Chapter 1- Riyoko Heiko

Blurry vision, a picture paved with darkness.

As the blurry images slightly cleared up, it began to play a scene.

"This again…"

His mother kneeled down, as they both listen to the T.V

This just in, on the mountain by district 15, a car was found burning on a down slope, outside the traffic barriers. the person inside the car, whom we assume is the owner, Heiko Riyuji, was found dead on site. It is believed…

"Yeah, yeah, my father's death was considered an accident despite some questionable info, what's the point? There was nothing we could do…"

A flash occurred, switching memories.

"And this… I see, looking back, I can see how this could be quite funny,"

His mother opened the fridge, looking around all over it, "It looks like we're out of milk," closing the fridge, she took her purse, right above it, "I'll go out and buy some real quick, lock the door and wait for me, ok?"

"And as the joke goes… that was the last time I saw her. Seriously, what's the point…"

Everything went black.

"HEY! Yo! You still alive? Heiko Riyoko, you still alive?"

Hearing from reality, he moved his arms. Feeling numb, he uncovered his head and slowly raised it from the school table.

"Ugh! What's with that face? You look super bummed,"

"Oh… it's just Giyu…"

"You sound awful too, did you get nightmares again? And what did you mean by it's just me??"

"It's nothing, I was just thinking it'd be worse if a teacher was the one who woke me up,"

"Haha, I get ya. He would be like, Mister Heiko Riyoko! Sleeping in class again, I know about your situation but you can't just act like this!"

"yep, that!"

"Well, it'd still be your fault though in the end, hehe,"

"I don't quite get why he's so hard on me though, I always get decent scores on exams don't I?"

"THAT is true…"

"Isn't it? Oh yeah, how come you're the one waking me up?"

"Our adviser didn't come today, so we got out early,"

"I figured that'd be the case,"

"Anyway, I have baseball practice this afternoon, so…"

"yeah, don't worry, I'll go ahead and buy the new game for us,"

"OH, THANKS! You're a lifesaver man! I'll be sure to pay you tomorrow, or later if I have time,"

"take your time. Anyway, it's getting late, we better get going,"

Giyu looks at his wrist watch, "you're right,"

And so, Riyoko stood up from his seat, in the very end corner of the classroom beside the window. He glances and notices the afternoon hue, covering most of the classroom with its theme.

"You know, I've been feeling more and more tired lately, even though I'm not doing much…" He said with a pensive look on his face.

"that doesn't seem good, is it because of those nightmares you've been having?"

"I don't know… you know what, just forget about it…"

After a short thought, Giyu tapped him on the shoulder, "You know what, I'm not going to pay you for the game after all,"

"huh?"

"instead I'll treat you to some food from that newly opened restaurant by the corner, how does that sound?"

"why?"

"come on, it's your birthday tomorrow, right?"

"now that you mention it…"

"wait, don't tell me you forgot your own day?"

"…"

"Haha, anyway just look forward to it ok? Think of it as another distraction to whatever is going on inside your head,"

"Thanks,"

And so, both of them got out of the classroom and into the shade-filled halls, where they both said their goodbyes and parted ways.

As he began to walk through the halls, he encounters some people on the way, two girls whispering with each other as they walk past him in the hallway.

"hey it's him," one of the two girls whispered.

"yeah, I heard… poor guy,"

"I heard he became a delinquent and started doing shady stuff at night now,"

"eh? Well, it can't be helped, since what happened to him…"

"yeah, I just hope he doesn't go too far astray and cause trouble to people,"

Riyoko let out a sigh, "so this is what people think of me now," standing on the corner end of the hall, listening to the two girls, "and what did they mean shady business?"

He closed his eyes as he presses his back on the wall, thinking, "ah! It must be when I bought that new game that came out late at night, I'm surprised someone saw me even at that time,".

BAM*

"aw!" "AH!"

As he attempted to go down the stairs, he suddenly bumped into a girl carrying some books, who was running her way up, causing both of them to fall on the ground just beside the stairs.

"ah! I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking!" the girl said in a high-pitched and panicked tone.

