The S.H.A.N.E. Game (editing)

Chapter 22: Double Identities and Double Dates

Late edit; this chapter is dedicated to @BhriaStyles for adding this story to her reading list! Thank you so much; it means a lot!! =D

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|| Erin ||

"Okay. We're here. Now explain," Hana demands, crossing her arms over her chest. "By now, I'm pretty much used to your crazy tricks, but what kind of trick is this? Appearing in the middle of the park on motorcycles, and then pointing crazy guns at my friend?!"

"Well..." I hand Hana the paper Nikki had scribbled on during the phone call with Amanda. "We just acted on a hunch, but we wanted to make sure you were safe."

Hana reads the paper quickly and gives it back to me. "What? Just because he had red hair and fair skin? That's why you suspected him?"

"Hana. Calm down." Nikki places a firm arm on her shoulder and our Japanese friend takes deep breaths. When she's finally quiet, Nikki says, "There are actually very few people in this town with red hair and fair skin, Hana. That's why we had to ensure your safety and take you away."

"Yeah," Alicia chimes in."This girl called Amanda Perlas is the current holder of the phone that took the phony picture of the killer. So we had to track her down and when she picked up, she told us that she'd bought the phone two days ago from a Samsung outlet store on Harrington Street. She said to look for a guy with red hair and fair skin called Bryan Devant."

"But his name isn't Kazuki Harune!" Hana argues.

"When you work for a top government crime agency, you're familiar with the term of changing one's name to prevent suspicions."

"Oh," Hana mutters, looking at her shoes. "Right."

"Now with that aside," Alicia chirps, propping her head up with her hands and placing her elbows on the table, "Tell us all about your date with you-know-who!"

"Um... it was... fun," Hana manages. "Shane and I walked around the park for a while, then he surprised me by bring me to the roller rink! I felt at home there. And then when I was lining up by the halfpipe, I came across my old friend, Kazuki Harune. He and I were best friends back in Japan. Before I moved away, I mean."

"Ooh! Tell us all about him!" Alicia presses. I cannot help but smile, along with Sara and Nikki.

"Kazuki, Akiko, Rizumu, Hayate and I were the Kings and Queens of Skateboarding back home. We had what we called the Monthly Skating Games, and we ruled that.  But then I had to move to the USA... and now for the sad part.

"All the friends I'd mentioned came, except for Kazuki. I also tried Skyping him once I landed, but he never replied to my calls--"

"That-that jerk!" Alicia exclaims, banging her fists on the table. I rush to calm her down. "But then he told me that the only reason why he was unavailable was that his sister died of hypothermia."

"Oh." Alicia stares at her feet along with the others. I feel Erin's hand on my shoulder. "I am really sorry, for both you and Kazuki."

"But that does not change the fact that he is still a suspect, and we still have to pay the salesman at the store a visit," Nikki reminds us sternly. We nod obediently, but then Alicia starts shaking her head rapidly.

"No, no no no!" she squeals. "I am still going on that date with Mcneil. And I want you guys to enjoy yourselves too!"

"If you didn't know," Nikki counters, "This is work. Work comes before romance, always."

"You just say that because you don't like anyone."

"That is true, but it implies to all four of you, including Sara, who doesn't like anyone too."