A/N: My girlfriend is back with another chapter here! As usual, I acted as the editor. We hope you enjoy!
Three years ago, on a sunny autumn afternoon, the cafeteria at Tonosho's lone elementary school was bustling with chattering children. Student cliques had gathered at each of the metal tables situated around the room. In each of the cliques was a single person surrounded by five to seven other students who bellowed about the latest trend to make a comeback: Beyblades.
The most popular students could afford the most expensive and one of a kind beyblades and wasted no time chatting endlessly about them. Those beyblades came in all shapes and sizes. Some had sharp edges that provided a strong slash against any opponent. Others had stickers and decorations that reflected the owner's outgoing, raucous personalities. Still others took upon a miniature appearance, designed to be nothing more than a collectible. As the other students crowded around in their cliques, their eyes were locked in on the spinning contraptions adorning the tables.
Houjou, on the other hand, found herself sitting on a wooden table that could only seat two students. With her parents toiling in the tourism industry, all the rare Beyblades were all but a pipedream for her to own. As the trend took the school by storm, she found herself cast aside as soon as the first rare Beyblades made their debut.
Houjou ate her lunch with Hamaguchi, her lone seatmate. While she did find herself diverting her gaze towards the other cliques, his presence proved to be a strong steadying force. Her heart skipped a beat every so often with him around; she found his ruffled hair and sheepish smile his most endearing traits. She found them so endearing that she eventually wound up spending more time being lost in his face than at the other students.
"Hamaguchi, it looks like some of the students have nice looking Beyblades. Do you have one?" Houjou asked, pointing at the other groups of students beyond them.
"Oh yeah, I've got one right here," Hamaguchi replied. He dug into his school bag and took out a red and yellow Beyblade with three sharp lines protruding from the middle. The center of his blade was engraved with a flame.
"Woah! It looks so cool and intimidating! But why aren't more people looking at your Beyblade?" she asked, placing her hand on her chin.
"Well, this Beyblade isn't particularly rare. I just got it because it's helped me win a handful of games already. Everyone else here goes for style, but I'd much rather win," Hamaguchi chuckled to himself, flexing his arms.
Houjou couldn't help but giggle at Hamaguchi's gesture. Feeling a blush form on her cheeks, she covered her face with her hand as she continued to titter. The thought of wrapping her arms around Hamaguchi atop a podium caused her to swoon. She daydreamed about him winning a school-wide Beyblade tournament, especially during class. Perhaps it would shut up the cliques who strove for looks more than actual skill, she figured.
But she couldn't contemplate the idea much further; it was time to eat. Houjou's lunch consisted of her favourite golden chicken katsu sitting atop her rice and a melon on hand for dessert to her right. After the pair of friends gave their thanks, Houjou took her chopsticks and grabbed her first bite of her crispy chicken katsu. Even as the noise around them persisted, the pair enjoyed a comforting silence as they began their meals.
As Houjou made her way through her chicken katsu, she felt a piece of paper poke her arm. Her eyes caught sight of a folded piece of paper and Hamaguchi waving his hand at her. Seeing that the folded paper was his, she unfolded the paper and read through its contents. Hamaguchi's messy scrawl of Kanji was hard to read, but at this stage she was used to deciphering his messages.
There's a party happening this weekend on September 12th, but I wasn't sure if you wanted to come, the message said.
"A party? I haven't been to a party in so long!" Houjou piped up with an eager shout, talking through a mouthful of rice. The prospect of a party caused her eyes to dazzle with jubilance.
Hamaguchi's darting glances contrasted her elation, leaving him to signal quiet to her with a finger to his lips. "Shh, Houjou. I'm not supposed to be telling you about this."
Houjou covered her mouth and gasped. A moment of silence descended on them, leaving Hamaguchi to pick up his plastic bowl to drink his miso soup. She knew that she was unpopular enough to not be invited. But she didn't want to bring Hamaguchi down on the virtue of telling her about the party.
But she had to know more about the party. With a circumspect whisper, she opened her lips to ask the one question that popped in her head, "Hamaguchi, if everyone has to be quiet about it, how did you find out about the party?"
Hamaguchi put down his miso soup with a gentle tap on the table. He pulled out his flip phone and gave it to Houjou, revealing a series of recent Line conversations. "You see, the popular kids are putting together a party to kickstart the Fall semester. There's going to be contests and snacks at their place for starters. Apparently, there's even going to be fireworks," Hamaguchi whispered in a soft tone.
Houjou squinted at Hamaguchi's phone screen as he talked about the party. She gasped and covered her mouth. Her eyes froze as she made out the senders of the Line messages on his phone. The names of her bully's best friends were bolded on top of every received message.
A tense sensation passed through her shoulders. On the one hand, she didn't want to attend a party held by her bullies. On the other hand, perhaps this would be the best chance she had to get herself included with the popular girls. Her scrunched-up face made Hamaguchi hang his head and retrieve his phone from her hands. Neither person spoke a word underneath the background chatter all around them. Houjou retained her scrunched face, while Hamaguchi drew out another sigh.
