Sora Takeda
8:30PM. Got a sleepless night after yesterday—as if I even sleep usually. Not a lot of students stay here, only the ones buried in their studies were. Even more on a Friday night. They mostly preferred going to nice restaurants with their friends to free themselves— Not a good idea. Depending on how fucking dumb they are. That's why I was surely not expecting the supposed 'handsome' guy—Rin— to enter the lab. One, two, three steps. He kept giving me bad vibes. The ring on his finger. It was familiar. I could almost feel the touch.
"Hah, is that a proposition? Dumbass." Some words emerged from my head. Causing a sudden headache.
Probably because of yesterday, just a headache.
His allure… everything about him. It was familiar. My instincts are never wrong, usually. However I brushed that feeling aside, I don't have time for this now. Why would he be here? He's got enough brains to pass exams without even studying. Or I overestimated him— That would be a lie.
Rin places himself on the first rows, some seats away from other students, same nonchalance, posture, the popular guy. He stole glances from some NPC's, which refocused them back on their studies. Most of them were too stressed about their exams to pay attention. As if making them pass out from exhaustion from work was a good method. Useless. Taking out his laptop—controlled, which irked me— he turned the electronic on and mirrored my actions, typing on his keyboard. I was watching him from my peripheral vision, not missing anything after yesterday. Yesterday… the way his slender fingers moved elegantly, as if he knew he was gonna win. And the way his expression brightened when he lost… he was amused. I'd play a game with him another time if destiny wants.
Suddenly, my screen glows:
https://***************************
Another message popped.
Rin Shiranui: "Hey Psych students, heads up! The lecture on cognitive biases is rescheduled. Check your mails for updates."
You won't fool me. Ctrl + Alt. I was right to hide my keyboard and hands from others' angles. The mouse would've got me caught from Rin. Rin… Sounds familiar on my tongue.
Opening up a code editor. Every message from Rin is suspicious. Better check anything around him—
"Hey Psych students, heads up! ⬚For cognitive biases is rescheduled. ⬚Only check your mails. ⬚Under stress. ⬚Read twice."
Hah. FOUR. Only. Under stress. Read twice. He's provocating me. He suspects me.
And I'm fucked. As I realize he was right next to me. I changed of tab, but he watched my movements already. How was he… that subtle? My eyes narrowed in irritation, biting the inside of my cheek for a slight moment. I noticed his smirk on his face, knowing he finally got a reaction from me. My face then shifted back to my usual one, watching the way his fingers—slender and delicate— placed a note on my table. He's more suspicious of me, for sure. But he can't be entirely sure I'm FOUR. After all, anyone can be curious and watch for any hidden secrets.
"Kiss my ass, dawg." was written on the note.
And for once. I was surprised. But most of all. He. Caught. Me. My eyes widened just a tiny bit as I was staring at Rin walking to the front door. He tilted his head slightly to look at me. Those eyes… sly, a fox. I felt my eyes staring at him with an immense rage. Should I erase him?
Nah. Not when I know him. He's the one I hacked some days ago. Right in front of me. I could kill him. Take him somewhere. Too risky. He could be the one killing me. Suddenly, he shaked his head when leaving. Oh. He guessed what I was thinking. My hand clenched slightly, staring at the door. But then I turned my head away, typing.
"Yurei." suddenly appeared in my head. A voice. Familiar and kid-like. A headache resurfaced. "Survive." But I only bit the inside of my cheek and continued.
I had other things to care about.
Rin Shiranui
Humming as I slid off my silver ring from my index— the married one, apparently. Guess I'm taken. Taken. I would've loved to be taken by her as a teen.
I opened the door, carrying the same air of nonchalance and elegance as the gazes of others turned to me. But not the brown-haired man. My expression didn't waver though — I felt challenged yet again.
Walking slowly, not out of hesitation, to scan my surroundings like I learned from her. Number of windows, desks, chairs. The exit. The way some students noticed my entrance— and some didn't— how they felt, and the possible events that could happen during my time here. I sat a couple of seats next to some other students buried in notes and screens, being careful to not show any twitch or expression that could give me away. Trained for perfection.
