Previously, Mr Igarashi came into her club room as we were planning some stuff out and gave us a double edged offer, either we produce something interesting and helpful for the school or get our club closed.
As Mr Igarashi left.Kaito was the first to break the silence after his departure, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
"Alright, guys. Let's get down to business. We need to pick our first investigation topic for the club." He's eyes sparkled as he leaned forward, his excitement bubbling.
He then continues the conversation with his usual enthusiasm. "Alright, everyone! I've got it ,listen recently there has been some rumours about some really strange things lately. People are claiming they've seen weird, alien-like creatures. You know, things that just... appear out of nowhere and vanish in a blink."
Takashi raised an eyebrow. "Alien creatures? Are you serious?"
Kaito nodded with excitement. "Yeah, totally serious! They say these things show up in random places—alleyways, parks, even near schools. No one can explain what they are, but a lot of people swear they've seen them."
Yumi leaned back, folding her arms. "And I'm guessing there's no proof? No photos, no videos, nothing?"
Kaito shrugged. "Of course not, but that's what makes it interesting! They say these creatures are huge, like monsters, but by the time you even think about grabbing your phone, they're gone."
Mei and I exchanged a worried glance. Huge creatures that appear and disappear? It sounded way too familiar. Kaijus. We hadn't heard any rumors about them surfacing recently, but these stories matched their description a little too well.
"That's... weird," I said, trying to sound casual. "But don't you think it's a bit far-fetched? People could be exaggerating or just imagining things."
Mei quickly nodded in agreement. "Yeah, sounds like one of those urban myths that blow up out of nowhere. Maybe we should focus on something more grounded?"
Kaito raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "You two seem awfully quick to dismiss this one. Got something you're not telling us?"
Mei and I laughed nervously, trying to steer the conversation away. "No, no. We just think it might be better to look into something with more solid leads. You know, something less... alien."
Yumi smirked. "Aw, are you guys scared? Afraid the aliens might abduct you?"
"Not at all," Mei said, forcing a smile. "We just think we might want to ease into our investigations with something less... risky."
Kaito looked at us skeptically for a moment but then shrugged it off. "Fine, if you don't want to dive into the alien thing, I've got another mystery that might interest you."
I sighed in relief, but Kaito wasn't done. His voice dropped to a more dramatic tone, and he leaned in as if he was about to tell a ghost story.
"Have you heard about the girl who stalks people from the shadows?"
Takashi groaned. "Here we go with another one of your creepy stories."
Kaito ignored him, his eyes glinting with excitement. "This one's different, though. It's not just a ghost story. There are actual reports. They say this girl lurks in the shadows, targeting young men, usually around our age."
Mei looked confused. "Wait, targeting them? For what?"
Kaito's expression darkened. "That's the thing—no one knows. But over the last two years, 13 men between the ages of 17 and 20 have disappeared. No bodies, no traces, nothing."
"Wait, what?" I sat up straighter. "You're saying these guys just vanished?"
Kaito nodded. "Yeah, and the few witnesses who've come forward all say the same thing. They saw a girl, standing in the shadows, watching them just before the guys went missing. Some people think she's a spirit, others think it's some kind of curse."
Yumi rolled her eyes again. "Or it's just a kidnapper and people are making up ghost stories to cope."
Kaito's expression didn't falter. "Maybe. But what about the fact that no one ever finds a trace of them? No bodies, no signs of a struggle, nothing. It's like they're wiped off the face of the earth."
I could feel a pit forming in my stomach. This wasn't like the Kaiju incidents we had dealt with before, but it still gave off the same eerie, unsettling vibe. Mei seemed to sense the same thing, her brow furrowing.
"We should really think this through," I said cautiously. "This sounds dangerous. And if it's connected to the other weird stuff happening..."
Mei nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we need to be smart about this."
But Kaito wasn't backing down. "Come on, this is the kind of thing our club was made for! Don't you want to know what's going on? Who or what is behind these disappearances?"
Takashi laughed. "Yeah, until one of us is the next guy to vanish."
Kaito smirked. "Relax, Takashi. We'll just gather information at first. No one's going to disappear."