After another minute, Hamaguchi took the lead to open his lips and speak, "Houjou, I'm sorry. I couldn't just decline their invitation. They were happy I won the most recent game for our team and they invited me because of that," Hamaguchi explained, extending his arms as his scruffy long hair jostled about.
Houjou raised her arms and waved her hands, "No it's okay Hamaguchi. Thank you for being honest," Houjou slunk two inches downward as she picked through the leftover bits of food on her plate. "I just wish you hadn't told me. Then I wouldn't have had my heart set on going," said Houjou with her arms on her lap, avoiding Hamaguchi's gaze.
Hamaguchi stared at Houjou with his mouth drooping and his brow arched. "Don't tell me you actually want to go?! The group will tear you to shreds!" Hamaguchi protested, pointing in the direction of where the bully group usually sat during lunch. "They were set on not inviting you for a reason!"
"Well, if you can go, why shouldn't I?!" Houjou protested, raising her voice. Her pudgy cheeks puffed up with displeasure and released a disgruntled humph. She then crossed her arms and lowered her head towards the wooden table, not noticing Hamaguchi's erratic hand gestures.
"Look Houjou, I'm just trying to look out for you. I know how much they hurt you for every little thing you did," Hamaguchi explained. Houjou kept her arms crossed and released another humph. As much as her heart pranced at being with Hamaguchi, she hated how overbearing he could be about her classmates.
Her second humph was enough for Hamaguchi to release an exasperated sigh. "You can try going to the party if you want, but I don't want you to get hurt, okay?" Hamaguchi said, reaching out his hand and patting Houjou's shoulder.
With each kindly pat, Houjou felt the waves of irritation dissipate. She began to slow her breathing and looked up to meet her eyes with Hamaguchi's. There was something about his words that made her feel at ease. Perhaps it was his solemn expression that made him appear like a samurai wearing shining armor.
As far back as kindergarten, Houjou read tales of samurai fending off their foes for their beloved in the days of old. There was also Hamaguchi's brave act during the Summer Festival to consider. After recollecting a few tidbits of her past, an idea sprung up inside her. Perhaps this would be enough of a safety net for her to have her share of the popularity cake. "Hey Hamaguchi, why don't you be my samurai?" she asked. She formed a spritely smile with her lips, batted her eyes, and folded her hands together.
"A samurai? This isn't a costume party, Houjou," Hamaguchi stuttered with a bashful chuckle, clutching onto his phone with his right hand.
"You know what I mean!" Houjou grumbled, raising her eyebrows. "If anything goes wrong, I can call for you on your phone," she continued. Noticing her raised voice, she let her speech taper off and cupped her hand over her mouth.
"Hey, that's not a bad idea, Houjou!" Hamaguchi replied with a snap of his finger. "I guess I can give you my number," he said with a giggle, his hands now fumbling through his fliphone's buttons.
"Thank you Hamaguchi!" Houjou replied with a high-pitched squeal. "You're the best, you know that?"
The school bell rang its toll just as she released her giddy squeal. Observing the other students begin to disperse to their classes, Houjou got up to clear her lunch tray with Hamaguchi walking beside her. As she sorted through her cardboard and paper contents, she looked back at him. "So, if anything goes wrong and I call, will you please answer as soon as you can?!" she exclaimed, folding her hands together towards Hamaguchi.
"You can count on me!" Hamaguchi exclaimed with a blush on his cheeks, gesturing a thumbs up.
Houjou smiled, her beaming face covering the butterflies that lingered in her stomach. Her desperation to become enmeshed with the popular students grew with each step to their next class. Adding to her smiles was the fact that her dream of having a protector by her side would finally come true.
But Houjou also felt shivers crawling down her spine. The voices of taunting and jeering crowds crept up to her ears. Her shoulders squeezed close to her sides and her face grew scrunched. The feeling of shame had caused her to close her eyes while she accelerated her walking pace.
Just then, Houjou released a yelp as she felt herself trip over what felt like an item on the floor. She opened her eyes wide, the white-tiled floor rapidly coming into her view. Her nose was about to come into contact with the ground, when she felt an arm wrap around her waist. Before she knew it, she found herself standing back in an upright position. She looked around with agitation, trying to see who saved her from the floor.
When she turned around, her eyes met those of Hamaguchi. He stood in front of her with a deep blush on his face. "Houjou, are you alright?" he asked, lifting a lone shoe from the floor and passing it over to a fellow student.
Houjou put her hand over her heart, feeling it pound from her chest. As much as she wanted to jump up and hug him, she stopped herself from doing so. She didn't want to cause an even bigger scene than what she already caused. Instead, she opted for a bashful giggle and placed her finger over her lips. "I'm alright. Thank you for saving me, Hamaguchi," said Houjou, her head growing bubbly and light.
Hamaguchi responded with an ebullient chuckle and walked onward to class. As he walked away, Houjou placed her hands on her chest and swooned. Everything will be fine at the party with Hamaguchi around. If there's one person you can count on it's him.
