Chapter Text
As the car drives through a thick and impenetrable fog, the car’s interior is an overwhelming deep blue with two L shape sofas the right was cut off by a shelf and a drinks cabinet on the left with a small round table in front of the sofa. Sitting behind the table was an old man with a long nose wearing a black suit and white gloves, next to him is a beautiful young woman all in blue with platinum blond hair she carried a large heavy looking book. In front of the strange duo is a young man with silver hair in a bowl cut, he’s wearing a black school uniform with the jacket open.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The strange old man started to speak with a soft high-pitched voice “Welcome to the Velvet Room.” the pair’s eyes were fixed on the young man causing him to feel a sense of tension in himself, “Ahh…it our guest has an intriguing destiny…” the long nosed man chuckles before gesturing to himself in introduction “My name is Igor…I am delighted to make your acquaintance, this place exist between dream and reality, mind and matter…It is a room that only those who are bound by a "contract" may enter...It may be that such a fate awaits you in the near future.
Now then...Why don't you introduce yourself...?” the nervous young man gingerly answers “I’m Yu, Yu Narukami, i-it is nice to meet you,” the two eyed Yu up curiously before Igor starts again “Hm…I see. Now, let’s take a look in to your future shall we?” with a wave of his hand and a bright light a deck of cards appears on the table in front of Igor “Do you believe in fortune telling?” before Yu could tell him he doesn’t, Igor moves the cards move into position without touching them.
“Each reading is done with the same cards, yet the result is always different… Life itself follows the same principles, dose it not?” the old man chuckles, the tarot cards then flip over one at a time, the first card is a tower being broken by lightning. “Hm… The Tower in the upright represents the immediate future. It seems a terrible catastrophe is imminent. The card indicating the future beyond that is…”
The second card flips over to reveal a crescent moon with a face on it. “The Moon in the upright position. This card represents “hesitation” and “mystery”…Very interesting indeed.” Yu wondered what that meant but before he could ask Igor continued “It seems you will encounter a misfortune at your destination, and a great mystery will be imposed upon you. In the coming days you will enter into a contract of some sort, after which you will return here.”
Yu was now starting to think he shouldn’t have eaten whatever was causing such a strange dream when Igor finished. “The coming year is a turning point in your destiny… If the mystery goes unsolved your future may be forever lost. My duty is to provide assistance to our guests to ensure that does not happen.”
With another wave of his hand Igor made the tarot cards disappear, he then gestures to the woman next to him “Ah! I have neglected to introduce my assistant to you.” quickly Yu turned his attention to the woman as Igor introduced her “This is Margaret. She is a resident of this place, like myself.”
Margaret turns to face Yu and says “My name is Margaret. I am here to accompany you through your journey.” either embarrassed or nervous Yu responds “Oh, okay. I look forward to it.” Igor turned his attention back to his guest. “We shall attend to the details another time. Until then, farewell...” finished Igor and with that Yu started to wake up.
After his strange dream Yu Narukami has finally arrived in the rural town of Inaba where for the next year he would stay with is uncle while his parents were away for work. As he leaves the station he hears a voice call out to him “Hay! Over here!” he looks over to see a middle-aged man in a grey shirt, black trousers and a red tie, next to him is a little girl wearing a pink dress over a white turtle neck an pig tails in her hair.
Yu approaches the two and recognises the man and proceeds shakes his hand, the man continues, “Well you’re even more handsome in person then in your photo. Welcome to Inaba, I’m Ryotaro Dojima and I’ll be looking out for you.”
It’s been a fairly long time since Yu last saw his uncle, Dojima thinks before he continues “Let’s see… I’m your mother’s younger brother… and that about sums it up.” With that Yu smiles and politely bows to his uncle and responds “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?” Dojima looking a little shocked that his nephew dose remember him. “I’ll say. You’ve really grown. I still remember when you were in diapers.” he said laughing.
Dojima smiles and motions to the little girl to step forward “This is my daughter, come on Nanako, introduce yourself to your cousin.” The shy girl greats the cousin she had just met him and is understandably nervous, she however says to him “…’lo,” seeing this Dojima can’t help but chuckle more “What are you so shy for?” Nanako upset by this slaps her father “Ow!” Dojima still seemed amused by this.
“She’s probably just nervous to meet someone new,” said Yu, giving his cousin a reassuring smile, the Dojimas seem like a nice and friendly pair, he should get on well with them, “Well then… let’s get going, my car’s over there.” said Dojima gesturing to his car, the trio started to make their way to the car when suddenly as he was walking, he passed a girl about his age “…Hey,” she said in an unfriendly rather annoyed tone.
“You dropped this.” she had short black hair, and wore a sleeveless blouse, a red choker with a pad lock on it, a black tie and a plaid skirt with striped leggings and heavy looking boots, she handed him a piece of paper with the Dojimas address written down. “Thank you.” Yu said awkwardly.
