Chapter 1: Changes [Pt. 2]
The school carried on until the final period of the day. The students of their respective classes start doing their routinely afterschool cleaning so the classrooms will be prepared for the next day. Naomi along with other students head towards their respective afterschool clubs for activities of their own.
Her Drama club activities finally ended for the day, and she is relieved to go to the other side of the school just so she could meet up with her underclassmen Sakura. Earlier today, the shoulder-lengthed girl wants Naomi to meet her at her club room when she's done.
On her way, however, she was stopped by the sound of footsteps approaching her from behind that followed with a throat clearing up.
"Busujima? Miss Busujima?" a young man with neatly combed hair called out to her attention.
"Hm?" Naomi looked back and saw him.
"I'm sorry, but do you have a moment? This won't take long I promise." the boy asked said nervously.
"No, not at all," she said calmly.
"That's great!" he smiled now that he got her attention.
"I, uh... I've heard that the movie 'Child's Play' is still ongoing and some people say that it's good. I was thinking that... maybe we can watch it together this Saturday? I'm sure that it'll be-"
Her eyes furrowed during his explanation.
"I'm sorry. But I can't accept your invitation and your feelings. Please excuse me." Naomi apologized dryly as she gave him a bow.
After she gave her answer, Naomi turned around towards her destination, leaving the young man behind while his eyes widen from the shock.
"B-bu-but I..." words failed to be coherent for the boy.
Naomi keeps on going after she turned away from the boy who tried to confess his feelings to her and his attempt to invite her to date. He always pinned her from afar, and this is one chance to finally talk to her and ask her. But instead, he only got rejected.
His two friends who watched him from afar. Moments ago, they wished him luck for him to try, but after seeing the whole ordeal, they feel sorry for his rejection.
"Oh man... What a bummer..." one of them said awkwardly.
"It's just what the rumors said. with Busujima keep on rejecting young hearts in school, it's a wonder if she has a type." the second one leans by at the window.
The poor boy stood there in confusion, then sorrow and pain from his heart-broken to the denial. Fists and teeth clenched tight and small tears nearly from his face.
He turned away from where he stood and walked away bitterly, as his two friends came up behind him to help comfort the unfortunate boy.
"It's okay, dude. At least you tried." the first one said gently.
"Yeah! It sucks now, but it'll get better in time." the second one patted him on the back.
Naomi finally reached to the Newspaper club after getting distracted a moment ago. Sakura was fidgeting her foot when as she was lodging on the doorway nervously, but eventually jumped away from the wall the moment she saw Naomi.
"Hey, Sakura! I'm here!" Naomi cheerfully waved her hand.
"Thank you for coming!" Sakura smiled when her upperclassman arrived.
Naomi came to a stop just as she’s close enough to her.
"So is there something you wanna talk to me about? Is it from this morning?" The blonde girl curiously asked.
"Yeah, I do. I just wanna say I'm sorry that I got to carried away this morning. I also didn't get to say my thanks to you properly." Sakura hand reached in her pocket. "So I wanted you to have this instead."
Sakura held out the same radio that they found in that store. The transistor radio was cleaned up from the dust that was covered. Naomi’s eyes agape from the sight of the object as Sakura raised it up high to her in gesture.
"Wait, what? I can't accept that!" Naomi said.
"I insist! I dunno how you did it, but I know you somehow saved me from that crash this morning. It doesn't feel right for me to not do something to repay your good deed. Just keep it!" Sakura pressed on further.
Naomi’s brow furrowed. Ever since that morning at the store, she wasn’t feeling uneasy of that object Sakura found. It was because of that morning, she’s still worried inside of that apparition that showed up twice from her.
That apparition did things that are beyond her comprehension, and it all started with them finding this radio. But seeing how insistent that Sakura is, she finally relents.
"Ugh... Fine." Naomi groaned.
Naomi took the radio from Sakura’s hands as she clasped it between her own. Just then, their other friend showed up in a hurry from the other side of the hall, as if she's looked everywhere for them. Her face is lit with excitement despite the sprint.
"GIRLS! HEY THERE!!" Nodoka rushed towards them to get even closer.
"Oh? Nodoka?" Sakura turned to the voice.
Their friend finally reached close enough to them, but she's finally out of breath the moment she caught up to them. Both of them can't help but look in concern when she’s breathing heavily, and her hands clutched her knees.
"Hey, now! Take it easy from that sprinting." Sakura patted her back gently to comfort her.
"T-Thanks! Whoo..! A-anyway, I have something to share..." Nodoka gasped for air.
