AN: A lot of mixed reviews, when I thought about what to write about at the beginning I tried to take the usual concept of high school drama and romance, but to keep that at the sidelines and instead focus on the mystery. Something a little different but not that much still set in the school. Sorry for the long update times too, I just don't seem to find the drive to do anything lately. Anyway will it all be a supernatural phenomena, one mans doing or just a dream? Whats the matter with 1-B? Keep posted and enjoy!

Chapter 5: The setup

The trick to forget the big picture is to look at everything close-up. The trick to drown in details is to imagine a big conspiracy going around. The way to trip the wire is to give in to the supernatural. The way to forget the quicksand at your feet is to be at the recieving end of something good for a change.

All the way on the second floor of Izumi middle school my phone started ringing.

Just as I finally kicked open the metal box.

"Good evening, Hikigaya-kun. I was just wondering if you were free tomorrow, there's this carnival in town that my sister bought two tickets for, then sent them to me as a christmas gift. I can't really ask anyone else to go and it would be a shame to let them go to waste," I got the message from Yukinoshita at exactly the same time I openened the box.

At first I thought someone called me back because of the armed robbery I reported two streets below to lure away the police.

The box was almost cleaned out, there was just one CD-ROM. The cover didn't have anything written on it, just a simple company logo. I took out the CD itself holding the data side to the light. There was a small trace of something. It had to have like 10Megabytes or less.

"Hah."

I completed the jigsaw puzzle. Expect the result was me completing the same jigsaw puzzle. The truth kept slipping away from me at the last moment, but now I was really close enough to find the secrets. What in the world was on the thing? Those two thugs that broke my nose yesterday they had to take kilos of these in the dufflebag before. It felt like rushed needles under my skin, all that was left was to read this at a computer.

Anyway it was time to multitask.

First, I took out my phone to answer Yukinoshita, 'Sure when do we meet?'

And second it was the time to disappear.

Just as I was heading out I noticed two silhouettes waiting outside by the only exit. A weasel and a gorrilla - all too familiar faces from yesterday. For me luck always came with a price tag.

"Harry and Marv again... are they following me?"

It was all too perfect, they'd have to watch this place 24/7 to catch me redhanded. Would they try to beat up me up again? I had something on me they worked hard to get around unnoticed. What they spread kilos around the city switching the carrier. I previsulased what was coming to me. They would see me leaving and then would catch me and find this cd on me. All this, all of it it felt like I had woke up into another bad dream. And right now after the rumble yesterday my head felt two sizes too small for my brain. I went back inside and ran along the wall to the ladder. And of course it was gone. I caught my breath and heard as if the idiot duo ran after me.

I took the CD and threw it over the wall, just in time for them to come into view.

They slowed down, Harry the weasel started to smile like usual. He pulled a knucklebuster and put it on his right hand. Marv being a gorrilla didn't need to use such primitive weaponry, being a primitive himself he wouldn't probably know how anyway.

I broke into a cold sweat and my feet began to shake. I thought about calling cops, but this wasn't time for bad jokes. If only I didn't make a fake call just fifteen minutes ago.

So I ran.

"Shake down time!"

Marv caught up to me and crashed me into a wall, then he got me into a guillotine choke. I couldn't breathe. The world was getting small for comfort. I saw floaters in front of my eyes.

"You keep messing it up kid," Harry punched me in my stomach lightly. "This is our turf, take my advice, fuck outta here."

While Marv was still choking me, Harry patted down my pockets.

"Kids these days, so much free time, so many things to do, and the only thing they do is to give me a headache!"

If I could shrug I would, trust me.

"Nothing," Harry said to Marv who let me go.

With ragged breath I fell on my ass.

"Get your shit together already, stop coming here!"

Marv patted my pockets once again took my phone and smashed it.

"Game over kid, you lost, give it up."

And with a shit eating grin the duo left me alone.

Lying like a pile of trash I reached for my phone and tried to turn it on. It didn't.

"I rate pretty high on losing."

I got up and stabilized myself for a minute, there was a raw spot in my gut and it felt my spine was moved or blocked. No pain, no gain. I dragged myself to the side of the building and retrived the CD-ROM.

On first glance it looked blank and too simple to be the reason these mobsters employed such tactics, so my imagination ran wild. I imagined a big conspiracy going around and I couldn't wait to see what was on it.

Back home, at the computer I spun the cd on my finger.

"This is it, the big secret."

The ten million yen question I didn't have the answer for. I pushed it in and it began booting. The green light of my dvd drive flickered a few times and then it shut off. I waited for a while, but nothing opened on the screen and the dvd drive seemed empty when I clicked on it.

"Poof."

