Mizuno High.
Ryuken and Kenzaki enter into an old storeroom, next to a baseball field. It's filled with broken sports equipment, cabinets of papers and old-school computers.
RYUKEN: I've never known we had a storeroom here.
KENZAKI: It's been replaced with the room next to the basketball court.
RYUKEN: They didn't bother upgrading this space?
KENZAKI: Why would they bother with a haunted storeroom?
RYUKEN: (shock) Is- is it really haunted?
KENZAKI: That's the least of our worries. Nobody comes here, except at night.
RYUKEN: Night?
KENZAKI: I heard some dared their friends to spend a few hours alone in here. A test of courage, of sorts.
RYUKEN: And... is that why we're here?
KENZAKI: No. We don't have time for that. I contacted my friends along the way. They'll be here soon.
RYUKEN: Your friends? Are they... like you?
KENZAKI: Yes.
RYUKEN: They can... do stuff... like you?
KENZAKI: Yes, and no. We each have our own difference in abilities.
RYUKEN: ... um?
KENZAKI: Oh, I'm sorry. Let me brief you while we're waiti-
KNOCK! KNOCK!
RYUKEN: (shock) AH! What was that?!
MIE: (opens door) Kenzaki-kun! (pants) I came as fast as I could.
KENZAKI: Mie. Just the person we need.
MIE: (notices Ryuken) Oh, who's him?
KENZAKI: Sawai Mie, this is Ishinara Ryuken.
RYUKEN: Um... nice to meet you.
MIE: Nice to meet you, Ishinara-san!
KENZAKI: Mie, I need you to make a seal that cou-
MIE: (anxious) Ah! Yes... a seal! Like... the magi- I mean, the animal! You toss a ball at them and... they juggle it at their noses-
KENZAKI: There's no need to hide it, Mie.
MIE: Oh! (chuckles, scratches head) Sorry...
KENZAKI: That's okay. You've gotten better not slipping up your words.
MIE: (chuckles, embarrassed)
KENZAKI: Mie, I need you to make a seal for me.
MIE: For what?
KENZAKI: Ryuken here, is being tracked by a Demon.
MIE: What?
KENZAKI: The Stone-Ape to be exact. And I need a seal that could block his Sense.
MIE: Wait?! The Stone-Ape?
KENZAKI: Yes. Mie, can you-
MIE: Wait, wait, wait... why would the Stone-Ape be attracted to his Sense?
KENZAKI: ... I don't know. It all sounds puzzling, but we have to do it fast. I used your confusion seal on the Stone-Ape, but it won't last long.
MIE: Wait? You used it?
KENZAKI: I shot one in his eye.
MIE: Huh? (proudly smiles) I knew it would come in handy.
KENZAKI: Mie.
MIE: Oh, right. Well... to block a Sense... I need to make a new spell to get the required result. But it would take time...
KENZAKI: How long?
MIE: It took me hours to make the confusion seal the first time. Hmm... when did you shot the seal at the Demon?
KENZAKI: 26 minutes ago.
MIE: Hmm... not enough time.
Mie quietly thinks to herself. Kenzaki calmly waits. Ryuken looks at both of them, confused.
RYUKEN: ... um? What are we-
MIE: (single claps) Okay. I can't make a new seal in time, but I can quickly make a similar confusion seal but with some adjustments.
KENZAKI: Adjustments?
MIE: Instead of making him confused, I could confuse the Sense instead. That way, the Sense will be all crazy and rambly.
KENZAKI: The Demon won't understand what it's sensing.
MIE: Exactly! And I'll make it last longer, just in case.
KENZAKI: Great!
MIE: Alright! Just give me a second.
She walks to a table, takes out a square piece of paper and draws a symbol with a marker pen.
After she drew it, she puts down the marker, closes her eyes, folds her hands, and quietly concentrates.
Seconds later, she opens her eyes and puts her hands on the paper. The symbol marking starts glowing.
RYUKEN: Woah! What is she...?
MIE: Quiet, please. I need to focus.
