The Story of the Seven

CHAPTER 4 - I Met This Weird Girl Today...

Damn, this rusty old station looks so scary at night,

I was thinking to myself after I had parted with Toukichi.

Then suddenly,

BANG!!

"Eeeeeeeek!!"

I, a male of sixteen, pathetically let out a shrill scream.

What was that? A ghost? A wraith? Am I cursed for all eternity?

As I started jumping to irrational conclusion, my brain numbed by fear, I heard a girl's shout.

"I DON'T CARE! MOM'S AN IDIOT! WHY DOESN'T SHE UNDERSTAND!"

It sounded like an elementary school girl was shouting.

I rushed to the source of the voice, and I saw her.

A teary eyed girl, small in stature, looking visibly upset.

She collapsed on the ground and starting crying.

"Hick, hick."

"Ummmm, you alright."

The girl, eyes wide, glared at me.

"Hey, no need to be scared. Why are you crying? Did you fight with your parents?"

"Why should you care?"

"It's not alright for a girl as little as you are to be crying here at night."

"Why would you understand my troubles?"

Geez, what's wrong with this girl? She's so cold.

"My house burned down 4 months ago, and now my family's broke. I think I might be able to relate a bit to your circumstance."

"You alright?"

"Don't worry about me. Beside, tell me what's troubling you."

I sat down next to the girl.

"It's a long story, but I guess I could tell it to you. You don't seem like a bad person to me."

"Thanks for that assurance. By the way, I'm Haruto, age 16. What's your name?"

"Mafyu, age 8. I'm also part of The Organization."

"Ah, so I guess basically everyone who lives around here are part of The Organization. I myself just joined The Organization today. I wonder if we'll be meeting each other often from now on."

"Wait, you're not from around here?"

"No, I live in a regular residential district somewhat near the center of Tokyo. I befriended a guy that lives here during my stay at the hospital, so that's why I'm here today. So what age did you join The Organization?"

"You technically need to be 10 or older to join, but since my parents overlook The Organization on a national scale, I'm an exception."

"Wow. Must be hard living with parents that powerful."

"That's the source of my troubles. All the source of my problems."

"Can you clarify?"

"I just feel so useless sometimes. My mother holds me up to strong, rigorous expectations so that I can follow her footsteps when I grow older. I know that I need to work toward my future, but it's just so hard to look at the big picture."

"I feel you. Sometimes I also feel like I'm a nobody. In fact, I really was a nobody until I joined The Organization today, I guess."

"I'm just lost. It's like I'm stuck in a paradox. I want to work harder without working harder. I know it's impossible, but still...."

"But hey, you're only eight. Thirteen more years until adulthood, and that's just the beginning of life's journey. Trust your instincts, trust you heart, and use your morals as a guiding light. You have plenty of time to change yourself and walk down the path you desire."

"😳"

"Sorry, did I sound like an old man rambling?"

"😳😳"

"Was what I said too generic or boring or difficult?"

"😳😳😳"

"I screwed up, didn't I?"

Mafuyu suddenly bolted up, as if struck by lightning.

"No no no no no no. S-s-s-s-sorry, I'm not good with words but I felt inspired and what you said was really cool and now I'm flustered and when that happens I can't stop talking and here's my phone number so please consider giving me good advice from now on and see you later thank you very much goodbye!!"

With that, she ran away as fast as her legs could carry her.

What the heck? Was she freaked out, or was she inspired by my words of wisdom?

I wondered as I gazed at her phone number, hastily written on my hand with a ballpoint pen.

Ring!

My phone rang again.

[WHERE ARE YOU HARUTO! IT'S 8:30 PM AND YOU'RE STILL NOT HOME. MOTHER IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE RIGHT NOW👿👿👿]

Ah, priorities, priorities.

I better get back home quickly before Mom actually explodes.

I'll have plenty of time to think about today's events once I hit the blankets.

With that in mind, I walked toward the subway under the moonlit sky.