It looked like it couldn't be loaded, no big scratches on the surface though. I tried a few more times with some programs I knew and such and still nothing. The answer was there, but like in a movie or anime it kept sliping from my grasp at the last moment.

And it was funny as hell, a NEET like me couldn't get it to run.

I almost felt ashamed.

"Hmmm," trying to find the solution another problem hit me. "Damn, I forgot about Yukinoshita!"

I remembed my broken phone and searched a while for an old one I had before, the phone card was intact luckily. I put it on to reacharge and just as the phone turned on it vibrated.

"Fine, we can go right after the club tomorrow if that's allright with you Hachiman."

Yukinoshita again, I remebered the face she made as she walked me home after I was realeased from the hospital earilier today.

"Or you don't want to go?"

"Crap," I had to reply, the smashed phone couldn't recieve it so I replied with a lag.

"Then it's a date. I'm glad and looking forward to it."

This went without a reply.

Maybe this is a love story. Maybe not.

Depends on how much I believe myself.

The rest of the night I tried to make the cd run on my computer, but no luck.

It was almost a routine to shut off my alarm clock without even an hour of sleep.

In the morning we ate a tomato sandwich with Komachi in silence. I felt alone, lost. The truth was, I began to miss her usual antics.

The way to school was a blur, time and what was happening around me began to melt together. I guess the only reason I went there was the date with Yukinoshita, and that I was looking forward to it way too much.

Of course I'd never admit that.

It didn't take much time and we were getting back another test, already graded of course.

I didn't remember writing this test. Another F, Hiratsuka-sensei was looking elsewhere, pretending I wasn't there. I thought we were cooperating here, that we had a deal. There was another side-note that I should visit her afterschool again.

"Hah," I had to smile.

My laziness was only overcome by my uselessness.

It felt like all of this was orchestrated and aimed solely at me. Like it was a revenge for something I did. No one else got so low as me on the test. Almost by instinct I used my technique of stealth observation as always and turned to the Hayama clique. The happy chosen ones who could enjoy their high school life to the fullest. Their problems consisted of being a third wheel in a conversation and choosing a graduate object. The real drama. While my head felt like a timebomb and I was chased aroud town by mobsters they talked about nonsense I'd be bored of in a matter of seconds.

Then suddenly Hayama Hayato laid on his table, imitating me, "Look at me I'm Hikitani, the misunderstood ninja."

Everyone laughed, Yuigahama included. Although fake like, it still stirred my nerves.

"Yeah, he thinks the patch on his nose makes him cool," Miura said, her arms crossed as always.

"But it really-" Yuigahama tried to cut in.

"Haha right, he probably did it to himself," Tobe laughed. "He's our proto-class-emo!"

Normal days this would miss the target and I would ignore them, wait them out, but somehow I was pissed off greatly.

Something had to change. If I was supposed to fail a grade anyway none of this would matter.

I had to pull my head out of my ass and do what I most feared.

I stood up and walked over to them.

Their eyes were all on me, as if I was tresspassing. Breaking the holy law. It was almost funny.

I threw a fake smile, "Yo, what's up? Something you wanted?"

Nobody said anything, it seemed like they couldn't recover easily from this, except for Hayama Hayato. Our favorite oil-slick on an iceberg.

"Nothing much," he said still lying on the table like me before. "I was just lying here wishing to be more like you."

"Huh?"

He got up from the table, "But... I'm cursed."

Everyone looked at him strangely, me included.

"Cursed by brains," he smiled. "Do you know what torture it is to be thinking all the time?"

"No," a lazy serpent smile spread across his face. "Of course you don't!"

My fists closed at my sides by instinct.

Everyone in the class was now looking at me, every single student. It felt like a bad dream.

He got up and put his arm around my shoulder, "Just joking! Come on, I'm just playing with you! You looked like you were ready to kill me there for a while man."

"Hahaha," yeah that's a fake laugh you big jerk.

"Hayato!" Yuigahama got up. "Leave Hikki alone he was probably just angry for you making fun out of him."

"Relax," his arm was still around my neck. "We're friends, aren't we?"

I pried his hand off me, "If you use that term loosely, sure."

Everyone laughed not at me, at what I said - the joke. It seemed that I was welcomed for the moment and Yuigahama eyes shined as if she always wished I was part of this group of 'friends' and I use that word very loosely. Instead I excused myself and went back to my seat.

I had to down two MAX coffees to get through the day.

I came to the staff room and for a moment I was standing in the door frame like an idiot, then Hiratsuka motioned for me to come in.

"Another F and still nothing to show for it," she said and put one leg over the other.

I shrugged, "I thought we had a deal."

"We do, we still do, that doesn't mean you can just throw everything out of the window and just don't study anymore."

All this while I'm risking my neck with mobsters from out of nowhere.