The Westminster Bell chimed aloud to signal the end of the day's classes. Houjou walked towards the back of the classroom, her Hamtaro keychains jingling against her school bag. Icicles of fear began to prickle her chest. Throughout her afternoon classes, she tried to think of ways to convince her parents to let her go to the weekend party. Even when her rumblings distracted her from her classes, she couldn't find a suitable excuse.
She didn't have to contemplate much longer. A looming figure had appeared behind her, casting a shadow with the ceiling lights. Houjou stiffened as she felt a hand tapping her right shoulder. Her spine shivered, shuddering at the sound of the familiar voice ringing through her ears. Her characteristic rosy aroma that exuded from her perfume left Houjou hacking for a moment with its suffocating scent.
"Oh hey, if it isn't Houjou!" the voice greeted her with a drawl. "I love the hair clip you've got on there!" she continued.
Houjou turned around to see the one girl she didn't want to see. It was Suzu, the most popular girl in her class. Her black, wavy hair rolled down to her shoulders like a majestic waterfall. Her bangs were decorated with a red hair clip that sparkled brighter than the one Houjou wore on her hair. She stood a few inches taller than Houjou and was slightly thinner to boot. Her chest already showed signs of development, causing the boys in her class to fawn over her alluring appearance.
Suzu's friendly chuckles stood in the face of Houjou's previous, less-friendly encounters with the girl. At the end of each encounter, she always found herself dreading for worse and her self-esteem tarnished. It was no surprise, then, that Houjou grit her teeth in the face of Suzu's greeting. She took a step back towards her cubby, trying to maintain her distance from the girl approaching her. She straightened her posture and folded her arms in hopes of hiding her apprehension over Suzu. Such a pose, however, failed to keep her nerves at bay.
"Suzu-san, what do you want with me?" Houjou's bodily tremors rose to the surface. Her teeth chattered as her eyes locked in on Suzu's pointed amber eyes. Her pupils also caught a view of who she figured were two of Suzu's friends standing behind her. Their folded arms brought to her a growing fear that she couldn't escape from their clutches.
"Well, for one, your boyfriend is going to my party this weekend. Did you know that?" asked Suzu, adopting a smile that exposed both sets of her teeth.
A warm glow rose up within her cheeks at the mention of that one word. Boyfriend… I like the sound of that. The lone word caused her heart to melt and jingle with glee. Her muscles loosened, tingling like snowflakes falling from the night sky. She tried to stifle her giggles, but she had to close her mouth after a handful of them escaped her lips.
Her infatuations then made way for Suzu's own set of chuckles. It might have just been her, but she swore that Suzu added a dash of mockery with her laughs. She shook her head, pulling herself out of her dreamy trance. Her feelings of glee turned into prickling anger at Suzu's question.
Why is she bringing Hamaguchi into all this? Houjou puffed her chest and closed her eyes with a sigh. She rued ever setting her eyes on Suzu the moment she transferred from Okayama two years ago. Since that day, Houjou faced an onslaught of teasing and being relentlessly picked on by the very girl who stood before her. She had to steel herself for what was to come.
Or so she thought. "We'd actually like to invite you too!" Suzu chuckled sassily, reaching out her hands towards Houjou.
Houjou looked up from her stance, arching her brow and feeling her lower jaw grow slack. Seeing Suzu approach her with an invitation of all things left her stunned. "Wait, are you serious? You aren't just setting me up, right?" Houjou replied, lowering and stiffening her arms. She shook her head to and fro, a wave of shock passing through her thoughts.
"No, I'm absolutely serious! You can join our gang and hang out with my friends!" Suzu replied, pointing her thumb back to the two girls who stood behind her. The two girls in turn waved at Houjou with smiles of their own.
Houjou felt like her whole body go alight with fireworks. She always wanted to be a part of a clique. Being a member of the most popular clique was another matter entirely. Houjou was about to burst forth at the thought when Suzu's outstretched arm grabbed her left arm.
She then felt herself pulled towards Suzu. She and Suzu were now staring eye to eye. "Now hold on Houjou-san! You can come to the party and hang with us under one condition," Suzu's tutting finger accenting her sentence. "You see, no one really goes to any of our events without doing some sort of dare first."
Houjou bit her lip, stifling her inner gasp. She released a light grunt, scolding herself for not realizing that there would be some catch to all this. "What kind of dare?" she asked, tapping her index fingers together.
Suzu chuckled briskly before turning to her friends and nodding. "Do you know about the abandoned shrine near the edge of the forest? Legend says there is a very powerful ghost that's been haunting the shrine for over a millennium," Suzu explained. Some of the students overheard the conversation taking place, but scampered away when she turned to them with a fiery glare.
Houjou gasped, placing her hands against her cheeks. She regularly visited the library to read about the myths and legends that made up Japanese folklore. Each of the stories felt so life-like and real to her, but the thought of living such a story out caused her blood to grow cold. "Why are you bringing this up?" Houjou asked with a stutter.
"Well, here's the deal. You're going to spend half an hour at the abandoned shrine all by yourself," Suzu replied, placing her right hand against her hips. "I heard that if you sing a certain chant four times, you'll summon a ghost that will either put a curse or a blessing on you," Suzu's voice became a low whisper as she explained the legend of the abandoned shrine.