After a minute, the symbol stops glowing. She takes her hands off and lifts the paper.
MIE: (sighs) Alright... it's done. (turns around) Alright, Ishinara-san, say "Ahh"...
RYUKEN: Wha- I have to eat that?!
MIE: (laughs) Just kidding. Just take off your shirt. I'll handle the rest.
RYUKEN: (shock) Um... do I have to?
MIE: Yep.
RYUKEN: ... can I just... eat it instead?
MIE: ... that's not how it works.
KENZAKI: Ryuken, we don't have time.
RYUKEN: (covers his chest) Uh... can you just... I don't know... stick in on my shirt...
MIE: The seal has to be close to your soul for it to work.
RYUKEN: I... don't know what you mean...
KENZAKI: Ryuken, just take off your shirt.
MIE: Please, Ishinara-san. It'll be quick. I promise.
RYUKEN: ... no.
KENZAKI: What?
RYUKEN: (turns his chest away) No, I won't.
KENZAKI: Ryuken-
RYUKEN: No!
KENZAKI: ...
RYUKEN: ...
KENZAKI: ... Mie.
MIE: Hmm?
KENZAKI: Whenever you're ready.
MIE: ... ready for wha-
Kenzaki rushes and grabs Ryuken, trying to unbutton his shirt. Ryuken strongly resist.
KENZAKI: Just... take it... off...
RYUKEN: N- no... you... won't...
MIE: Ah... um...
KENZAKI: Mie! Do it!
MIE: Um... uh... OKAY!
TSUYUKI: (opens door) Kenzaki! What's the emergency?
Tsuyuki sees Kenzaki arm locking Ryuken from behind and Mie about to unbutton his shirt. The three of them stop and stares at Tsuyuki, who stares back.
RYUKEN: ...
KENZAKI: ...
MIE: ...
TSUYUKI: ... what's going on?
MIE: Yuki-chan! Oof!
RYUKEN: (wriggling furiously) Let go!
KENZAKI: Tsuyuki, we need your help.
MIE: He won't let us take off his shirt.
TSUYUKI: ... why would you do that?
MIE: I need to stick this seal on him.
TSUYUKI: Why would-
KENZAKI: No time to explain! Grab his legs!
TSUYUKI: (sigh) This better be worth it.
She attempts to grab Ryuken's legs. He flails his legs around.
TSUYUKI: (grunts) Stop!
RYUKEN: I'm sorry, but I won't!
TSUYUKI: Why you-
KOUGA: (opens door) Yo! Everybody, how's it goin? Hope I'm not too la-
Kouga sees Kenzaki and Mie grabbing Ryuken's arms and Tsuyuki grabbing his legs. They all stare at Kouga, who stares back at them.
RYUKEN: ...
KENZAKI: ...
MIE: ...
TSUYUKI: ...
KOUGA: ...
Kouga quietly and slowly closes the door on them.
KENZAKI: KOUGA!
KOUGA: (laughs) I'm just kidding. But seriously... what's going on?
KENZAKI: TAKE HIS SHIRT OFF!
KOUGA: You want me to what?
KENZAKI: JUST DO IT!
KOUGA: (confused) ... okay. (looks at Ryuken) Sorry, buddy. I don't know what's going on, but it seems like we got no choice, huh? (fist bumps his palm)
RYUKEN: (shock) Wh- what are you-
KOUGA: Oh, sorry. (chuckles) Force of habit. (reaches slowly into Ryuken)
RYUKEN: Wait... please... don't... wait... wait!
...
At the baseball field, the baseball club members are practising. Suddenly, they heard a loud scream.
"NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The whole team startled, stunned by the eerie scream.
MEMBER 1: Wha- what was that? (walks to it) Is someone hur-
MEMBER 2: (grabs his arm)
MEMBER 1: What are you doing?
MEMBER 2: Don't go.
MEMBER 1: Wh- why?
MEMBER 2: It came... from there.
MEMBER 1: (shock) ... you mean...
