Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

Katakiuchi-hen (The Retaliation Chapter)

Who are you?

You do not smile like you used to.

Who are you?

You do not laugh like you used to.

Who are you?

You do not have that same spirit like you use to.

Who are you?

Is there anything I can do save you?

Chapter 1: Love

Part A

My heart was pounding. My face was damp. My hands and my fingers ached. My muscles ceased their movement. My brain was killing me. I wouldn't last much longer if I didn't act! I would die!

I drew it from my hand. This was my last hope, the final move I could make. It was all I had left. It was do or die! I wouldn't die this time! I wouldn't lose! I wouldn't allow myself to fall again! I would be triumphant!

"C'mon!" That condescending voice barked at me. It laughed at me. It laughed at the pitiful state I was in. "It all comes down to this! You want to end up like the others? Hahahahaha…."

I gripped them in my hands. I had to defeat this adversary! I had to be victorious!

"Go on…I'm waiting! Hahaha!"

I looked at it closely and made up my mind. This was it!

I slammed it down. I nearly broke the desk because of the force I put behind my attack. I looked up at my opponent with a smirk. My enemy gawked at my attack with such shock. Nobody was expecting this from me! Nobody ever suspected this come-from-behind victory!

My opponent cursed under her breath. She tossed down her weapons and held her chin up with her hand. She grunted and closed her eyes.

"I fold…" she said with a long and depressed sigh.

I jumped from my seat and hopped up and down. The jubilation was so good! I did it! I really did it! I beat everyone! It was all me!

"Tch! That was awesome, Rena!" Keiichi-kun winked at me and threw me a thumbs-up. "I'm impressed!"

"Gaaaaah!" Satoko-chan shook her head violently. "This isn't possible! You had the crappiest class! How did you beat us like that? You're cheating! You're cheating!"

"Shut up, Satoko!" Keiichi-kun gently shoved her arm. "I saw you sneak some backup cards when it was your turn to draw! You drew three cards when you were only supposed to draw one!"

"Yeah, but…! But…!"

"Mii!" Rika-chan smiled at me. She clapped her hands together for me. "Pachi! Pachi! Rena defeated all of us honorably! Good job!"

I giggled and hugged myself. I still couldn't believe that I bested everyone!

Mii-chan sighed again and she rubbed her temple. "Yeah, yeah…great job…you were wonderful, fantastic…and all that garbage…"

"Ah, Mion!" Keiichi-kun patted her head. "Don't be such a sore loser! Rena beat you fair and square! Shouldn't you respect Rena's keen planning and skill? I think she deserves it! Hehe!"

Mii-chan rose from her seat and bowed her head to me. "I'm sorry, Rena. Please forgive my childishness. You really are something else to have beaten me like that! For that, I bestow upon you the greatest honor anyone could receive from me and that is my respect and my admiration!" Mii-chan knelt before me and held my hand. "You clearly are a worthy opponent!"

I laughed and patted her hand. "It was a good game! You put up quite a fight!"

Mii-chan received a game in the mail the day before. It was a new kind of card game. It was fantasy oriented. Each player could play the role of a knight, a sorcerer, a thief, a priest, or a member of a royal family. Each class, the character role, was limited to what kind of cards they could use and what statistics they had.

Keiichi-kun was the knight. As a melee fighter, he could only use physical attacks and ingenuity to outwit his opponents. I, on the other hand, was a sorceress who could use as many magic spells as I wanted, but I couldn't use many cards that relied on physical powers.

Rika-chan was the priestess, who used mostly magic but used a little physical power as well. Satoko-chan was the thief, majoring in physical attributes but with very little magic skills. Mii-chan was the most balanced, as the queen. She could use a healthy balance of physical and magic abilities. I expected her to win because her class was so good!

The object of the game was to eliminate your opponents through combat or through economic principles. Each player controlled their own territory and had to expand their areas by defeating enemy players. You could team up with people and win the game cooperatively by defeating the other players, or you could betray your ally and win that way.

Keiichi-kun made an alliance with Mii-chan, while Satoko and Rika banded together to win. I was all alone. Keiichi-kun had defeated Rika, after I had weakened her, while Mii-chan defeated Satoko. Before Keiichi-kun could attack me, Mii-chan betrayed him and claimed his territory with little effort at all. It was just me and Mii-chan.

The two of us were evenly matched and traded small victories here and there, but I was the one who came out triumphant. She used up all of her best magic cards on Satoko and Keiichi-kun, and had no choice but to attack me physically. Luckily, I still had a few powerful spells I hadn't use up yet, so I hit her with all of might. Within ten minutes, I had brought her down to her knees!

"That concludes today's club activity!" Mii-chan announced. "I hereby declare Ryuugu Rena the victor!"

Everyone applauded me.

I bowed and blushed just a tad.

"Good going, Rena!" Keiichi-kun rubbed my head.

"I'll get you next time, Rena-san!" Satoko pointed menacingly at me. "Count on it!"

"Nipa~!" Rika hugged me. "Great work!"

"Alright then!" Mii-chan gathered all of the cards together and placed them back into the case that came with her game. She stuffed the case into her bag and faced us once more. "We had a great time today! Now, let's get home and rest up for tomorrow! We gotta a big day ahead of-"

"Hold on, Mii-chan!" I was giggling.

"Eh?" I saw a drop of sweat trickling down her temple. "The activity's over! We're all done here, Rena!"

"Heehee! No, we're not!" I turned my back to everyone. I strolled over to the back of the classroom where my student locker was. I unlocked it and took out item after item. Cold and maniacal chuckles passed through my lips. I had trouble trying to contain myself!

"H-Hey…R-Rena!" Mii-chan hid behind Keiichi-kun. "What are you d-doing?"

"God no…" Keiichi-kun was trembling. He was looking right at the item I was holding. "You wouldn't…!"

"Rena-san! Stop it! You're scaring me!" Satoko hid her face behind her hands.

Rika didn't say a word. Her mouth was agape and her hair was standing on end. I almost felt sorry for her!

I flashed the items before their eyes and laughed harder than I did before. How I would enjoy this! Hauuuuu! This was going to be so good!

The club activity carried a very devious punishment and it was all under Mii-chan's design. The winner of the activity had to pick out clothing that the losers would have to wear during the walk home from school. It was the trademark punishment for the club, but this time I was the winner! The clothing I had to wear, along with everyone else's in the past few occasions, didn't live up to the club's standards. I was going to change that! The punishments I gave out surpassed all of the other penalties everyone had to endure before! I made sure of it!

