~Scroll of the Dead~

4:20

The friend group finally finished their work and left the school as they began heading to the arcade.

Daisuke let out a sigh, "A good thing we met Ayaka-sensei before the staff meeting."

"That would have been real bad huh?" Shin laughed "But enough of that…"

The group looked at him as he pointed out a finger towards the sky "To the Arcade!"

"Cringe." Haruto blankly looked "Plus, I don't get what you guys see in arcades anyways, just game normally."

Shin thought about it, he had a gaming system that was working perfectly fine so why go to a game house after school? Not that they did it every day but it was a way of blowing off some steam when they could, also when they had things to talk about, to celebrate.

It was their clubhouse in a way.

Shin smiled before replying, "They're not that bad though."

They kept walking for a while now, before Shin looked at the smiles on the faces of the ones he knew as his friends 'We all come from different backgrounds.' he began 'Daisuke's dad is the owner of a transportation company but he's always trying to live up to his folk's expectations, Haruto's parents work overseas so he stays with his grandparents.'

He looked over to Junko who had an earpiece equipped and was streaming some songs 'Junko ran away from her abusive parents so right now she stays alone. I can probably see why she gets all 'Dark Knight' and why she's so smart.' They kept on walking as Shin was left in his thoughts 'Come to think of it, we all have our family problems in a way. Is that why I chose them?'

'Nah,' Shin paused for a while before shrugging it off 'Daisuke's dad signed my dad a contract to renovate his place, so he happened to bring me during his work days and I met up with Daisuke' he turned over to see the glasses-wearing boy complaining about something to Haruto, though he couldn't care about it since it was probably a manga debate 'Haruto used to pick fights with me during junior high and we always got in trouble, but we secretly used that as a cover to play video games during detention…Though I still think he's a hacker.'

Then last but not least he turned to Junko who focused on her music 'She used to pick on Daisuke around two years ago, I wanted to take it up to the principal but Haruto insisted on taking her in a fight.'

'And he lost badly,' Junko let out a sigh in disappointment making Shin recall a younger Haruto lying flat on the ground wounded 'Since then, she couldn't stop following us and we let her into our group. And she seems like a good luck charm, I can't remember getting low grades ever since we became friends.'

~Scenes of when Junko slid in exam cheats towards her friends mysteriously played out. But they couldn't realize who it was~

'But that aside,' they finally arrived a few blocks from the arcade. 'I'm glad I have them as friends I can rely on.'

"…Eh? What do you mean no snacks?" Haruto's tone increased in volume

"Yeah, the snack bar is out of supplies temporarily." Daisuke further explained

"That doesn't make sense it's an arcade." Haruto yelled in confusion

"They said it's temporary, it'll be okay by tomorrow." Daisuke shook his head

"So what now?" Junko asked

"I guess we'll need someone to buy food from outside." Daisuke sighed

Shin chuckled before adding, "I'll do it."

"For real" Haruto's eyes lit up

"With your money of course," he smiled back earning a groan from the group as they gave him a few notes.

"Knew it was too good to be true." Haruto muttered.

"All right, I'll meet up with you guys," Shin said as they separated to go to the arcade with the brunette walking towards the snack shop two buildings away.

"Two bottles of Yakult, one Melon Soda, and one Green Tea I guess?" He entered the shop and placed his order with an addition of some candy bars as edibles 'Ah wait' he thought before going back to exchange the bottle of Yakult for some 'PRIME' soda as the west called it.

The blue-eyed teen proceeded to check out before opening the bottle of PRIME. He nearly began drinking it before bumping into a cloaked figure.

THUD

The bottle landed on the ground with its contents flowing away.

"My Prime…HEY WHAT THE HELL?!" The boy looked in despair before barking at the figure

"Sorry..." was all the person could say before continuing their walk

"'Sorry'?" Shin became furious "That's all you're gonna say? And who do you think you are putting on that cloak-"

"Oi Shin!" a voice called out to the boy

"I'm busy!" he turned to the voice belonging to Haruto, who was coming out of the arcade.

"Busy with what?" he asked - taking a look at the spilled beverage "Oh…your prime."

"Grrr" Shin growled at the man "Hey, you better plan on paying-" he widened his eyes in shock as the cloaked man was nowhere to be found "Huh?"