She opened some file and began to write in it, "I have to make this official, a warning that you will fail a grade."

"Please do."

"Sing here Hikigaya."

"Sure, all accouted for."

"You're unusally calm for someone who has to repeat a grade."

I reached into my pocket and put the CD on the desk in front of her.

"I'm close, in fact this is the key."

She raised an eyebrow, "For all the students in 1-B failing in their class?"

"You bet," I grinned. "Don't rush with those papers much my good teacher for as long as I find a way to read this CD, I get all the answers you need."

Afterwards I filled her in on my progress so far.

"Harry and Marv?"

"Yeah like in home alone?"

"I get it," she crossed her arms and lit a cigarrette. "Are you sure about this?"

"What?"

"About police not being involved I mean," she said.

"One hundred percent," I said with confidence.

She took the CD looking doubtfully at it.

"Maybe I can help you with cracking this," she studied it for a while.

"You're good with computers?" I asked.

She blushed a little, "Maybe."

"Then I'll be glad for the help."

I got up and was about to leave.

"Another thing Hachiman," she said putting out the cigarette. "Your parents will have to get a letter about you reapeting a grade."

Then she put the file she wrote in earlier into her desk, "I can withhold it for a while, but not long."

The last chance.

The finish line.

"Be careful Hachiman," she winked at me.

The crowds of people shouldered around us. People were eating takoyaki and chestnuts in paper cones. Snow was everywhere. Somebody stepped on Yukinoshita's foot and she pulled it back, saying, "I don't believe I got talked into this."

"It was your idea."

She hit me in my shoulder, lightly.

"A-And don't take this for something it's not, are we clear?" she said, "I'd never-"

"It's a date no matter how hard you try to deny it, and it was your idea to begin with."

She blushed and was silent.

The ground was crisscrossed with thick black cables. In the darkness beyond the lights, engines burned diesel to make electricity. You could smell diesel and deep-fried food and vomit and powdered sugar.

These days, for normal people, this is what passes for fun.

A scream sailed past us. A glimpse of some little girl. It was a carnival ride with a bright neon sign that said: The Octopus Nightmare.Black metal arms, like twisted spokes, turned around a hub. At the same time, they dipped up and down. At the end of each arm was a seat, and each seat spun on its own hub. The scream sailed by again, and a banner of brown hair. Both the girl's hands were clamped on the guard bar fastened across her lap. A token coin bulleted past us.

Yukinoshita was watching her, "Looks like fun."

"Guess it is," I said

"I'm not so sure," she said.

I picked up the token.

"Why don't we try it then?"

And we got on, and Yukinoshita looked like she was enjoying herself. Even afterwards she was beaming like a child. In her boots, she picked through the snow and sawdust, stepping over the black power cables.

Holding out my hand, I said, "Here."

And she took it.

And I didn't let go.

And she didn't seem to mind.

And we were walking hand in hand.

And it was nice.

My hand felt warm, and I thought I had opened a new chapter with her. The carnival rides thrashed the air around us, diamond-white, emerald-green, ruby-red lights, turquoise and sapphire-blue lights, the yellow of citrons, the orange of honey amber. And even way past the season christmas music blared out of speakers mounted on poles everywhere.

"So did you ever rode a Ferris wheel before?" I said.

"What do you have me for?" Yukinoshita played the know it all see it all face. "I'm not some barbarian witch."

Everywhere, there were men and women, hand in hand, kissing. They were feeding each other shreds of pink cotton candy. They walked side by side, each with one hand stuck in the butt pocket of the other's tight jeans.

Watching the crowd, Yukinoshita said, "D-Don't take this the wrong way."

"You said you love me."

"That was different. You were lying there in a hospital bed, I had to say something." She turned away from me.

I smiled, "Why are we holding hands then?"

She didin't say anything, but I knew the answer.

Yukinoshita looked up at the Ferris wheel, a ring of red and white fluorescent tubes holding seats that swayed full of people, "That looks doable."

"You scared of heights?"

She turned to me, "I'm not scared of anything."

A man stopped the wheel and all the carts swung in place while Yukinoshita and I sat on the red plastic cushion and the man snaped a guard bar shut across our laps. He stepped back and pulled a lever, and the big diesel engine catched. The Ferris wheel jerked as if it was rolling backward, and Yukinoshita and I rose up into the darkness.

Halfway up into the night, the wheel jerked to a stop. Our seat swung, and Yukinoshita made a fast grab for the guard bar. I grinned.

"Not scared of anything, huh?"

She just stared daggers at me.

"Hey, don't get jumpy, we're here for fun, remember? You want some takoyaki?"

