“Heey! Yuno! Wake up!”

I hear my older sister, Yuko, yell my name.

“It’s time for school! You’re going to be late!” (Yuko)

“I’m up, I’m up...Geez.” (Yuno)

I get up, go to the bathroom to take a shower and then throw on my clothes, on my still slightly wet body.

“Are you having breakfast or no?” (Yuko)

“Don’t need it. Bye idiot.” (Yuno)

“You punk, say that again and I’ll kick you out of the house!” (Yuko)

“Sure, sure. Later.” (Yuno)

Despite how I talk to her sometimes, my sister and I get along, and though our names our similar, we aren’t twins or close in age. We’re 4 years apart. Our parents weren’t the most creative two people (hence our names), which means they were perfect for each other. The only person our parents were slightly creative with was our older brother, Kosuke, or Ko, who is a year older than my sister, who is 24 years old. By the way, he went missing two years ago.

“Heeey! Yuno! Wait for me!” (Akio)

“Tch. Hey.” (Yuno)

“Did I just hear you click your tongue? Surely my precious Yuno didn’t reject me. Oh! Woe is me.” (Akio)

“...” (Yuno)

Akechi Akio. My best friend since elementary school. Though he can be a little strange at times (and clingy), he’s a great guy. Though I wish he’d be less annoying sometimes.

“So did you get it?” (Yuno)

“Straight to the point aren’t we? Yes, I do have it.” (Akio)

Aki hands me a movie titled ‘Triple Jeopardy 3’, a movie that even though I’ve already seen, I want to see again, for the 6th time. It’s way better than the first two prequels. The franchise is doing quite well for itself, considering it has 7 movies out.

“Hah. You’ve done well servant.” (Yuno)

“I have a feeling you’re only friends with me for things like this.” (Akio)

“Aki...I can’t believe you got that on the first try. Good job.” (Yuno)

“Yo–” (Akio)

“GUYYS! *pant* *pant* GUUYS! GUYYS! GU–” (???)

“I CAN FUCKING HEAR YOU, YOU’RE ONLY TWO FEET AWAY!” (Yuno)

“Ahahaha! Sorry about that.” (???)

Probably the person who will one day give me a heart attack, which will lead to my death, Furuya Kaho. Aki and I met her in middle school and since then, she has gradually inserted herself into our lives.

“So do you guys wanna come to my house after school and watch Triple Jeopardy 3? It’s really good.” (Yuno)

“Yuno, we’ve watched it a thousand times, and so have you. Won’t you ever get tired of it?” (Akio)

“I’ve been kind of wondering that as well…” (Kaho)

“Actually, I’ve only seen it six times. If I had seen it a thousand times, then I’d be tired of it. Let’s all work towards that time.” (Yuno)

“I’d have to say no anyway. I have a date after school.” (Akio)

“Me as well. Oh, I don’t have a date or anything, but I’m working later today.” (Kaho)

“A date and work... Alright, fine. I’ll just watch it by myself. Alone. In my room.” (Yuno)

“Sorry, maybe next time. Actually, next time I still won’t want to watch it.” (Kaho)

“Fine. Next time. Next time. And I’ll get the sequel too.” (Akio)

“You sure know what turns me on.” (Yuno)

“...” (Akio)

----------------------------------------

 May 5th After school 3: 35

“Hey. Kimura.” (Shirasaki)

Ah. Class President Shirasaki Mei. The one that always has a problem with me.

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“Greetings Prez. What can I do for you today?” (Yuno)

“You haven’t turned in Monday’s homework. In case you haven’t noticed, it’s already Wednesday.” (Shirasaki)

“Ah. Sorry about that, I forgot.” (Yuno)

“Can I have it? I don’t have all day.” (Shirasaki)

“Oh. I mean I forgot to do it.” (Yuno)

Of course, I’m joking. I’m only trying to be funny. Unfortunately, I actually care about my grades and would never do something like that. Oh, I mean fortunately.

“I can’t believe you! Don’t you care about your parents, who paid your tuition? Honestly, this is why I hate guys like you...” (Shirasaki)

Some of the other kids have started to look our way...

“Um. I’m only kidding. Here it is. Sorry.” (Yuno)

“Ah. Oh. Y-you shouldn’t have done that. Um. Sorry.” (Shirasaki)

With her face red with embarrassment, she leaves, while I snicker quietly to myself. Yes, I am, in fact, an asshole. And the worst kind too.

“You shouldn’t do that. She’ll probably come back and make your life harder.” (Akio)

Akio turns around and starts talking to me.

“Like she doesn’t already do that. Yesterday she told me a teacher was asking for me in the faculty room, but guess what, no one was asking for me.” (Yuno)

“What’s with that cliché form of bullying. Is she an elementary schooler?” (Akio)

“Honestly, if she was, I wouldn’t be surprised.” (Kaho)

“Hgaahh!” (Akio)

“When did you get here?” (Yuno)

“Just now. We can go home together, just up until Hane-ko.” (Kaho)

Hane-ko is the flower store that Kaho works at. There’re many stores, offices and restaurants in that area and people in Tokyo tend to go to that area often.

“That works out. I’m meeting up with my girlfriend at a cake shop near there.” (Akio)

“You said date, I didn’t expect it had gone that far…” (Kaho)

“Are you jealous? Do you want me to be your boyfriend too?” (Akio)

“I’m gonna tell your girlfriend that you’re cheating on her.” (Yuno)

“H-hey, I was just kidding. And she’s not my girlfriend. Not yet anyway.” (Akio)

----------------------------------------

“Well, we’re at Hane-ko. This is where we part.” (Kaho)

“See you guys later. I can’t be late.” (Akio)

“Later.” (Kaho)

“I’m gonna go be alone now.” (Yuno)

“I said I’d pay you back.” (Akio)

“I know. Later.” (Yuno)

After checking out some movie stores for about 3 hours, then grabbing something to eat, I start heading home.