"An actual curse?!" Houjou wailed.
"Well, so goes the story," Suzu clarified, patting Houjou's back to lessen her fright. "Now, I've tried this chant myself but I never managed to summon the ghost. Perhaps you'll get more luck. Better yet, the ghost might like you and give you its blessing," she proceeded, sliding her way to Houjou's face and tapping her nose with her index finger. "If you end up okay, whether the ghost comes or not, you can come to the party and do what you want! Sounds good?" finished Suzu, batting her eyes.
Houjou stood there in place, ruminating over her chances of success. The prospect of a ghost roaming around the shrine made her skin crawl. Worse yet, the possibility of a curse being placed upon her made the dare even less appealing. On the other hand, the chance of one-upping Suzu with a blessing and entering the popular group was too enticing to pass up. "Surely if I come through in one piece, you'll actually give me something worthwhile?" Houjou replied, folding her arms together with a grunt.
Suzu's laugh sounded bright, almost cheery in fact. "Oh Houjou-san, you're quite perceptive. You see, I was thinking of giving you the automatic grand prize at the party once the contests are over." Suzu replied, poking her chest playfully.
"Oh, I almost forgot! Since you'll be with your ruffle-haired sweetheart at the party, I figured we could set you both up on a little date all by yourselves," Suzu giggled with a smooth swish of her black hair.
Houjou stood frozen in place, her cheeks growing hotter. The prospect of a date with her best friend caused her to betray a swooned sigh from her lips. Her eyes flitted back and forth from the classroom door to the group of students meeting her gaze. The thought of a dashing Hamaguchi walking through the party hall made her cheeks puff with glee. It was as if the god of love, Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, sent his arrow right to her beating heart. For her lovestruck heart, the thought of stealing her heart like a samurai and telling him her feelings was almost too good to pass up.
"Okay, I'll do it!" Houjou spat out the last line with a determined flash in her eyes.
"That's the brave Houjou-san I know! I promise you are going to have so much fun!" Suzu declared with a guffaw before pointing back at Houjou. "Now I need you to be at the shrine tomorrow night at 6:00 pm sharp! Got it?" Suzu's question resounded throughout the classroom. She then handed Houjou a piece of paper with hastily written instructions on how to get to the shrine.
"6:00 pm tomorrow. Got it!" Houjou waved, jumping in place.
But her bouncy disposition was put to a halt by a firm hold on her shoulder. "Oh, and also, don't tell Hamaguchi-kun about any of this. We want to make this a surprise date after all, so make sure to dress the part," Suzu noted with a wink. She released her grip on Houjou's shoulder and made her way to the classroom door with her friends.
Houjou gathered her breath, letting her chest rise and fall slowly. She crouched in a fighting stance almost like she was fighting a demon in real life. I can do this! She then gave a subtle flick of her hair and walked out of the classroom with a victorious smile.
She didn't need a good luck charm. After all, she had her crush to lean on. Just like any magical good luck charm, he was only one call away.
The long, tall grass brushed on Houjou's legs as she weaved through a green field on a dusky Saturday evening. She wore her most cherished blue organza dress adorned with frills and bows. She also wore blue bows in her hair to match her outfit and topped herself with a tan sweater.
The roots strewn along the ground blocked the winding, narrow path to the abandoned shrine where she would do her dare. Houjou tripped on one of these roots, trapping her shoe's toe and causing her to lurch forward onto the ground.
"Augh!" she cried out. Unlike before, Hamaguchi wasn't there to catch her as she fell. She picked herself up and ran her fingers through her hair to dislodge the pieces of twigs that stuck. She pouted, realizing that her freshly curled hair was going to be more unkempt as a result.
As she continued towards the shrine, Houjou noticed that the path elevated onto a steep, grassy hill now covered with reeds. She inhaled, puffing out her chest to its full capacity. Fluttering thumps flew from her heart as she charged up the hill step by step. At that moment, she strove to be a samurai of her own. She would prove to Hamaguchi that she could stand on her own two feet. She would wade through the thorns, finish the dare, and tell Hamaguchi her feelings during their date. She began with the thorns, but some became stuck in her ankles. Even so, she pressed on, clenching her fists as she hiked up the hill.
As Houjou reached the top of the hill, the old remnants of the abandoned Shinto Shrine came into view. Its dilapidated wooden flooring and sagging pediments were the first features she noticed. As a whole, the shrine looked so worn out that it seemed like it would buckle and collapse at any time.
Although the rickety ruins of the shrine caused her knees to flinch, a pink and orange sunset shone its rays onto the shrine. Houjou's eyes glistened as the setting sun caused the shrine to sparkle. In front of the shrine was an immaculately preserved scarlet Torii that towered high above it. The sun's rays shone on the Torii to create what looked like a stairway to a bright future filled with love and acceptance.
She put her hands together and emitted a deep sigh. A glimmer of hope resided in Houjou's heart. Maybe going ahead with this isn't such a bad idea after all.
