Outsider Effect

The following day at school the occult club was hard at work at locating their target: Shinichiro Katsuragi. But… Eiji’s classmate didn’t show up for class. In fact he was nowhere to be found.

That same day Tsubaki called, “There’s nothing on his record. He looks like a very normal kid.”

“Tch.”

“And we can’t very well arrest him for murder without any evidence.”

“I get it. You tried.” Eiji replied as Tsubaki produced a tired sigh on the other end.

“Eiji, you need to move quickly.” Tsubaki’s tone lowered, “You can’t know what might be happening as we speak.”

“I know.”

“I’ll keep an eye out if I see anything in the area.”

“Got it.”

⌁◉⌁

Tuesday passed in uneventful silence and so did Wednesday. Meh hadn’t detected any growing malevolence in the area, which was a good sign or a really bad one. Either no murders had happened inside the shikigami’s notice zone or the Akahebi was just too slient for Meh to track..

Either way time was running as low as patience was thin after 2 days of unrest. And as if the radio silence wasn’t enough, on his way to the clubroom Eiji stumbled upon someone. Tall, lean, pompadour hair.

“Oi, Kanzaki!” Ishida Mitsuaki called, causing Eiji to very begrudgingly stop in his tracks.

“What the hell do you want, Ishida?” Eiji glared.

“Yoshie Matsuoka, the name ring a bell?”

The name hit Eiji like a punch, although his eye barely twitched. That was the name of Katsuragi’s victim.

“…What do you want?” Eiji sighed.

“To know where the hell he is. I heard he went up the roof with you but he never came down!”

Had rumours spread already?

Eiji didn’t reply instantly, just walked towards him.

“And what do you want me to do?” Eiji asked, passing by him.

“To tell me where in the rusty hell he is!” He cut in front of him. As Mitsuaki raised his voice, Eiji grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the shoe lockers, despite him being a tad taller than the exorcist. His voice was low.

“…When will you stop getting in my way?”

Mitsuaki clenched his teeth gripping Eiji’s arm.

“I know something happened with that freak Katsuragi up there. Yoshie never missed a day to contact me. It’s been 3 days since the last time I saw him. I want to know what happened and I won’t rest till you tell me.” Mitsuaki’s gaze was resolute. He knew he couldn’t win against Eiji, yet he never stopped challenging him despite that. No matter how many times he was obliterated by him he still came back each and every time.

There was not a single one Eiji could not intimidate into never crossing him again. But Mitsuaki just wouldn’t listen. He was headstrong, stubborn even.

“One thing I never do is give up.” Mitsuaki spoke resolutely.

“Listen here.” Eiji slammed him again, this time softer before he let go of him, “This is NOT something you want to get involved in.”

“You won’t get rid of me if you don’t spill, Kanzaki.”

Eiji looked him in the eye for a moment longer.

“Suit yourself.” He walked away yet signaled him to follow. Their destination?

Straight to the occult clubroom.

⌁◉⌁

Ishida Mitsuaki sat stiffly in the occult clubroom, every eye locked on him.

He gulped nervously. He wasn’t used having so many cute girls looking at him.

“That’s unusual of you to bring someone, senpai! Did you two hit it off?” Naomi grinned.

“He just doesn’t take no for an answer. Ring a bell?” Eiji said flatly. Mitsuaki would have launched a complaint at her too but her presence disarmed his bravado very easily when she spoke.

Honoka giggled behind her hand, while Hatsue rubbed her temples like a migraine was incoming.

“You just can’t help dragging people into your suicide party, huh?”

“I’m here on behalf of my lost friend Yoshie Matsuoka! I need to know what happened!” Mitsuaki spoke like he was reporting to a general.

Honoka nodded, “Are you sure, Ishida-kun? It’s a lot.”

“I…” Mitsuaki looked around the room, then composed himself, “I’m sure.”

⌁◉⌁

“WHAT IN THE RUSTY HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!”

Mitsuaki’s voice echoed across the room, rattling the windows.

“Exorcists? Specturians? MURDER?!”

“It’s specters actually.” Naomi corrected.

“So you want me to believe that Yoshie is… dead?” Mitsuaki shifted his gaze downward as he asked, “…That Katsuragi just murdered him just like that?”

“We know it’s a lot to take in.” Honoka nodded.

Hatsue sighed, “The fact that I’m explaining all this clearly shows I’m too far gone now…”

“Police! We need to call the damn police!” Mitsuaki gritted his teeth and fumbled with his phone.

Eiji snatched it away.

“Don’t be stupid. I told you that you don’t want to get involved. Now that you’ve learnt what you need, just walk away.”

“Walk away…?” Mitsuaki repeated, his eye twitching, “And let that bastard get away with murder?!”

“Wow… he believed it just like that… Am I the only normal one?” Hatsue said flatly.

Mitsuaki gritted his teeth, slamming his hand down, “I won’t back down. I can’t back down.

He looked around the room.

“Whatever you’re doing to stop him… I’m in.”