The unfriendly-looking girl looking more annoyed and replied with the same tone “Whatever, I just picked it up.” she walked as away Dojima called out “What’s wrong?” Yu quickly walked over to the car “Nothing, sorry about that.” he answerd, his uncle shook his head and replied, “It’s OK, let get going, you must be hungry,” and with that the three drove of and the next year of Yu’s life in Inaba was about to begin.
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Soon after Yu and the Dojimas arrive in central Inaba where his uncle parks his car at the petrol station, a strange young man rushes over to the car “Hi! Welcome to Moel!” he said enthusiastically.
Dojima turns to Nanako “Can you go to the bathroom by yourself?” he asked her with concern “Uh-huh,” she replyed as she and Yu exit the car, she starts to look for the toilet, the attendant looks towards her and says “It’s in the back, to your left. You know which way is left? It’s the side you hold your chopsticks in,” Nanako responds in an annoyed tone “I know…Geez…” before heading in the direction she was told.
The attendant then turns back to Dojima and asks “Are you taking a trip?” as Yu over hears Dojima respond “No, we just went to pick him up,” he said as he gestures to his new ward, “He just moved here from the big city.”
The attendants eyes light up upon hearing this “The city, huh?” Dojima nods before turning his and the young attendants attention back to the car “Fill up my car while you’re at it. Regular’s fine,” he said “Right away, sir!” came an enthusiastic reply.
‘This is someone who likes their job,’ Yu thought. Dojima scratching his chin “Good a time as any for a smoke…” he said before heading away from the station, the attendant looking at Yu then asked “Are you in High school?” this took the new arrival by surprise and he replied “Yeah, I start at Yasogami High tomorrow.”
The creepy attendant smiling continues his inquiry, “Dose it surprise a city boy to see how little there is out here? There’s so little to do, I’m sure you’ll get bored fast. You’ll ether be hanging out with your friend’s or working part-time jobs,” he said in an unimpressed way.
Yu took time to consider this before responding “I’m sure I’ll make it work out.” he said, the attendant still giving that creapy smile seems to have just thought of something, “Speaking of which, we’re actually looking for part-time help right now.”
The attendant got closer to Yu continuing, “Give it some thought, why don’t you? We don’t mind if you’re a student,” he extends a hand and wanting to end this conversation but not wanting to seem rude Yu shakes the hand saying “Um, sure I’ll think about it.” there’s something Yu found off-putting about this attendant but he can’t put his finger on it.
As Nanako returns the strange young man suddenly had a thought “Oh, I should get back to work," and he heads off back to his job, Yu then realises Nanako looking at him before he starts to out of nowhere feel strangely light headed.
Nanako asked her cousin “…Are you okay?” as she walked toward him, looking down with another reassuring smile he tells her “It’s nothing,” not believing him Nanako than asked “Did you get carsick? You don’t look to good.”
Thinking about it, he maybe exhaustion from the long trip, Dojima then walks back and seeing his nephews sickly face asked with the same concern as Nanako, “What’s Wrong? You okay?” Yu taking a deep breath tells him with a weak smile “It’s nothing, I think I’m just tired,” nodding Dojima tells him “That's understandable. It must have been a long trip for you. Why not take a little walk, get some fresh air? Just let me know when you're ready to go,” he continued as Yu was about to protest “Don’t worry, I’ll wait here,” the older man smiled.
Dojima’s right it was a long trip and some air should do him good and he might as well see what this sleepy town had to offer, as he wandered and found a few places such as a metal works, bookstore that he may frequent and a tofu place called Marukyu he soon found that the town has a nice and peaceful feel to it, unlike the hustle of the city.
Yu suddenly saw the girl from the station standing nearby and decided to talk to her “Hello again” he said, ‘Oh stupid that makes me sound like a creep.’ he thought as the girl looks over to him and said in an agitated but confused tone “Hm…? Have we met before?” catching his breath Yu responded, “Yeah, just curious, what were you doing at the station?” looking somewhat more confused she said “The station...? Oh, that one time...Nothing. I just went...I don't have anywhere to go,” she then falls silent before walking away.
Not long after he was now feeling better so Yu made his back to his uncle and cousin, seeing his nephew return Dojima gives a friendly smile towards him “How are you feeling? Ready to get back in the car?” he found the older man’s concern touching, “Yeah, I’m feeling a lot better now, thank you.”
Happy to hear this Dojima placed his hand on the boys shoulder “All right, let’s hit the road,” the three soon arrived at a modest house not too far from the town, Yu felt could have walked it if he chose it was so close, this is the Dojima residence and for Yu it would be home for the next year.
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After settling in and putting his things away Yu sits around the table to eat dinner with Dojima and Nanako, the former then makes a suggestion “All right, let’s have a toast.”
With that the three raise their glasses or cans and take a drink, Dojima wanting to get to know his charge and confirm the situation with him takes the opportunity to ask “So… your mum and dad are busy as always…they’re working overseas was it?” Yu nods and replies “Yeah, it happens every so often, but never for this long or far so it must be important.”
Giving this some thought Dojima continues “I know it’s only for a year, but getting stuck in a place like this because of your parents… its rough being a kid,” Yu was quick to reassure the Dojimas “Oh no, its fine the town feels so calm, I think I’ll enjoy it here.”