As soon as her breathing returned to normal, she stood upright with her face still beaming with excitement.
"You wouldn't believe what I discovered! Rumor has it that there's a fortune teller nearby our school! A lot of students after school stopped by to her place for their readings and after a day or two, their readings came true!" Nodoka’s eyes glimmered with joy.
"Really? That sounds good!" Sakura took in the news with interest.
"I know, right? I got so excited after hearing it that I really wanna try myself!" Nodoka replied to Sakura.
"A fortune teller, huh? Guess I wouldn't mind visiting there instead of heading back to the house this one time. It sounds fun." Naomi smiled with interest.
"So Nana-Senpai, do you wanna come? We're planning to go there as soon as we wrap up for the day." Nodoka eagerly asked.
"Of course! I would like to see it myself too." Naomi said.
"That's wonderful!" Nodoka clasped her hands towards Naomi, feeling thankful and excited that she’s coming along.
——————————————————————————————————
The girls are walking side by side together as the afternoon sun dips further down in the horizon. Houses that are around them are starting to light up through their windows one by one.
The girls are all still feeling excited to see this fortune teller, as they are getting closer to their destination after given instructions from students who visited that place before.
However, through her observation, Naomi is starting to see that they’re going to an unknown route that she’s never gone through before. Feeling a sense of nervousness, she needed to make sure that they weren’t lost.
"So, Nodoka. Where's this fortune teller located at?" Naomi asked curiously.
Her underclassman went ahead of them to see the next area they are instructed to go. She turns to the corner, as her face lit up with excitement and glee after discovering their following location.
"She's right here!" Nodoka pointed to the destination.
The other girls finally caught up to her to see the area themselves. However what was supposed to fulfill them with excitement, actually fills them with confusion and a hint of dread.
The building has some old, washed out graffiti scribbled onto the corners of the walls. Loud noise can be heard still from the inside despite that the glass door is closed shut. The board's lights tend to flicker every now and then while it tries to show the name of the store up above.
But what got Naomi and Sakura's attention the most are some of the patrons that are outside of the building; a few delinquents loitered close by the shop, not paying attention to the girls that are close by to their usual hangout.
It suddenly dawns to both of the girls; it is rumored that there is a place is actually an infamous arcade joint where the delinquents gather away from school to hang out, causing trouble to people passing by that was circulated the school from time to time. This might be that landmark that they were talking about.
"We made it!" Nodoka beamed cheerfully.
Little did she know that her two companions think otherwise.
Is she joking? This is the arcade! Naomi thought with pursed lips and small eyes.
Maybe this is a bad idea. Sakura’s eyes darken with disbelief.
Eager to go, Nodoka started to dart towards the arcade.
"C' mon girls! Let's go!" Nodoka cried out to them.
"Nodoka, wait! Are you sure that this is the right place?" Naomi stopped Nodoka at her tracks. "You do know that this place is infamous because it's crawling with delinquents, right? We can't risk getting into trouble out here!"
"But this is where she is. A lot of students say that they go here regardless of... them." Nodoka frowned to the opposition.
"It's just gonna be a short while. I promise as soon as we're done, we can leave."
Naomi stares hard at her companion, then to the building at the back where the delinquents at the outside are still staying there minding their own business. Naomi didn’t hear any positive things about this place before from the past and it even looking at it now for the first time, she isn’t feeling comfortable.
However, Nodoka was so excited to see the fortune teller from the gossip but is hurt that her two friends aren’t as eager to go in this lion’s den to search for her. Feeling that’s is a foolish choice, it’s for the best that Nodoka has company for the building she’s going to enter.
"Alright. Just one reading and that's it!" Naomi groaned.
"That's great! Thank you, Nana-senpai!" Nodoka smiles brightly.
Of all the things I do for my friend... I got a bad feeling about this. Naomi thought grimly as she and Sakura traded anxious looks to each other.
The girls proceed to enter the building together, bracing themselves to unknown territories they've never been before.
The insides of the arcade are almost as bad as it's exterior. Some bits of rubbish is littered and scattered across the floor, a hint of cigarette smoke can be visible when looked carefully enough. Some consoles showcased each game from shoot-em-ups to fighter games, while only a couple have a sheet of paper taped onto the screen labeled "Out of order" in them.
The only occupants here inside are the delinquents and the manager at the far back. Some are loitering, some are just playing their games. A few of them who are lounging at the manager's desk took notice on the girls who appeared.
Although a little nervous, only Nodoka began to speak.
"Um... Uh... Excuse me?" Nodoka meekly asked the crowd. "Does anyone know where the fortune teller is?"