The room was only lit by four lights on the ceiling, illuminating the whole room in a soft clinical white. Not cozy enough to be warm, but not sterile enough to be uncomfortable. A place to study without inconvenients. My fingertips brushed the different keys as I opened my laptop. Browsing on different sites, messaging on some chats. Feigning a mindless hustle like other students. Irrelevant.
Sora, was it?
He didn't have a mouse on his laptop. Intentional or not? Most students forget it. But I didn't believe that. It was a choice. My lip almost twitched. He acts careless, but I saw the way he stared for a second at my ring when I entered.
Leaning back and stretching, feigning another act of tiredness. But it was to show the band on my index was gone. With a smirk, I glanced at Sora. Nothing giving him away.
Cracking my fingers before typing a message to the school forum, I already knew how it would be. I won't even need the leash. He'll wear it himself.
Message sent. I changed of tab on my laptop, trying to catch the glowing screen reflecting on Sora's eyes through my peripheral vision— in fail. I changed my focus to his mannerisms, and what he was doing on that laptop. I couldn't see what he was typing on that keyboard. A choice of angle.
A slight twitch of his eyes. A slight one. It could be unintentional, but intentional too. It could be the wind, or something else on his screen. Deciding to go further, I stood up slowly, a note in hand. Let's test him. On my path to the front door, I leaned towards Sora's screen.
Four, is it you?
There it is. My message on a code editor. That twitch was the reaction from that.
Sora didn't notice me, it seemed, from the way he glanced at me, and tried to change of tab as soon as I leaned slightly. But I saw the link. The link of a code editor. Still not enough proof. I smirked slightly, watching his expression carefully as I slid a small note on the corner of his desk, then continued my journey.
Tilting my head to the side, I was met with a flinch, slightly wide eyes, that returned to normal as soon as I noticed them. Too late. I caught you.Four. And his eyes narrowed even more as they saw my smirk. You want to kill me, don't you? To erase me from your system? Walking back to the front door and closing it behind me, not rushing, just to irritate him, I resumed my humming, satisfied with my discovery of the day. I was right. He's Four.
He runs, I yank. And when he snaps— cute. No flinching. He knows damn well who snaps last.
My submissive dawg.
Sora Takeda
Leaving would mean backing down. I don't. He won't see me go even more down. Never. Do I stay? What could he do anyways… Error. I have to remind myself he's Error. The small chattering of the students didn't bother me, too focused on the screen, the note in my pocket. I have to stay anyways.
Five minutes. Clock was ticking. A guy got up to lend me some files. A chair moved. Wind flared through the open window. Birds sang.
Door opened— Aoi.
His hand moves up to wave at me, staying silent to not disturb the others. Just Aoi. No tall shit in sight. I wave back almost immediately, putting on a smile. But I felt a small bead of sweat forming on my temple. It's the headache. The effect of the headache. I'm probably tired and sick.
"Finding excuses now?" a voice emerged from my side. Reika. I didn't look at her, nor glanced at her, but stiffened. She soon melted back from my vision.
Excuses?
Aoi was standing up next to me, some files in hand as he places them on the desk—some common paperwork.
"So?" he asks me, leaning on the digital board.
I glance at him, hands over the keyboard. "I need context, dude."
I know what he's referring to. I mentally gulp at that.
"Your first meeting with him." he crossed his arms— gaze expectant.
"You think it's a love story—"
Door opened. Tall shit in sight.
My hands clenched, before forcing myself to unclench them, jaw loose. Idiot. He might know who I am. But not my real identity. I could just shift back to someone else— kill Aoi and take his place.
As I glanced at him, Aoi again left with another wave of his hand. Coward. I leaned back on my seat, pretending to look over the paperwork. Rin's gaze was on me.
Act fool. Act fool. Act fool. Act fool.
"Ah, Sora." he breathes out, as if noticing me. The way my name rolled on his tongue—too long, taunting and mocking.
Bastard.
"I didn't notice you earlier." he took some steps towards me. "How's it going?"
A pen rolled on the floor as the girl reached out for it, leaning my elbow on the armchair. "Fine, as usual. I'd ask you the same."
A bird chirped outside, resting itself on the windowsill.
"Well, I'm quite happy. I've found out something." the same smirk danced on his face as he leaned his hip on my desk.
Taunting me.
"And what is that "something"? I'm getting curious." staying as relaxed as possible, I answer while resting my head on my fist.