"ouch… that would have been dangerous! You're lucky you didn't fall down the stairs," Riyoko said picking up the girl's books from the floor.

"eh? Umm, yes, I'm so sorry!" picking up a book on the ground.

The girl was wearing the light brown uniform of their school, she was wearing glasses and had a model student get up, along with her long and neat black hair.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps could be heard from a distance, and in a short moment, the two girls who went past him arrived looking worried.

"What happened here?" the girl said, "we heard you shout and…" she took a deep breath as she lacked air.

"it's ok! It's ok! Calm down. I accidentally bumped into him and…"

"Here," Riyoko said, interrupting her explanation as he handed her the books.

The girl joyfully took the books, "ah, thank you, once again I'm sorry," she bowed.

He slightly nodded, and without saying a word, he walked away.

"I'm glad you're ok, when we heard your scream, we thought… never mind,"

"eh? You girls worry too much,"

"she's right, you know? you should do something about that scream of yours!"

"ehhh??"

Riyoko let out a sigh as he gains distance from them, "those girls, definitely thought about something else… luckily both of us were able to somehow react, if one of us reacted a little later then she would have fallen down the stairs,".

He suddenly shook his head, "is it because of my gaming lately? My reflex might have improved," he thought smugly.

Later, inside Ryoko's home.

Silence.

As Riyoko opened the door, a creaking sound echoed throughout the whole house, overlapping the pure silence surrounding the area.

He let out a sigh, "I wonder if I left some food on the fridge,"

As the orange gleams of the early evening hue passed through the kitchen's glass window, providing light for the room, he walked over to the fridge by the corner and checked if anything was inside.

"Ugh, maybe I should eat outside tonight, and I have that game to buy too,"

After changing his clothes, he went outside.

Feeling the breeze slightly getting colder, he went out wearing a black coat of his choice.

As he looked above, he notices the fading orange light, slowly turning into dark gray as dark clouds begins to cover the sky.

"is it going to rain soon? I better be quick,"

Not long after, he walked out of a store with a hot box of food and hurried over to the game store some distance from the area.

Ding*

The sound of the automated glass door rang as it opened, letting out an even colder air as he walked in, taking the attention of the cashier.

"oh! If it isn't the usual kid, I bet you're here for the new game I believe,"

Riyoko let out a small giggle, "you sound like an old woman,"

"I sound like a MATURE lady, I believe," the girl said, showing a very smug expression.

"if you say so, granny Iris,"

"AH! I prefer you call me big sis Iris!"

"no way, we're like the same age, aren't we?"

"if I remember correctly, I'm older than you,"

"only by a few months," he walks over to the counter, "I believe you already got my game ready?"

"YEP!" she said with a bright smile.

"what's with the excitement?"

"hehe, nothing," she handed over the game to Riyoko, and as he was about to pull out his wallet.

"STOP! This one is free of charge!"

"eh? Why?"

"hehe, it's your birthday tomorrow, right? Consider it as an early present,"

"is this ok?" he glances at the manager some distance from the register,"

"you're quite a loyal customer of ours, giving you one free game won't be too big of a deal," the old man laughed.

"Thanks, I really appreciate it," he let out a small yet genuine smile.

Seeing his smile, Iris somehow felt warmth coming from her chest, making her smile along with him.

"Hey, come over to our house later tonight too, everybody seems so busy, but I think my mom made something for you, I can give it to you later,"

"If it's food, I already ordered…"

"with that tiny box I doubt you'll be solved, my mom makes more and even better than those take-outs,"

"I can't argue with that," he giggled, "I'd like to have some of your cooking sometimes too,"

"eh?" she flustered, "s…sure I'll make sure to follow my mom's footsteps!"

He smiled, "anyway I'm going to buy another copy of the game, this time I'll pay,"

"EH!? Why??"

"my friend asked me to buy him a copy, he said he'll pay me tomorrow,"

"I see,"

After some more small chats, a few other customers entered the store. Taking it as his signal, he said goodbye and left.

Not long after leaving the store, he found himself in a tight situation.

Two tall people, looking cocky, grinned at Riyoko with an intimidating smile.

"hey there mister Heiko!! it seems you got some good stuff there?".