the red lights; matsuo's P.O.V

- [🎀]; "a wander around cautions"

BANG!!

we rushed into another room, after i had taken a gun and began shooting the wall to dedicate the other four upstairs to attend what had happened in the room. we immediately rushed into another room, and i cupped my ear onto the non-soundproof wall.

"oh come on!! what the hell!?"
"did someone break in!?!"
"silence, fiends. it is not necessary to assume that an evil crime of the weak has commenced in our presence. it merely calls for an investigation."
"i- i would have to agree.. you'd never know if someone did it by accident, o- or if it could've been some sensor in this house.."

i smirked to myself.
i had successfully brought their dedication upstairs.
i gestured the two others to rush silently down the stairs while we had the opportunity before they began investigating. we took time to glance around what we were going to be dealing with, until gonta whispered my name. i decided to go check and see what he had found.

".. is that owada?"
"hm? oh, yeah. that's him."
"oh dear.. you've damaged him a bit too much, wouldn't you say?"
"don't be an idiot, i was very aware of that. i before i thought this shit would happen, i was certain they'd stay upstairs if he was that brutally injured. besides; god knows how long the food prouncers are gonna be away for. the party was postponed, so their time depends on it. whether it'll be an extended time we have to investigate while the other guys are upstairs, or whether it's cut shorter. we should be cautious of owada too. he could be awake and we'd never know. or he could just wake up and walk in on us doing our investigation."
"true, true. alright, shall we start?"
"sure."

just like that, the investigation was put in success. for a change, i put sonia in charge of making sure mondo wasn't going to awake,, i didn't want her to bother me much. gonta was much better at words than her; yet look at him. he once never knew a single word in the english vocabulary. he's still learning.
well anyways, the food prouncers came back after an hour and a half so our investigation time was extended, though none of us saw them coming so we immediately had to hide ourselves. i don't know how i managed to hide gonta, but it worked anyways. dumbasses, they thought his hair was a plant.
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i had been eavesdropping on stuff everyone discussed about. owada had woken up, been aided, and the party had begun. we had as much information as we wanted downstairs; and we were about to begin our upstairs search. sonia and gonta were eating ramen that i packed for them. as much as i didn't want to associate with sonia; i had no other choice. they liked it; especially from the fact i had cooked it with my mini cooker i had found a while before any of this happened. i was just going about my life normally; i was training. not only training, but i was trying to search for a lot of things. my true identity, my career, but most importantly... haru.

to put it short, haru is one of my close friends who i rely on and trust. his compatibility is amazing, and his cooperation is better. he supported me when nobody else did. he stayed with me.. he never disappeared... all these years.. 11 damned years... and he chose now to disappear. damn it, haru. why are you gone? you can't go.
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"everyone, i would like to thank you for your participation in this celebration! hopefully, your souls have been lifted up higher than previously! even yours, owada!"
"thank you!"
"thanks!!"
"thanks a lot, taka!"
"..hm, i am grateful for this act of soul-lifting."
"thank you, taka."
"now, you all better get to sleep! this night was a one in a lifetime exception to stay up later than usual!! goodnight!"
"night!"
"g'night!"
"goodnight, and thank you again taka!"
"goodnight."
"night."

..
they were going to bed at 12. great. now we had bigger opportunities. anyways, we glanced around. we had finished our investigation in the rooms, and we were now in the attic having a snack. as sonia and gonta tried to communicate with each other, i stared outside of the window. at the stars, at the moon. one glance at the moon, and i got up. i was starving, but instead i was giving all my food to the other two. i felt my stomach hurting from hunger. all i had was water to hydrate myself. i sighed, beginning an investigation in the attic. the other two looked at me.

"you've finished already?"
"..."
".. silence means consent."
"..."
"alright, taiki."

i rustled around. i doubted anything would be heard. nothing would've been anyways. everybody was in bed, after all? what could harm but investigating a bit louder.. more carefree? sonia had tapped me, and i accidentally dropped something. it smashed into what seemed like a million pieces on the flooring of the attic. i cursed under my breath, continuing the process. hopefully nobody had heard. i had discovered a huge hole in the corner behind a few carts and boxes. it was an escape route if someone other than us broke in, perhaps? i shuddered. i spun my head around as i began hearing footsteps. who could be awake now? if we die tonight, it's up for you to fix it sonia.

"gonta, turn off the light. sonia, hide into the shadows. gonta, you hide behind something."
"how?—"
"shh! i don't know, just try!!"
"a- alright.."

our voices were hushed. i hid in the corner that the hole was around. i hid myself with the boxes and carts, so the hole wouldn't expose light as i sat outside and listened for the voices. i could hear a wimpy voice, and a deep voice. they were coming just this way.

"hmph. i wouldn't necessarily say any mortal could be here. you've been very paranoid about this situation, kazuichi. why did you drag us here anyways?"
"i- i wanted to protect everyone!! n' now, i would've left you behind if it weren't for the peer pressure and guilt!!"
"are you sure it is not an evil trick you are planning to possess us all into?"
"n- no!! what the hell, man!? why would I do that!??"

the latchet of the lock made this disturbing noise. i hoped gonta had hid. i heard the creaks of the bottom door open slowly. i decided to take the opportunity to climb out of the hole. despite it being cold, i climbed over to peep into the window to see who exactly was there... i could make out a beanie and scarf, and something about those items reminded me of something else. the light had been turned on, despite being a very weak light. the shadows in the attic, however, were still strong. i saw gonta, and my eyes widened. gonta had brought up the pink haired guy, and the other guy... the hamster guy.. was shouting at him.

gonta, what have you done!?
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