June 16, 1999 -- later in the day

[all_onis_are_true]

[The call came to Alice later that evening. It's Hiroshi, and he sounds... unnerved.]

...I know what you did. I know you got to them all. I don't know how, and I don't know why, but...

Stay away from me. I am entirely ready to defend myself if need be.

[And then he hangs up. That's... unnerving.]

Comments

[independent_dollmaker]

[Well. That's something, all right.

A couple minutes after getting that mysterious message, Alice is gonna go ahead and call Maya.]

[itwasfeyt]

[It rings for a few seconds, until a very muffled reply comes in.]

Heluff? Hmnd nn... [Sounds of swallowing followed, then the voice of Maya Fey was much clearer.]

Sorry. Hey, Alice! What's up?

[independent_dollmaker]

Ah... good afternoon, Fey-san. It's about Hiroshi again. I'm worried that something's gone wrong.

[itwasfeyt]

Something wrong? Like what? Is he sick, because it wasn't me, I promise.

[independent_dollmaker]

Well... not exactly.

After school today, he suddenly yelled at me and ran away. Then, just now, I got a rather worrying phone call. It seems like he wants me to stay away from him from now on.

[itwasfeyt]

What? Really? That doesn't sound like him at all!

I mean, he can be a stick-in-the mud sometimes, but he's never that rude.

[happyhalloween]

[In the background:] What's she saying? Who was rude? Can Maria give him demerits?

[itwasfeyt]

[It was even later in the day that Maya followed up on her decree to Alice. Her, along with Maria tagging along, were going to get to the bottom of this sudden viciousness between friends. Everything would turn out fine, surely!

It wasn't a long walk to Hiroshi's house at all, and when Maya got to the door, she gave it three, quick knocks.

And waited.]

.....Hey! Hiroshi? [She called.] It's Maya and Maria! Are you there?

[all_onis_are_true]

[For a long time, it sounds as though nobody is coming.

Eventually, though, the door opens. Just a crack, though. A familiar shock of white hair can be spotted through the crack.]

...What. Are you doing here.

[itwasfeyt]

We wanted to see how you were doing.

[She tilted her head so her eyes could see through the crack at Hiroshi. Her smile, while still present, was less cheerful, and more honest.]

Are you okay?

[all_onis_are_true]

[His eyes narrow a bit.]

I am fine. Who sent you here.

[itwasfeyt]

Sent...?

[...He couldn't mean....]

It was Alice. She said you threatened her and she called me. I said I would come over and see what's up. Maria wanted to tag along.

...Seriously, are you okay?

[happyhalloween]

Maria brought bandages! [She already wrapped some around Tomosuke.]

[loveandwillpower]

[ SPEAKING OF PHONES Minako's dialing Maya up even later that day because of certain URGENT BUSINESS at hand ]

[itwasfeyt]

[It rings for a few seconds before Maya answers. Judging from her voice, she's a bit tired.]

Hello?

[loveandwillpower]

[ URGENT BUSINESS can wait because she doesn't actually want her fears confirmed about that homework assignment. ]

Hello, it's Minako~

Is Maria wearing you out already over there?

[itwasfeyt]

Oh, hey Minako!

Wh-what?

[Oh, right. She stifled a yawn.]

No, she's just fine. I've just been kind of busy for a while with... stuff.

[happyhalloween]

Is that Minako? You should tell her Hiroshi was bad! Maria's giving him a hundred demerits!

[itwasfeyt]

...Yeah, there was also something to do with Hiroshi.

[loveandwillpower]

[ GOOD EVENING HIROSHI who's that knocking on your door like they're about to break it down. ]

[all_onis_are_true]

[No reply. Seems that Hiroshi's really bunkered down.]

[loveandwillpower]

[ UUUUUUGH minako intensifies ]

Hiroshi! This thing with Alice is getting out of hand!

And dragging Maria into this?! It's too much! Open this door or I'll yell at the top of my lungs about how YOU'RE A TERRIBLE PERSON WHO PICKS ON LITTLE GIRLS AND MAKES THEM CRY!!!!

[all_onis_are_true]

[Shouting seems to have no effect either. It's almost like he's not even in there... except you swear you saw some curtains shift a second ago.]

[loveandwillpower]

[ Can't win 'em all on charm alone and also she can't scream at him all evening.

Okay. If that's the way she's playing it... let's see, did he remember to lock all his ground-level windows? ]

[all_onis_are_true]

[Thoroughly. Curtains are drawn, as well.]