He leaned himself completely on the desk, both hands gripping the edge. "Secret."
"Whatever you want." I shrug, waiting for his next move.
Because I knew what his next move was. Especially from how all the students in the room were staring at me since I stepped in.
"Aren't you embarrassed since yesterday?" he asked the question. Definitely testing me another time.
Embarrassed? Killing hundreds of people and being embarrassed for that?
I scratch the back of my head, a faint smile decorating my lips. "To be honest… yeah. Quite a bit."
"But how did you finish like this? And got stun?" he sat completely on the desk, his black baggy pants shuffling with the fabric.
Bastard. Again.
"Some random dudes pulled a trick on me, good part: I reported them." I could only lie, balancing myself on the chair.
My eyes fell on him when I heard a chuckle escaping his lips—mocking and teasing. I ignored it, doing as if I heard nothing.
"I should shut up." he then said, glancing around and gesturing at the room and students.
"Probably." I responded with, straightening myself more on my chair as he grabbed his bag. "You leavin'?"
"What?" he looked at me over his shoulder, an eyebrow raised. "I'm gonna miss you?"
"What if." I scoffed.
As he walked to the front door, steps silent and graceful. I noticed another note on my desk.
'FOUR. Want your USB?'
How. Does. He. Fucking knows that?
Is he with the Tamers? Does he know them—yes, he does. But is he an enemy or an ally right now? An enemy probably, I hacked him.
The door.
Already gone, door slamming shut as I stared again at the door. That guy kept… testing me. Playing with me. And… succeeding. My grip on my pen tightened.
A number. There was a number on the note.
Yurei Kurobane|FOUR
"Is it recording?" a faint voice was heard through the darkness on the screen.
The screen flickered as they were in the train, a silver haired guy, wearing sunglasses, leaning his elbow on a seat. Lipstick sticks to my lips, foundation drowning on my skin, a girl applying makeup on me.
The silver guy glanced at the camera, his right eye with a clock under his silver glowing eyes, the other closed. So, it was him who stopped time. "Still here?"
With a kick of her leg, I fell on the floor, on my fours. She snatched my student card from my bag, her pink eyes observing it.
"Takeda Sora… Lame." she commented with a click of her tongue, playful.
The guy on his phone, silver hair then spoke up, looking straight in the camera. "We have a proposition."
Clock eye took long strands to get next to my body, and crouched next to it. With a swift move, my mini-USB was away from my belt.
"That's precious, nah?" inspecting it at the light, he glances at the tanned figure.
"Seems so." sunkissed-skin replied with crossed arms. "Looks like a tracker though."
Standing up now, the sunglasses gave me a stomp on my back. "Then we're inviting you."
Brown pixie cut approached the camera, taking it in her hand. "Taa daam~ We're Pearl hunters. But if you're valuable enough, we might consider making you join us."
The man next to my body stepped aside, leaning on the wall. "Worst case, you land with a bullet in your head if you don't come. And you'll lose the stuff on the key." nonchalant, unbothered, used. That was his face.
"2AM, 2 days. Get here." Pixie cut said with a smile, showing the three of them with a sign of her hand.
"If before, you just risk meeting your end earlier." his eyes glowed obsidian as a faint smirk creeped on his face.
Before the screen flickered back to black.
I lean back in my seat, taking the last sip of my bubbletea—matcha latte, unsweetened. Prefer it that way. Wait, no. No more bullet tea—hm, bubble tea now.
Whatever. Being practically a millionaire, I can get another one easily.
Typing on my keyboard, on my screen a map. A red dot, probably where my USB is. Empty place, perfect to get you trapped there. Two days, damn.
A sigh, I just roll my eyes before chilling with some stolen files.
Now Error. Let's look at what you've got.
Tracker.txt
Different files, trying to know who's the boss of that… organization. From what I read, it mostly sounds like a cult. I saw the three profiles of the trio on the recording—
Chizuru: Twenty-six years old, 158cm, Pearl: unknown. Eyes: bullet holes in them.
Raku: 24 years old. 183cm. Pearl: Stopping time. Eyes: a clock in one.
Jin: 27 years old. 186cm. Pearl: unknown. Eyes: glowing black.
Kaito: 19 years old. 170cm+. Pearl: unknown Eyes: unknown.
