Students crowded to exit the University's site as soon as their courses ended by the sunset. Never before were they in such a hurry to reach the bus and head home to safety. They were driven not by a desire to enjoy their free time as much as possible, but fear. Yes, that was what collective fear looked like, at least one of its aspects. It manifested in young adults crowding busses to get back to the dorm or their own homes because a killer was on the loose. And it was not just in them, but also in the older adults who rushed to their homes once they got off work and dared not venture during the night. Hajime understood this as he and Jack made their way out of the crowd. HE could not help but wonder how long it would take until said fear spread to other collectives. Would a citywide curfew ensue next? When man was pushed so far to his limits, he could not help but marvel at the power of fear.
"So, partner, what's our next move?" Jack wondered, speaking at a lower volume so that only his friend could hear him.
"I'd say we try to investigate the areas around the campus tomorrow, maybe we'll find more clues," Hajime suggested.
"Isn't that a little too risky, though? We know the killer's watching us, why don't we just go to the cops with what we've got so far?"
"Please, during a mere lunch break we've found more evidence than our entire police force who have been searching over the last few days."
"Yes, but the police are qualified, while we're not," Jack reasoned.
"Oh yes, I can see that in their results so far," Hajime snickered, a disgusted expression on his face. "Wasted degrees that lead to ruined lives. This city is going downhill, I'm telling you."
"Look, you d-"
Before Jack could have the opportunity to protest Hajime's pessimism, they were both startled by two palms slapping their shoulders hard. The two turned around at the same time and were quickly relieved to see a redhead donning brown high heel boots, blue jeans, a yellow T-shirt and a long silver jacket. Her short hair matched the color of her eyes, fiery and filled with passion.
"Lori, don't scare us like that," Jack sighed, wiping the sweat off of his forehead.
"What's up? I've seen you hanging with blondie more ever since his friend Ken died," Lori remarked snidely. "What's the matter, Jack? You turning gay for Hajime?"
"Haha, don't worry, I ain't going the other way any time soon," Jack assured her and leaned to kiss her lips.
"She's the girlfriend you kept bragging about?" Hajime asked, making no effort to hide how unimpressed he was.
Jack broke the kiss and answered, "Oh hell yes, she may be from Canada, but she's as hot as any cowgirl you'd see in the Wild West, partner!"
"Charming…" Hajime narrowed his eyes at the sight of the couple. "Anyway, Lori, we've found some clues regarding Ken's murder and your boyfriend here suggested we go to the police with them right away since the killer might be watching us."
"Oh, that's so spooky, reminds me of a bad horror movie." Lori mockingly stuck out her tongue. "What makes you geniuses think that the killer won't just stop you from getting to the cops in the first place?"
"Speed," Hajime replied with a similar tone. "In that case we should get going… unless you want to stay here and try your chances as the final girl."
Lori chuckled. "Lead the way, rich boy."
Hajime sighed and went ahead, the couple following suit. If Jack's girlfriend wanted to tag along, her attitude would most likely have stood in the way more than actually helped. Besides, why did he even need sidekicks to begin with? This was not some dumb hero's journey from a detective novel or noir movie, this was his path to vengeance, and hopefully said vengeance would have allowed him to move on with his life. Yes, it was his personal journey, so why in the hell did he have those two come along?
On their way they passed by the small park near the bus stop. Hajime took a quick glance at it. Still devoid of people, covered all the more by rust and the leaves of balding trees, autumn's grip was taking its toll on the once joyous playground. Just like how the fear of the killer was taking its toll on the city's spirit. His thoughts were soon disturbed by the rather annoying voice of Lori.
"Hey Hajime, me and Jack are stopping by to duel and blow off some steam."
He groaned impatiently. "Didn't you guys want to get to the police?"
"Don't get your jimmies rustled so easy, we'll be fast, I promise." She winked at him as the two entered the park and went straight to the dueling tables.
How he wanted to just drop them and take matters into his own hands. But then he remembered the promise he had made to Jack. They were partners now, which meant that they had to work together. Resigned, he leaned forward against the metallic wall, thankful that his sweater protected him from the steel's cold. At a decent distance away from him, the couple had set their cards on the tables and begun their matches.
"I summon Hop Churis." Lori placed the card in her battle zone.
"I cast Jojojo Jokers." Jack checked the top five cards of his deck and took Pali Nights to his hand, put the rest on the bottom of his deck.
"I summon ChuChuris, First Squad. With his effect, my Beat Jockeys cost 1 mana less. Turn end."
"Huh? Why aren't you attacking with Hop Churis?"
"Dumbass, Hop Churis can't attack while other creatures of mine haven't."
"Right… in that case, I summon Yattareman."
"You also want to reduce the cost of your creatures, ey? Very well, I summon Bakugetto, Totsugeki Tank." Lori tossed her remaining card in the graveyard and drew two more. "ChuChuris, break his shield! Now Hop Churis can attack, break his shield!"
Jack took the two cards in his, and then he quickly revealed the second one.
"Shield trigger, I summon Bainaradoor, send Bakugetto to the bottom of your deck!" he sighed with relief. "My turn, I summon Pali Nights and put Jojojo Jokers from the graveyard to my mana zone. Then I summon Senno, Brainwash. Bainaradoor, attack Hop Churis! Yattareman, attack ChuChuris!"
All four creature cards then ended in the graveyards of their owners, thus lending the field advantage to Jack once again. But Lori was far from done. In fact, the smile on her face hinted that the best was yet to come.
"I summon Dachicco Churis. With his effect, my Beat Jockeys cost 3 mana less until the end of the turn." And then she gracefully took a card from her hand and slapped it onto the table, raising the tone of her voice. "Bad Action Dynamite 2, I summon Bad Brand Limited!"