One of them that is at the manager's desk put out his cigarette at the ashtray before pointing to the direction where they should go.
"She's over there" his voice came out low and gruff.
The girls look to the corner where the young man pointed to, and to their surprise, she's at the edge of the arcade, away from the noise and chatter of the patrons inside.
Her table is dressed with a velvet purple cloth that appears quite exquisite and soft. On top of it was her glass ball that glistens from the lights inside, cards that seemed strangely eerie are stacked neatly next to the glass ball along with a couple of beads of divination.
The woman, dressed in red robes that covered her from head to toe, looked up after drawing a card from the stack beneath her. The Fortune Teller smiled at the new patrons that were looking for her.
"My, my... I see a few, fresh faces looking for my help," she speaks in a smooth, serene voice. "Good evening girls. My name is Rainbow, and I am the traveling fortune teller who currently resides here. Would you like a reading?"
"I would love to hear mine, thank you!" Nodoka jumped to the seat that is available in front of her.
The girls were baffled on how quickly she got there the moment they discovered the Fortune Teller, as mere moments ago Nodoka was standing right next to them when they entered the arcade.
"Splendid! Have a seat. We'll begin shortly." Rainbow cooly gesture the girls to sit.
"C' mon girls!" Nodoka turned to the girls on the far back.
"Hang on, we're coming," Sakura said back at the entrance.
Sakura started moving to head towards her friend to the table, to have her fortune too as well as giving her friend company. However, Naomi stood there for a while longer, observing the scene before her before she follows them in a puzzled look in her face.
Something doesn't seem to sit right for her.
Regardless, Naomi came forth and sat down next to Nodoka as all three of them are now together in one table with the Fortune Teller right in front of them. Nodoka at the front of the robed woman, on her right, sat Sakura and to her left sat Naomi starting to look disinterested.
"Please do not mind the modern look the establishment. Some of them are customers of my own." Rainbow said calmly.
"We don't. But I was hoping that you can do a reading for my friends and me." Nodoka shook her head but is still as eager as ever.
"And that be...?" Rainbow asked intriguingly.
"W-well, I wanna know if you can make a love fortune for me, specifically. There's a guy name Jotaro Kujo who goes as Jojo in our school, and I need to know if I dare to tell him how I feel for him." Nodoka’s cheeks flushed upon the thought and fantasy of Jotaro in her mind.
Nobody noticed Naomi’s eyes narrowed as her mouth displayed disbelief of Nodoka’s request.
"I see." the Fortune Teller said in a low voice. "But I should warn you though. I can't guarantee if the answer I give you should be the one you seek. It might cost you so much."
"Oh please do. I'll give you a little extra for me and my friend, Sakura." Nodoka reached out from her pocket and pull out a wallet to reach in and take out some money.
With that statement, the small wad of bills has been placed down at the table close enough to Rainbow's hand. The Fortune Teller quickly grabbed in with a flick of her hand.
"Splendid! We shall begin." Rainbow smiled after she takes it.
The Fortune Teller placed the wad of money next to her deck of cards, and in a trance, she slowly stands from her chair and inhales the air around them.
Her arms flayed around in circles, eyes shut as she begins an incantation as her body's gravity shifts from the movement of her hands. She takes in a slow, long breath through her lips.
"Ichfindeeinepersonmitubernaturlichemact... Herausundermordeihn..." Rainbow chanted so quickly.
The girls sat there silently, their eyes fixated on the woman before them as she looked so possessed with her arms flailing around dramatically.
It’s as if the air has grown a slight chill down at their necks, but it all stopped by the time Rainbow spoke out her last incantation.
Her hand sharply landed down onto the crystal ball below her, it’s light shine so brightly upon impact. The girls' vision snapped them back to the orb in front of them, at that moment the air around them starts to return to normal.
"The answers you seek have come to me!" Rainbow’s voice boomed.
She looked down to the girls at the table, as her right hand raised up to the air before it snapped down and pointed towards Nodoka.
"You! Advance with courage! It will probably be best to allay your fears and insecurities before moving forward!" Rainbow stated her reading.
"Ah! Um- O-okay!" Nodoka squeaked in surprise.
"But you! Watch your temper! You should calm down and take it easy!" Rainbow’s hand snapped and pointed towards Sakura for her reading.
"Wait, what??" Sakura flinched sharply. "But how did you- B-bah! I gotta go home, I got homework!"
Sakura shifted out of the chair she sat on and grabbed her school bag to head outside. Her face is still lit with embarrassment, and she would instead back out now then make a scene.
