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]

[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.]

[all_onis_are_true]

[Why isn't she saying anything. Seriously. It's creepy.

He can spot her just out of the corner of his eye. Alice, again. Ugh. He just needs to get out, clear his head. He prepares to step down.]

[independent_dollmaker]

[At that exact moment, the sudden sound of movement from behind him.]

[all_onis_are_true]

[Wh --

Hiroshi starts, and teeters, just barely catching himself on the railing. He wobbles, nearly falling, before shooting a foot down and stumbling slightly down the stairway instead. Once at the bottom, he kneels to the ground, panting.

She pushed him.

She PUSHED him.]

[independent_dollmaker]

[A long moment of silence passes after Hiroshi's brush with death. Then, a hollow voice speaks up from the top of the stairs.]

My, my, that looked dangerous.

[all_onis_are_true]

[He gets to his feet sharply, turning in Alice's direction.]

You...

[independent_dollmaker]

I... what, exactly?

[all_onis_are_true]

I knew it. I knew it was a mistake to tell you my suspicions. You sent that letter, didn't you?

[independent_dollmaker]

Me? Don't be ridiculous.

I know exactly who sent you that letter. Don't you?

[all_onis_are_true]

DON'T MESS WITH ME! You... leave me alone! Don't follow me!

[He sprints down and away as fast as he can. He's not about to give her a second chance.]

[independent_dollmaker]

[Alice doesn't follow, but he can hear her. A twisted laugh like nothing he's ever heard out of Alice, echoing down the stairwell behind him.]