"What's wrong?" Haruto asked

"He was just here!" Shin gestured as he was at a loss for words

"Who?" Haruto tilted his head

"Well uh… A guy with a cloak." Shin turned his head to examine the area as he thought deeply

"Man, you gotta stop drinking that stuff before it messes your head," Haruto said as he landed a playful knock on the brunette's head before walking back to the arcade.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Tch, whatever." Shin replied as he followed him

"Oh and by the way I forgot to tell ya-"

Daisuke then interrupted the two "They closed."

"Eh?" Shin interjected

"Recently there's been constant wreckage of buildings around here, or more precise, all of Kyushu" Junko replied as she took her snack from the boy.

"Wait for real?" Shin asked

"Yeah," she nodded "They've mainly been happening at night, so curfews have been placed."

"Ah I see." Shin scratched his head getting the info

"But something's not right Hachibana-chan" Daisuke called her by her last name

She raised an eyebrow

"Don't you think this is all too sudden?" he began "And not to mention where it's been happening, the locations I mean"

Junko looked down before replying "And where are they?"

"I first thought it was a mere coincidence that it could've been thunderstorms" the dark-haired boy explained "But my dad sent me a message filled with higher casualty rates and their locations in a week"

"Let me have a look" she gestured as the boy handed her his phone with her inspecting the locations

"These are all either shrines or temples" she observed "It's too much to be a coincidence"

"Oi translation for the normies?" Haruto yelled out as he carried a half-conscious Shin whose head was comically producing smoke.

Junko sighed "In other words, a gangster group or something worse. Cuz it can't be an accident"

"I don't understand" Shin finally spoke up "What's their deal with temples? It's wrong doing that."

"I thought it was a good thing for you" Haruto sneered causing the others in the group to chuckle

"Dumbass I said I don't believe in all that junk, not act like a complete jerk" he replied before scratching his head "So I guess we split up?"

"Hmph" Haruto huffed "Got any bright ideas where we should head to?"

"The maid café?" Shin raised an eyebrow

"C'mon man, don't say stuff like that" Haruto jerked his head "Not all of us wear glasses"

"SAY THAT TO MY FACE SHANKS REJECT!" Daisuke shouted at the redhead

"Sheesh Daisuke can't you take a joke" Shin let out a sigh

"Not the kind involving one's personality" Daisuke jerked his shoulder at that remark

"Sure, Lady Killer" Shin snickered

"Why do I even hang out with you guys again?" Daisuke let out a sweatdrop

"No reason cuz we're all failures" Shin responded with a grin

"DON'T LUMP US IN WITH YOU!" both boys commented with comical veins popping out on their foreheads

"So retarded" Junko commented silently before walking away and waving at the males

"She just walked away" Daisuke stared blankly "Why do I even bother?"

"She's not gonna kiss you ya know" Haruto added

"Where'd you get that idea?" Daisuke looked back at his friend as a blush formed on his face

"I always thought she was into girls" Shin added

"DON'T GO MAKING ASSUMPTIONS LIKE THAT!" Daisuke shot at his other friend before walking away as well "That's it I've had it, see ya!"

"Oi don't forget to use the tissue ya hear?" the class clown bellowed out

"SCREW YOU" was all he got from Daisuke before disappearing down the horizon leaving both Haruto and the brunette

"So just us huh?" Shin began

"Sadly not for a while since the curfew begins soon" Haruto shook his head with disappointment.

"Yeah," he sighed as he thought about it "They really know how to ruin a day huh?"

"You tell me" Haruto replied, leaving a silence between the two.

"So" Shin broke it finally "Quick mobile MVP?"

"Be serious" Haruto groaned

"I am. Been meaning to settle that embarrassing wallpaper"

"At a time like this?" His tone now became hinted with anger

"Well yeah-"

"This was exactly what Junko said, you need to act your age"

A frown grew on Shin's face at that statement "What do you mean?"

The two looked at each other, Haruto had a look of disappointment on his face while Shin just stared in confusion with a hint of anger.

"Forget it." Haruto hissed before walking away, leaving a more confused Shin standing on the arcade pavement.

"Don't know what got into him." Shin let out a sigh before walking back to his house.

Today was weird for the boy.

~Scroll of the Dead~

Evening / 7:50 pm

Shin opened the doors to the Matsumoto household. He stared at the walls of the passageway filled with framed photos of the family with one much larger than all of them, Shin quickly recognized this as the photo of his father, Shohei Matsumoto.