I grabbed my satchel and ran out of the school. The sky was still bright. It was a little after noon. I loved days like these when the sun shined like that. It was so beautiful! The sun renewed me and filled me with new vigor! I hadn't felt this wonderful in so long!

I spun to face the door leading into the school. "Come on, everybody! Show the world the cute clothes you have! Ahaha!"

Mii-chan came out first. She was the club's president so she felt that it was her duty to lead her troop. She exited the school, where the shining sun greeted her. She was trying to cover up herself. She looked so cute!

She was wearing a red and white blouse that stopped just above her navel, displaying a little bit of her chest, a short navy blue skirt, her school shoes, a red choker around her neck, and French cuffs. Hauuuu! I wanted to take her home with me! Mii-chan looked so amazing! I loved the way her legs shined in the light and how her bust was even more noticeable because of that shirt! Her skin was glistening! I wished I could look that cute!

Satoko was next. She wore ribbons in her short golden hair along with her usual headband, the school swimsuit along with a frilly pink skirt, and an adorable life preserver that resembled a swan! I could already feel the blood dripping down my nose! I didn't know how much longer I could take this! This was too good! It was amazing!

Rika wore a little penguin costume with a pacifier! She waddled every time she walked and she made the cutest noises whenever her feet touched the ground! I covered my mouth and my nose when I saw her. She said a "nipa~" when she came out. It was too much! I couldn't stand it, and we weren't finished yet!

Keiichi-kun took a while to come out, but when he did…when he did…I completely lost it! He wore a pair of bloomers, the kind the girls wore for P.E., shin-high socks, a silky white dress shirt, and he had a flower in his hair! He was covering his lap! I could just make it out…Keiichi-kun's…Keiichi-kun's…!

"HAUUUUU!" I collapsed to the ground and twitched. Blood shot from my nose. I was rolling around on the ground. This was perfect! This was so good!

Mii-chan huffed. "I think we let Rena get too carried away…" She adjusted her shirt.

"This isn't that bad actually," Satoko looked at herself. "We could have ended up like Keiichi-san!"

"…Keiichi's growing up quite a bit! Hehe!" Rika snickered.

"S-S-Stop looking at me!" Keiichi-kun fidgeted about.

"HAUUUU!" I sprang up from the ground and snatched Keiichi-kun. I smothered him against my body and I twirled him around in circles. He was so soft! He fit perfectly in my arms! I loved every moment! "Rena's gonna take you home with her!"

"L-Let go! C-C-Cut it out!"

I went googily-eyed when I peered at Keiichi-kun's lower body when he dropped his guard. It was so adowable!

"Hau! Hau! Hau!"

"Rena! Lemme go! C'mon! I'm begging you!"

"I'm gonna take Keiichi-kun home and I'm gonna feed him, I'm gonna bathe him, I'm gonna take care of him, I'm gonna dress him, I'm gonna tell him stories, I'm gonna-"

"Gahaha!" Mii-chan cackled. "Kei-chan's in trouble now! Maybe this punishment isn't so bad after all! Hehehe!"

"Rena, please!" Keiichi-kun was crying! It only made me squeeze him harder! "Let me go!"

"Give it up, Kei-chan! Whenever Rena's 'Cute Mode' is activated, there's no escape!"

"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!"

This was so good! I was so happy! Rena was at the point of ecstasy!

We marched down the road. Nobody was out around this time, which was surprising. I saw Mii-chan and the others smiling to themselves. They thought that they were in the clear! I wouldn't allow them to escape this special punishment!

I told everyone that I wanted to buy some ingredients and meat for dinner, and that 7th Mart was the best place to go. Mii-chan and Keiichi-kun grunted, while Satoko and Rika didn't really mind. They wanted to buy some food stuff for dinner as well. I think I went a little too easy on them. But…that swimsuit and that penguin costume…hauuuu….

The second we entered the store, all eyes were upon us. I led my band up and down the aisles as I picked out cans, packages of meat, vegetables, and a few other ingredients. Mii-chan covered her chest while Keiichi-kun hid his crotch with his hands. The old men in the store had their eyes glued on Mii-chan. She was blushing so much!

Keiichi-kun was blushing with shame as well! The older women were staring at him, especially the area where his hands were guarding! I heard them giggle amongst themselves and I heard them gossiping about him. I almost felt bad for Keiichi-kun, but the club is all about life and death! You slip up once, you'd die and you'd have to pay for it! That was our code! I think I did a good job reminding Keiichi-kun and Mii-chan about that code pretty well!

We came to the check out after twenty minutes of shopping. I wanted to be sure the shame sunk into my fallen opponents! Rika seemed to enjoy all of the attention she was getting. She was petted and complimented on her cuteness! Satoko was too! They really had it easy! I focused more on my own desires than really punishing them! I promised to be a little harder on them next time!

After my shopping was done, it was time to turn them loose. Plenty of people examined them thoroughly and I felt that I really embarrassed Keiichi-kun and Mii-chan enough for the day. I tilted my head and smiled at them.

"Okay! This is good enough!" I said. "See! Everybody got to see your adorable outfits!"

Keiichi-kun grumbled.

Mii-chan lifted her shirt to try and cover her cleavage. "I'm never gonna lose to Rena again! That's for sure!"

"…It wasn't so bad!" Rika smiled with her rosy cheeks. "I got lots of affection!"

"I expected something terrible from Rena-san," Satoko spoke with a snicker. "But this was quite nice! I really feel bad for Keiichi-san though! Everybody couldn't stop looking at his bloomers! Oh ho ho ho ho ho!"

"Shut up, you little brat!" Keiichi-kun raised his fist to her. "I'll kick your ass!"

"Rena-san!" Satoko held on to my waist and rubbed her cheek against my stomach. "Keiichi-san's being mean to me!"

Oh…my…! Her little hands as they held me, the softness of her skin, her teary eyes…I…I…I…

"Hauuu! Satoko-chan's scared! She's so adowable!"

Keiichi-kun stepped back.

"Now you did it!" Mii-chan laughed at him.

"I…I…I…" I clenched my fists and stepped towards Mii-chan and Keiichi-kun. "I want to take Satoko-chan home with meeeeeeeeee!"

"Beat him up for me and I'll let you!" Satoko cried.

Keiichi-kun bolted behind Mii-chan and grasped her shoulders.