A cheery voice then called out from behind her, disrupting her daydream. "Houjou, there you are!" Houjou turned around to see Suzu walking up the hill with three of her friends. She arched her brow, letting her mouth hang open as the rest of the party came into view.
Wait, wasn't this supposed to be a formal party? She caught wind of Suzu's companions, who adorned themselves with loose socks, oversized t-shirts, and ripped jeans. Suzu herself wore a bright red shirt, denim shorts, red studs in her ears, and black running shoes. She had also tied black hair into a bun that seemed to act like a solar eclipse blocking out the setting sun.
Suzu snickered, covering her mouth with her left hand. "Oh Houjou, you're much braver than I thought! Wearing your best shoes to the old abandoned Shrine? Honestly, you've really outdone yourself!" Suzu pointed at her sparkly closed-toe blue shoes. Houjou angled her head to the left while staring at her pointing index finger. Upon closer inspection the pointing finger seemed derisive but Houjou couldn't tell if what she was imagining was true.
Houjou clasped her arms in front of her chest and dragged her shoes along the dirt. "But you like what I'm wearing, right?" Houjou asked the group, her hunched posture remaining still.
"Oh of course it's perfect Houjou, perfect for our plan later. That is, if you get out of this Shrine alive." Suzu winked and walked over to Houjou with a chuckle. Houjou felt her muscles lock in place, her familiar cackle reminding her of the times she laughed at her demise every chance she could.
Her eyes locked in on Suzu's, who addressed her with a flippant hand wave, "Oh, I'm just kidding Houjou-san! We'll be right here for you while you do the dare." Suzu looked back at her friends who nodded in agreement. "Now, before we start, I think Houjou-san needs to know of another little post-dare reward we have set up," Suzu explained, raising her hand up like an army sergeant commanding her forces.
Another reward?! Houjou's face lit up at the mention of yet another surprise. Her apprehensions melted away, replaced by a bashful, burning sensation to her cheeks. She couldn't believe that she was going to be receiving so many gifts from Suzu and her friends.
"It's not for you dear Houjou-san. It's for Hamaguchi-kun! You see, we think you should be the gift bearer for your date tonight," Without a word, Suzu's friend - an unfamiliar, tall boy with black hair - gave her a shiny sapphire and purple coloured object. Suzu clutched it in her right hand, holding it up for Houjou to see.
She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands in awe. Suzu was holding up one of the rarest Metal Fight Beyblades in the world: Hell Kerbecs Blue.
Hamaguchi had been begging his parents to buy him the Hell Kerbecs Blue for Christmas but it was too expensive. All she had to do was remain unscathed at the haunted shrine and receive the prize. Then she would win Hamaguchi's heart for good!
"Sure, I can do that! When do we start?" Houjou replied. She flicked her hair and posed with her hand on her hip. The air of confidence from her voice rang clear as a bell.
"We'll get started now actually. But first I need you to stand on that rug over there," Suzu explained, motioning for Houjou to stand by the red-looking rug sticking out from the shrine's entrance. She climbed up the wooden stairs towards the area underneath the pediment. A prideful smile remained plastered on her face, feeling that Hamaguchi's gift was practically in her hands. What could a simple shrine spirit do to her?
Houjou danced to and fro in place on the rug. After a few taps of her feet, she felt a sharp crack below her feet. She froze in place, careful not to place too much weight on the sagging floorboards. She felt her blood grow cold as the sounds of creaking floorboards flowed into her ears. "Suzu-san, I think the floor is too weak here. Could we move somewhere else?" Houjou asked, turning her head back towards Suzu. She felt herself wobbling back and forth and put out her arms to steady herself.
Suzu gave out a wry chuckle and replied, "Oh Houjou-san, I think that spot is perfect for you." Her voice now took a more sinister tone, a fact that didn't escape Houjou's attention.
"What, why?" Her feet grew heavier, sinking lower as the floorboard continued to creak and crack.
Houjou's eyes opened wide in fright as Suzu came closer, her footsteps resounding off of the old wooden stairs. The creaking drew itself out to Houjou like nails on a chalkboard. Her skin broke out in goosebumps from the growing chill that Suzu brought with her. Moments later, Houjou found herself staring deep into Suzu's amber eyes.
"It's weak and fragile, just like you," Suzu said menacingly. Houjou's brown eyes widened and her jaw went slack. She had little time to react before Suzu pushed her backwards, sending her falling into the wooden boards below. The wooden boards covered up by the rug couldn't take the sudden amount of weight forced upon it and broke open. Houjou crashed through the wooden structure, her body going slack like a limp puppet. Her brain seemed to process everything in slow motion as she tumbled back first into the piles of wood underneath the shrine's decaying structure. Her body landed with a hard thud, causing her to cry out in pain. The broken pieces of wood scratched her exposed legs, causing thin scratches of blood to form from the top of her thigh to her ankles.
She tried to get up, but the pointy wood pieces around left her mortified that she would inflict more scratches upon herself. On top of that, she felt a dull pang on her bottom that she rubbed, forcing her to sit still underneath the shrine's entrance.
