This story was written in the fashion of a role play. Some parts will be edited to flow better in the style of a story, but it will mostly remain in the same format. I wrote the parts of Yuuya, Yoshiki, Naomi, and Mayu. My friend is responsible for the parts of Ayumi, Sakutaro, and Satoshi. The writing was done by us, but we do not own the franchise or characters included.

Extra characters: Asuka (me) and Nori (my friend)

This is a darker story. If you like our fluffier ones, this is probably not for you. You have been warned.

The brisk autumn air was a relief on the caged student's lungs. When the lunch bell rang, it felt like most the school shuffled outside to find places to eat where they could enjoy the nice weather. After all, winter would be there before they knew it. Shinozaki Ayumi sat down with one of her friends, Suzumoto Mayu, under one of the trees in the courtyard. "So, have you been watching the news?" she questioned as she opened her lunchbox. Disturbing news of murders happening had been rolling constantly on all the channels. So many reporters jumping to analyze this killer. Ayumi felt a little bad how wrapped up she got in watching the reports. It was sickening, but also fascinating in the worst ways.

Mayu opened her lunch, patiently eating away. She looked to Ayumi, pausing to think. She was usually too busy with homework and practicing her drama lines... She swallowed, then lightly shook her head. "Nope. I'm always the last to know stuff," she admitted with a small pout, but then tilted her head. "What's happening? Is it really serious?" she asked curiously, keeping her normally bubbly tone out of it in case it was something bad.

Ayumi glanced aside, suddenly doubting herself that she should bring this up during lunch. Or at all. Mayu was a sensitive soul, and she didn't want to send her into any sort of panic. Though, she would probably catch wind of it soon enough. She looked back at Mayu, a solemn expression on her face. "There have been murders in the area. The cops think they have a potential serial killer on their hands," she explained. Her chopsticks poked thoughtfully at her food, her appetite dissolving at the content. "Two murders so far... one more and he'll be declared one," she said. A serial killer was someone who murders more than three victims one at a time in a relatively short interval. Hopefully the cops will catch the person before he can be given the title.

Mayu went silent as Ayumi explained, her hands frozen and her eyes slightly wider. A killer... in their area?! It was bone chilling... Not only did she feel remorse for those two other victims, but if they still hadn't found him, he was still free to kill anyone... Including her, or her friends! She thickly gulped, looking down at her food. "That's... really scary..," she said with a furrowed brow. She never thought that a killer could be around in their city... Then again, it wasn't like they were immune to crazies, but still... It felt surreal... "I hope they get him...," she muttered, fear evident in her tone. Her stomach felt uneasy... She'd have to spend a while with Sakutaro to calm her nerves. She always felt safer in his company...

Ayumi gave a weak smile of agreement. There was always a sort of powerlessness being a citizen in these circumstances. You basically had to cross your fingers and rely on the police force to out predict the killers moves. "I'm sure they will," she said with confidence as she forced herself to eat a bite of sushi. "Killers always slip up," she added in assurance. Although, Ayumi didn't really know much about real-life crimes. She knew a lot about the supernatural... and what she did know about criminals was from day-time cop shows that weren't to be trusted. Still, everything would be fine... "My parents are fussing over me... They keep telling me that I should never walk alone. I think they're letting themselves get a little too worked up," she said with a small frown.

Mayu gave a small reassuring smile, but she sort of felt Ayumi was too relaxed about this all. One could bet anything that she was going to force Sakutaro to walk home with her every time until the killer is caught. Being killed... that was really scary, and making her extremely uneasy. "I don't know, Ayu-chan... Maybe you should find a walking home buddy," she offered, her brows still furrowed as she tried to express her concern for Ayumi's safety, "At least until he's caught..."

"Maybe..." Ayumi faintly agreed. It was hard to be nervous in the streets she's walked through hundreds of times. She knew the killer was out there, but if she let every case on the news bother her or turn her into a nervous mess, she'd spend her entire life frazzled. Perhaps she would be a little more weary about this case, considering the closeness and severity of it. Caution wouldn't hurt, but she wouldn't let her reach her parent's level of anxiety. "I don't think anyone lives in my direction, though," she added with a furrowed brow. It would be nice to walk with Satoshi everyday, but he lived north of the school while she lived west. Plus, with news of a killer, he was probably eager to get Yuka and himself home.

Mayu was a bit relieved that Ayumi seemed to accept the deal, but then they were met with a dilemma. Ayumi didn't like to trouble others, so they'd have to live in her direction, at least... She didn't know where everyone lived, so she couldn't point out who would be best. "Ask around then... But maybe you should try and ask within your circle of friends. You never know what kind of people lurk around," she said, tossing in another piece of advice to keep her friend from the clutches of the killer.