"Good evening." he muttered quietly, he had grown a habit of greeting the photo anytime he passed it. Others would have seen it as weird but not for the boy who believed all dead people should have their respects paid.

Shin kept on walking through the one-floor apartment where his family resided. He'd have to get through the living room to reach his room 'Today was exhausting, I'm glad I don't have to deal with any of that.'

"Welcome back."

He was called out by the calm voice of his mom, turning around to find her lying on the couch. She was watching her daily soap opera on the TV like she usually does before she starts cooking the evening meals.

Shin responded with a nod "Yeah, thanks..." he hadn't forgotten of how he acted this morning so he expected a backlash. To his surprise, he only got a wary look on his mother's face.

"How was school?" Kaori tried to force a smile on her face

"Same as always." Shin responded blankly

A wave of silence filled the atmosphere filled the room, both parties stood motionlessly for a while. Shin took in a huge breath as he decided to break the silence, he had a saying that 'Don't let the sun go down with a bad mood' so why not just say sorry?

"I was a real jerk today huh?" Shin scratched his head embarrassingly.

"No, I understand." his mother replied ever smiling. No matter the problem, she would always try to bear through and look at the brighter side of things.

"I'm sorry." he apologized

"Shin there's no need-"

He interrupted "You always tried your best to look after us, going to the ends of the world just to see us smile even before Dad died. But each time I was a piece of shit to you, no, everyone who cared about me."

"…"

Shin continued with a tear rolling down his face "The truth is I've just been angry, been restless. I don't know who to blame it on so I take out that pent-up anger on myself."

Shin's mother remained silent as she listened to her son being honest for the first time since her husband's passing.

"I try and keep that composure because I'm not strong like you or Hana," he cried out "I'm weak, garbage, crap-"

-THWACK

Shin felt a sharp pain on his left cheek, he turned his head as he noticed his mother standing at his front with tears rolling down her face as well.

"Stop it," she said before pulling her son into a calm embrace "No one will harm you for shedding a few tears."

'I see now…' Shin's eyes widened as he processed her words 'Is this maturing?'

Shin's mother continued "Stop trying to cover up those emotions Shin. They're what makes us human."

In an instant, he recalled one of his father's last words on his deathbed.

~"All we can do is laugh, cry, love, and at last die. You can't avoid it, otherwise, how can you be called a human?"~

Shin's nose was running as tears flowed out from his face like a river. His mother looked at the display in surprise as it was her first time seeing her son coming out honest, she tightened her embrace as she stroked his hair

She consoled him with a warm smile before separating "It's alright, now dry up those tears."

Shin paused his crying as he looked back at Kaori before she continued, "You don't wanna stay crying through dinner, do you?"

'…' he looked lost in thought before cheering himself up "Ahaha no."

Kaori smiled before landing a kiss on his forehead, which startled her son before making him blush in embarrassment.

"The hell was that for?" he complained "I'm too old for that crap!"

She walked away to the kitchen ignoring his words, which got Shin angrier "Gah, fine, I've got some series to watch anyways."

"Shin, don't forget to pick up your jacket from the store!" she called out from the kitchen

The boy tilted his head in confusion "I thought you picked it up? Can't I do it tomorrow?"

"Shin-kun…" he could feel the same old cheery voice but an ominous presence from where his mother began emanating. She continued "Don't make me repeat myself."

Shin began sweating profusely, he then retracted his statement "Yeah, my jacket must have gathered dust sitting there huh?" he joked as he scratched his head, before heading off to his room to change to his house clothes consisting of a black T-shirt with brown shorts. He was close to heading out before a thought hit him as he hadn't heard the ramblings of his younger sister.

"Hey Mom, where's Hana?"

Kaori paused her cooking to respond "She said she was staying with a friend."

"Which one?" he frowned

"Tokita-chan." she addressed the last name of her daughter's childhood friend.

"The weird one who keeps looking at me?" Shin asked as he was knotting the laces on his black sneakers.

"Don't say that" she corrected her son "She might have a crush on you and you may never know."

"Whatever." he shrugged it off before opening the doors of the house

His mother then chuckled "Alright hurry up, and don't forget, you'll have to wash Ken up."

"Wait what?" He looked back in shock at the last statement made