MEMBER 2: (slowly nods)
MEMBER 1: (scared) ... ah... there...
...
Ryuken is sitting on a chair, buttoning up his shirt. A paper seal is attached to the centre of his stomach.
KENZAKI: (concentrating on Ryuken's Sense)
MIE: Well?
KENZAKI: It feels chaotic. I can't tell where it is.
MIE: (sighs of relief) I can't believe that work.
KOUGA: All that fuss just to stick a seal on him?
TSUYUKI: Seriously, what's wrong with you?
RYUKEN: (whispers) ... violating my privacy...
TSUYUKI: What?
RYUKEN: I- I just don't like it... okay?
KOUGA: Come on, buddy. You don't have to feel shy about it.
MIE: A belly is a good thing. It means you're well-fed and well-loved.
RYUKEN: (murmurs quietly)
TSUYUKI: Kenzaki! What the hell is going on? Who is this guy? And why did we just waste our time taking off his shirt?
KENZAKI: I'm sorry, everyone. I had to make sure his Sense couldn't be tracked.
TSUYUKI: Tracked?
KENZAKI: It seems that our friend here is being tracked down by the Stone-Ape.
TSUYUKI: (eyes widen) What?
KOUGA: Wait, did I hear that right?
MIE: He told me the same thing earlier.
TSUYUKI: Why would a Level 4 wanted to track him?
KENZAKI: I don't know.
KOUGA: Is he a Sixther?
MIE: Is he an Exorcist?
TSUYUKI: (turns to Ryuken) You know something, don't you?
RYUKEN: I- uh... I don't-
TSUYUKI: Who are you to the Stone-Ape?
RYUKEN: You- you mean the rock snake-monkey?
TSUYUKI: Are you its enemy? What are you hiding?
RYUKEN: I- I really don't know...
TSUYUKI: You better talk now, Belly Boy. Or I'll make sure you won't talk again.
RYUKEN: B- Belly Boy?
KOUGA: Heh, I remember when she used to call me Pervy Eyes.
MIE: I wish she had given me a mean nickname.
KOUGA: Ooh, we could make one for you right now. How about... Magic Hands?
MIE: What about... Cake Slave?
KOUGA: Witchy Fingers?
TSUYUKI: Shut it, Knuckle Head!
KOUGA: (shock, laughs nervously)
KENZAKI: Tsuyuki, there's no need for that.
TSUYUKI: He may know something that we don't.
KENZAKI: He doesn't. He has no clue of who we are and what we do.
TSUYUKI: So, he's fresh?
KENZAKI: Yes.
MIE: Ooh, Kenzaki! You got a recruit?
KOUGA: Your first one.
TSUYUKI: (turns to Ryuken) ... hey.
RYUKEN: Uh...
TSUYUKI: How old are you?
RYUKEN: Um... 15.
TSUYUKI: A little overdue.
MIE: 15 is not a bad age to start.
KOUGA: At least he's not 50. (chuckles) You remember that 50-year old dude? The guy Vinny recruited last year? What's his name? Simon?
MIE: Is that the "shorts" guy?
KOUGA: Yeah, he remodelled his uniform to have shorts. (laughs) He didn't give a crap what people think. Man, I love that dude.
RYUKEN: Um... I don't...
TSUYUKI: Have you brief him yet?
KENZAKI: A lot of things happened so fast, didn't even have the chance. (clears throat) Ryuken.
RYUKEN: Uh, Kenzaki-sempai?
KENZAKI: I know that a lot of things are happening right now that you simply couldn't fathom. Not everyone's first supernatural experience was like yours.
MIE: My first was when I was 11, just playing on the swings. I look up and I saw some shiny snakes hovering above me.
TSUYUKI: (shivers)
KOUGA: My first was when I was 9, pooping in a toilet. You don't wanna know where I saw them...
