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Chapter 6: Kebabs

(Chapter 6: Kebabs)

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As they walked down the street of Sonobeno, back to the old deli where they frequented back when they were kids without a care in the world, Joe and Ryoko decided to engage in small talk. That was all they could do to pass the time as they made their way.

"Hey, uh... Joe?"

"Yeah?"

With a sigh, she continued: "You remember that urban legend that spread throughout the school at our last year?"

Of course he knew. The rumours seemed to have started back when both he and Sara went missing, and even he returning alone wasn't enough to make it cease. The freshmen said that if you went to the abandoned house at midnight and rang the doorbell, you would hear the sound of a flowing liquid and then a scream.

Joe instantly knew which house they would have to go to and who's voice they would allegedly hear. He tried speaking up against it, because it was in extremely poor taste, but the talking just wouldn't stop. Ryoko shared his views - although she wasn't having to scream herself awake in the morning, she sympathised with him and what he went through.

After all, they were friends. Nothing would be able to tear them apart, not even death. Sara may have untimely departed from this world, but they were doing their best to live on in her memory.

But before they knew it, they were standing in front of the old deli. It looked a bit more modern now; after all, renovations had to happen, but the pleasant smell was familiar. Joe couldn't help but shed a tear over the nostalgic thoughts he was feeling.

"Ah, Tazuna and Hirose!", the old man behind the counter greeted. He was a tad stouter than they remembered, but his oily voice, prominent whiskers and jovial air gave him away, even though they hadn't seen him for 2 whole years. "Been a while since you've bought from here."

"Yeah... sure has." the boy quietly replied.

"Wait... where's Chidouin? Her name was Sara Chidouin, wasn't it?"

The cold reminder that she was gone forever lingered within the both of them. Joe was the one to hesitantly break the silence.

"You... remember that... Death Game? You heard about it on the news?"

"Mmm... I swear I did a few years ago."

"Sir," Ryoko continued on his behalf. "Sara died there."

"Oh... oh. That's a real shame. My condolences, then. So that's why you stopped coming." he stammered out. He didn't really know the three of them personally, so that was the best he could come up with to comfort the two customers, but as long as Joe and Ryoko weren't offended, everything was alright.

"Yeah. That's why. Anyways, I'd like 3 doner kebabs, please." Ryoko ordered.

"Well... that'll be 3000 yen, madam."

Of course, it fell upon Ryoko to be the one to pay up for the food. Joe and his mother were poor. Sara's family was loaded - after all, the patriarch was the CEO of a major company, but the Death Game ruined everything. The father was in jail for manslaughter. The mother was now living in another town. And the daughter was, you know, dead.

Nevertheless, Ryoko took the money out of her small purse and handed it over, and in return she was given the doner kebabs. She discreetly slipped one over to Joe, of course, and they left with a simple, synchronised "Thank you."

The rest of the journey was a fairly quiet affair, with Joe and Ryoko casually consuming two of the three kebabs. It took Ryoko a few bites - the days which she was able to eat one whole had long since passed - but she eventually finished just in time for them to reach their destination, along with Joe.

At last, they were standing at the place where she, their mutual friend, rest in peace.