Eiji raised a brow. He knew Ishida Mitsuaki’s skull was impossibly thick but to hear about supernatural murders and still not tuck your tail beneath your legs was so maddening… it almost commanded his respect.

“Then welcome aboard, Ishida-kun.” Honoka smiled at him, and Mitsuaki’s face reddened in an instant.

“New member unlocked! Have we reached 5?! Are celebrations in order?!” Naomi hopped around.

“No more roller coasters, please…” Hatsue gulped.

“You’re all nutjobs.” Eiji crossed his arms.

“So what’s our… strategy?” Hatsue asked, “That freak is still not attending classes. How are we supposed to acquire something of his?”

Honoka pondered tapping her chin, “We already checked his desk and found nothing…”

“I just wish we could access something of his… Like a locker. I bet we’d find tons of stuff of his there.” Naomi deflated but her words seemed to bring hope to the group.

“Locker, huh?” Mitsuaki repeated.

“Let’s just break it.” Eiji proposed.

“We can’t do that…” Hatsue instantly replied and all eyes went to her,

“…Can we?”

“Can we open it without it showing signs of damage?” Honoka muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.

“What if we could pick the lock?!” Naomi slammed her hands down on the table.

Was the brainstorming getting somewhere?

They all instinctively turned to Mitsuaki.

Mitsuaki in turn, turned around to face the wall.

Then he realized they were looking at him.

“‘Me?!”

“Who else, mister delinquent and gang leader?” Hatsue raised a brow.

“Kanzaki is a punk too!”

“I’ll just smash the locker door in.”

⌁◉⌁

The hallway outside the second-year lockers was still.

Too still.

Naomi peeked around the corner like a spy in an action movie, pressing herself dramatically against the wall. Honoka, standing beside her, watched with polite confusion.

“All clear on the west side, hawk!” Naomi whispered.

“We don’t need code names, Naomi-chan.” Honoka smiled wryly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Down the hall, Eiji stood with arms folded like an unwilling bodyguard. Hatsue mirrored him with her own arms crossed, visibly tense. And crouched between them, like a delinquent gremlin in his natural habitat, was Ishida Mitsuaki—face lit by the warm glow of juvenile crime.

He squinted at the locker.

“I’m telling you, this won’t even leave a scratch.” He pulled out a paperclip—bent just right—and Naomi’s ghost bobby pin.

“That’s what worries me,” Hatsue muttered. “”How do you even know how to do this?”

“What? I was but a dumb kid with time to kill and a screwdriver.”

“Less talking, more action.” Eiji muttered.

Mitsuaki poked the clip inside, feeling the resistance. “Relax, Kanzaki! See? This model’s got a spring-loaded plate behind the latch. You just have to push it down gently and…”

Click.

The lock gave a soft groan.

“…Still got it,” He grinned. If he had the time he’d probably challenge Eiji to a fight with the extra confidence.

Behind them, Honoka and Naomi stood a few meters down the corridor, doing their best to look casual. Naomi, of course, failed completely.

“Any movement on your side?” Honoka asked quietly.

“Nope. But my soul is very stressed right now,” Naomi whispered back, half peeking around the corner like a cartoon ninja. “We’re committing a felony. A minor felony, but still!”

“Technically, we’re investigating paranormal homicide.”

“…Still felony-ish!”

A little ways behind, the locker door creaked open.

The trio stared inside.

The locker sat open like a coffin. Still. Silent.

And… empty.

“…Nothing?”

No books. No bag. Not even dust. Just a blank metal cavity, sterile and cold.

“Same as his desk,” Hatsue frowned, “Did he just never use his locker?”

Eiji didn’t answer. His gaze was still fixed on the inside. As if staring hard enough would make something appear.

“…I think I know why.”

The voice came from behind them, quieter than usual.

Mitsuaki stood with his arms crossed, brow furrowed.

“In middle school,” he muttered. “There was this kid who kept getting his stuff stolen. Started carrying everything with him—books, gym clothes, even his lunch. Never left anything in his locker.”

He tapped the cold locker frame with two fingers.

“This ain’t an accident. Katsuragi’s been living like this on purpose.”

Hatsue blinked. “So this isn’t a symptom of possession…”

“Nah… This was him even before that thing you talked about got inside.”

Eiji said nothing. But the shadows in his expression deepened.

That was when—

“Oh, Mizuno! There you are.”

Naomi jerked upright like a startled cat.

From down the hall came Mr. Suzuki, the Occult Club’s sleepy-eyed advisor, waving a clipboard.

“I stopped by the clubroom but no one was there,” he said, adjusting his crooked tie. “I just wanted to remind you—if you don’t recruit a fifth member soon, they’ll reassign your room to the Go board game club. Again.”

“Ahahaha! T-Totally noted, sir!” Naomi laughed far too loudly. “W-We’re working on it!”

Mr. Suzuki peered past her, blinking at the sight of Mitsuaki crouched in front of a locker.

“…Is he fixing something?”

“He’s… repairing it!” Naomi said with a sparkle pose.

“…Huh. Well, just remember to fill out your club paperwork.”