The group of friends now transformed into their bullying selves. They surrounded the hole where Houjou fell through and started laughing at an uproar. Never before had Houjou felt so alone and humiliated. Not even the times she slipped and fell at school made her feel so isolated and stupid. As her bullies laughed and pointed at her, all she wanted to do was disappear behind the piles of wood and dirt, never to re-emerge to face another day.
"Oh Mouse, you really crack me up. Never in my life have I ever met someone as gullible and bone-headed as you," Suzu chided, her wry smile shining through the growing darkness. "We even made up a chant in honour of your naivete. As it turns out, I think the ghost was actually a demon alI along, and I think he would really enjoy this chant!" Suzu turned to her friends, her face obscured by the shroud of black hair now hanging down her face.
As the evening star shone it put its light on a mouse,
Oh, what a wretched rodent living inside our house!
We can't let this mouse tarnish our dear town,
lest it destroy everything we own.
If we catch it in a trap and send it away,
we'll keep our crops for another day.
Houjou covered her ears as her assailants chanted away. The more she sat there, the more she scolded herself for not knowing sooner. I am so stupid and childish! Houjou whimpered, feeling tears flow down from her face. Houjou looked up beyond the chanting bullies to see that there were no stars in the sky. Not a single glimmer of hope could be seen, even when she needed it most.
The sounds of their chanting grew quieter as they finished their chanting spectacle. All she could hear at the moment were the droning chirps of crickets, the grunting of Suzu's voice, and a heavy object being dragged through the grass. Houjou emitted a faint groan from her lips and closed her eyes, wishing all of this would go away.
The sounds of rushing water descended from above the hole, soaking Houjou from head to toe in cold water. Houjou gasped from the cold frigid liquid soaking her dress to the bone, depriving her of the remaining body heat she had. The cold water dripped down her face and completely drenched her hair. As her teeth chattered away, she made out the powerful stench of dirt and pond scum up her nostrils.
Houjou gagged at the stench consuming her clothing and plugged her nose. She looked up to see Suzu and her friends cackling like witches over a boiling cauldron. "Aww I think the dirt suits you even better! After all, that's how you live everyday, right, Mouse?" Suzu shook a finger at her with a tut.
But before Suzu could say any more, her friend piped up and said, "Oh Suzu-chan! We should head back to the party! We don't want to keep our soccer star waiting!" Suzu's friend piped up, motioning them to head back to her house.
"Oh yes that's right! We can't neglect poor Hamaguchi-kun now, can we? After all, we've just done him a huge favour," Suzu chuckled, eyeing Houjou with a piercing glare.
A horrified Houjou clasped her hands over her mouth, tears continuing to flow from her eyes. To see Hamaguchi receive the royal treatment while she scoured about in dirt broke her spirit.
"Oh, and Mouse? If we ever catch you at any of Hamaguchi's games, you're done for. Got it?" Suzu retorted before running away to catch up with the others.
Houjou whimpered, her cries muffled by her hands on her face. There would be no party, no date, no gift and absolutely no confession. Worst of all, there was no way for her to attend any more of Hamaguchi's games, lest she end up even worse than she already was. Houjou kicked the broken wooden planks beneath her feet and let out another grunt of pain. She had fallen right into Suzu's trap. Now, she paid the price for being idiotically impressionable.
But she still had her samurai. Her hero. Now, more than ever, she needed him to come rescue her.
Houjou quickly dug through her sweater pocket, a sigh of relief washing over her as she felt her flip phone in her hands. Houjou squinted as the bright phone screen illuminated the darkness around her. She breathed another sigh of relief, thankful that her phone was waterproof. She quickly found Hamaguchi's phone number and dialed it, praying for an answer.
The phone kept emitting the same dial tone for two minutes before connecting her with an automated message. Houjou shook her head with droplets of water falling from her hair. She then pressed the call button again. She pleaded with her phone to make some magical connection to her samurai, but she still had no luck. She pressed the call button repeatedly for ten minutes. Even after all that, Hamaguchi still did not pick up.
Houjou grimaced, letting her shoulders sag and her heart droop low. She imagined her samurai at the party enjoying himself with his fellow teammates and Suzu. His laughing face as he celebrated a toast in his honour caused her to close her eyes and fold her arms in defeat. Her hero was not coming.
Houjou used her remaining upper body strength to pull herself up. Looking around, she saw that her head stuck out from the hole two feet up, giving her a clear view of the world above. Seeing that she wasn't in immediate danger, she latched her hands onto a stable piece of wood and hoisted herself out of the hole.
In a dazed and soaking mess, Houjou lumbered home away from the shrine and the party. As she walked home Houjou felt that deep in her heart there would be some logical explanation for Hamaguchi not picking up her phone. But at that moment, all she wanted was to take a long, hot shower and crawl into bed for the night.
Back at her apartment, she stumbled to her doorway and turned the key. When she opened the door, a wave of relief washed over her when she saw how dark the hallway was. For the first time all Houjou wanted was to be completely and utterly alone. It was how everyone else made her feel inside. Even Hamaguchi.
