𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞

   "Thank you for walking me home, Arata." Madoka thanked as the two walked down the semi busy street. School ended only a few minutes ago and Arata, a childhood friend, just so happened to be in the area at the time, enabling him to meet with Madoka. 

"No problem, Madoka-chan." Arata replied, pushing her bike for her, taking a deep breath. "Ah....Spring is coming. The air feels rather nice."

"I know." Madoka agreed, looking up into the sky. "Oh! Megumi's birthday is in a week! I should get her something." 

Their friend, Megumi Matsushita, grew up with them since childhood. She was originally from Hope Hill in Oya District before her mom remarried a rich man and moved over a year ago. In that time, everyone she grew up with began to see less of her due to her going to a different school closer to her new home and because of how far her new home was. But even then, that still didn't stop her from visiting whenever she could. Saving their friendship from withering away. 

There were times where they would miss her more than usual. For, she was like a beacon of angelic light around the dreary place that was Oya. Always smiling and greeting people wherever she went. So when she announced that she was moving, you can imagine the heartbreak at that moment. 

But be that as it may, she reassured them that it wasn't goodbye. She would still see them and visit them. And she kept to her promise as best as she could. Even if those visits got less frequent. 

"Oh, that reminds me." Arata suddenly spoke up, remembering something. "I heard she's supposed to visit Hope Hill soon." 

"Eh?! Really?!" Madoka exclaimed with a big smile on her round face. 

Arata chuckled at her excitement. She may have loved Megumi the most out of the entire friend group. Second would be Fujio. But then again, he's always happy to see everyone. "Yes. Her mom visited the hospital last week. She says that Megumi had been really busy adjusting to everything but she has plans to visit soon."

"That's so cool!" She giggled out, happy to know she'll see her again. "Finally! I won't have to be the only logical one around you idiots!" 

Arata chuckled again, shaking his head. He was about to say something when his eyes spotted someone standing on the side of the street in an all red female school uniform. Her hair was long, jet black and loose wavy hair and it looked like she was wearing headphones. Looking closer, he immediately recognized her. 

"Megumi-chan!" Arata gasped, pausing as he pointed at her.

Madoka looked at him as if he were stupid before turning to see what he was talking about. And when she did, she had the same reaction as him. She gasped loudly and pointed at her. "MEGUMI-CHAN!" 

Said girl suddenly looked over to where the screaming could be heard, revealing her face. It was Megumi Matsushita. She quickly recoignized her friends and flashed them an excited smile. 

"Madoka-chan! Arata-chan!" She exclaimed, rushing over to them. 

With her arms stretched out, she hugged both of them at the same time, allowing them to hug her back. The three were happy to see each other after a very long while. Megumi was just happy to see more familiar faces after being away from her old home for so long. 

"We were just talking about you~" Arata said with a gleeful smile on his face. 

Megumi smiled softly at both of them, getting a good look. Arata's hair was now black, he let go of the white locks after Fujio convinced him to come home a while back. Which she was happy about. He looked healthy now and she was overjoyed to see that. 

Madoka had bangs now. And her hair was shorter than before. But she looked really good. Megumi realized just how much she really missed them in that moment. 

"I was just thinking about you, as well." She replied, giggling a bit. "How have you been? How's everything back at home?" 

"Everything's the same, honestly." Madoka answered, waving her hand. "Fujio and the others are still idiots and such. Seiji is getting a lot better now. His memory is slowly coming back. He's remembering more by the week." 

"That's good, that's good." Megumi mused over, remembering what happened to him before she moved. The accident and how he lost his memory. She was happy to know he was still recovering well. "I'm glad. I was planning on stopping by sometime next week. It was supposed to be a birthday surprise but I guess it's good that I can tell you now." 

"It's your birthday. Why are you trying to surprise us?" Arata chuckled out. "We should be the ones doing that, Megumi-chan." 

"What can I say? I'm often too generous." Megumi replied in a playful manner. 