Ayumi didn't want to look like she was anxious or scared by asking around for people's addresses, but she could tell Mayu probably wouldn't let this topic go. "Alright, I'll try and ask around," she assured her with a light smile. She shut her lunchbox, unwilling to eat another bite. "Just don't let this make you a paranoid mess, okay?" she said to Mayu, concerned she may be getting herself too worked up.

Mayu nodded slightly, but wasn't sure she could keep that promise. She was worried for all of her friends... Even the boys. Just because they were stronger, maybe minus Satoshi, the killer was probably an adult. She, too, shut her lunchbox, her appetite shot. "Okay, I'll try," she answered with a small smile, her hands resting on one another. "Remember though! Ask a friend!" she repeated as if drilling a lecture into her head. Anyone here, even at school, could be the killer. It was dangerous to go home with somebody you don't know well, like they all knew each other.

Ayumi forced a brighter smile on her face, figuring it would just be best to suck up whatever pride she had to find a friend to walk home with her. It would make her parents, Mayu, and honestly, herself feel better about all this stuff going on. Teachers always lectured the students that they had some weird delusion that they were somehow invincible to the world's dangers. Perhaps it would serve to keep her own mortality in mind. "Yep, don't worry. I'll definitely find someone," she said with a firm nod. Now, with this promise... she'd have to figure out who she knew who lived close.

The girl's smile grew, followed by some laughter and harder to make out words. Dull eyes focused on the two girls, absorbing their whole conversation. The boy that sat under a tree with two other friends was hardly even listening to them.

"-so then I went to this super cool cave! It was crazy dark, but I wasn't scared! I think our guide was nervous though, and almost fell into one of those deep holes. I bet he was creeped about the killer and all," a boy rambled on, seemingly excited but then his voice grew hushed and secretive. The killer was a bit of a school-inappropriate topic, probably because the teachers didn't want them all freaking out. "What do you think about it, Kizami?"

Yuuya's eyes slowly trailed over to his fellow senior, seemingly unshaken by all of this. "It doesn't concern me," he said with a nonchalant shrug. His mind was really somewhere else... That girl... She was a second year, wasn't she?... She was quite short for her age... and his junior. Something stirred inside him when he looked at her, a feeling that made a smile want to curl onto his lips, but he refrained from changing his expression.

"Really? Man, how can you be so chill about everything?!" the other boy responded, placing his hands behind his head as he gazed at Yuuya with amazement. All he was thinking about, though, was how to get that girl alone...

Ayumi had felt incredibly bad when she lied to Mayu. She had gotten a little text asking if she found someone... Ayumi had to respond with a lie. Otherwise Mayu would have grabbed Sakutaro and the two would've walked with her home, and it was such a large inconvenience for something that wouldn't happen. It wasn't like it was nighttime when she headed out for home. The sun was still high, and she had a good feeling of her surrounding area. It was a little discouraging to walk alone, since Mayu's nervousness had rubbed off on her a little bit. There just hadn't been a lot of good moments to talk to people, and she hadn't managed to ask any of her friends from student council... Tomorrow she'd find someone.

Yuuya's steps were quiet as he followed along the exact same road the girl was on. She was a little ahead of him, but that was on purpose. He needed to theorize his chances of a successful capture, while staying a respectable distance as to not attract attention. His eyes were shifty as he checked for the coast to be clear. It was a little later than most students stayed at school, but it also wasn't late enough for the ones who stayed over to leave yet, so the road was deserted. What a perfect time... He thought he may have had to wait a while to access the situation more, but there couldn't be a more opportune moment.

Yuuya picked up speed slightly, so he could approach before she made it even to the sight of the train station. His smile grew as he became more impatient, his steps quicker and strides longer. Eventually, he was almost dead on her. He raised his hands, slowing down to her speed just as a tree line was coming up. He quickly grabbed her without any prior warning, his hand firmly grasping her while the other held her mouth shut so no screams could escape. He dragged her into the foliage, the sight of the road disappearing from sight.

He pulled her into a decrepit, large building, that almost blended in with it's surroundings. He slung her further in, to the floor, then shut the heavy door behind him. It's creak echoed, and so did it's loud clunk. He paused, looking down at her with that same dull expression, but only for a moment as it quickly flickered into an insane smile. He wanted to see her initial terror, before officially telling her anything or doing anything to her.

Ayumi had been lost in thought, her mind going over trivial details like homework and dinner. Those thoughts were wiped clean and replaced with fear as strong hands grabbed her. Her first reaction was to release a guttural scream, but that was halted at the firm hand placed over her mouth. The repressed scream vibrated through her, as she fought as much as she could. Adrenaline and fear were the only things she could process flowing through her veins. Even if her kick and squirming did nothing, she had the instinct to fight.