"H-H-Hey, Kei-chan! What do you think you're doing?" She was stammering.

"Human shield!"

"S-S-Stop it! You're gonna…!"

I threw my fist into Mii-chan's stomach and then punched under her chin with my other fist. I leaped up into the air, lifting her off of the ground with my punch. It was my newest punch! It was Rena's Spiraling Uppercut Special! Mii-chan fell to the ground and twitched. I hit her harder than I thought!

I dashed to Keiichi-kun and threw my palms into his stomach and then performed a one-two-three punch to his face! He twirled around and collapsed. They both had red marks, with an imprint of my knuckles, where I had punched them. When I had incapacitated them, I lifted Satoko up into my arms and squeezed her hard. I twirled her around and rubbed my cheek against hers.

When Keiichi-kun and Mii-chan came around, they struggled to stand and caressed their wounds.

"Argh…Rena's gotten stronger," Mii-chan groaned.

"No kidding…" Keiichi-kun nursed his face. "Well…I think I should head home before she pummels me again!"

"I think I will too!"

I put Satoko down and was filled with regret. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to go that far! Please, forgive me!"

Mii-chan laughed. "It's fine! Don't apologize! You should be proud that you could knock out Uncle Mion with one punch! That's an achievement in itself!"

"But…I still feel bad…"

"C'mon, Rena!" Keiichi-kun rubbed my read rather roughly. "You got a lucky shot in! I won't let you get lucky ever again!"

They seemed to be okay with it. It made me feel a little bit better, but I couldn't help but think I took the joke too far.

"O-Okay…if you say so…Keiichi-kun…"

"That's no way to smile! Here! Lemme help you with that!"

Keiichi-kun stuck his fingers into my mouth and yank at my cheeks to make me smile.

"Ow! Keiichi-kuuu…yoh hurtin' meh! Pwese, stawp et!"

"Hahaha! You sound funny when I do this!"

"Hey! I want a go at that!" Mii-chan swapped places and pulled at my cheeks now. "Ahaha! You do sound funny!"

"Mii-chwan! Stawp!"

Rika smiled and clapped. "Rena's talking silly! Hehe!"

Satoko saw that the sun was going down. "Oh! Rika! We should be getting home! We have to refrigerate this food!"

"…Okay! We'll see you guys tomorrow in school then! Goodnight!"

Rika and Satoko waved farewell and skipped off to their house.

Mii-chan finally let go of my face. "Ahaha! I guess I should be going home as well! Hey, Kei-chan?" She turned to see him. "Can you stop by my house for a little bit? I want you to take a sneak peak at the new game I ordered from that magazine I was telling you about!"

"Sure, I can come! I'm not expected to be home for a while anyway." Keiichi-kun rubbed my head again. "See you tomorrow then, Rena!"

"Bye-bye, Rena! Be careful going home!"

Mii-chan and Keiicho-kun walked away in the direction of her house. They were laughing and smiling at each other's outfits.

I waved goodbye to them and had my own smile on my face. Today was certainly enjoyable! I was thankful that I got to share it with them!

I carried my grocery bags and my satchel over my lap. The cicadas were singing as the sun was setting. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible. Sometimes I couldn't believe that I lived in Hinamizawa. I couldn't believe that this was my home. It was my realm where I could be happy all of the time! Rena was a happy girl here!

For some reason, I was thinking about my future here. What would I do after high school? Where would I go to college and what would I do for a career? Would I be married too and how many children would I have? Hauuu…the more I thought about it, the more my face turned red! Me, a wife? A mother? I couldn't see myself as anything like that!

I was thinking about my future husband. I wonder what he would be like. I thought about it real hard. I decided that I wanted a husband that was just like Keiichi-kun!

Keiichi-kun had moments when he could be a little mean with his jokes, and he used to be very brash, but he grew up quite a bit since he first came here! He was more handsome, more caring, understanding, accepting, loving, and nurturing to all of us. I would love if I could have a guy like him for a husband. He would be the perfect spouse.

I was daydreaming. I imagined Keiichi-kun and I being married at the Furude Shrine and becoming a mother and a father. Hauuu! It was too much for me to handle! I would go crazy if I had him for a husband, let alone a boyfriend!

That's when my daydreaming ceased. I had to be real about this. Keiichi-kun wasn't mine to have. We were best friend and club partners. We were nothing more and nothing less.

We had always been very close to one another. He would always flirt with me and I would always blush and try to hide my face from him. Keiichi-kun was a very warm boy. I wouldn't mind dating a boy like him. But we were friends; that's where it would end.

Keiichi-kun was Mii-chan's. She had a crush on him ever since he moved here from Tokyo. I felt bad for her; Mii-chan had a habit of being a tomboy and rarely showed herself to be girly, but she did have that side to her. She was so cute when she showed that part of her! It took a while for Keiichi-kun to see that side, but when he did, it sent Mii-chan's heart a flutter. It was then I knew that they would one day be together.

My heart ached when I thought about that though. Keiichi-kun and I frequently spent time together almost every day. He helped me treasure hunt in the junkyard and he was always there for me when I needed someone to lean on. It hurt me to think about Keiichi-kun and Mii-chan together. Why did it hurt? I never understood until that moment. I…I think I was…

No, I was too young to be thinking about love. Love at that age was all about crushes and confusion. I was just confused. I didn't know what I wanted. If I acted, I could hurt someone, especially Keiichi-kun. I treasured our friendship. It was the most precious thing I had in my life.

But…when I thought about it, was Mii-chan really in love in Keiichi-kun? Like I said, things are new and confusing at that age. Maybe her heart and mind weren't developed enough to see past the torrent of uncertainty. Maybe her affection for Keiichi-kun was just a phase. Crushes have phases don't they? Maybe that was what she was going through…a phase…

I arrived home sooner than I thought. I entered my home and placed my satchel and the bags on the kitchen table. I began rummaging through the bags when my father came into the room.

"Reina-chan! Welcome home!" He hugged me and kissed my cheek.

"Father! Hello! How was your day?"

"It was very nice! Although, I'm more than happy to be home though! I get to see you!"

I blushed. "Haha! That's a nice thing to say!"

Father looked into my bags. "You made quite a haul! Is all this for us?"

I nodded. "Uh-huh! I got it especially for you!"

"You're so good to me, Reina! You spoil me too much, you know that?" He laughed.

"I want to though! I want to help in any way that I can!"

"You go above and beyond! I'm so grateful to have you with me!"