Sakura was known to be temperamental from time to time, and she was self-conscious of this fact for she felt it was an unattractive flaw of her own person.
"Sakura! Wait!" Nodoka called out to her friend. "Don't go!"
Nodoka followed after her as she almost fumbled from her departure. She wasn't happy that the reading she got isn't what she was looking for, but her classmate is more critical right now. Both girls after hearing their interpretations couldn’t help but felt goosebumps tickling their skins.
"Thank you for coming girls! I hope you fair well with your wonderful readings." Rainbow waved to them cheerfully.
The woman smiled to them as they left her table, her hand is tucking away the money inside the confines of her robe. But when she turned, the corner of her eye spotted who is left behind on her table.
Naomi's pink eyes still fixated on her, but it's furrowed to show how she really feels and realize the truth about this woman.
"Is something wrong, dear?" Rainbow’s eyebrow cocked in confusion. "Would you like a read-"
"Hold it right there." Naomi stopped her midway. "I was interested in having a reading earlier, but after seeing that spectacle, I changed my mind. You're a fake, aren't you?"
Rainbow’s eyes lit up from the young blonde’s statement as it also caused the smallest of twitches. She was stunned in silence for just a moment before she blinked her eyes and narrowed them to the girl.
"What a silly accusation. I don't have a clue on what you're talking about." Rainbow said confusingly, her head tilts slightly.
"Don't be stupid! What kind of a fortune teller are you if you smile a lot, charge a lot and just gloat so heavily of their so-called 'abilities'?!" Naomi’s hand slammed on the table.
"Not to mention that your crystal ball seems a little too opaque to gaze properly if you ARE one!"
She pointed out to the crystal ball she used earlier as it really did appear more opaque with a pale gray hue than the usual bright, crystal balls. Upon further notice, the stand where the crystal ball sits on has a small bulb underneath to give out the "glow" earlier.
"You dare to insult me?" Rainbow’s taken back with disgust.
"With such tasteless performance and attire, of course, I am! I've never met such poppycock of a fake in my whole life!" Naomi shot back with spite.
She flinched as her eyebrows clenched in a fit of snapped anger. This seemed to land a blow on Rainbow’s pride.
"H-How dare you..." Rainbow said lowly.
Without warning, the fortune teller grabbed the girl by the wrist to pull her closer to her until her palm is in view entirely. She stretched out her other hand, and her finger started to follow the lines that form every crevice of her palm.
"Hey! Let me go!" Naomi tried to fight her way out of her hold.
With a furrowed brow of concentration and irritation, it took a few good moments of silence and observance until she finally sees the signs of the girl's palm before her. Oddly enough, there’s also a look of curiosity for a brief moment.
"You are actually trapped in the most unfortunate circumstances. Only your choice, karma and will, will free you from the cycle you are in." Rainbow grimly stated.
"....Wh-what?" Was all Naomi said in a low whisper.
This got Naomi to stop fighting against the fortune teller’s hold. Rainbow finally managed to let her go the moment she is done reading. Naomi took this moment to gaze upon her palm for the right moment after hearing such a statement.
She knows that the woman is a fake who swindled her underclassmen, but that statement caught her by surprise, and for some reason, she isn't taking it well.
"Well? Does that prove anything?" Rainbow regained her composure and coy smile.
Naomi’s other thumb traced on the lines on her hand as her lips are starting to untighten slowly.
"That... is actually a remarkable reading..." Naomi said slowly. "...coming from a pitiful fake."
The young blonde made one more spiteful remark on the fake before.
That was the last straw that she can take from this haughty and irritable young girl. Her eyes are furrowed as her nostrils expand in anger. Rainbow's patience finally ran out from her time with her as she mumbled her standard incantation in the form of angry mumbling, cursing at the teen.
"I'm leaving." Naomi scoffed. "Word of advice: Try to wear something more convincing instead of a cheap, pathetic drab."
Rainbow raised her hand up high until she snapped it back down towards Naomi.
"T-Then your negligence is your greatest enemy! Don't let your hubris get the better off you should unpreparedness become your downfall!" Rainbow bellowed.
The girl turned the moment she spouted another reading towards her with such spite. However, Rainbow stood up from her table and walked away towards the door at the back of the arcade.
"Readings is over for the day! Come back another time!" Rainbow grumbled as she walked away.
"Now hang on! What did you just said to me??" Naomi asked demandingly.
It was too late to catch up to her, Rainbow has taken the door past the prize counter and disappeared from sight. Before Naomi could run and chase after her, a crash sounded off behind her followed by a shrill scream. It stopped her right there as a conversation ensued.
