June 16th, 1999 - After School

[independent_dollmaker]

[It's Wednesday, now. Souji didn't come to school yesterday. He was gone today, too. It's official now: He's been reported missing.

The atmosphere over the usual Supernatural Investigation Club meeting is heavier than usual. The silence from the empty seat Souji usuall sits in seems awfully loud.

After one stretch of silence, Alice speaks up.]

...I don't exactly believe it, but I at least want to say it once.

What if Seta-san's disappearance has something to do with what we did last weekend?

Comments

[all_onis_are_true]

[Hiroshi had found out about it upon going to visit Souji's place. Missing, hell. He had no doubts in his mind that Souji was dead.

"The Ninth is dead."

He's sitting in a corner poring over newspapers, as if trying to find more information he couldn't get before. As if someone's life depended on it.]

[itwasfeyt]

...Hiroshi.

[Maya looked less talkative than yesterday, and certainly less excited.]

[all_onis_are_true]

...Maya.

[He eyes her carefully.]

Is something the matter?

[itwasfeyt]

I'm... a little worried about Souji. He usually lets us know if anything's happening.

[independent_dollmaker]

Reading up on something?

[Hey, look who it is! At least, she seems much like her normal self today. No threatening edge to her voice, or ominous glint in the eyes. Almost like that conversation the other day never happened at all, or like it was just someone else who looked exactly like Alice.]

[all_onis_are_true]

[What the hell? Why is she looking so calm today? Does she think he forgot yesterday? But maybe Souji's disappearance got to her. Still, he keeps a constant eye on her.]

...Have you read up at all on the news around this area?

[independent_dollmaker]

Nothing much from before I moved here. Why, is there something interesting?

[loveandwillpower]

No way! He didn't even come to the ritual!

[independent_dollmaker]

That's exactly it, though. We weren't supposed to let anyone know, right? And Seta knew.

[loveandwillpower]

...Well... what's supposed to happen if anyone does know?

[independent_dollmaker]

I don't know. Maybe Maria does?

[ohmygah]

[Osaka looks miserable, all in all. Her usual sleepy demeanor seems overtaken by a general quiet terror.

At Alice's words though, she looks up suddenly, surprisingly hopeful.]

So you don't think it was my fault after all?

[Her logic system may have made things more miserable for herself than usual.]

[independent_dollmaker]

Is there a reason it would be your fault?

[ohmygah]

[A pained look crosses her face and she looks down at the table guiltily.]

..I was trying to break the chopsticks right to bring us good luck, but... I just made things go all wrong...

[independent_dollmaker]

I... don't think the ritual description said anything about chopsticks.

[fortunatetoaster]

[ you may notice that even before the club meeting, your student council president was unusually sombre today -- only partially down to the news about Souji. she seems oddly lethargic in a way that can't be entirely put down to heat or lack of sleep -- though those who've known her long enough and have seen spells like this before probably know what's going on.

She finally seems to perk up once she reaches the clubroom, but not by much -- there's no assigning of demerits today which is probably of little comfort to well, anyone.

she makes a face at Alice's words, nibbling worriedly on her bottom lip. ]

... I don't... y'don't really think that's true... right?

[ohmygah]

A lot o' things are true that nobody expects it to be. Like cell phones boosting up telephone numbers to eleven.

[Via 1999 in Japan wikipedia: January 1 - Mobile phone numbers extend to eleven digits throughout Japan. History!]

[loveandwillpower]

Cell phones don't have anything to do with Souji's disappearance, though. Not even a witch could get reception in a country town like this!

[ohmygah]

But aren't witches all magic powered? They could probably get a pretty good deal....

[independent_dollmaker]

I don't exactly believe it, but... I can't help but wonder, I suppose.

Are you feeling well?

[fortunatetoaster]

... mmrpgh.

[ she lets out a little huff. ]

Mm'just tired. Ain't anythin' to worry about.

LATER

[all_onis_are_true]

[Hiroshi seems even more stand-offish and antisocial than usual. At length, he finally gets up, picking up his bag and leaving without a word. He can't stand being in here. Not while there's a REAL mystery going on right under everybody's noses. And he doesn't know who he can trust right now.]

[independent_dollmaker]

[Not far behind him, Hiroshi may hear a second set of footsteps. Looks like he's not the only one leaving early today.]

[all_onis_are_true]

[He pauses, briefly. Is one of them following him? That's... that's normal, right? Yet... He continues walking, feeling a slight film of sweat on the back of his neck as he approaches the stairs.]

[independent_dollmaker]

[She's walking at a pretty brisk pace. Quite close, by the time he reaches the staircase.

She doesn't say a word, though.]