4/7/93 -> 4/8/93

I walked to school by myself.

I didn't like walking with Yukari (she tried too hard), I don't know Mitsuru, and Kotone was out of the question.

"Did you here the rumor?" I overhear a girl.

"Oh, um... something about... a bathroom?" Her friend responds.

"N-No! Not that one! I mean the story about the first-year student! Not only did she stop coming to school, she does nothing but sit and stare at the walls all day." The girl responds annoyed. "If her mother tries to talk to her, she only mutters to herself, 'It's coming... It's coming...!'."

"Huh. How about that." The other girl states.

"You don't believe me...?"

That rumor doesn't make sense. It's nonsense! Like saying there's a ninth hour, or that Kotone does know how I feel.

GROUNDS -> MS. TORIUMI'S CLASS

"Open your textbooks and we'll take a look at first novel by..." Ms. Toriumi pauses. "...Zenzou Kasai."

Zenzou Kasai? Never heard of him.

"Ugh... why him? I'd rather teach Utsubo Kubota." Ms. Toriumi groans. "He became famous as a singer, but he's also produced fine literature. I wonder why it's not in the textbook. Well, I'll just bring Kubota's book next time."

Huh. Utsubo Kubota? I've read his stuff. It's pretty good.

"...Hey, Junpei!" Toriumi asks the teen boy - who was daydreaming. "Were you listening? Who did I say was my favorite author?"

"H-Huh? U-Ummm..." Junpei stiffens. And he leans near me. "Psst! Who does she like?"

"Utsubo Kubota. Dumbass." I stated smugly.

"Utsubo Kubota!" Junpei repeated confidently.

"That's right! So you were listening to me after all!

"Eheheh... Well, you know how I like to pay attention!" Junpei joked. He looked at me. "Man, you saved my bacon, Shiro!"

I heard my classmates whispering.

"Shiro gave him the answer..."

"He must pay attention in class!"

SCHOOL -> THE DORM

Yukari is already there - but she's talking to some guy in a cream suit.

"Oh, he's back." Yukari chirps.

"So this is our new guest. Good evening." The older man smiles. "My name is Shuji Ikutsuki. I'm the Chairman of the Board for your school. 'Ikutsuki'... Hard to say, isn't it? That's why I don't like introducing myself. Even I get tongue-tied sometimes..." he introduces in a long winded way.

I shrug.

"I apologize about the confusion regarding your accommodations. However, it may take a while longer before you receive the proper room assignment."

"Why did you come here?" I ask sharply.

"To welcome you, of course. Speaking of which..." He paused. "Where's Mitsuru and Kotone, Yukari?"

"Both upstairs."

"Those two are diligent as always. Although, it doesn't hurt to come down and say hello..." He smiles. "Do you have another question?"

"...Who else lives here?"

"There are only five students in this dorm: You, Yukari, Kotone, Mitsuru..." Ikutsuki paused. "And a senior named Akihiko Sanada. I hope you all get along." He smiled. "Do you have another question?"

"I saw something odd." I state to him.

"You saw something strange? ...Like what?"

"A 'lil kid around ten." I tell. "Small, black hair, blue eyes, beauty mark, pale skin and black-and-white pajamas." I describe to a confused Yukari and Ikutsuki. "...Does he live here?"

"You were probably just tired. I wouldn't worry about it." Ikutsuki told me. "It's bad for your complexion, you know."

Something doesn't seem right... they both know something that I don't.

"Do you have another question?"

"No, not really."

The grown man smiles. "Then, I hope you have a successful school year."

I nod. It's a fake nod and I know it. I don't give a shit about school.

"Now, if you'll excuse me..." He said calmly. "You must be tired from all the excitement. You should go to bed early. As they say, 'The early bird catches the bookworm'!" He said, giving a pun.

I don't care for puns.

"Please forgive the bad pun." The chairmen chuckles.

"...You'll get used to his lame jokes." Yukari groans to me.

I go to my room.

