Chapter XI: An Unexpected Call
Saturday dawns, a day free from the routines of school. It brings a respite from the usual academic routines, allowing Ryujin to immerse himself in casual exchanges with Hageshi about games and notes.
"Bruh, have you seen the latest FNAF game?" Hageshi asks while streaming YouTube.
"Hmm, yeah, Ultimate Custom Night? It costs a lot, man." Ryujin replies while reading a book.
"Yeah, but have you played any FNAF games?" Hageshi adds.
"Uhm, I played FNAF 3 and I only finished FNAF 1 Night 2." (Ryujin)
"Yeah, but we should play a FNAF game soon in school." (Hageshi)
"I mean, let's try playing FNAF 1 during a vacant, together with Haruto, and Inoshiro" (Ryujin)
"Deal, by the way, can you send your notes on Hiragana, I didn't copied it earlier." (Hageshi)
Ryujin takes a picture of the notes and sends it to him via Messenger.
"Thanks so much bro." (Hageshi)
"You're Welcome." (Ryujin)
Meanwhile, Saki seeks clarification on her studies and enters the conversation, unintentionally setting off a chain of events that will lead to unexpected connections.
"Ryujin, can you send me the assignment on English (oh my god)", Saki texts in chat to him.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot." Ryujin says, and takes a picture on his notes in English and sends it to her.
"And... can you help me with these notes? I'm a bit confused," Saki asks.
"Sure thing! Let me break it down for you," Ryujin responds.
Ryujin, always ready to share knowledge, delves into explanations, turning the mundane subject into an engaging conversation filled with facts and even a sprinkle of memes.
"So, what you're gonna do with these words is to give them their verb tenses like the word Hinder. Hindered for Past, Hinder (Group) and Hinders (Individual) for Present, and Will Hinder if it is Future. Then use then in a sentence, 'The joy was hindered due to overbuying', 'The shade hinders the growth of green plants', and 'I bet that catalyst will hinder the chemical reaction.' Something like that, like putting a catalyst on the Wi-Fi and cannot connect to the internet, hindered my entry to YouTube for the memes." (Ryujin)
"Alright, Imma note it down." (Saki)
"Fun Fact, The first commercial Wi-fi product was released by Apple in 1999. Wi-fi back then, now Airpods for Christmas. Man, Steve Jobs can't get a break, must be suffocating with that turtle neck." (Ryujin)
"You're pretty fun to talk to about all these facts and memes!" Saki exclaims.
In Saki's mind, Ryujin proves to be surprisingly fun, a mix of facts and humor that captivates her attention. However, a slight mishap occurs as she accidentally taps the video call button. Panic ensues on both ends of the call.
"Oops! Video call? Uh oh, uhm, sorry about that!" Saki apologizes.
"Wait, what? Video? Oh my God, Give me a second!" Ryujin responds.
The video call unfolds, revealing both faces, and the initial awkwardness melts into a delightful exchange of facts and discussions about cartoon shows. Ichiro's entrance adds a new layer of awkwardness, prompting Ryujin to introduce Saki to his family members. Ichiro's brown and white hair gives him a striking look. The cringe factor spikes, but they manage to navigate through the introductions.
"Ho ho, Am I interrupting something here, my Oni-chan?" Ichiro asks.
"I-uh, I-I-uhm", Ryujin stutters.
Ichiro raises his right eyebrow and smiles at smiles at him mischievously. However, Ryujin musters his courage.
Ryujin chuckles and introduces Saki to Ichiro, who joins the virtual tour around the house.
"Ichiro, this Murasaki Aikawa, also known as Saki. She is one of my friends and classmates at school. Don't you get the wrong idea mister." (Ryujin)
The cringe-worthy moment evolves into a lighthearted exchange.
"Uhm, hi", Saki says to Ichiro.
"Hi Onee-san, I'm Ichiro Furukawa", Ichiro turns into a white and brown Shih Tzu dog.
"Oh my God, he's so cute!", Saki exclaims like a boiling tea kettle.