I hugged him tight and rested my ear against his chest. Rena was truly a happy girl!

I prepared dinner for the both of us fairly quickly. I cooked fresh chicken, steamed vegetables, rice, a little curry, and my own takoyaki! That was the most challenging part of all, but I think I did a good job making that! Father enjoyed every bite of his dinner. It made me happy to see him smile and pat his stomach after he ate his meal.

"Reina, you never cease to amaze me!" He wiped his mouth with his napkin. "You're so talented!"

"I try my best! Ahaha!"

"Hmm? Reina, you haven't eaten that much!" He pointed at my dishes.

"Huh? Oh! Would like some of mine? I'm not very hungry!"

I gave him some of my curry and rice. I twiddled my chopsticks around in my hands. Why was I paying so much thought to this fantasy of mine? It was just a fantasy! I shouldn't be focusing on it so much!

"Is something the matter, Reina?"

"Oh, no! Nothing's wrong! Ahaha!"

He repositioned his glasses and just looked at me. "You can tell me if something's bothering you. I can help you with whatever it is!"

"Well…no, I shouldn't…"

"Did you get in trouble for loitering around that toy shop again? If you really want that stuffed bear, I could give you some money and-"

"It's not that." I looked away from him. "It's nothing…really…"

He examined me for a moment. Father chuckled when he made his deduction.

"What? What is it?"

"Haha! I get it now!" He smiled brightly at me. "You like a boy, don't you?"

"Huh? Me? A boy? Father, please!" I laughed nervously. I always hid things rather well, I thought, but this time I guess I didn't do that good of a job.

"It is, isn't it? Who is he? Do I know him?" He was getting excited.

I bit my lip and continued to fiddle with my chopsticks. "Um…there's this boy at school…"

"I think I know! It's that Maebara boy, right? Keiichi I think his name is?"

He really was listening to me when I told him about our club activities! I sort of regretted telling him those stories now!

"I never met him officially, but he seems like a good kid!" Father looked at me sternly. "He is a good kid, isn't he…?

"O-Of course he is!" I was getting so flustered. "Keiichi-kun's wonderful and sweet and kind and…ah!" I closed my mouth and covered it.

My father laughed again. "So I was right! You like this guy, huh?"

I muttered something to myself and blushed uncontrollably.

"I think I'd like to meet him one of these days! If he's going to marry my Reina, I have to give my blessing to the both of you! Hahaha!"

"Father! Stop it!" I stood up and leered at him.

"I'm sorry!" He said in between his chuckles. "I didn't mean to upset you, Reina! I'm just so happy for you!"

I blinked a few times. "You're…happy?"

"Of course! Why wouldn't I be?" He stood and placed his hand on my shoulders. "My little girl's growing up into a fine young woman! It was only a matter of time before she found the boy she liked! Pretty soon you'll be married and move away! Haha!"

"I would never leave you! I can't even think of a life without you!" I was getting so worked up over such a dumb fantasy! This was all my fault!

"You're a great daughter, Reina!" My father held me close. "I'm so proud of the woman you're becoming! I'm happy to be your father! I'm honored to be with you right now!"

"Father…hauuuu…." I was tearing up.

"Haha! That 'hau' thing you do is so cute, though I don't get it at all! I bet that drives Maebara-kun wild! Hehe!"

Father teased me a little more. I smiled and played along with him. Keiichi-kun was a wonderful boy. Any girl that became his was very lucky. He was loyal, honest, and he was very protecting. He would be perfect for just about any girl…he would be perfect…

I changed out of my school clothes and put on my favorite white dress. I threw on my cap and went outside. I told my father I wanted to take a quick walk around before it got dark. He told me to be careful and to return home soon. I wanted to get all of this out of my mind. I needed to unwind.

I went to my favorite place in all of Hinamizawa. It was my sanctuary and my home away from home. Most people think a junkyard is disgusting, but I saw it differently. The junkyard I was in was a trove filled with treasure! There were mountains upon mountains of priceless treasures as far as my eyes could let me see! It was all mine too! It was nobody else's!

I meandered into my trailer, at the very heart of the junkyard and picked up a hatchet. When I first held this, it was so heavy! Now I could use with one hand! I was getting stronger by the day! Mii-chan's club activates must have toughened me up!

With each swing of my hatchet, I broke lumber, rusty pipes, and other debris that hindered my search. When the debris was small enough after I broke them, I threw the pieces over my shoulder and into a new pile. I clawed through the rubble until I hit the very bottom. I sighed in disappointment. I didn't find anything in this pile. It was time to move to the next one!

I repeated my process of breaking and clawing. I was having no luck with any of the piles I chose! There had to be some cute thing here! It was trapped under all of this rubble and it was calling for me! I had to help it! I had to save the cute thing that was imprisoned here!

It was getting darker! I had to find this cute thing in the next few minutes! I didn't want to leave here empty-handed! Failure was not an option! I had no choice but to unleash it! My face contorted into this odd smile and my body became engulfed in flames! I clenched my fists and punched at the debris with all of the power I could muster! This power of mine, what everyone nicknamed "Cute Mode," was my secret weapon! It never failed me before!

I punched one more time. I noticed something shiny. It was round and it had these pointy ears. It looked like a cat! It looked like a chubby little cat! I had to have it!

I shoved my hands into the pile until I grabbed hold of my prize. With my remaining power, I yanked the cat free from his dreadful incarceration! I cradled the item in my arms and wiped at its face with my hands. It was so adowable!

It was a jar that was made in the image of a cat! How could anybody throw out something as cute as this! I wish that person would suffer! Something this cute deserves respect and love! And Rena was going to be the one to give it to it!

"Hauuuuu!" I rubbed it against my chest. "So cute!"

"What're you doing in a nasty place like this, young lady?" a voice said to me.

"Nasty…? Nasty? NASTY?" I shouted. "This is my treasure trove! How dare you say that about-"

There was a man perched upon a mountain of trash. He was in a black suit with a red tie and had long dark brown hair that went to his shoulders. He was smiling down at me.

"Hiya!" he said very friendly.

I placed my jar down and picked up my hatchet. Was this some sort of robber?

"Hey, whoa! Take it easy! I don't mean any harm! Ah? Whoa-!"

He waved his hands in front of him. As he did, he lost his balance from his perch and fell to the dirt. He landed right on his face! His black suit was all dusty!

