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.

[all_onis_are_true]

...

I wonder if we will find out what happened to him.

[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?

[all_onis_are_true]

Not from fairly recently. But I have been doing some research at the local library. It would seem there have been a number of unusual deaths and disappearances going back several years around here. Rather concerning, is it not?

[independent_dollmaker]

"Maybe Souji is one of them." That's what you're saying, right?

[all_onis_are_true]

A logical question to ask ourselves, yes?

[independent_dollmaker]

Well, if that's the case, what would you do?

[all_onis_are_true]

Find the evidence. Seek the truth. If this is really something that has been happening for a long time, something must be done before it happens again. It is the only logical way forward.

[independent_dollmaker]

That's all good, but if the police weren't able to solve the crimes, what chance do we have?

[all_onis_are_true]

[You're not sure, but you thought you heard him mutter something like, "Assuming they aren't in on it, anyway."]

We will have to try anyway. For Souji's sake.