Yumi sighed, clearly not convinced. "I still think it's just a cover-up for some criminal activity. There's nothing supernatural about this."
"That's what makes it interesting!" Kaito exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "If we figure this out, we could uncover something no one else has."
I wasn't so sure, but Kaito's enthusiasm was hard to resist. "Fine," I said, "but we have to be careful. This could be more dangerous than we realize."
Mei crossed her arms. "I agree. We should proceed with caution. If this girl is real and responsible for those disappearances, we might be biting off more than we can chew."
Kaito grinned. "That's the spirit! We'll start by gathering as much info as we can. Talk to people who've claimed to see her, check out the spots where the guys went missing. We'll take it slow."
Takashi, still grinning, clapped Kaito on the back. "As long as I'm not the next guy on her list, I'm in."
Yumi looked unimpressed. "You guys are really going to chase this ghost story?"
"Yep," Kaito replied confidently. "It's exactly the kind of mystery we need for our club. And who knows? Maybe we'll solve it and become legends ourselves."
I still had a bad feeling, but I nodded. "Alright, let's do it. But we stick together, and if anything feels off, we stop immediately."
Mei gave me a small nod, agreeing with my cautious approach. We both knew better than to take things like this lightly.
As the conversation wound down, Kaito's excitement was contagious, even if I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in the back of my mind. Something about this mystery felt... different. But for now, we were in.
And the hunt for answers had begun.
Kaito stretched his arms above his head, grinning. "Alright, I think we've got a solid plan for the club's first big mystery. We should start gathering stuff for the room though. We can't exactly solve any cases without the right tools, right?"
Takashi nodded. "Yeah, we'll need a map of the city for sure. If these disappearances all happened nearby, we should be able to pinpoint the spots."
Yumi added, "Newspapers too. We'll need to dig through the archives and find all the articles related to the missing people."
Kaito tapped his chin, thinking. "Good idea. We should also get a whiteboard. That way, we can keep track of everything—notes, clues, theories."
I looked around the room, imagining it coming to life with all the tools and materials we'd need to make it feel like a real detective club. "Maybe some decor too, just to make it feel... less empty in here."
Mei nodded, still keeping her usual calm. "We'll also need some notebooks to write down what we find. Keeping things organized will help us later."
Kaito's eyes gleamed with excitement as he added, "And don't forget red string. We'll need it to connect all the dots on the board like they do in the movies!"
Yumi smirked. "You're really getting into this, aren't you?"
He chuckled. "Of course! This is going to be awesome. The first case for the 'Mysterious Phenomenon Club'!"
Takashi chimed in, "Don't forget snacks. Investigating takes energy, and we're going to need some fuel."
Mei laughed softly, and I couldn't help but smile too. It felt nice to have this moment of normalcy, even though I knew things were far from normal underneath the surface.
"Alright," I said, "let's divide up the tasks. I can grab the map and the whiteboard tomorrow. Anyone else up for getting the newspapers?"
Yumi raised her hand. "I'll take care of that. The school library has a decent archive of old papers."
Takashi grinned. "I'll handle the snacks, obviously. We need those to survive."
Mei, thoughtful as always, added, "I'll look for some small decorations. Maybe some plants or posters. We need this place to feel welcoming."
Kaito snapped his fingers. "And I'll bring some stationery supplies. Markers, pens, notebooks—the works. We can't solve anything if we don't have a way to jot things down."
Everyone nodded in agreement, the excitement in the room palpable.
I couldn't help but glance at Mei, wondering if she was as anxious as I was about the real dangers lurking out there. We hadn't told the others about the kaijus yet, and with all these mysterious occurrences... I had a feeling things were only going to get more complicated.
Kaito clapped his hands together. "Alright, team. Tomorrow, we'll officially begin our investigation. We'll bring all the supplies, set up the room, and then dive right into this mystery."
Yumi leaned back in her chair. "Sounds like a plan. But don't expect miracles, Kaito. These disappearances might take more than just a few articles to solve."
Kaito grinned, undeterred. "Hey, I believe in us. We're going to crack this wide open."
Mei, more cautious, added, "Just remember to be careful. This isn't a game. If those reports are true, there's real danger involved."