Dojima was happy to hear this and continued “Well it’s just me and Nanako here, so it’ll be nice having someone like you around. So as long as you’re here you’re part of the family, so make yourself at home,” Yu was grateful to hear that and gives a quick bow to his uncle saying “I’ll do that, thank you for your kindness.”
“C’mon, there’s no need to be so formal,” Dojima said chuckling while nodding his head to his daughter, “Look you’re making Nanako all tense,” Yu looked over at his cousin and noticed her blush whether from embarrassment or nervousness he still could not tell.
“Well, let’s eat.” Just as they were about to do just that, Dojimas phone rang “Ugh…Who’s calling at this hour?” looking annoyed Dojima answered the call “…Dojima speaking,” it seemed important and Dojima listened intently as he picked himself up “Yeah, I see…So where is it?” Dojima was calm but looked worried as the call continues “All right, I’m on my way.”
It sounded work related and Yu was now starting to wonder what his uncle dose, he hadn’t asked his parents and all they told him was that his uncle was widowed single farther. “Looks like I made the right choice to skip the booze…” the older man said.
Dojima sighed before turning towards his charges “Sorry, but I gotta go take care of some business. Go ahead and eat without me.” he continued as he headed to the door, “I don't know how late I'll be. Nanako, you help him out, okay?” the child looked a little sad before replying “…Okay.” as Dojima left the house he called out “Nanako, it’s raining out. What did you do with the laundry!?” he asks, the girl turned towards the door, “I already bright it in.” she called back “…All right. Well I’m off!”
The door closed and the car drove off Nanako then turned on the TV “—for this week. Next, let’s take a look at the hourly breakdown of the weather, expect rain tomorrow around most arias.” came the report causing a thought to come to Yu ‘looks like I’ll need an umbrella,’ he heard Nanako “…Let’s eat.”
Suddenly finding himself alone with the young girl, Yu decided to strike up a conversation with her and asked “what does your dad do?” as she eats she answers “He… investigates stuff. Like crime scenes,” she pauses to think for a moment “My dad’s a detective” Yu thought about this for a second, ‘Did something happen, I wonder how serious it is.’
Then the TV suddenly chimed, “And now for the local news, City Council secretary Tato Namatame is under fire for an alleged relationship with a female reporter,” the TV showed an average looking man with short black hair and a mole on his forehead as it continued, “His wife, enka balled sensation Misuzu Hiiragi, revealed to this station that she will likely pursue damages.” The next picture was of a beautiful woman who had brown hair tied into a bun and was wearing a red kimono, Yu remember hearing about this on his way to Inaba.
“In response, Eye television has decided to cancel all of announcer Mayumi Yamano’s televised appearances,” the next picture was a pretty young woman with short black hair “Until allegations of an affair with Mr. Namatame are resolved, she’ll remain off the air and out of the public eye.”
Nanako looked understandably uninterested “…This is boring.” And with that she changed the channel and an advert of some sort was playing, it had a catchy jingle at the start “At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products!” the next part was another catchy song “Every day's great at your Junes!” which Nanako happily sang along with after “Every day’s great at your Junes!” afterward she turned to her cousin and asked “…Aren’t you going to eat?” Yu then responded “Yeah, sorry about that,” and then the two began to eat their dinner while watching TV, a magical girl anime of some sort afterwards the two did the dishes and went off to bed.
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After falling to sleep Yu found himself in a strange aria with red tiled flooring and surrounded by a thick fog, he had no choice but to move forward, as he moved he heard a mysterious voice in his head saying “Do you seek the truth?” he wondered what that meant, the voice continued “If it's truth you desire, come and find me..” he thinks he knows where it’s coming from now.
He soon arrives at a red and black door and chose to enter, inside the fog was somehow thicker and in the mitts was a shadowy figure in the shape of a tall man. Yu then noticed he was holding a sword, then the shadow spoke “So…You are the one pursuing me…” this confused Yu but before he could respond the shadow continued, “Hmhmhm...Try all you like...” it cackled a sinister cackle and Yu then knew that he had to fight it.
He struck it with the sword he could barely see the shadow but he could preserve its shape and once more but the shadow cackled again “Hmmm...It seems that you can see a little, despite the fog...I see...Indeed...That is very interesting information...But...You will not catch me so easily...If what you seek is "truth," then your search will be even harder...” it said angering Yu.
“What are you talking about?” he asked as the fog grew thicker “What truth? Just what or who the hell ARE YOU!” he yelled the last two words with an anger that he’d never felt before and then he attacked the shadow again hoping to bring it down and leave this horrible place, but as he brought his blade down he missed now he now knew that in his anger he could not perceive the fog covering his target so as to not see the shape only hear that terrible voice speak one final time “Everyone sees what they want to...And the fog only deepens...Will we meet again...? At a place other than here...Hmhm...I look forward to it...” it was mocking him as it made a fool of him, but Yu finally awakened from his nightmare.