Does This Count as Getting Kidnapped?

Reading a book has always been, and will always be, the first thing I do in the mornings. On the second morning of my first year in high school, I didn't read a single word.

The usual routine had thrown itself from the balcony and all that remained was a mix of curiosity, doubts and regrets, swirling around the storm that was my mind.

If I could think through the situation with the composure of a monk, surely a reasonable conclusion would emerge. So, what is the situation at hand? I had my first-ever date with a lunatic.

Without any further rationalizing to be done, my head spun back into a storm and I staggered my way through the rest of the morning. If I went through my day ignoring the problem, I would inevitably be met with a solution, right?

Instead, I got dressed, grabbed my lunch, left the house, got on the train, and found myself standing right outside the not-so-pearly white gates of River High. Inches away from the problem, and miles from the solution.

In one day, I'd come to the edge of my path in life, one foot on the grass clearly covered in No Walking signs. The consideration that I was merely overreacting kept bubbling up, but I simply dismissed it as the Devil's will. If that girl was biblical, she wouldn't be God.

With a newly built-up constitution, I entered through the shoe lockers and headed to my classroom. On the way, a hand grabbed hold of my shoulder. It sent a chill down my spine.

"You! Come on, we've still got time," Haruko said. "If we go now we won't be late for class."

I turned around, ready to yell my way back to the safety and comfort of a path pre-paved. When instead, I was met with a blistering smile. My scowl warmed by fifteen degrees and the ice-cold layer melted away. But something else remained.

"Hmm? What's wrong? Come on, already!"

Without warning, her hand slid down my sleeve and grabbed hold of my fingers. I noticed her uniform was still covered in dirt. I also noticed her palm. Hot and setting my hand ablaze. I tugged away.

There was a sudden, painful awareness of eyes glued to us, belonging neither to myself nor to the girl who'd grabbed me. More than a few onlookers were eyeing us up, curious about the two weirdos who'd started dating before anyone else made friends. We're not dating, alright? Would you get that out of your heads already?

Haruko took a moment to watch for my next move, as did the rest of the crowd. I wanted to dismiss the silence and get it over with, but something kept me stuck. I wasn't quite frozen. More like a fly caught in the spider's web. My heart thumped. It felt like fear. I pushed the sensation to the recesses of my mind and ignored it.

"Can we be quick about it? If I'm late because of you I'm saying I got kidnapped, and I expect you to be a witness."

She smiled, "You know how I said I could prove to you I'm God?"

How could I forget?

"That's what we're doing." She grabbed my arm again.

A few people were still watching as we made our way down the hall, towards an exit labelled with flimsy poster board. Duct tape held it in place, and the phrase CLUBS THIS WAY was inked in large black letters.

"You're going to prove your godliness?" I asked.

"Exactly, so you can stop being stuck up about it and worship me."

Worship? I'm not so sure that would happen even if she turned water to wine in front of my face. It would take a few more miracles than that to reach worshipping. Add in a pinch of walking on water and a sprinkle of curing disease and then I might be more inclined to spread the word of Almighty Haruko, but worshipping? Not until I see your corpse revive itself from the dead will I be worshipping you.

She seemed to think it would take much less than reviving from the dead to turn me into a devoted supporter. "All Buddha had to do was sit under a tree."

After a brief argument, we made our way out of the main school structure and towards a row of worn wooden buildings. Signs stuck out like a shopping district's main street, except instead of pricey bars and souvenir stores, each sign proudly displayed its club name.

Haruko stopped abruptly and pointed towards an unlabeled room.

"Enter!"

"You're sure we're not disturbing anyone?"

She frowned at me and swung the door open herself. The light from the open door only barely illuminated the wooden interior. The back wall was covered with a large purple cloth, and the morning light seeping past it hinted at a window long forgotten. On either side of the room were shelves stacked with books, trinkets, ornaments, statues, tiny machines, and in the far corner a tower of boxes that reminded me of the board game section at a toy store.

In the middle of the room stood a dark, baroque-style, wooden, round table with three excessively detailed, hand-carved legs.

Somehow, the last fixture to catch my attention was a person. A cloaked figure sitting at the table. The light shone in just enough to discern the face of a girl looking rather shocked to see me. Her hair was largely covered by her hood, but there was a hint of a lighter, silvery colour underneath. Her face had gentle features, much quieter than Haruko's, who managed to yell with her eyes alone.

The loud-eyed girl then slipped past me and entered the room first. Upon seeing her, the cloaked figure's shocked expression changed somehow, yet remained firmly in the realm of surprise.

"Ah! You could have said something!" the mysterious girl complained.

"I told you I was coming back," Haruko said.

"Hi, nice to meet you," I said

The girl looked back at me, surprised again.

"Did you find that book I asked about? I'm gonna need it now." Haruko strode around the room, searching fervently.

"I haven't looked yet… Don't you have to go to class soon?" the cloaked girl said.

"Duh! So hurry it up, we don't have all day. You! Help us look."

I'm not so sure she knew my name. More importantly, how was I supposed to look for something if I didn't even know what it was? Right as the question was about to leave my airways, the bell rang in the distance marking the imminent start of class.

"Crap. We'll be back after school, you better not head home like a no-good freeloader!" Haruko pointed to the cloaked girl.

And how exactly is she freeloading?

"It was nice meeting you." I bowed my head.

The girl looked at me again, somehow more surprised.

With that, we rushed out of the room and hurried back to class. Again, I practically jogged to keep up with Haruko.

"What kind of club was that anyways?" I asked.

"No idea, but I like the vibe in there, "Haruko said. "Don't you think it's missing something? Like a typewriter! I've always wanted one of those."

"Uhm… sure. And what book were you looking for, exactly?"

"Didn't I already tell you? Pay attention, would ya?"

I can't tell if she's gaslighting me or just plain stupid.

"It had a weird name. I think it was called…" She paused for the time it took her to take three steps.

Then, when she spoke again, I was the one in shock. "I read it when I was little. I think we had the same name. The Melancholy of Haruko… Suzu…ki? Either way, it'll prove that I'm God! One hundred percent!"