Most of the students at Tonosho Junior High presently took their high-speed internet access for granted. Few students knew of the work needed to set up the state-of-the-art IT room for providing comprehensive online access. That was partly because the room was tucked away at the end of the hallway beside the nurse's office, with no other doors on which to speak. The room itself was filled with grey desktop computers atop black steel tables, with screens that projected light blue hues across the room. The multicolored lights that flickered from the rows of black servers were enough to light the room's aisles.
Outside the IT room was a single staircase that led to the hallway above. The dull-coloured stairwell contrasted the cream-coloured walls and beige door leading to the IT room. At the top of the stairwell stationed a large metal door adorned with a small glass window. A lone white light bulb illuminated the stairwell from the ceiling. Such a place would be perfect for Houjou to sit alone and eat by herself during lunch break. There, only the sounds of whooshing wind from the ceiling vents and the hums of the IT room's servers kept her company. "Peace and quiet. Just what I needed," she said to herself.
Houjou reached into her school bag and grabbed her dark blue lunchbox with her usual lunch of broccoli, sausages, and rice. She clasped her hands together and gave a brief moment of thanks, causing her heart to soften ever so slightly. The moment of respite, no matter how short, was enough for her to breathe a sigh of relief. She took her wooden chopsticks and grabbed a piece of her sausage.
But just as she was about to take her first bite, the sounds of a jiggling door handle zipped through her ears. She spun her head around and darted her gaze at the metal door at the top. Her breathing grew faster. Her chest grew tight. Her hands began to tremble. Yet even after all the jiggling, the door remained closed and the doorknob returned to stillness. She berated herself for her insecurity on display. I can't keep second-guessing myself like this! It's the complete opposite of what my checklist told me to do!
She released a loud grunt from her lips that echoed off of the grey cement walls. Her sigh dissolved in the breezy air as she put down her lunch and hugged her knees to her chest. The weighty feelings she felt the past week continued to hold her down everywhere she went. She was hoping her path to maturity wouldn't be filled with so many thorns and rocks, but there they were. Now, she just wanted a way to alleviate the tightness growing on her chest.
Just then, a tender, yet unyielding voice whispered into her ears. You won't be able to loosen your heart until you address the things that ail you, Houjou.
Houjou's eyes perked up, frantically shaking her head about. She found no signs of life around her, yet she was sure that the whispers of her late grandmother passed through her ears. "Grandma," Houjou called out with a whimper. "Is that you?" her voice trailed off with the breeze. She extended her hands towards the door above, grasping the air. She brought her hand back to her chest and let her head sink. It may have been years since her grandmother's passing, but the pain of her loss still hit hard at home.
But she had to eat her lunch. There was still much to do even as the school year came closer to its end. It was unfathomable for her to stop and let herself wallow in self-pity. With narrowed eyes, Houjou shook her head and loosened her legs. She picked up her lunch and placed it on her lap to take her first bite. Upon doing so without an interruption, a sense of fulfillment descended upon her as she massaged her chest. She let her lips form a relieved smile. Houjou went on eating her lunch, her heart softening once again as she savoured her meal.
But just as she was halfway through her meal, the sounds of footsteps zipped through her ears. The louder the footsteps got, the more ominous they sounded. The wave of frenzied nerves returned, sending shockwaves throughout her upper body. Her heart tightened with each step. Before she knew it, she felt her fingers loosen their grip on her chopsticks, dropping the food.
Moments later, a shrill voice cried out from beyond the metal door. "Houjou-san, are you in there?" the voice asked with a holler. Their shouts were followed by a tense mumbling familiar to Houjou's ears.
She massaged her forehead and grumbled, shaking her head. Ugh, why is Mano-san here? I thought I told her to leave me alone! She placed her half-eaten lunch meal down to the floor and stood herself up. With a growl and narrowed eyes, she stomped up the stairs towards the metal door.
Houjou reached the top step with a thump and grabbed the door handle. As she pulled open the door, she saw not a black-haired girl on the other side. Instead, her eyes beheld a girl with long, straight brown hair who gave off a gleeful smile. Houjou placed her hand over her mouth as the brown-haired girl released a light gasp.
"Oh Houjou-san! I didn't see you there. Sorry to bother you," Takagi smiled softly. "I just wanted to ask you about something," she continued, folding her hands in front of her stomach.
Houjou turned her gaze towards Takagi. She released a grunt, noticing Mano's pigtails sticking out from behind Takagi's shoulder. Takagi's shuffling footsteps betrayed an appearance of unease that Houjou didn't see often from her. Moreover, her eyes lost the gleam they brought when Houjou first met her. Combined with her frown and her loosened arms, Takagi's apprehensive look instilled a timid sense of guilt that seeped into the depths of Houjou's heart.
But timid was all that it was. It was bad enough that she used no uncertain terms to signal her desire to be left alone. It was another to have not one, but two of her classmates watching her every move.
Nevertheless, Takagi pressed on, extending her hand and asking, "Would you like to come to the library with us?"