I felt farther and farther away. Looking up, out of the colored lights and into the night sky, we were getting closer to the stars. When I was a kid someone once told me that stars are the best part of being alive. On the other side, where people go after they die, they can't see the stars. The deep outer space, the incredible cold and quiet populated by monsters.

I looked at Yukinoshita and realized what had to be done. No I realized that before, that was why I was trying to get to her. To fix things. It didn't matter if I failed a grade anymore, I just wanted to be with her.

And to do that I had to clean it all up. And pretty soon, before things got worse.

I had to fix it. All of it.

And Yukinoshita just looked into my eyes unable to hear my thoughts. We rose up higher, farther away from the smells, away from the diesel engine noise. We rose up into the quiet and cold. All the crowds of people, their money and hats and kiminos got smaller. The food booths and the portable toilets got smaller.

The screams and music, smaller. At the top, we jerked to a stop. Our seat swayed less and less until we were sitting still.

This high up, the breeze teased, ratted, backcombed Yukinoshita's hair.

The neon and grease and snow, from this far away it all looked perfect.

Perfect, safe, and happy.

The music was just a dull thud, thud, thud.

Looking down at the rides, the spinning colors and screams, Yukinoshita said, "I'm glad you understand me."

"Hm?"

She said, "While I was always alone in the clubroom before you came, I think I always hoped someone would."

She smiled, "...I'm glad it's you."

Her jacket was light blue, but it's not a regular robin's-egg blue. It's the blue of a robin's egg you might find and then worry that it won't hatch because it's dead inside.

And then it does hatch, and you worry about what to do next.

On the guard bar locked across us, Yukinoshita put her hand on mine.

"Hachiman..." she said and I looked up at her. "W-What are we going to do now?"

"I-I don't know."

Holding out her other hand, Yukinoshita said, "H-Here."

And I took it. And she didn't let go. And we kissed. And it was nice.

I pulled back and Yukinoshita said, "From now on, we are officially a couple. You're my boyfriend now Hachiman, so be careful what you do with Yui-san or the others from now on."

"So my life was a teenage rom-com after all."

And Yukinoshita smiled locking her arms around my neck and said, "If you could just hear yourself, Hachi."

We kissed, and she peeled off my jacket. We kissed, and I opened the zipper of her jacket. My jacket, her jacket and blouse. I was touching something I never believed I would.

Here I was, somewhere I never dreamed I'd ever be, I said, "I'm falling in love."

And Yukino, blazing smooth and hot iluminated by the stars, she smiled and looked into my eyes, saying, "I already am."

And the seat jerked into motion again.

I looked at Yukino and she looked up at me and smiled, "What?"

"Your eyes. They're blue."

At the bottom, the carnival man snaped open the guard bar and I gave Yukino my

hand as she steped out of the seat. The snow was loose and soft, and we limped and stumbled through the crowds, holding each other around the waist. Passing one booth, Yukino stopped us, and the man behind counter asked: "What will it be?"

"Time for some takoyaki," Yukino said, grinning. "Hachi, here, is going to buy."

And I couldn't help but laugh.

Some things never change.

Well, not like I could do anything about it. After the carnival I took Yukino to her house and she said we should do something like this again and pretty soon. Then she kissed my cheek and ran into her house. I didn't protest, I had already fallen for her.

After that I went home.

Were things finally looking up for me?

Back home Mom told me to take out garbage, I took it out and met Zaimokuza outside. He was out on his way from some anime movie. We chatted for a while about said movie and my grade free fall. I didn't talk about my progress in the relationship with Yukinoshita. On my way inside, I emptied the mailbox. When I got back my sister irritated our cat and it scratched my hands, it was not that bad but it hurt. I did my math homework. I watched evening news with my parents and shed sarcastic remarks over the news like there was no tomorrow. Later in the evening my parents, probably tired of me sent me to bed. It was like it went back to normal at home at least.

I set alarm on my phone and watched the ceiling trying to sleep.

A green dot was moving on the ceiling.

"Wait a minute," a cold sweat ran down my back.

I looked out the window, a green laser pointer shined through the blinds.

I ran outside barefoot in my pajamas.

On the other side of the road a green laser pointer shined from a running car, it pointed at the mailbox. Then the car shifted a gear and roared past me. It was hard to make out in the dark, but the driver was small like a weasel and the passenger was big like a gorrilla.

I opened the mailbox again, there was a letter adressed to my father.

It was a letter from my school about my suspension, but it wasn't singed by the principal or anyone else, as I was reading it a photo fell out from the envelope.

It was a polariod photo of Yukinoshita in front of her house, she had the same clothes on as she did today.

Stark fear enveloped me.

On the other side of the photo was written: 'We know you have it. Last chance to drop it.'

Happines always fades so fast I could never remember how it feels like.