"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, STUPID BITCH!!" A loud, gruff voice bellowed.
"I-I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" A familiar voice squeaked.
"SHUT UP, YA TRAMP!" The previous voice got louder.
Wait! That's Nodoka's voice! Naomi quickly heard that.
She turned sharply to look for the source of the voices, eyes full in shock from the sight before her.
Two delinquents are blocking the path to the first way to the store, one with eyes seething in red and the other has his face mixed with confusion and concern. Down below them is Nodoka, cowering at the ground as she looked at the two in front of her. Her body is shivering with fear.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?? You wanna have a go?" the angry delinquent grasped his bokken.
"Dude, let it go. She just bumps by-" His concerned companion tried to hold him back.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" The Angry Delinquent snapped back.
The raging young man jabbed the other delinquent behind him with a hard force, knocking him away and the air off him. His hand quivering with boiling rage as it held firmly on the bokken as he looks back on the girl shaking below on the ground in front of him.
"P-pp-please, I swear! I didn't mean too! I'm so sorry!" Nodoka’s cried out.
The poor girl could barely contain the tears flow out of her eyes as she shivers before the raging man in front of her. Sakura is nowhere to be found, as a small crowd of delinquents is almost gathering together to see this spectacle.
What? What the hell is going on? I remembered one time how Nodoka can be when she's scared, but something's not right. Naomi’s thought to herself. Who would actually go blindly mad over a just an accidental push?
"You're sorry? You're "Sorry"??" He seethed on. "I WILL FUCKING SHOW YA HOW TO BE SORRY!!"
The youth raised the bokken high up above his head with his two hands, face flushed with the anger and spite as he aims to strike down onto the girl. Nodoka shrieked as she tries to guard herself with her two arms above her cowering head, preparing from the blows to come.
Fear filled and shook a few people who watched the spectacle, frozen right at the spot where they stand.
Fear also got to Naomi. Concern for the life and safety of her friend in front of her who's going to get hurt. However, the adrenaline and willpower snapped her out of her state as she moves quickly on her feet to save her.
"NODOKA! HANG ON!!" Naomi called out to her friend.
All Naomi wished and wanted is for her friend to be safe, and the angry delinquent to be stopped at all cost. She jumped onto Nodoka, using her body as a shield from the blow of the weapon. Only words echo in her mind as the milliseconds ticked on.
Go away. Go away. Please, go away...
The willpower within her brought forth the same spectral, but the blurry figure from her being, as its hand came down and caught the bokken mid-swing with a firm grip. The angry fool suddenly got confused about the sudden stop, the weapon is inches away from landing on the blonde's body.
He tried to pull it back so he could swing again, but no matter how much the delinquent puts effort to bring it up he couldn't move it. It's as if something is keeping it in place in an oppressive force.
"Wh-what the hell? What the Hell?? Why don't I move this thing?!" the Angry Delinquent sputtered in confusion and rage.
Naomi peeked up to see the confused youth in front of her, gasping quietly as she spots the blurry figure above her steel gripping the bokken.
It slowly lifted the blade up higher away from Naomi's body. The angry, confused delinquent could feel a strange force moving from his hands that are still attached from his weapon. The audience around them is taken aback from the new changes of the sight in front of them.
With its other hand, the apparition’s loaded weapon twisted the ax around as the blade's facing backward.
With a substantial and quick motion, it swung the reverse side of the ax to the delinquent's body; the force has pushed the guy out from where he stood to fly towards one of the air hockey tables to crash down.
New shrieks came from the people who watched it. A couple of other delinquents snapped out of the trance of the shock just so they could rush over to the fallen individual. Naomi uses this moment to move up and focus on the girl she's protecting.
"Nodoka! Are you okay?" Naomi asked with concern.
"N-no! No! Leave me alone! I'm sorry!" She screeched hysterically.
Nodoka was still crying out of fear as she tried to cower away from Naomi’s hold. Seeing that she’s getting far too scared for her own good to the point where she’s not even listening to her, Naomi’s hand cut through the air and slapped Nodoka at the cheek.
"For the love of- Snap out of it, you're okay now!" Naomi snapped at her.
"..Nn.. Ow.." Nodoka winced.
Although feeling a pang of guilt within her, she had to do something to bring her underclassman out of the state of panic she was in. She sighed in relief that she appears to be okay.
Redirecting her eyes, Naomi looked over to where the once raging delinquent fell upon on and saw from afar that the others are trying to help him up and see if he's still conscious.
