》♡ valor ♡《

In fact, Yumeko made her way towards the Student Council office to see what Kira wanted now. Her smile bright, hands clasped behind her back. She hummed softly, a song that would play at her wedding, so many years later. But not to the only girl who made Yumeko feel less like a force and more like an actual girl.

"President Kira-san~ you called for me?" Yumeko asked, going over to Kira's throne. No one else was there. No Runa sitting in the corner with lollipops in her mouth and pulling tarot cards with a grim face. No Dori spinning knives on the table. No Chad making snarky remarks that everyone groaned at. No Suki posting another live and going over it with his 'mother.' Definitely no Sayaka in sight. And surprisingly, no Riri, who stayed by her older half sister like a shadow.

Kira's ice blue gaze softened as she looked at Yumeko. "I feel something is... amiss. The housepets are more moody than normal. More prone to lashing out. What do you think? Have you felt it too?" Kira had clasped one of Yumeko's hands between hers subconsciously. Because she knew her secret was her safety.

Yumeko did feel it. It felt like a weight pressing on her chest, making it harder and harder to breathe every time she woke up. "Yes, in fact. I have felt a strange presence. Do you remember what Runa said, about the Tower? Maybe we should listen to her."

"Maybe Runa is right..." Kira looked down, furrowing her brows in thought. Kira didn't think about other people's opinions before, but Yumeko changed that. Yumeko also didn't own any housepets, since she's not a pet person. Never has been.

Yumeko rubbed one of Kira's temples with her free hand. "Hey, listen. I'm sure it will be fine. I'm sure everything will. Relax for a second, darling, and we'll figure it out. Clear your head first." Yumeko knelt before Kira, still holding her hand.

"I think we'll host an emergency meeting tomorrow. No housepets, just Council members. Then we'll find out what's what."

Unbeknownst to the pair, shadows flickered behind them, within the walls. Housepets did indeed have their own secrets, it seemed. Information was passed on, through people in encrypted messages that made no sense to those not amongst pets.

Back in the chamber, Yumeko smiled softly at the girl she had always called home.

"Did you see the game today? The one with the two freshman?"

Kira smiled. "Yes. But it was a little predictable with the boy cheating so obviously and being so cocky. It was satisfying to see him brought down though."

Yumeko nodded. Still on her knees by Kira's left side. "Do you still have paperwork?"

"Unfortunately." The older girl deadpanned.

"Hmm. I'll stay with you then." Yumeko decided, resting her head on Kira's lap, still holding Kira's left hand so she could write with the other.

"Did you eat today?" Kira asked.

"Yes, but what I'm worried about is if you did. You're always in here, handling some matter or another, you barely make time for breakfast."

Kira bit her cobalt lip. She knew there was no use in lying. "No, I... hadn't eaten."

Yumeko nodded like this was expected. She pulled out a granola bar from her pocket and handed it over. "When dinner comes around, I'm dragging you to the cafeteria."

"You won't have to, I promise." Kira said with a smile, biting into the granola bar.

Except, Kira wasn't there for dinner. Nor was the whole Student Council wing. Or the rest of Student Council. Just Yumeko sat at the dinner table. Haunted. Pale. Not even the faintest smile on her lips as she sat by the President's chair, staring at it like she was willing for Kira to come back.

The police came soon after. So did the investigators. Housepets were ruled out. Yumeko as the sole member of the Student Council was accused and put in prison, bailed out through the funds she gained as a Council member and her family's money.

All through this messy process of 'The girl did it.' 'Jabami was trying to eliminate threats and gain more power.' 'No wonder she was so close with the president.'

Yumeko kept her mouth shut and pressed in a thin line. She couldn't tell them. Couldn't tell anyone. Not even after Kira's... she couldn't even think about it.

She bought bottles of liquor off of bootleggers, drinking in solitude accompanied by the faint ghosts of memories of Kira and the soft silver moonlight. Yumeko slept on the floor most nights. Maybe the couch if she felt good that day.

Yumeko should have been at Kira's side. But no. They striked when Yumeko had grabbed food for Kira. Yumeko was burned as she tried taking the bodies out, not knowing they were dead. She'd never seen Kira like that. Broken.

Bloodied.

Helpless.

Gone.

It broke something fundamental inside Yumeko. She smelled smoke everywhere now. It felt like she'd never gotten rid of the smell of smoke and burning bodies.

Yumeko drank some nights when the thoughts got too loud and she couldn't fight anymore.

Tears still came on whenever she had to cook with the stove. Even after 50 years she blames herself. But her granddaughter didn't.

Little Yumeko. Named after her. Original Yumeko wondered if new Yumeko would be the one to close the chapter on their family's name. Clear up history clogged by smoke and untold truths and hidden vipers dressed as housepets.

Yumeko Kawamoto, number three on the leader board. A -pun DEFINITELY NOT intended- ghost. She lingered on the edges of the Gambling Hall, with her smiles that stretched too wide and manic energy.

Mary thought of her as a mystery. And mysteries like her were meant to be solved. So, Mary gambled her way up the ranks, for three reasons now.

One, finally solve Yumeko, and two, pay off debts. And one goal on the side: Obtain power.

Mary sighed like she carried the weight of something bigger than herself on her shoulders. The flickers came back. The same girl Mary called 'Mask' to be efficient.

Mask seemed to be walking beside her, ever so slightly behind. Mary didn't look. She had gotten used to seeing Mask, it was slightly comforting in a way.

She didn't question it, and wouldn't dare ask Yumeko. Mary nearly passed by the music room and smelled smoke. She furrowed her brows in confusion and walked in.

There was no smoke, and no fire, so Mary turned to leave when the door shut and locked.

"What the h**l?" Mary tried the doorknob in vain.

