Strike Memoria ( Hiro's Point of View Part 1 )

I leaned back against the couch and closed my eyes.

With my head clear I calmed myself down, I understand that my paranoia isn't without reason. But I shouldn't let a simple thing trigger it.

I'm with them, and everything is ok. Everything is going to be ok.

I'm with them and they're with me.

That's the truth of the matter, and that's all that matters.

"You good bro?" I heard Isao ask, I felt him sit beside me.

I forced a smile and opened my eyes, looking up at the ceiling.

"Yeah, I'm good."

"Maybe everyone's just feeling off today? It happens right? Didn't you guys say energy can get wonky at times?" Nyoko asked in an attempt to find a solution. I felt bad, she was obviously worried but it's hard not to distance myself when I start thinking of the things I want to avoid.

I looked over at her and nodded softly.

"Yeah. That could be it." I said. I hoped my lie was good enough. I hated worrying her, she didn't deserve to feel that way, especially if it was because of me.

I want to protect her, to shield her. I didn't want my past to be an issue for her.

I looked back at the table with scattered tarot cards resting on it.

I might not be well versed in tarot, and I know Isao only lies if he thinks he's doing a good thing.

But I understand what it means if all the readings he did for each of us had The Tower, Upright.

I stared at the card, practically ignoring the others. He did many readings for us before, but it was never like this. Even so, I'd do whatever I have to for the best outcome.

No matter what this disaster is coming for us.

To take on heavy burdens, to take on worries or pain. That's the job that should belong to me. They all deserve to be happy, no matter the cost.

I would even go to hell for them. Because they gave me hope in the catastrophe of the life I lead.

Den and Yuki finally re-entered the living room and took their previous seats.

"Hey, Kid." Ryuji, my guardian called to me. I did not need to look in his direction though, he knew I was listening. Since I was little I'd never looked at him when my friends were around so he got used to assuming I was listening to him.

"We gotta talk about what's going on with you and your friends later. Just make sure to lighten things up. You can't risk the energy getting worse." He instructed. I failed to be aware of everything around me most of the time, so he always did it for me.

I looked around at everyone, making sure they were all in the room.

"You guys wanna order takeout and play some video games, maybe? Chie and Neito can join too." I suggested. Not all of us were fans of video games, but we still made plenty of memories of watching each other or trying to play. It was the best attempt I had.

"Seina said she brought something!" Keiko exclaimed, looking over at Seina expectantly.

Seina nodded, an unsettling grin spreading across her face as she reached into her bag. She slowly yet excitedly pulled out the plastic video game case as if she were trying to build suspense.

'Deaths Bond'.

It was known to be the scariest horror game of 2019. I guess we all should've expected her to bring a horror game out of everything.

"I saw some clips without spoilers, and the gore looks so good! The graphics are insane and I heard every jumpscare is so perfectly timed it could give you a heart attack!" She nearly squealed with excitement as she held the game close to her, showing off the case and its rated R sticker on the front.

"I don't think Chie could see that," Isao said as if he was trying to find an excuse not to play it. I could handle horror better than Isao, so the girls usually force him to be the one to play it since they find his reaction funny.

That, and they all don't want to be the ones experiencing horror games firsthand. Seina is the only exception.

I always found it a bit unnerving how Seina presents herself as the complete opposite of her interests. Most people who meet her think she's almost princess-like or would be terrified of anything macabre. I was someone who thought that way of her after all until she opened up about her intense love for the macabre.

She knew facts about killers from around the world, almost every law from random countries, and she knew how the human body 'was organized' she'd call it. Whenever given a chance she'd be quick to bring up a grim topic or fact.

She even brought up that human meat tastes the closest to pork. Even if that was an easy thing to find online, it really wasn't something I wanted to hear.

Especially while in the middle of eating a pork cutlet.

"She'll be fine, I used to see stuff like this all the time at her age!" Seina replied, standing up and walking to the TV to turn it on and put on the game.

"I'll let her know it's a horror game," Natsumi said, standing up from the couch and walking to Chie's room.

Seina hummed softly as the game loaded up on the screen.

The eight of us all ended up taking turns playing throughout the story, the mood of everyone changing for the better as we laughed and joked around.

I ended up ordering us all a few pizzas and as with every normal day time flew by. I dearly loved those days when we all had so much fun together that hours felt like seconds.

None of us noticed exactly how dark it was now since we were all engulfed in laughter, recalling different comical things that happened since the game started to end.

I held onto the couch to help myself stand up, getting everyone's attention. "I gotta head out for the night, I have the stuff to do at home," I explained, looking at Nyoko to ask if she wanted me to walk her back home.

"Yeah, I gotta go too," Yuki pitched in as she stood up.

We all said our goodbyes to Isao and his family before leaving. The walk to Nyoko's house felt like a reminder of how much I truly care for them, for her.

I watched as she walked slightly ahead of me, softly singing a song for only me to hear. I've heard her sing plenty of times, but her voice never failed to leave me breathless.

The streetlights shined down on her, heightening her charming features as she turned around to look at me with a soft smile.

At times like this, I always found myself falling for her more as if I was led by a siren's song.