"We're heading to the shop to meet up with everyone." Madoka stated, holding her hand. "Please come with us~? Everyone will be happy to see you!" 

Megumi really wanted to say yes, and any other day, she would have. But she couldn't because she had other plans. So apologetically, she pursed her lips, holding onto Madoka's hand gently. "I'm sorry, I can't today. I'm actually waiting for someone right now. He's the son of my step-father's friend and I'm supposed to wait for him right now." 

Arata's and Madoka's shoulders slumped a little at the news. They were a little disappointed that she wasn't going to go with them. Fujio would have been extremely happy to see her again. But it couldn't be helped, they guess. But that didn't mean they couldn't see her any other day. 

"Well, will we see you there some other time?" Arata asked, fiddling with his fingers a little. "We could use your presence, you know." 

Megumi grinned reassuringly before she opened her mouth to reply. But as she was about to speak, someone yelled at her from behind. 

"OI, MEGUMI!" the male voice yelled, breaking their conversation in half. 

The three turned to the source. Across the street from where they were, stood four guys around a black car. They all wore vibrant red uniforms in their own style. It reminded them of Megumi's school uniform, only without the formal jacket and with pants. 

It was then that Madoka realized that they were from Senomon Technical High. She realized that Megumi now goes to the same school as them. She's heard about Senomon High. They were also known as Blood High because of how red their uniforms are. 

She didn't know too much about what they were all about, only what the girls would say around her school. But she did know that anyone who talked about them usually had fear in their voices. She suspects that the white haired guy was a leader, of some sort. He was standing next to a guy with longish black hair, a handsome face but a very cold stare in his eyes. 

Like he's never smiled a day in his life before. 

He looked crazy dangerous and his stare didn't sit right with Arata or Madoka. It made them feel chills down their spine as soon as his crazed eyes locked with theirs. A bad feeling stirred in the pit of their stomachs. 

It also didn't help that Senomon was not that far from Madoka's school. Sure, they were in a different district but still. Those guys gave her dangerous vibes and she wondered how Megumi even knew guys like them. 

Megumi's smile dropped as soon as she looked at them. They noticed how fast her expression went from happy to worry as she stared back at them. Like she was worried about something. Or she didn't want to upset them. 

The black haired, cold faced guy walked a little ahead of the white haired guy with his hands in his pockets. He looked right at Megumi and gestured for her to go over to them. Nodding his head back towards their car. Basically saying "Let's go now" to her without uttering a word. 

Megumi sighed before turning back to Arata and Madoka, who flashed her a concerned look in their eyes. She pushed a smile out, placing her hands on each of their shoulders. 

"I promise, I'll be there sometime this week." She promised with sincerity. "I have to go now. It was nice seeing you!" 

She straightened her back on her shoulders before quickly making her way across the street to the  four men in red. 

The two watched as she walked over to them. As soon as she was in front of them, the black haired one pulled out one of his hands from his pockets and circled that arm around her waist, allowing his hand to rest on the lower part of her hip. He guided her over to the three guys as they began circling her. 

That was a rather intimate hold he had on her. It was almost as if Megumi and that guy were dating or something. And as the other three guys circled them, his arm did not move at all. As if she was his possession and he didn't like that she was far away from him. 

The white haired guy began talking to her. It looked like he asked who she was talking to because he gestured his head over to Arata and Madoka, even glancing at them for a couple of seconds before his harsh eyes went back to Megumi. 

Megumi just thrust her thumb behind her, as if to tell them who they were. The white haired guy just shrugged and commanded them to get in the car. One of the other guys, one with very short hair, opened the car door for Megumi as the black haired guy ushered her into the back. 

Once she was in, he climbed right in behind her. Just like that, they were gone. Driving away down the street. 

"Those guys...." Arata shivered a little, having a really bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. "I have a terrible feeling about them.....I can feel it." 

Madoka sighed, agreeing with him. "Man....Fujio's going to freak when he hears this."