...And I pass out on my bed.

>meanwhile, upstairs

Ikutsuki enters a certain room in the dorm, seeing Mitsuru and Kotone watching Shiro from a camera watching him sleep.

"Working hard?" He states. "So, how's he doing?"

"He went to bed a little while ago. He's asleep now." Mitsuru answers.

"Mr. Chairman, do you think he's...?" Kotone mumbles to her superior.

"Well, let's wait and see for now." Ikutsuki calmly tells the short brunette.

Kotone's eyes flash white for a moment.

"...The Ninth Hour is approaching." She states to the two.

>Meanwhile, in a back alley in Tatsumi Port

"This sucks." A man sighed, listening to the radio. He threw it in the trash, but didn't bother to turn it off.

Upbeat music is playing from the radio that the man threw away...

"KJ Radio presents, The Bay Tuners. Tune in again next week for more of the hits!"

"This program is brought to you by Kirijo Electronics. Kirijo Electronics: always there when you need them." A radio announcer advertised.

"The time is now midnight."

Everything turns a ghostly shade of green - water turns red-

The man feels a pressure in his eyes, ears, mouth, everything-

"...What the...? Wh...What's happening to me...?" He moans in pain.

Black ooze dribbled from his mouth, then his eyes, his ears, his-

"...a....a...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

>back in the certain dormitory

"Hmm..." Ikutsuki hummed. "He's still sleeping."

"The Ninth Hour occurs every day at 12 midnight; you could say it's the "hidden" hour." Ikutsuki explained. "During this time, an ordinary person Transmogrifies into a coffin, and is oblivious to all that occurs."

"Then, he must be..." Kotone whispered.

"As you can see, he's retained his human form. He's asleep, but he's definitely experiencing the Ninth Hour. The only question that remains is whether or not he has the potential. Although, he must." Ikutsuki continued, pointing at a sleeping Shiro.

"...If he didn't, they would've preyed on him by now." Mitsuru pondered.

Kotone shivered. "Spooky..."

"In any case, we should continue to monitor him for a few more days." Ikutsuki commanded.

"Yes, Sir." Mitsuru agreed.

"I feel kinda bad, though," Kotone clasped her hands, "spying on him like this..."

>Shiro

"...Master..."

Hell. I'm having one of those dreams.

"...Master Shiro Dojima..." The voice repeats - it's angelic sounding and definitely feminine.

The ground is checkered, and I'm waking towards a blue door.

Where am I?

I enter, and it's a... an elevator...?

Sitting bellow a giant clock is a wrinkled old man with a long nose.

The mysterious old man smiled. "Welcome to the Velvet Room." He smiled. "My name is Igor ...I am delighted to make your acquaintance. This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter... Only those who have signed the contract can enter this place..."
The paper I signed at the dorm is lying before Igor...

"Henceforth, you shall be welcome here in the Velvet Room. You are destined to hone your unique ability, and you will require my help to do so. I only ask one thing in return...that you abide by the contract, and assume responsibility for the choices you make." He explained.

My body feels weird - almost like I'm being watched -

"I don't... I don't understand..." I mumble out.

Hold on to this...

I glass key appeared in my hand. It's cold as hell.

>Obtained Velvet Key.

"There is still more residents of this room, who unfortunately could not be present for your arrival." Was that the voice? "But I'll make sure you are properly introduced. Another time, perhaps." He tells me calmly.

I close my eyes.

"'Till we meet again..."

??? poem of the day:
White dawn. Stillness.
When the rippling began
I took it for sea-wind, coming to our valley with rumors of salt, of treeless horizons. But the white fog
didn't stir; the leaves of my brothers remained outstretched, unmoving.
Yet the rippling drew nearer - and then
my own outermost branches began to tingle, almost as if
fire had been lit below them, too close, and their twig-tips
were drying and curling.
Yet I was not afraid, only deeply alert.
-An Excerpt from "A Trees Telling of Orpheus" by Denise Levertov