"Ouch…"

I covered my mouth and put down my hatchet. "Are you okay, sir?" I was fretting over him and patted his suit jacket clean.

"I'm fine thanks!" He chuckled. "Hey, you were about to fight me a second ago! What happened to the cold reception you gave me?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah!" I picked up the hatchet again and pointed it at him. "What do you want?"

The odd man laughed and stood up. "You must be…Ryuugu Rena-san?"

My heart thumped faster. "How do you know about me? Who are you?"

He was digging in his trouser pockets for something! A knife maybe?

"Akasaka Sempai has told be a lot about you guys!" The man showed me a leather wallet with a shield on it. It was a police badge. "I'm Hanzaemon Takuma! I'm a friend of Akasaka Mamoru!"

Part B

"You're a police officer? You know Akasaka-san?" I said dumbly.

"Yep! That's right!" Hanzaemon-san pocketed his badge and kept smiling at me. "I was getting my bearings around Hinamizawa; you see I'm new around here so I don't know the area all too well! I came here to investigate all the ruckus I heard from this spot. I didn't mean to scare you like that!"

I put my hatchet down and bowed to Hanzaemon-san. "I'm so sorry! Please don't take me to jail!" I had small tears forming in my eyes.

"Haha! I'm not gonna arrest you, don't worry! You did the right thing by grabbing that thing! You can't be too careful! Besides, I should be apologizing for dropping in like that!"

I raised my eyes to meet his. He closed his eyes and continued smiling. He was kind of charming! He had such a warm smile!

Hanzaemon-san examined the junkyard. He held his chin with his hand and hummed for a moment. "So, if you don't mind me asking, what's a girl like you doing in a creepy place like this?"

I didn't like the "creepy" comment, but I was very polite about it.

"This place is like my second home! This where I go to hang out sometimes! I like to hunt for buried treasure here!"

He scratched his head at me. "Huh? Treasure hunting?"

"Uh-huh!" I picked up the cat jar and held it in front of him. "This is where I find cute things like Neko-san!"

"…Who's Neko-san…?"

"Neko-san!" I jiggled the jar around in my hands. "See? Neko-san!"

He laughed nervously and loosened the collar of his dress shirt. "Right…"

I stroked the jar and hugged it again.

"So you come here a lot and hunt for old junk?"

"It's not junk!" I snapped at him. "It's buried treasure!"

"Ah! Uh…sure…if you say so…haha." Hanzaemon-san wiped his forehead with a handkerchief he had in his jacket pocket. "It's pretty late out, Miss…Ryuugu was it?"

"Ahaha! That's me!" I held out my hand to him. "Pleased to meet you!"

He shook my hand.

"Pleasure's all mine!"

His hand was so warm and soft. He seemed like a really nice person! I knew I was jumping the gun a little bit, but I think I liked this funny man!

"Ryuugu-san, it's pretty late. You should be going home! I don't want your parents to worry about you!"

"I'll be okay! I was just about finished here anyway! Father doesn't fret about me too much! Ahaha!" I took the hatchet and placed it back in the tool box in my trailer. When I was done, I ran back to Hanzaemon-san. "I guess I'll get going now! It was great meeting you, Hanzae-"

"Can I walk you home, Ryuugu-san?" He asked me. His face was sort of red. "I…uh…just want to make sure one of Sempai's friends gets home safely, you know?"

"You sure? I don't want to trouble you, sir!"

"It's no trouble! Really! I'd be honored to!"

Now my face was turning red. "O-Oh…okay…hauuuu…"

I cradled the cat jar in my arms as Hanzaemon-san and I walked to my house. I sung to it and rubbed some of the dirt off of its little nose. I squirmed a little as I held it. Hanzaemon-san looked at me a few times, only to laugh.

It was very nice of him to walk me home. He was a complete stranger to me, but that warm smile of his and the fact that he was friends with Akasaka-san made me feel better. Akasaka-san was a great policeman and a great friend to me, and to Keiichi-kun and the others. He had perfect judgment when it came to people. I didn't have to worry about Hanzaemon-san at all! He didn't give me a reason to! He was quite entertaining, actually!

"Hanzaemon-san?" I asked as we walked on. "You said you were new here?"

"Yeah! I got lost in the village at least three times now! I never had a good sense of direction! Haha!"

"If you wanted to, you can ask Akasaka-san to help you find your way around the village! He's an expert! My friends and I can also help you!"

He smiled at me again. "That sounds nice! I think I might just take you up on that!"

"How long have you been a police officer?"

"Um…a few years now. I used to work in the city before I was transferred here. I don't think I did a good job 'cause my boss shipped me all the way to the country!" He frowned just a tad. "I never really was the best at law enforcement over in Tokyo! Haha!"

"Hinamizawa's a very peaceful village," I said with my own wide smile, "you'll fit right in! It's a quiet, tranquil, and beautiful place to live! It may be frightening for a newcomer fresh from the city, but I'm sure you'll come to love it! Ahaha!"

He kicked at the ground sheepishly. "I really hope so! Well, at least I got Sempai to help me out, right?"

"You also have his other friends: me and my friends at school!"

"Hehe! I haven't been here for a whole week and I'm already making good friends! You're a sweet girl, Ryuugu-san!"

"I…I'm sweet…am I? Am I…?" I hid my face behind my jar.

"I bet you're a heartbreaker at your school, huh? You're popular with the boys over there?"

"Um…" I held my jar tighter. "The school I go to is pretty small. All the boys there are too young…except for one…he's my age."

"Oh?" Hanzaemon-san grinned. "Have you conquered him yet?"

"C-Conquered? What do you mean…?" My face was becoming redder.

"You know, his heart?"

"Hauuuuu…!" I shook my head violently when I thought about me and Keiichi-kun.

"I'm sorry! I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable or anything!" He was so worried. He was frantically shifting his eyes out of fear of me being upset.

"I'm fine!" I laughed and wiped the bashfulness from my face. "Love is kind of a tricky subject for me! I'm still too young for that kind of stuff."

Hanzaemon-san chuckled.

"Do…do you have a girlfriend, Hanzaemon-san?"

"Nope! I got a wife!" He laughed. "Been married a couple of years now! Best time of my life, I can tell you that!"

Marriage. I wondered what it would be like to have a husband. I wondered how love would feel between two people when they got married. It had to be like Heaven. Absolute bliss! Hau! My face was turning red again!