Her eyes widened from shock and horror when she saw something out of the ordinary from the crash and from the delinquent; a red, faint mist eerily seeped out from his body.
Before it could form a shape, it breezes away from the delinquent and flown off to the direction to the door past the prizes counter before disappearing inside the crevices.
She was stunned from the sudden sight, that is not normal at any means. What also confused her is that nobody was saying something or noticing that red mist leaving the boy.
However, her common sense is alerting her that this is not the best place for them to stay too long. She quickly got her underclassman by the arm and head out to the door to escape while they still can.
"Come on! We have to leave!" Naomi said urgently.
With the environment distracted, she dragged the younger girl with her by the hand to the outside. They bypassed the group of delinquents dashed their way to the door, as they finally and safely reached far enough away from the arcade to the chilling air of freedom of the neighborhood.
"We*huff* We finally made it!" Naomi gasped for air.
It has already been dark out, but the light of the lamp post is the one thing that's giving them a sense of comfort and safety. It took Naomi a moment to notice, but she finally discovered that the small radio in her pocket is emitting a soft static all this time. It must have gone off when the incident happened back in the arcade.
What on earth? How long has it been like that? Naomi’s thought in confusion.
She heard the sound of groaning as she turns to Nodoka next to her as she is finally coherent enough to speak.
"...Naomi-Senpai? What happened?" Nodoka groaned lowly.
"What do you mean what happened? You were hysterical a moment ago! You almost got hurt." Naomi snapped, but this anger is out of worry for the girl.
"Wait, I did?" Nodoka winced. "...But all I could remember was trying to head out to the door to meet up with Sakura.."
"...What?" Naomi blinked in disbelief. "You mean you don't remember bumping into that delinquent who nearly killed you?"
"No..." Nodoka quietly stated.
Naomi’s eyes darted back and forth as this simple information is baffling her mind.
That doesn't make any sense. Why couldn't she remember? The blonde clutched her head.
"However... Now my head hurts all of a sudden." Nodoka groaned more, her hand clasped her forehead.
Naomi felt a pang of guilt again of yelling at her moments ago. "I'm sorry. You were in a state of panic, I had to knock some sense back into you. Let's just head ho-"
The very sight in front of her made her mind go full stop.
From Nodoka's body, a familiar red mist seeped out from her, only this time it started to fully take shape that little by little until all of the fog has left her. Naomi couldn't look away of the bizarre sight.
Its body is composed with the red mist, its hands are the only limbs that are visible through it.
The figure could only turn it's horned head towards the blonde, as it's one eye it contracts upon the sight. Without hesitation, it revolves around as it's wispy body breezes away from the girl it possessed a moment ago.
"HEY! STOP!" Naomi cried out.
She chased after it with no hesitation, trying to reach it before it could disappear in the next bend but it's too fast as more and more of its shape is quickly evaporating to more a thinner form.
As soon as it turned to the next corner, it quickly left as it appeared. Naomi huffed from the sudden sprint, but only frustration is on her face.
"Ugh! It's gone!" Naomi moaned in frustration. "Where did it go??"
Nodoka was able to catch up to Naomi when she made her sprint.
"Um... Senpai...?" Nodoka asked in confusion.
"Nodoka, are you alright? That did that thing do to you?" Naomi asked in concern.
"Wait, Thing?" Nodoka is even more confused. "Senpai... What are you talking about?"
"Huh? You mean... You didn't see that thing?" Naomi blinked from her question.
"I don't know what you're going on about, Senpai." Nodoka’s brow furrowed more. "Just what on earth are you chasing earlier?"
Naomi could only stare, filling her with disbelief that she didn’t understand her.
"But... I just… I thought you'd..." Naomi stammered.
She’s trying to put things together in her mind, but it didn’t help much with the state she’s in. So many things have happened today, and she not only saw one mysterious apparition but two just a moment ago! And that one is much clearer and defined than before, and to make things more confusing, it came out from Nodoka, and she didn’t see it. Could it be that Naomi is the only one seeing these things?
She shook her head to chase the thoughts away from her mind as her eyebrows furrowed.
"...F-forget about it. It must have been a long night." Naomi said darkly.
"Are you sure about it?" Nodoka asked out of concern.
"I am sure. I'll be fine as well." Naomi’s mentally drained all she wants is to go home. "But, let's just not go back to that arcade anymore. I have a feeling it's too dangerous right now to go back to."
"Um... Okay." Nodoka said softly.
"You're home is not far from here right? Let's walk together for now okay?" Naomi clutched onto her bag.
"...Thank you, Senpai." The young girl’s face is lit with a soft smile.