So he didn't find out for three of them? Disappointing. Not as smart as I thought it seems. Boss is anonym, bunch of other members too. Around a good fifteen of them here.
And also… an unknown one. No info, like the Boss. Just there. Error wrote that Raku sometimes mentioned him and, Jin especially, got often pissed when this happens. Intriguing.
Two days. How did they find I have a Pearl? With another Pearl? Intuition? A sort of invention I don't know. No one knows I have a Pearl. Or at least they all…
Died.
No. He pushed a knife in his stomach, raw and right in front of me. And even if he was alive, he couldn't recognize me. I've turned a page. Masked myself. Took over a new identity. I am someone else.
Intriguing. I have to go. Whether for my USB or not. I have to.
Rin Shiranui
Haa… today was a nice day. I saw Sora's face— was filled of hate. I love it when that face comes from a rival who's trying so sweetly hard to keep themselves on check.
Stepping out of the bathrooms, towel on my hair with loose sweatpants, I sprawl myself on my bed, a content smirk. Sora-chan~ Caught you. I just have to make you mine. To break you and put you to better use. Hope you don't fail to surprise me like— what was his name again? Taka… Tanizaki! Yes, Tanizaki. Hope you don't finish like him.
Hm, what's his Pearl?
With that, it would just answer all my questions.
Their Boss wants to meet me, I know that for sure… give me a reason as to why I'd come.
Bzz bzz.
Glancing at the old flip phone, gray and scratched on my night table, I smirk. He's calling. Thinking he's the one in control probably. Cable in hand, I connected the phone with my PC.
Cold. I took a random band shirt on the side and wore it, droplets of water landing on them from my hair.
"Moshi-moshi~" I accepted the call with a high-pitched voice, to tease the other. "How are you, my dear friend FOUR?"
I could only hear his voice in the background.
My screen… nothing. He was probably on a flip phone too. All the locations were endpoints. Smart.
"Awh, thank you honey," he responded with the same exaggerated high-pitched voice. "I want to kill myself, and you?"
Mocking me with the same tone I'm mocking him, huh.
"Well, amazing girl!" I exclaimed with a fake laugh, checking my screen. "I didn't think you would've actually accepted my number. Did my charm affect you sweetie?"
A plane passed in the sky through my window, lights red and blue. I wonder how they would look if I jumped from the plane.
I hear him clap, in an overly exaggerated way. "It sure did and continues! Who wouldn't be charmed by a lady like you?"
"Lady? You wound me, I thought I was enough masculine to your… tastes." I scoffed, the act intentional.
"Oh, dear. I have no problems with whoever you are." He starts, a screech heard behind. "I happen to have a diverse orientation."
I laughed, the sound more mocking than I intended.
"Let's cut to the crap now." He changed of subject, his tone becoming more nonchalant now. "Why a flip phone? It's annoying, I can't trace you."
"How shameless you are, to want to know where I live. Especially at night. And you already know my number."
The bird chirped one time outside. "And to answer your question… I don't want partners for the night… yet."
"I know it's bullshit, Error. We all know you're a virgin. It just reads on your face." I heard, which made me bite back a scoff.
"You hurt me." I dramatically retorted. "Call me Rin also."
A small silence passed through the phone, intentional. Testing eachother. I leaned back in my chair, chin propped on my fist.
"Or even honey. Petnames encouraged." I added.
Without pause, normal banter, he jokes.
"I should get you to the vet then, you seem to have a mental disorder."
Hm. He wants to meet.
"Being too attractive is it." I chuckled at his insult. "Guess I'll book an appointment."
The pause and tone in my voice said it. That I accepted his proposition.
"Don't get the wrong doc." Sora finishes with, voice casual but with an underlying annoyance.
Bip. Bip.
The flip phone on the side, I stir my arms up my head, yawning lazily. Interesting.
Four
Been 25 minutes. 5 min to prepare, the next 20min the path. Lives near, one point for me.
"I didn't expect the IT student to be the one who erased my entire life." A voice heard from behind.
"And I didn't expect the popular guy to be able to cause pandemics." I retort back, gaze still on the wall in front of me.
An arm got on my shoulder mockingly, and I could feel the smirk next to my head. "I think I found the right doc."
"I don't cure pandemics, only pets." feeling the loss of weight on my shoulder, I lean on the wall, gazing at the empty sky—but keeping an eye on Rin.