A few notes of a violin in the corner stilled her. There's no way.

Mary turned, and sure enough, there was Mask, broken, bloodied, pale, and ethereal. Playing 'Angel Lullaby' by Lex de Azevedo. On the violin.

Mask's hands were shaky, like she was nervous. But never once did she voice that. Mask was dead silent the whole time, staring at Mary like she hung the stars and made the moon shine.

As soon as the lullaby stopped however, the violin came down gently, and rested there, as if it had never been touched. And Mask, disappeared. The door opened for her.

Mary didn't leave immediately, rooted to the polished hardwood floor like the lullaby ensnared her. She still felt goosebumps and shivered at the cold.

What.

The.

F**k.

There goes 10 grand. If Mary sees Mask again during the spirit boxing, she's definitely losing the bet.

Mary went back to her shared room with Yumeko, too rattled to make a snarky remark at the picture resting on the plush armchair by the door, or how Yumeko was perched on the edge of her bed, touching a finger to her bottom lip like someone who'd been kissed for the first time.

Yumeko didn't look up from staring at the wall, and in fact, was smiling like she'd gotten a big piece of a puzzle back after years of searching.

"What happened to you?" Mary asked, half concerned, half teasing.

Yumeko looked up with a twinkle in her eye and the same manic smile. "I was visited, and so it seems you have too."

<♤><♡><♧><◇>

It was midnight. Mary kept glancing around her, and her eyes kept darting to Yumeko, because. What the f**k was she talking about?

They both pretended to be asleep until the near silent alarm for midnight went off. They got up, Mary leaning against the door, acting like she wasn't absolutely mortified by what happened earlier that day. She hadn't seen Mask all day after that instrumental performance she watched.

Yumeko on the other hand, hummed a song as she gathered her ghost hunting gear, stuff Mary had no idea was even allowed here. She looked at Mary.

"You look terrified."

"No, I'm not."

"Okay, I'm just teasing you."

A knock sounded at the door. Near silent. Still made Mary's soul leave her body. "Jesus!"

Yumeko giggled and opened the door to reveal not Mask, but Ryan and Michael.

Michael looked melancholic, Ryan looked nervous.

"Hey guys, are you ready to spirit box right under our dear President's nose?" Yumeko asked, a little too excited and hyper for midnight.

God himself probably couldn't save her now.

Michael nodded. He was a little too quiet. Ryan whispered, "Yeah, minus the under our President's nose part though."

Yumeko let out a quiet laugh and held up her cherry red retro themed radio like it was a holy relic. "Well, let's get going!"

Mary went beside Yumeko, who was practically skipping her way to the Student Council office.

Ryan and Michael followed behind slowly, silently, like detached shadows still clinging onto their casters.

They walked into the Student Council office silently. Yumeko placed the radio down on the center of the glass table. Sat down on the right of the throne the Student Council President where Yumeko always did, and waited. Mary sank into hers, and the boys followed suit, Michael looked paler than usual, but didn't give anything away.

Yumeko spoke first. "If this room is haunted, can you answer in any way, via the radio or anything in this room?"

No answer. An orb of light flickered into view and disappeared in the corner of the room, where the windows were. The radio turned on.

"We..."

"Were..."

"Burned..."

"Stabbed..."

"Silenced..."

"And..."

"So..."

"Will..."

"YOU..."

Cracks spread along the glass table, towards Michael for some reason. Why, out of everyone here, did Michael of all people have to?

Yumeko asked another question. "Why must he burn?"

Silence. Pictures rose, and slammed down on the cracked table, breaking the picture frames.

A picture of the Student Council, although this one was crossed out, stabbed, angry scribbles on their bodies, all except the original Yumeko.

The radio stayed silent. The room dropped colder. Mary shivered and wished she'd brought a heavier sweater. Something small inside Mary told her it was futile.

She felt the urge to get up, so she did. Mary stood by the chair.

Something touched her shoulder and there was Mask. Beside her. Although now she knew who Mask was.

This was Riri Timurova. The ghost who'd haunted her since her first day here.

Mary didn't scream. Couldn't. It felt like she didn't have a voice anymore.

Yumeko stared at the picture before her.

Stared at Michael.

Asked another question, softer. "Was the one who came to me earlier today Kira Timurova?"

Static. No words. In between static, it felt like there were whispers amongst ghosts.

"Don't..."

"Tell..."

"Say..."

"Nothing..."

"Liar..."

"Hear..."

Static turned back into static.

Mary didn't feel the weight of Riri's presence, but her chest felt lighter, and she had the confidence to ask a question of her own.

"Why are you still haunting this place?"

That set the ghosts off. Nice going, Mary. You p**sed off the ghosts of your predecessors.

"WE..."

"HAD..."

"SO..."

"MUCH..."

"TO..."

"LIVE..."

"FOR..."

More cracks appeared over the table. They spread from the radio, like the radio itself was haunted.

"SO..."

"MANY..."

"PLANS..."

"GONE..."

Yumeko was crying now. Silently. Mary didn't think the girl noticed she was.

Weeping was heard through the radio. Then real, ghost like wailing was heard from corners of the room. But, it was garbled, like their vocal cords didn't work right. It was haunting. Unsettling. Sad.

"loved..."

"we..."

"lost..."

"miss..."

"love..."

These weren't the big bad rulers of the school now. They were kids. Teenagers really. Scared. Lost. Missing loved ones. They didn't have closure. Weren't allowed it. Didn't even finish high school.

Mary's heart was touched to say the least.

"Do you know who killed you?"

Yumeko's voice was softer. Quieter. Cracked and frayed at the edges.

Static, then:

"No..."

"Longer..."

"Anymore..."

The radio went dark. The ghosts were done talking. Done dealing with their past. For now at least.