“Excuse me!” (???)

I walk faster without turning my head. At 6:45pm, any person whose voice I don’t recognize is a suspicious person.

“Hey! Excuse me!” (???)

...But then again, he (judging by his voice) might just be looking for directions or he might be an acquaintance who I forgot about.

“Excuse m-” (???)

“What?!” (Yuno)

The man, who looks in his twenties, runs up to me, wheezing and begins to speak.

“Are you Yuno, Ko’s younger brother?” (Man)

“....” (Yuno)

“And you are?” (Yuno)

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’m Tamashiro Kei, Ko’s best friend. Ko sent me to find you.” (Tamashiro)

“...My brother?” (Yuno)

“So, you say my brother sent you to find me, but are you aware that he’s missing?” (Yuno)

We were now sitting in cafe, and even though I’d already eaten an hour before, I was eating cake.

“...I am. He told me to find you right before he went missing.” (Tamashiro)

“Which was two years ago. What the hell have you been doing?” (Yuno)

“Although he went missing two years ago, I’ve known where he was and lived with him up until a month ago, when he went missing for real.” (Tamashiro)

“He wanted you and your family, and I guess, everyone else to think he was missing but in truth, he was fine all this time. Well, that is, up until last month.” (Tamashiro)

“Why would he want us to think he was missing? It’s not like he’s doing something shady, is it?” (Yuno)

“W-well... If you count thievery as something shady, then yes?” (Tamashiro)

“Wait. Wait. Wait. My brother is a thief?” (Yuno)

“Not just any thief. A phantom thief.” (Tamashiro)

“Is there a difference?” (Yuno)

“Of course there’s a difference! Phantom thieves... are way cooler?” (Tamashiro)

“So there isn’t a real difference?” (Yuno)

“Well, phantom thieves make your heart flutter right? And the public usually sides with them.” (Tamashiro)

“How would I know? Do I look like a thief, sorry, phantom thief to you?” (Yuno)

“...” (Tamashiro)

“What?” (Yuno)

“Actually…” (Tamashiro)

I don’t like the look on his face. Something tells me I’m not gonna like whatever he’s about to say.

“Actually this brings me to what your brother wanted me to tell you, or rather ask you.” (Tamashiro)

I have a bad feeling about this. I mean other than “I want you to find your brother” there’s one more thing he could ask, that I’m not sure I’d be okay with.

“Won’t you follow in your brother’s footsteps?” (Tamashiro)

“Oh, you mean be a thief? I don’t think so. Actually, I think it’s about time I leave.” (Yuno)

“W-wait! Hear me out. There’s a reason your brother was doing this.” (Tamashiro)

“...” (Yuno)

I’m slightly curious… Maybe I should let him talk. I mean, I don’t have to agree anyway.

“Fine. You have five minutes to talk. I need to get home soon. Start now.” (Yuno)

“ The one who caused your parents to go missing, their kidnapper is the one who made your brother do this.” (Tamashiro)

“...What? Explain.” (Yuno)

“Seven years ago, your parents went missing. They were kidnapped by a man known as Ace.” (Tamashiro)

“Who?” (Yuno)

“Ace. He confronted your brother two years ago, wearing a mask and gave him a locket with a note inside of it.” (Tamashiro)

“What does that have to do with anything?” (Yuno)

“On the note was a clue leading to a necklace with a gem in it called Red Moon, which included another clue which led to another item.” (Tamashiro)

I already am not enjoying this.

“ This went on for years and your brother told me that all those clues lead to where your parents are.” (Tamashiro)

“...And he had to steal each item, as they were important artifacts.” (Tamashiro)

“I thought my parents were dead. That’s what Ko and Yuko told me...Wait, does my sister know about all this?” (Yuno)

“I don’t think Ko told her, and at the time, they both thought your parents were dead.” (Tamashiro)

“This is all… crazy.” (Yuno)

“I know it is. I don’t expect you to say answer my question earlier right away.” (Tamashiro)

Do I really have a choice? I mean if I have a chance to get back my family, shouldn’t I take that chance?

“...” (Yuno)

“I’ll do it.” (Yuno)

“D-do you understand what you’re saying? It’s totally dangerous you know?” (Yuno)

“Shiro...Can I call you Shiro? Well, I’ll do it anyway. I need to find my brother and my parents. I can’t just leave them there, and even if I tell the police, it’s not like they’ll believe me anyway. After all, neither you, nor I witnessed them being kidnapped.” (Yuno)

“Do you really get what this means? You could get kidnapped like your brother,  or… die.” (Tamashiro)

“I’m not an idiot. Of course I know that. I have to do it though. For Yuko. The night Ko was declared missing, she cried herself to sleep. They were like best friends, honestly.” (Yuno)

“....Also, if you came here asking for this, just for me to say no… wouldn’t that be troublesome? You can’t expect me to believe you’d take no for an answer. Though your behaviour is contradictory.” (Yuno)

“I-I see… If you want to, I guess it’s fine and you’re right, I probably won’t have left if you had said no, I was just a little startled when you said yes right away.” (Tamashiro)

“...But calling me whatever you want is a little… I’m older than you, y’know?” (Tamashiro)

“I don’t like the way Tamashiro sounds though, and I don’t like honorifics either. That’s why I’m going to keep calling you Shiro.” (Yuno)

“Saying you don’t like the way my name sounds... It seems you’re going to be a handful.” (Shiro)