demanded as she slammed her hand onto the old desk. "Who's the traitor?!" They were all gathered at the old building and they began arguing about the incident.
Mikuo didnt know what to think. He glance at Len, who was extremely quiet and stared down at the ground. Was Len...actually the traitor?
No, it couldnt be...if he was, the letter shouldnt have been sent to him...but what if the fact that he still received one was what made him the traitor? What if it was all an act to convince all of them and have them believe that the bookmark of demise was real?
Mikuo cant think straight anymore! What if the rumor he made about Rin's impostor wasnt actually about her?...What if Len has already become an impostor?
He has to make sure!
"Sorry Len." Mikuo said as they walked out of the old building. Miku and Rin already left so it was just the two of them. "I have to go back to the class for a bit so go on ahead." Len looked at him with empty eyes and nodded. "Okay..." He murmured and turned to around to leave.
Mikuo stood there for a while and grip his bag. He has to throw this book away- he has to get rid of it quickly and besides...
He looked back at Len's retreating form before slowly going back to the school. He was too scared to be with Len at the moment...
As he walked into the front entrance of the school, Mikuo glanced at the corner to see an officer talking to a sobbing girl and a scared boy. Mikuo guessed they were the first witnesses and continued walking up the stairs.
He sighed as he reach the top of the stairs then he froze. The weight in his bag shifted. Why was his bag...suddenly lighter? He placed down his bag and knelt to it. He slowly opened it with shaking hands and he looked into his bag in horror.
The book disappeared and on its place...was a letter.
Mikuo shrieked and crawled away from it. "W-Why?!" Mikuo exclaimed. "It couldnt be-! Shouldnt the letter have been with Len?!"
Why was there a second letter?! No it couldnt be-
Just as he thought, Len was-!
From that day on, Mikuo began monitoring Len intensely.
School was canceled for a whole week and Mikuo spent most of his time, staring at screen of his computer. He didnt look at his texts or any social networking sites which he would normally check once or twice. He just sat there, watching Len for 24 hours without even sleeping, just monitoring Len.
Mikuo would even go as far as go into Len's house late at night when everyone was asleep to inspect for anything suspicious.
But even after, a day or two has passed, Len just sat on his bed, spacing out and holding his head.
Is Len the traitor?
Has Len already turned into an impostor?
Mikuo kept repeating those questions to himself over and over as he watched Len stay motionless in his room and because he still couldnt find an answer to those questions, he started grow more and more edgy as the days gone by.
It has already been several days since he received the letter and Mikuo had dark eye rings circling his eyes due to lack of sleep.
Then it began.
The TV in Len's room turned on and both Len and Mikuo flinched. Mikuo listened immediately and leaned forward as a sickeningly familiar high pitched tone started talking.
"Good evening. This is a special broadcast. We will be announcing the victims thus far.
"The person who looked at his phone as he walked today..."
"The person who kept a rabbit in his Japanese-style room because his life was too lonely..."
"The person who felt accomplished after walking 10,000 steps..."
Mikuo watched in shock as the list continued "The person who peeked into another person's letter."
Mikuo gulped at that and listened carefully.
"Moving on, we will be listing tomorrow's victims...
"The person who spoke to someone directly if they're curious..."
"The person who ignored the requests made..."
"The person who skipped school and played all alone..."
"The person who was turning pale at this very moment."
Mikuo flinched and glanced at Len. He was terribly pale at the moment...
"Tomorrow's victims are these people. We pray for your happiness in the next world...Good night."
Then static. This was it...They were finally going to be killed!
No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, NO!
This cant be! Why was this happening!
"To reach the end of the game, the "fox" must be killed."
Mikuo stopped as the instruction suddenly popped into his mind. Mikuo stood up and his legs wobbled a bit. He placed a hand on his desk to steady himself. "...If I dont make sure..."
Whether Len was the "fox" or not doesnt matter now...If Len has been replaced by an impostor then it could be that he's been locked up somewhere...
Only he could save Len!
"I have to kill the fox." Mikuo murmured to himself then he began snickering. He carefully took out a cutter from his pencil cup and stared at the blade with a craze look.
"I have to kill the "fox" and save Len!"
After that, everything became a blur.
And then there was the news...
Personally...I like Mikuo. Despite his very scary obsessiveness and all...I still like the way he is concern about his friend (Though its just shown in the wrong way) But still Mikuo is scary since he actually planted cameras all over Len's room to watch him. That is just so wrong and creepy.
...Still like him though... and it looks like Mikuo doesnt realize that the letter or demand is given separately I wonder how this will all turn up *wink*
Anyways please continue supporting this story okay?
Next Chapter: CHAPTER 8: Perfect Crime Love Letter pt. 3; Punishable Call
-Yugao702