"If there's one piece of advice I can give you, Ryuugu-san, it's this: if you see someone you like or absolutely love, you go for it! Don't let anybody or anything stop you! If you wait too long, you'll miss out on your one true love! Take it from a guy like me! I had rotten luck with women when I was your age! But when I saw my wife, I went after her and never took "no" for an answer! I kept fighting until I made her mine!"

"That's so romantic!"

I thought hard about what he said. Hanzaemon-san had a point. Love is a beautiful thing, if you miss out on it, you can't be sure if you'll ever get another chance! You had to go for it when you found the love that you've been searching for! But…that sort of thing was for the adults. I was still a teenager. I was too young to be thinking about romantic relationships or anything like that. I was just fine being Rena! I was fine by myself for now!

We arrived at my house a little while later. I danced to my door and twirled to face Hanzaemon-san.

"Thank you again for walking me home! I appreciate it!"

"Hey, it's no problem! I wanted to do something nice for a friend of Sempai's! A friend of his is a friend of mine!"

I grinned and shook his hand again. "It was great meeting you again, Hanzaemon-san! Will I be seeing you again?"

"Of course! I have to make my rounds around Hinamizawa almost every evening before I take off from work! Maybe I'll run into you again! Haha!" He turned and waved to me. "You have a goodnight now, Ryuugu-san!"

"Take care!"

Hanzaemon-san walked off into the darkness. I really hoped that I would see him again! He was so nice and cool! Sure, he was a little goofy, but that was part of his charm! If he wasn't goofy, he'd just be boring! It's good to have an odd side to you! It means that you're unique!

My father was snoring when I entered my house. I could hear it all the way downstairs! I crept past his door and silently wished him a goodnight as well. When I got to my room, I placed my cat jar on my bed and took off my clothes. I went into the bathroom near my room and hopped into the shower. I was all greasy and dirty from my excursion to the junkyard. I felt so gross!

I turned on the cool water. I jumped at first but my body soon adjusted. I let the water run all over my body; I wanted every inch of me to be clean. It felt so refreshing. The air in Hinamizawa was very dry sometimes and the temperature could be warm or blazing. Most of the time it was comfortable, but there were times when the heat was too much! I guess it complimented the harsh winters Hinamizawa had! Those were the worst of all!

I came out in my towel and sat on my bed. I brushed at my hair. Hanzaemon-san's words were still in my head. I had to go for it; I had to fight for my true love. It was a cute idea, something that would work well in a storybook, but this was real life. I was too young; Keiichi-kun was too for that matter. He always flirted with me and Mii-chan to be funny, but I don't think he understood what he was really saying half of the time. I think that's why I'd punch him in a surprise attack frequently.

After drying off, I slipped into my pajamas and quickly went to sleep. I sighed deeply and smiled to myself. My thoughts were filled with fantasies about romance and about marriage. My heart was filling me with these thoughts, but my mind was telling me to be realistic and to be grown up about it. It was such an odd contradiction. My mind knew that and wanted my heart to know, but it wouldn't listen. It was wrapped up in the sweet pleasure of passion. It hurt me. It hurt me to think about these kinds of fantasies, but I couldn't help it. I couldn't stop my heart from longing for that special person. For that special person…my own…my…

The next day, I was greeted by the shining sun and the singing of the cicadas. I jumped out of bed and opened the window of my room. It was all so pretty! Today was going to be great!

I couldn't wait to get to school! I couldn't wait to see my friends and for the day's club activity! Would I win again this time? I wondered!

I gobbled up my breakfast, quickly prepare my lunchbox and wished my father a nice day. I bolted out of my house and breathed in the fresh air. The air was much better than the past few days. It had been dry, but it was crisp as could be that day! I wanted to walk and enjoy the scenery, but I couldn't stop myself! I wanted to pick up Keiichi-kun and see everybody as soon as possible!

Keiichi-kun's house never changed! It stood strong and proud, watching over the road and over the fields of emerald green! I always believed Keiichi-kun was rich, though he said he wasn't. His father was a famous artist, so he had to be rich! How else could his parents have afforded that house? I first thought Keiichi-kun was trying to be humble, but I knew for a fact that, in the end, he was as much of a braggart as Mii-chan!

I knocked on his front door. My smile was so big that it hurt my cheeks! I imagined him coming to greet me, teasing me about my face, and finishing his joke by rubbing my head. I loved it when he did that! I could do without some of the teasing, but I loved his smile and the way he touched me. Everything about Keiichi-kun was so warm and kind! He cared a lot about his friends! He cared a lot about me!

I didn't receive an answer. I knocked harder. Still no answer. Where was Keiichi-kun? Usually he or his mother would answer the door. Weren't they home?

I looked at his mailbox. There was a note taped on top of it.

It read, "Sorry! Gone to the city for a few days on business! Be back as soon as we can! – Maebara."

Keiichi-kun was in the city with his parents? He never told me that he was leaving for a little while! What were they up to? It made me a little sad that I wouldn't be seeing him for a little bit, but at least I could still be with Mii-chan, Satoko, and Rika!

Mii-chan was waiting for me at her usual spot. She was leaning against the bench and whistling to herself. When she noticed me, she looked at me funny.

"Yo, Rena!" she called out. "Where's Kei-chan? Is he sick or something?"

"No. He's gone out to the city with his parents. I think it's really important."

"Ah man!" Mii-chan huffed and folded her arms in disappointment. "I wanted to kick his ass today in the club activity! Now that he's gone, I gotta cancel it! Dammit!"

"Ahaha! That's right! It's no fun if all of the club members aren't together! But Keiichi-kun will be back in a few days!"

She rubbed her nose and rolled her pinky around in her ear. "Ah well, can't be helped! Hmm, maybe the four of us could do something together then..." Her eyes flashed and that evil grin crossed her lips. "Rena! Let's ask Satoko to build a trap for Kei-chan! Let's have her make the biggest trap yet!"

I laughed. "Mii-chan, that's not nice! Give him a break!"

We walked along the road to school. Mii-chan folded her arms behind her head and hummed to herself. I folded my hands in front of my lap and looked all around. I saw some roses blooming and a few petals from the cherry trees were floating down to the earth. It made me think of Keiichi-kun. Ah! Why was I thinking about that stuff again? It was so embarrassing!

"Hmm?" Mii-chan spotted my face. "What's with you, Rena?" She smirked. "Thinking about something cute again, I see? Ahaha! You're so predictable!"

"Um, Mii-chan?" I looked at her directly in the eye. "Did…you tell him yet?"