And with that, he shuffled off.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Mitsuaki stood up and dusted off his knees.

“We’re clear.”

Naomi exhaled. “I think I aged ten years.”

“Well, now we know for sure,” Hatsue murmured, “But what’s our next move now that this lead’s gone cold too?”

Eiji crossed his arms, as his club mates turned to him in silence.

“…His apartment…”

“Ah yes, as if breaking into his locker wasn’t enough!” Hatsue hissed.

“…Yume-chan said she lived in the same flat as him…” Honoka tapped at her chin.

“Oh… ninja time!” Naomi grinned, raising her indexes and thumbs next to her face.

“We CAN’T break into his house!” Hatsue said in exasperation. Everyone turned to her.

“…Can we?”

⌁◉⌁

The bell above Dream rang with a soft chime as the group stepped inside. The place was calm, quiet and mostly empty… as per usual during the late afternoon hours.

Yume looked up from the counter, her apron already dusted with milk foam. “Oh! Eiji-niisan?”

She smiled, surprised—but warm as always.

“Yo, Yume.”

“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

Then the rest of the occult club stepped in too.

“Oh, everyone! It’s nice to see you again!”

“We were in the area. How’ve you been, Yume-chan?” Honoka smiled gently, as the young waitress followed them to a table.

“Great! What about you guys?”

“We’ve come for emotional support!” Naomi added brightly, spinning once before plopping into a chair.

Yume laughed softly. “Emotional support?”

“Sorry for causing a ruckus already…” Hatsue smiled wryly, pulling her chair with a sigh.

“Not at all.” Yume never lost her smile, before she turned toward the unfamiliar face. “Oh, we haven’t met. I’m Haraguchi Yume..”

Mitsuaki, who had been standing awkwardly like a misplaced umbrella, twitched.

“I-Ishida Mitsuaki! I mean—nice to meet you! I’m not really—uh, I came because of—well—”

“He’s with us,” Honoka stepped in calmly, easing the poor boy’s flustered panic.

Yume chuckled.

“So, what can I get you all?”

“Coffee. Black. The most bitter you can get.” Hatsue muttered.

“I’ll just take a cup of milk! You can also add a drop of honey and a blessing from the gods!” Naomi raised her hand like she was in school.

Honoka smiled and folded her hands on the table. “I’ll have a house blend.”

“Ah, I’ll have whatever Kanzaki is having.”

Yume nodded, “Great! Then two glasses of juice!”

“…Juice?” Mitsuaki glared at Kanzaki.

“It’s his usual.” Naomi grinned like a true Eiji encyclopaedia.

When Yume returned with the drinks, the table was mostly silent. Eiji knew what he to do, but he didn’t want to make it obvious. That’s why he waited. After some casual talk, he rose and made for the counter where Yume was fixing another drink for another patron who had just walked in.

“…I need to ask you something,” he said, tone lowered just enough to change the air.

Yume paused, eyes flicking to him.

She nodded slowly.

“…Yes?”

“I’m trying to reach Katsuragi.”

That name made her expression shift.

“Katsuragi… the boy who lives in my flat?”

Eiji nodded.

“Is something… going on?”

Eiji didn’t answer immediately.

“I just need to talk to him. Can you tell me which apartment he lives in?”

Yume looked away, her smile waning a little.

“I guess you won’t tell me the full story, huh?”

The young man almost looked away. He had told Hatsue and Mitsuaki everything yet… Yume was different. She was one of the few people left he felt he had to keep out of the exorcist world.

She was his childhood friend. So far he’s kept her out of this miserable second part of his life. Maybe he was irrationally stubborn but he’d rather hurt her by keeping the truth from her, than letting her see what the other side really is about.

No matter what.

“Sorry.” Eiji sighed. Yume however turned back to him, this time smiling brighter.

“Shinichiro Katsuragi… just one floor below me. Apartment 203.” Yume said, “You’re looking into something serious again, aren’t you?”

He didn’t reply.

Yume gave a quiet sigh.

“…You don’t need to tell me. Just be careful.”

“I will.” Eiji nodded, “Thank you, Yume. You’re a lifesaver.”

Before he could walk back, Yume stopped him.

“Eiji-niisan…” She paused, “I trust you,”

Eiji didn’t look at her. He thought he’d better not.

As soon as the occult club left the bar, Naomi leaned toward Honoka and whispered,

“…Yume-chan might be a little too trusting.”

“She’s not stupid. She just really believes in him,” Honoka replied, watching Eiji’s unreadable profile.

“Yeah well…” Hatsue folded her arms. “If anything happens to her because of this—”

“It won’t,” Eiji said firmly.

Mitsuaki blinked at the weight in his voice. He wasn’t used to hearing Eiji speak with that much conviction unless it involved a fight.

Honoka smiled and so did Naomi.

Operation Katsuragi: Phase Two was underway.

⌁◉⌁

Just as her friends had left, Yume stood behind the counter looking at the door. Her hands clenched the apron she was wearing, a bitterness in her tone.

A single sigh escaped her. Bitter and painful.

“…I hate being left behind.”