"Is that his power?", Saki adds.
"Well, he is still practicing the mastery of mimicking and shapeshifting. Sometimes shapeshifting into the slenderman and goes in my closet, scaring the hell out of me whenever I get up from my bed to get a glass of water at midnight. But his most notable is the Shih Tzu." (Ryujin)
"Oh, so he's a Gemini?", Saki asks.
"Apparently yes, he was born on May 25. He's 8 Years old", Ryujin says as he pats Ichiro's head.
A black and white Shih Tzu with a semi-pointed snout enters Ryujin's room.
"Huh, that's a different kind of Shih Tzu", Saki points out.
"A-that's Reina, my youngest sibling. She is also a Gemini at 5 years old, born on June 4", Ryujin says as he pats Reina's head.
Reina shapeshifts back into a human. Her pretty looks is like an angel, her hair is split at the middle. The left side of her hair is white while the right side is black.
"Hello Onee-san, I'm Reina Furukawa, 5 years old", Reina introduces himself to Saki.
"She's so pretty and cute", Saki compliments Reina's beauty.
"Thank you Saki Onee-san. So are you Onee-san", Reina says.
Saki blushes as she hears it and appreciates it.
As the call progresses, Saki's words take an intriguing turn.
"You know, your house feels very familiar," Saki comments.
"Really? Like how?", Ryujin asks.
"Hmm, I don't know, it feels like I have visited your house or something.", Saki says.
"Huh, maybe it's Déjà vu. I have been in this place before, higher than the streets, And I know it's my time to come home." (Ryujin)
"Lol, I loved that meme." (Saki)
"Yeah, you can't call it speed without the relativity of Déjà vu." (Ryujin)
"Oh, I got something to do, let's call again soon, Ryujin." (Saki)
"Alright, Bye" (Ryujin)
"Bye" (Saki)
Ryujin and Saki ends the call. Then, Ryujin racks his brain for any past encounters but finds no record of Saki visiting the Furukawa Estate. Baffled, he dismisses the thought and continues their chat about social media memes and notes on English and school memes.
As Ryujin ponders the house mystery, he decides to search the attic for any records or clues. The hunt yields no relevant information but brings forth a constellation key, adding an element of mystery to his exploration.
Returning to his room, a ringing keypad phone disrupts his thoughts. The caller ID displays an unknown number, and as he picks up, a sinister voice utters words in a foreign language.
"rutnutrevni oleac ni," the voice says.
Recognizing the language as Latin in reverse, Ryujin's curiosity is sparked. His reaction is visceral – he stomps on the cellphone until it lies in ruins. Determined to unveil the message, he turns to his laptop for deciphering.
"Hmm, what that dude said is baffling, like an Enderman have called me straight from the End", Ryujin thinks to himself.
"In caelo omnia invertuntur (In heaven everything is reversed)"
The decoded message unfolds troubling content, shifting his concerns from the mysterious familiarity of his house to the cryptic message.
"This is more than a prank. It's very unsettling," Ryujin mutters.
The decoded message hints at ominous undertones, injecting a newfound sense of concern. Determined to unravel the mystery, Ryujin contacts Hageshi, sharing the details of the call and its implications.
"Maybe it's just a prank, dude. Don't let it get to you. Hahaha," Hageshi responds.
Driven by curiosity, Ryujin theorizes that the caller might be referencing a different festival, prompting a series of unanswered questions.
"Why contact random students? And why reference the festival?" Ryujin wonders aloud.
Determined to address the situation, they contact Hajime, their class adviser, and lay out the entire scenario. Hajime, understanding the potential gravity, promptly calls Principal Fukushu.
"This is concerning. I'll inform Principal Kimura immediately," Hajime says seriously.
Their concerns reach Principal Kimura, who recognizes the gravity of the situation.
"Turn off all communications within the campus. We can't take any chances," Principal Kimura decides.
As the gears of security tighten, the stage is set for an unraveling mystery, bridging the Furukawa Estate, the festival, and the mysterious caller.