"Eh? Told who what?"

"You know…Keiichi-kun? About that thing…?"

She quickly turned her face from me. "I-I-I-I've been real busy l-lately!"

I knew that wasn't true. Why was she stalling?

"Besides! K-Kei-chan's busy too! S-So it doesn't make sense to do anything yet!"

"Mii-chan? Why are you lying to me? You like Keiichi-kun, don't you?" I walked in front of her and stood there. She ceased her walk and looked away. "You told me that you did! If you really feel that way, why don't you tell him? What have you got to lose?"

Mii-chan sighed and rubbed her arm. "It's…not that easy."

"How so?"

"Ah…er…you know I'm never good with this touchy-feely stuff! I've never been…"

"What's the real problem? You've made such good progress! He gave you that doll a long time ago, remember? He said he saw you as a girl! That's incredible for someone as silly as Keiichi-kun!"

"Even so," Mii-chan said quietly as she shook her head. "I'm more than happy with our relationship now…but…I feel like I want more. It's completely selfish of me! I mean…is it really worth the risk though? What if it doesn't work out? What if we stop being friends?"

"Oh…so that's why?" I touched her shoulder. "Keiichi-kun likes you a lot! I wouldn't doubt it if he shared your feelings!"

It hurt me greatly to say that. Why did it hurt so much though?

"You…think he does?"

I smiled, despite how much my heart was aching. "I do! You and Keiichi-kun are cute together! Hauuuu! Keiichi-kun and Mii-chan!"

I hugged myself and twirled around, trying to hide the pain. I didn't want Mii-chan to suspect anything at all. I would feel so guilty if she did! Keiichi-kun…he…I couldn't take away Mii-chan's chance. It wouldn't be right of me…and I told myself that this kind of affection was something I wasn't ready for yet! Why was I contradicting myself so much?

"You know, I envy you, Rena," Mii-chan smiled at me.

"You do?"

She nodded. "You and Kei-chan get to hang out all the time! The only times I see him is when we go to school, when we do the club activities, or when he comes over my house to see my manga. That's really about it.

"You, Satoko, and Shion get to see him a lot more than I do. Him, Satoko, and Shion are like a small family! I'm happy for them, but…I can't help but feel…jealous."

"Mii-chan. You don't have to be insecure about it."

"What?" She raised her voice a little. "I'm not being insecure!"

I looked at her sternly. "Yes, you are! Keiichi-kun likes you very much! He enjoys it greatly whenever he spends time with you! I know so! Yeah!" I giggled. "You have to believe that! You have something that only Mii-chan has! Satoko, Shii-chan, or even myself, can't have it! It's Mii-chan's and Mii-chan's alone! So Keiichi-kun's being silly, big deal! He'll come around! You have to be the one to do it though! You have to make the first move, because I know he never will!

"Someone told me yesterday, that if you see something that you want, you go for it! You fight for it and never back down! You can tell Keiichi-kun if you stuck out your chest and held your head up high! You can tell him! You can!"

She cracked a tiny smile. "You really think so, Rena?"

"I do! Ahaha!" I returned her smile and walked ahead of her. "Now, let's get going to school, shall we? We don't want to be late!" I wanted to end this conversation before it became more detailed. I didn't think I could take much more.

"Hey! R-Rena!"

I looked at her over my shoulder.

"Um…th-thank you, Rena…" She smiled very warmly at me. "I really mean it…"

I felt like I was going to cry. Now I was the one who was being insecure.

Rika and Satoko greeted us as always when we entered the classroom. They inquired about Keiichi-kun and we told them the news. Satoko was just as disappointed as Mii-chan. Rika only smiled and wished him well. Before we could talk any further, Chie-sensei was ready to begin class.

I didn't pay attention at all. I couldn't. My eyes were focused on Mii-chan. I saw her scribbling something down in her notebook. What was she writing? Was that…a heart I saw? Were those names…or were they drawings inside of the heart? What was she doing?

I tried not to look, but I couldn't stop myself. I could tell by the dazed look in her eye, and by the goofy smile that curled across her mouth that she was thinking of one thing and one thing only: Keiichi-kun. I tried to tell myself that I had done the right thing by cheering her up and setting her straight. But it hurt…it was hurting me. I was so stupid. I was supposed to be acting all grown up and here I was acting dumb. I was terrible.

Lunch time rolled around. Chie-sensei left for her office and Mii-chan, Satoko, Rika, and I pulled our desks together. We all picked at each other's lunchboxes and shared stories with one another. Satoko was more lively today that she'd been in a month.

"Gimme that!" She speared a piece of steak from my lunchbox. "Ahhhhh! You make a mean steak, Rena-san! You're incredible!"

"Ahaha! I try!"

Rika tried some. "…It's delicious! Rena's like a wizard!"

Wizard? Me? With…with those robes…and the pointy hat…hauuuu….

"Oh boy!" Mii-chan chuckled. "Nice going, Rika! Now you got her going again!"

"I-I-I-I want to take those robes home with meeeeeeee!" I fell out of my seat and squirmed on the floor like a worm.

"Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho!" Satoko looked down at me. "Could you imagine Rena-san with a white beard and a pointy hat?"

Rika patted my head. "…Rena would make a good wizard! She could bewitch people!"

"Except, when I think about it, wouldn't she be called a witch, instead of a wizard?"

"She would be a good witch! She could help us all with our math drills with her black magic!"

I got back into my seat and tried not to think of myself in a robe and with a white beard. But it was so cute!

"I wouldn't mind that at all!" Satoko got up from her chair. "I gotta use the bathroom real quick! Be right back!"

"Take your time!" Mii-chan snickered.

"Mii-chan!" I snapped myself out of my trance. "That's disgusting!"

Satoko laughed and ran off.

Rika, when Satoko was gone, swiped a few vegetables and slices of meat from her lunchbox. When Mii-chan and I caught her, she only giggled and smiled.

"Nipa~!"

"So…so…cute!"

Mii-chan held me back. "Nuh-uh-uh, Rena! Be a good girl, now!"

"Hauuuuuu…."

"Oh…Rena? Can I tell you something?"

"Huh? What?"

Rika was watching the both of us closely; I could tell from the corner of my eye. She was stilling smiling, but she never blinked once at us.

"I'm gonna do it!"

"Do what?"

She cupped her hand around my ear and whispered. "I'm gonna tell Kei-chan when he comes back! I'll invite him over and I'll tell him everything!"