There was silence. Without tension. A calculated silence, both of us thinking about our next steps.
"Ah, your USB." Rin suddenly brought the subject, leaning on the wall opposite to mine.
My eyes narrowed at the mention of my precious dearest USB-key. Where my main hacks are hidden.
"Tsk tsk, so impatient." he taunts. "What do I get in helping you?"
Playing the negociator? Obviously, I've already predicted that.
"Nothing." my voice echoed in the alleyway. "You came because they lured you too. Or my USB."
"For their boss." He cuts me. "They're waiting for me."
"So you do have a connection with them. You break my trust." I could only add sarcastically.
"So you do want my trust?" he mimicks me, hands in pockets, to trouble me.
"What if?"
Another silence passed, my eyes narrowing in annoyance and mild amusement, him having a fox's gaze.
Suddenly, he took out his phone from his pocket, slowly. Making me wait. I love your little games. Phone in hand, he glanced at me—as if to get me to come. Seeing as it didn't work, he threw me the phone, predicting that I would catch it.
I watched the screen, the narrow of my eyes betraying my annoyance. I threw him back the phone, staying silent.
"Enough?" a tilt of his head on the side after showing me an audio record at the bar.
"Tomorrow."
"I knew we could've get somewhere." he teased.
I had to bite my tongue to not let my face betray anything. How does he…
"Next time, It'll be your Pearl." he says, eyes glinting gold, showing me his Pearl.
"Rin." I called out. "Bold of you to assume you'll be alive until then."
"I love my name on your tongue." he mumbled, before replying. "Then I'll get you on a date to Hell."
He threw me a rock lazily, which I catched.
"Grab your most sexy outfit." I threw the rock back.
He catched it back when I threw it at him. Precise, smooth.
"Am I not sexy enough already?" he feigns offense, which irks me.
And he knew.
"Maybe."
Humming the same air as I walked in the city through the night. It was to guess where I live of course. Nice place, also. Hands in pocket, I noticed a cat on the sidewalk, who just sat to watch me. Reminds me of him.
Kawisaka… his apartment and it's bingo. I'm sure he faked his location. Kawisaka?
Opening the door in a alleyway, I'm met with… cries. Loud. I place a foot on the door that was beginning to close, instead letting it open.
"Huh," a soft smile appears on my lips with a tilt of my head. "what's happening?"
Except, I knew that soft smile would confuse him. Is it real or is he crazy? Probably what he's thinking.
Silence, just watching me, tears in his eyes. The door was open. And he was staring at it. Then gaze falls back on me. If I've let the door opened… it's because I don't want any "evil" intention, right?
"Hey." I murmured, softly. "Look at me."
Without noticing, he obeyed. My Pearl working.
"It's weird… and scary…" he mumbled, staring at me, eyes vibrant.
"The unknown is always scary." I comment. "What do you find weird?"
"My eyes… my hands. Paper…" he answered, still crouched.
Wind swings the door slightly, making the victim startle.
"Mhm." I hummed in aknowledgement. Pathetic. "Does drawing make you feel better?"
Children love drawing. His eyes. Paper. His Pearl is connected to drawing.
"I don't know anymore…" his voice trembled, hands gripped in hair.
"You escaped." my voice echoes quietly. "That surely shows you thought you were in danger? You just escape from reality."
The child looked at me more clearly, a sparkle beginning to appear. Children are the most easy to control.Especially teens.
"How… what—my eyes…?" he asks, eyes watery.
"Colorful."
My gaze glowed golden, reassuring him. His eyes widened a fraction, being less scared, thinking I was "like him".
"Are you willing to come with me?"
"Do I even have a choice…?" he responded, voice quiet without realizing.
Of course not. And not because you'd feed on rats—because I'll let you feed on the floor instead. Without my help.
"Of course." my eyes narrowed, in faux softness. That he fell for obviously. Figuratively. "Everyone has a choice, there's only the consequences of them."
His colored eyes gazed at me. A mix of desperation and caution.
"Okay…" he brought his face more onto his knees, but his eyes less terrified when looking at me.
Another fish I caught.Thought he'd come later.
I glanced at my phone, still crouching in front of the kid… Four's number. His location. And Pearl.
Tomorrow. I'll wait.