The girls turned around from where they stand to head to the direction of their homes. The evening is getting colder and darker, and it shouldn't be safe if they stay too long out there.
On the way they managed to find Sakura who was actually waiting for them nearby at another building; after the reunion, she joined with them to head home. The girls talked about what happened. However, Naomi did her best to omit some parts of the story that wouldn't make sense to them for their sake.
It was a long walk to the homes of the girls, but they finally arrived at the neighborhood from which they came this morning. They reached far enough until Sakura and Nodoka had to split from the small group to head to their respective homes. With a wave of goodbye and smiles, they part ways.
Naomi, now alone, couldn't help but notice how everything at the moment is different compared to the company that she was in moments ago. It's quiet but also a bit...unbearable.
She shook her head to ease the thoughts of her mind just so she can have time to process about today. Just what exactly happened today? It's as if everything has turned into a strange, turn of events.
She took the house key from her pocket as she slides into the lock to open the door. With a click, the lock is unsealed as she opens the door to her house.
The house is quiet save for the sound of the ticking clock that still hangs on the walls. She lit up the dark room with the switch to help illuminate her way inside.
Naomi makes her way to the dining room where she places her school bag and reaches out the radio that's in her pocket onto the table. Heading to the kitchen, she makes herself a glass of water and her dinner so she could sit down and feed herself for the night.
Once done, she sits down at the table to eat but sometimes pauses for a while to notice how big the house feels around her. She is used to being by herself, but from time to time it still feels... upsetting.
Naomi looks up at the radio that's right in front of her from across the table. The remainder of its existence is the proof of what happened today. Eyebrows furrowed, she reaches her hand towards it and gently puts the radio face down before she continues to eat.
After cleaning her dishes for the night as she makes her way to her room. Naomi closes the door behind her as she puts the radio at the desk. She sighed deeply to release the frustration of not understanding today.
"I don't get it!" Naomi huffed in annoyance.
Sitting down in her bed, she recalls again what transpired today. First, it was her dream, then the electronic store, the radio, everything up to the arcade. Naomi can be a smart girl, but this is one day that everything happened all at once that she still couldn't figure out.
"Just what exactly happened to me and everything today? Everything was normal until today! It's as if I've just transpired myself into a series of strange encounters that barely makes sense to me." Naomi said to herself.
"Am I dreaming?... Even for a dream, that was strange."
"I'm sorry to say, but that was no dream." An unfamiliar voice responded to her.
Naomi leaped up from her feet after hearing, eyes shot open.
The sudden sound of another voice she doesn't recognize made the girl jumped out of the bed that she sat on. Alarmed, she looks around to find the source. She voice sounded clear, and also so close by.
"W-who said that?" Naomi is frightened, but she’s steeled her nerves. "Where are you?"
"I'm right over here." The voice called to her.
She turned around after her ears picked up voice. To her sudden surprise, it's the radio on the desk is buzzing to life, speaking to her.
"W-wait, YOU? You're the one talking to me?" Naomi stepped back in bewilderment and confusion. "But that's not possible! HOW are you talking to me? You're just a radio from that damn shop!"
Naomi went over to the radio with caution as she tries to inspect it from every inch of the surface to see if something is wrong with it.
"...This is not some fantasy movie or TV show, it must be broken," she said in disbelief.
"I'm sorry to tell you this, but I'm not broken." The radio said nonchalantly.
Realizing the response is coming from the object as if it's speaking to her as a person, the girl squeaked as she jumped back out of fear, dropping the radio back in the desk in the process.
"As a matter of fact, my soul was already bound to this radio shortly after the incident happened back at the shop." It carried on explaining itself.
Naomi’s pink eyes blinked as her brow sweat in fear.
"N-no way..." she swallowed hard. "No way!... You're a-a ghost??"
"You're... Half-correct. But it's more complicated than that." the radio’s voice spoke hesitantly.
"The time to introduce myself has most likely passed. But nonetheless, call me Steel. I'm simply the remnant of the man who was killed. Think of me like a prerecorded message."
Despite the sound of reassurance that was in the radio's voice, Naomi is still filled with fear over this unknown phenomenon before her. She reaches over her nearest heavy bound book that she could reach, as she arms herself to strike it to protect herself.
"Give me one good reason why I should trust you, you... weird thing!" Naomi’s voice wavered, but she’s trying to stay brave.
"There's no need to be afraid of me, Naomi." Steel calmly reassured her.
Her eyes blinked again upon hearing the radio said her name that she didn’t tell him.
"Wait, you know my name?" Naomi asked confusingly.