My heart sunk. I really didn't want to hear anymore of this. Why was she torturing me? She was so against it at first, why all of sudden did she think it was good idea now? Me and my big mouth…

"Ar-Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yep! I'm gonna let him know everything! I'll tell him and we'll see where it goes! I'm not gonna chicken out anymore!"

"Who's gonna know everything?" someone asked from behind us.

Mii-chan stammered when she saw Satoko hovering over her. "S-Satoko! I thought you went to the bathroom!"

"It was occupied, so I have to wait. So, Mion-san, who's gonna know everything?"

"I-I-It's none of your business!"

"Hmph!" Satoko turned to me now. "What's going on Rena-san? What are you and Mion-san talking about?"

"It's nothing, really, Satoko-chan!" I laughed and smiled at her.

"…It's rude to eavesdrop, Satoko." Rika wasn't smiling anymore. She was expressionless now.

"I just wanted to know! What's so wrong with that?" Satoko stood there for a moment. Something crossed her mind a few seconds later. She seized Mii-chan's notebook that was leaning against the leg of her chair and began to flip through it.

"Hey! What're you doing?" Mion yelled at her.

"I wanna know what you guys are hiding from me! And I saw you were doodling something in here during class!" She kept flipping through the notebook.

"Stop it, Satoko!" Rika raised her voice now.

"Just give me…wait…what the hell is this?" Satoko examined that one certain page very closely for a solid minute. "Ohhhhh…you gotta be kidding me!"

Mii-chan sunk in her chair and covered her face. I held her shoulder and grimaced.

"Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho!" Satoko's vampire fang was sticking out of her mouth. "I don't believe it! Mion-san! You…you actually like Keiichi-san? Oh ho ho ho ho!"

Mii-chan was blushing quite a lot. Her body shook and her knees were knocking together.

"Wow! What a catch, indeed! Oh ho ho! You picked the lowest of the low!"

"Satoko!" Rika snatched the notebook from Satoko and held it close to her chest. "Stop it! Stop it right now!" Her voice got a little deeper and her brow was furrowed. I never heard Rika talk that way before, let alone to her closest friend! She never got mad at anyone!

"I'm just kidding, Rika!" Satoko laughed again, with her hand at her mouth. She smirked at Mii-chan. "So, did you confess to Keiichi-san yet?"

Mii-chan didn't say a word. She kept shivering under my grasp.

"When are you going to tell him?"

"Satoko, please!" I beseeched her. "Please leave Mii-chan alone! This is a very serious thing for her! Don't tease her so much!"

"Huh? What's wrong with her? Is she afraid of confessing? How hard can it be? You just gotta say 'I love you!' Just three simple words!"

Mii-chan stopped trembling.

"You know, Mion-san, I could help you with this little problem of yours!" She snickered again. "You just have to ask me nicely!"

"Satoko! That's enough!" Rika's voice got a little louder.

"I could be your ambassador, Mion-san! I could tell Keiichi-san for you! That would help you, wouldn't it? You never were a really girly person, so I would be happy to help you! I could give you some pointers on being romantic and-"

I heard a screech, a crack, and thud. Satoko was across the room, lying on her side. There were some drops of blood on the floor. She struggled to sit up. The side of her golden head was black and blue, with a small shade of red. Blood dripped from the side of her head and plopped down on the floor. Satoko's breaths were shaky and she clutched at her head. She was trying not to cry.

Mii-chan was holding her wooden chair. The back rest had broken off. The part that was broken had some blood on it as well. It was mostly splintered. She was breathing heavily and her eyes were horrifying. They had this awful reptilian slit in them and they appeared to be bloodshot. What happened to her? What happen to Mion?

She walked over to Satoko. She kicked her in the back of the head and threw her into a row of desks. The other kids lifted Satoko up and tried to nurse her. Mion walked towards her again. Rika bolted in front of Satoko and acting as her shield. I stood behind Mion and waited for an the opportunity to grab her.

"You little shit!" Mion glowered at Satoko's bloody head. "You want me to bash that head of yours in again? Say another word! I dare you!"

"Mii, stop it! Satoko was kidding!" Rika pleaded with her. "She didn't mean it!"

"Get outta my way, Rika! She had this coming!" Mion lifted up the broken chair. "I'm gonna shut that damn mouth of hers up! How dare she talk to me like that? Who do you think you are, Satoko? You…! How dare you condescend me like that? You little bitch!"

"Mii-chan, stop!" I grabbed her under her arms.

She dropped the chair and wrestled free from my grasp. She spun around and socked me right in the mouth.

I staggered back. Blood shot out from my lip.

She raised her fist again at me. She was ready for another punch if I said another word.

I looked back up at Mion. This time, she was afraid of the look in my eyes. I took a step towards her.

Mion threw another punch at my cheek.

I caught her fist and slapped her hard across the face.

The force behind my slap sent Mion into the wall. She clutched at her face and watched me in horror as I grabbed her by the collar of her shirt.

"I told you to stop it!" I slapped her even harder. I was yelling at her. "What's gotten into you?" I slapped her yet again.

"Stop…! Please…!" she moaned. "You're hurting me…!"

"I'm hurting you? Is that all you have to say?" I was about to hit her again when Chie-sensei charged into the room.

"What's going on in here?" She was yelling too.

She first spotted the stranglehold I had on Mion, and the slap marks across her face, and then she saw Rika wiping the blood from Satoko's head. Satoko's head was bobbing up and down. Her eyes were opening and closing. She was trying to stay awake, but she kept slipping out of consciousness.

"Oh my…! What happened? Houjou-chan! Houjou-chan!" Chie-sensei lifted her up into her arms and carried her out into the hall. "Furude-chan! Call Dr. Irie right now!"

Rika ran for the principal's office to borrow his phone.

Chie-sensei shot a glare at Mion and I. "Who did this?" Her voice was cold and full of hatred.

I released Mion and she fell to the floor. I only looked at her with contempt.

"Answer me!" Chie-sensei yelled louder.

Some of the children were stuttering, but they all pointed to Mion.

"Sonozaki-chan?" Her voice got even colder. "What the hell is that matter with you?"

She didn't answer.

I wanted to hit her again! I wanted to keep hitting her for what she did!

"I…" Mion curled up into a ball and she hugged her knees. "I…I'm…I…I'm…hic…hic…hic!" She was crying.

I shook my head at her. Just…what on earth was going on in her mind? What happened to Mion?