"But that thing costs 7 mana and you only have 2 unused mana left!" Jack protested.
"Do the math. Dachicco Churis reduced Bad Brand Limited's cost by 3. Then with Bad Action Dynamite, he costs 2 less. 7-5=2, the exact amount I need to summon him," Lori proudly explained. "Now with his effect, I destroy Senno. More so, he's a speed attacker. Now go, Bad Brand Limited, double break his shields!"
Jack gulped nervously as he picked up two more cards from his shield zone.
"I end my turn and destroy him due to Bad Action Dynamite," Lori concluded.
"I summon two Chocolate House." Jack quickly did his move, though in his mind he desperately hoped that she would not defeat him on her next turn.
"I summon Nagnag Churis and with his effect I battle Pali Nights, destroying him. Dachicco Churis, break his final shield!"
JJack took a breath of relief. Looking at a card in his hand, he knew it was now or never.
"I summon Danganoh, Super Special Q! When I put him into the battle zone, he can attack you directly. More so, he breaks an extra shield for each other Jokers I have in the battle zone. So, Danganoh, quattro break her shields!" he ordered, though the opponent seemed rather unfazed by the prospect of losing four shields that easily. "Chocolate House, attack and with his effect I put Tutankhanen from my hand to my mana zone, break her final shield!"
Lori picked up the remaining card in her shield zone and smiled. "Shield trigger, I summon Merry "Ken" Brand, which battles the other Chocolate House. Then since I put him in the battle zone during your turn, he goes to the bottom of my deck. Are you quite done?"
Jack sighed, he was so close. "Yeah, your move."
"Good. Bad Action Dynamite 2, I summon Bad Brand Limited again and destroy the other Chocolate House. Go, Bad Brand Limited, todomeda!"
Hajime could not help but be impressed by Lori's speed. Although he had not encountered such an efficient rush deck before, somehow their match served to remind him of the duels he had shared with Ken. Just a few days ago, he and his best friend were where the couple now stood, indulging in the same pleasures that card game offered.
"I told you I'd be fast," Lori gloated to the blond as she packed her cards.
"Yeah, her deck packs a swifter punch than my own," Jack said, laughing at the outcome of their match.
"Of course, that's only natural for us women!"
"If you two are quite done, I'd rather be at the police station before the night settles in," Hajime replied, getting all the more impatient.
And so they were on their way, the place they sought being at only a few blocks past the Shirayama mansion. But it was as the building appeared in their sight that a peculiar thing happened. Hajime's phone rang, and when he checked he saw it was a private number.
"Is something wrong, partner?" Jack asked as he noticed the concerned look on his friend's face.
Ignoring him, Hajime answered the call.
"Hi," a deep and suave male voice that somehow could still send chills down one's spine answered on the other line.
"Who is this?" Hajime asked.
"Did you like the message I've left in your locker?"
His face suddenly turned pale as he froze in his tracks, much to the surprise of his friends, who looked back at him questioningly.
"It's the killer…" he managed to mutter.
"You've got that right," his caller confirmed and chuckled maliciously.
"What do you want?"
"You're a fascinating creature, Hajime Shirayama. So I wish to play a game with you. The game is called: 'find me before this entire city goes to hell', think you're up for it?"
"Listen, asshole, this is not a fucking game!" Hajime snapped. "I'll put an end to this right now!"
"I'm sure your grandma Tsugumi thinks the same way," the voice replied sarcastically.
"What do you mean…?"
"Dante Street, number 78, postal code 551112, the mansion surrounded with an electrified fence that has video cameras armed with lasers in each corner. Oh right, and you have magenta curtains."
With each detail of their address that was being spoken, Hajime felt the emptiness inside caused by fear grow larger and larger. He was getting numb, as if his entire world was spinning uncontrollably.
"I can sneak past your security system any time I wish."
"You're bluffing! You just want to scare me so that I don't get the police involved!" Hajime tried to keep his calm, but was obviously failing.
"Want to bet your grandma's life on it?" the voice snidely asked.
The only answer given was silence, a silence of defeat which left the couple next to him baffled.
"Good boy. Don't even consider contacting the cops in any way if you know what's best for your family and friends. The same goes for them," the caller instructed him in a calm yet eerily threatening manner. "I know where all of you are at any time. I will prey on your weaknesses when you least expect it, I will-"
"Go fuck yourself!" Hajime yelled and hanged up on him.
"What did he say?" Jack asked as they both walked up to their distraught friend.
"The killer is on our trail," Hajime blankly spoke.
"Are you serious?" Jack replied with disbelief.
"He knows my address and how my house looks like. He knows my grandma and he even threatened her life if we dare go to the police."
"And you're going to let him scare you?" Lori asked.
"What would you do in my place? Would you go to the police, knowing that your loved ones are in danger by doing so?"
"But if you give in to his demands, you'll just be playing his game!" she protested.
"That's all this is to him, guys. One huge game… I'm sorry for dragging you into this."
"If that creep even dares to come close to us, I'll beat him up with my own fists!" Lori said, her own anger building up.
"Or you'll end up like his victims," Jack reminded her.
Hajime sighed. "Let's all just go home and stay safe for now. It's getting dark."
Turning back from their tracks, they split at his family mansion, the couple heading for the bus station. Once he got inside, Hajime found Tsugumi in her bathrobe, preparing dinner.
"Hajime, darling, I've been waiting for you. How was school today?"
No answer came. He just stood there and stared at her, relieved that she was safe and unaware of how dangerously close the killer had gotten to them.
"Hajime, what happened? You seem a bit scared," Tsugumi remarked.
Without any other words and much to her confusion, he hugged her and held on tight, as if she would slip from his arms in any moment. As much as he hated it, he was right – fear was indeed a powerful weapon.