"I've learned your name and a part of you through your Underclassman when she kept me safe momentarily." Steel said, referring to Sakura.
"But I've been searching for someone like you... a courageous youth who has awakened a 'special power' that sleeps deep within your soul. I am here to help you!"
"D-did you say special power!?" Naomi was baffled that she chuckled to the poor joke. "Haha... That sounds pretty incredible, but I don't think that even a grade schooler would fall for that!"
"I know you're in disbelief, but I'm telling the truth." Steel’s demeanor stayed the same. "Let me ask you this; have you been experiencing phenomenons that have helped you more than once today that's inconceivable to normal standards?"
"...Well...um..." Hearing this, Naomi took a moment to pause.
The girl thinks back to some parts of her experience with today, and she could recall the moments where she saved Not just Sakura at the shop, but the girl Kyoko and Nodoka. All these three events are tied to one thing; she rescued them through unnatural means by that ethereal blurry figure.
This got her to lower her guard a little after hearing his words. She reached to the radio and got Steel to sit upright on the desk.
"I… Yeah. So I am experiencing these weird things that are going on with me today." Naomi said flatly. "I just don't understand what's going on! I want answers, but it just baffles me that those around me who were there when it happened just... didn't see or get what's going on!"
"How can I turn to them for help when I'm the only one who's seeing all of this!"
"What you're experiencing today is the awakening of your Stand abilities." Steel said.
"A... Stand?" Naomi’s eyebrow furrowed in confusion.
"As I said earlier, your Stand is emerging. In layman's terms, it's your own superpower. It's a supernatural apparition that is an extension of your body created by your own life energy, so to speak." Steel explained further. "If you're still confused, try calling out your Stand. It will manifest before your very eyes."
Her head cocked backward on the simplicity of Steel’s task.
"Just like that? Are you serious? I still am trying to figure out what you're talking about! I don't even know HOW I'm going to call it out!" Naomi feels unassured.
"...Do you remember that ghostly apparition that appeared before you more than once today?" Steel hinted.
It took a brief moment, but Naomi’s eyes widen after realizing what he’s talking about.
"...You mean... THAT spirit came from me?" She gasped.
"Yes. And it's yours alone. It's really straightforward to use your Stand." Steel reassured her. "Just think what you want to protect, or attacking an enemy to defend yourself. Afterward, it's all up to your natural instincts."
"Now give it a try..." Steel said.
Naomi focuses hard on trying to summon that apparition she saw earlier today, how it helped her in her favor more than once.
But for some reason, she can't seem to get it to appear. All it does is just giving the girl frustration and a headache.
"Ugh! I can't do it!" Naomi growled in annoyance. "...This is just disappointing...It came out well before, so what's stopping it now?"
"It's alright. Your Stand will appear when the moment comes, Naomi." Steel reassures her in his gentle tone.
Her eyebrows furrowed that she can’t seem to summon the apparition that helped her a few times today, that and she’s still trying to take it all in of the subject of Stands and Stand users. Perhaps to help her out more, she needed to get more information.
"....Say, 'Steel'? Since you know I have a Stand, does that mean you have one too?" Naomi turned to the radio.
"Yes." Steel said firmly.
With just a word, a small number of ghostly, pale hands appeared around the radio; demonstrating his Stand to the young woman before her. Naomi gasped at the sight before her, bewildered at the spectacle that is another Stand.
"My Stand’s name is Dan Penn; I used it to preserve my memories into physical records, like this radio in front of you. Normal people can hear nothing from me but static except for Stand Users like yourself." Steel explained.
After demonstrating his ability, he puts them away as each hand faded to nothing.
"Sadly... I couldn't do much with my Stand in this sorry state." Steel said pitifully.
Naomi couldn’t help but feel sorry for the radio’s state.
"So... are we the only ones who have this ability?" She asked curiously.
"Not at all! There are others out there who are Stand Users in the world. Generally, each Stand has one unique special ability. These abilities can flout the laws of physics and defy imagination." Steel said to her before his demeanor shifted.
"But I am searching for specific Stand Users for an important reason. And you are the one I'm searching for to help."
"Wait, me?" Naomi’s curiosity took her. "What do you want with me?"
There was silence after her question. Naomi could feel that the air is getting filled with the tension she's not preparing herself to take. But Steel finally speaks to come clear to her.
"... I want to change this world's future." Steel said darkly. "As a unit, you and I can do that... no. We must do that, at any and all costs!"
"You with your newfound Stand, we must take out a certain person... He is a vampire who goes by the name DIO!"
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