Houjou froze for a split second. A wave of nostalgia descended upon her like the first snowfall on a wintry night. The mention of the bookstore brought her back to a cold, snowy night outside the town's lone bookstore. She remembered the blast of heat that coursed through her jacket-covered body as she walked through those glass doors. The smell of fresh paper and oak wood finishing flowed back into her memories as she recalled taking her first steps inside the store for the first time.
As she continued the scene from her childhood, Houjou felt light on her feet and stood on her tiptoes. Her heart made her reveal a sunny smile that invigorated her for the first time since White Day. She lifted her toes as high as she could, feeling drawn to the sensation of old, dusty, hardcover books on her hand. She just had to experience this wave of sentimentality just once before returning to her lonely existence.
She was just about to raise her finger and accept Takagi's invitation. But Mano jumped from behind with her peppy, yet childish diction. "Ohh that's a great idea Takagi-chan! I can show you and Houjou-san some more 100% Unrequited Love! There's even talk of another movie coming out!" Mano piped up with her ear-splitting voice, jumping up and down with her pigtails bouncing about.
Houjou's smile turned into a cringe. She wanted to go to the bookstore so badly, even if it meant having to endure some pain to her ears. But she didn't want to be reminded of Hamaguchi through Mano's incessant discourse on romance. All she had to do was think about the fateful night at the abandoned shrine. That alone was enough for her to dispel any gushy feelings that Mano was desperate to stir up.
"Actually, I have some important errands to run after today's classes. After all, I need to make food for myself tonight!" Houjou chuckled sheepishly while massaging her hands together. Having to stretch her lips to fake her smile grew almost as painful as Mano's squawking voice.
"Oh, that's too bad, Houjou-san. For a minute there you seemed really excited to go," Takagi noted while furrowing her brow.
Houjou backed away, feeling a pang in her stomach. She shook her head vigorously before reopening the door to the stairwell.
"Sorry for confusing you both, but I really must be on my way. Classes are about to resume after all," said Houjou. She twirled her hair while striking a flashy, suave pose with her hands.
Takagi shrugged her shoulders while Mano folded her arms and released a small humph. "That's all right Houjou-san. Just let us know if you change your mind," Takagi tilted her head to the right, smiling as kindly as ever.
Houjou dismissed both girls with a hand wave and took her first step through the metal door into the stairwell. She put her left hand on her hip and formed a haughty smirk. She held her head up high imagining the afternoon sun shining on her face. With the outcome of her latest interaction, she could cross off another item of her maturity checklist: allow no sign of vulnerability to escape her grasp.
But before she could take another step into the stairwell, a familiar, devilish snicker reverberated through the hallway. The cackle caused Houjou's blood to run cold. She found herself folding her free arms back against her chest. Her legs followed suit, glued together in a sheepish stance.
Houjou slunk away like a puppy with its tail behind its back as the realization dawned on her. Suzu-san. Although she and Suzu ended up in different classes, Houjou expected to encounter her tormenter every now and then. Each encounter always led to the same outcome. Matching the meaning of Suzu's very name - "Bell" - the tones of a deathly bell pierced her ears every time she heard Suzu's voice.
Houjou's breathing quickened and her heart throbbed in her ears louder and louder. Worse yet, her classmates were here to watch her be torn away into tiny shreds. She straightened her back as much as she could. She thoroughly despised Suzu, but her commanding personality and confident posture were things she desired most. They were emblems of what she didn't have, things that she yearned to be and features that made her appealing to the rest of the world. Even with her mature aura, she only gained the fear of her fellow 2-2 classmates; they weren't exactly the stylish paragons of maturity and fame.
She felt Suzu's hands pressing down on her shoulder. Suzu released little more than a whisper into her lips, but it was enough for Houjou to make out her words loud and clear.
"You know, you really do belong at the bottom of that stairwell. For one, you're really quite clumsy."
Houjou's eyes widened, gasping as she felt the voice's piercing words course through her bones. She looked down to her shirt. With widened eyes, she realized what the figure was talking about. It was the moment she dropped her chopsticks when Mano's voice rang through the hallway. The bright and vivid oil stains stuck out from her shirt like a sore thumb.
Houjou turned back over her shoulders. The figure walked away with a derisive hand wave while Takagi and Mano stood off to the side. She shut her eyes as tight as she could, slumped her head, and slouched forward. In mere moments, she turned from a radiant being into a figure flat as a doormat.
The Westminster Bells chimed their tune, signaling the end of lunch period. To Houjou it sounded like the ominous peal of a death knell. She looked up to find that Takagi and Mano were already walking away towards class without another word. She chewed on her thumb, biting back tears that began prickling her eyelids. She couldn't let the floodgates open now, even as her classmates walked away.
Houjou sucked in a large breath and dried her wet eyes with her sleeve before entering her next class. She felt a painful squeeze on her chest. She tried to massage her chest to loosen it, but it did little to relax her compressed heart. Even after the tears that flowed, she could at least keep some of her dignity. After all, she didn't cry in front of her classmates. Going on alone for the rest of the day was her only ticket back to the fleeting goal of maturity. Even if it meant keeping her painful memories of Suzu inside.