KENZAKI: I saw my first Demon when I was 8. I was at my grandfather's. There is this forest near where he lives. I used to go there with my mother, walking on the pathway. As long as you don't stray away from the path, you won't get lost. I was younger, easily distracted. I couldn't find the path again. I couldn't find my mother. I was lost, all alone in the woods. And then, that's where I saw it. It was a bright, green mouse deer, shining like a sparkling emerald. It looked at me, stared right at me. I couldn't take my eyes of it. When it moved, I followed it, not knowing where it'll take me. I later find myself back in the path. It eventually led me back to my mother. She was crying when she hugged me, tightly. But she was happy to see me again. Had it not been for that mouse deer...
RYUKEN: ...
KOUGA: (pats Kenzaki's shoulder, smiles)
KENZAKI: (smiles weakly)
MIE: (smiles)
RYUKEN: (turns to Tsuyuki)
TSUYUKI: ... what?
RYUKEN: Oh, um... I thought maybe-
TSUYUKI: You think it's my turn?
RYUKEN: Uh... I mean... you don't have to.
MIE: Come on, Yuki-chan! Share your first. Everyone's dying to hear it.
KOUGA: Cause nobody alive ever knows it. (laughs)
MIE: (laughs)
KENZAKI: (smiles)
TSUYUKI: ...
RYUKEN: ... s- so, what does it mean... if we could... see these Demons?
KENZAKI: It could only mean one thing. You're a Sixther.
RYUKEN: Sixther?
KENZAKI: Those who have unlocked their sixth sense are not just able to see these supernatural creatures, they could interact with them. Like how I could fight with the Stone-Ape earlier.
TSUYUKI: You fought it alone?
MIE: You even came back unharmed.
KOUGA: (clicks tongue) Lucky...
RYUKEN: And... do all Sixthers... fight these Demons?
KENZAKI: The ones who do are more well known as Exorcist.
RYUKEN: Exorcist?
KENZAKI: We Exorcists are tasked to protect the peace and the supernatural balance of the world. We defend the unknowing from the unseen predators, as we are the only ones who knew of their existence, and we must act in our part to eradicate those who threaten that peace, even when no one in the world would honor our sacrifices. That is our burden, but that is our life's duty. We are the silent guardians, the hidden protectors, the secret warriors. We are... Exorcists.
RYUKEN: (eyes widen, in awe)
MIE: Wow! That was cool!
KOUGA: (chuckles) I wish you were the one who recruited me.
TSUYUKI: How many nights did it took you to practise that?
MIE: (shock) Yuki-chan! Kenzaki-kun's too good to practise such a cool speech.
KENZAKI: Well, you'd be surprised.
RYUKEN: (looks down, squeezes his knees) So... it's real.
KENZAKI: Hmm?
RYUKEN: It... might sound stupid saying this after what I had just gone through, but... this is real, isn't it?
KENZAKI: (pats Ryuken's shoulder) I know how ridiculous it is, everything I just said, everything you saw. It's hard to believe, but it is the truth.
RYUKEN: ...
KENZAKI: I understand that feeling, when the reality you lived in your whole life is not how you think it is. It's scary.
RYUKEN: (nods slowly)
KENZAKI: (kneels down, stares at Ryuken) But you won't be alone. We can help. We will help.
RYUKEN: (stares back) Ah?
MIE: (pats Ryuken's shoulder) We always look out for each other. If you ever need anything, we'll be happy to be there for you. (smiles widely)
KOUGA: You can always count on us, buddy. (smiles, holds a thumbs up)
TSUYUKI: ...
RYUKEN: (smiles weakly) I'm... still not sure how to feel about this...
KENZAKI: Take your time, Ryuken. We'll tell you everything you need to know.
TSUYUKI: Kenzaki.
KENZAKI: Hmm?
TSUYUKI: We need to talk.
KENZAKI: Alright. I'll be back in a moment.
RYUKEN: Kenzaki-sempai?
KENZAKI: Yes?
RYUKEN: I haven't... thanked you... for saving me.
KENZAKI: (smiles) Your well-being is more than enough.
RYUKEN: (smiles)
Comments (0)
See all