Kaito's smile softened slightly, but he nodded. "I know. But that's why we're doing this together. We'll watch each other's backs."
Takashi stretched and yawned. "Well, if we're done here, I'm heading home. Need to get some rest before the big day tomorrow."
Yumi stood up as well. "Yeah, same here. Let's wrap it up and meet here tomorrow with all the stuff."
Kaito stood and stretched again. "Agreed. Tomorrow, we officially launch our club's first case!"
Mei and I exchanged a glance, silently agreeing that we'd have to be extra vigilant about keeping the kaiju connection hidden for now.
As we all started gathering our things, Kaito spoke up one last time. "Alright, team. Let's meet back here after school tomorrow with all the supplies. By the end of the day, this room is going to look amazing, and we'll be ready to solve some mysteries!"
"Deal," I said, giving him a small smile.
With that, we all headed out of the club room, feeling the excitement of what was to come. Even though I had my concerns, I couldn't deny the energy in the air. Tomorrow, we'd start something new, something that might lead to more answers than we could imagine.
But for now, it was time to rest and prepare. Tomorrow would be the beginning of the Mysterious Phenomenon Club's first case—whether we were ready for it or not.
The next day, we reconvened after school for our club activities. As we entered the club room, Kaito was already there, seated on a chair with wheels that added to his bossy demeanor. He looked up as we walked in, his posture straightening as if he were expecting a formal meeting.
"Welcome, everyone," Kaito said with an authoritative tone. "Glad you could make it."
"Hey, Kaito," I greeted him, nodding.
"Hi, Kaito," Mei added with a smile.
"Evening, everyone," Yumi chimed in.
Takashi simply waved.
Kaito gave a small nod in response to our greetings. "Alright, let's get started. Today's focus is on investigating the mysterious girl legend. I've dug up some details that we should go over."
Mei raised an eyebrow. "Mysterious girl legend?"
"Yes," Kaito continued. "I'm appointing Mei as the vice president of this club. She has shown considerable interest and capability."
Mei looked surprised but smiled. "Thanks, Kaito. I'll do my best."
Kaito smiled back. "Good. Now, let's dive into the main topic. People say this girl calls herself 'The Princess of Shadows.' There's been a recent case involving a young man named Otonashi in Tokyo. Reports indicate he had been receiving strange calls and feeling as though someone was stalking him. He even mentioned it felt like someone was watching him constantly, even while he was sleeping."
Yumi frowned. "That sounds intense."
Kaito nodded gravely. "It gets worse. Otonashi died in a terrible incident recently. He was climbing the stairs to his room when the staircase suddenly broke, and he was impaled by the metal supports. There have been similar cases before, with victims reporting similar experiences."
Takashi leaned forward, intrigued. "So, the girl—'The Princess of Shadows'—is somehow connected to these incidents?"
Kaito shrugged. "That's what the reports suggest. People have seen her, heard her name, and then these tragic incidents follow. We don't know if she's directly responsible, but the pattern is worrying."
I glanced at Mei, who seemed deep in thought. "So what's our plan?"
Kaito pulled out a stack of papers. "We'll start by compiling all the information we can about these cases. Look into any patterns, locations, or common elements. We might also want to interview people who've had encounters or know more about these incidents."
Mei nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Where should we start?"
"Let's begin with the most recent case," Kaito suggested. "Otonashi's death. We'll gather all the available information on it and see if we can find any leads."
Yumi raised her hand. "What about the 'Princess of Shadows'? Shouldn't we try to find out more about her too?"
Kaito agreed. "Absolutely. If we can learn more about her, it might give us clues on how to approach the investigation."
Takashi looked thoughtful. "Do we have any idea where she might be or how to track her down?"
"Not yet," Kaito said. "But we'll need to explore every angle. There's a lot of work ahead of us."
As the discussion continued, I couldn't help but notice how serious and focused Kaito was. It was clear that this investigation was more than just a club activity for him—it was something he was deeply committed to.
Mei, too, seemed invested, and it was evident that she took her new role seriously.
Kaito glanced at his watch and then back at us. "Alright, let's get to work. We'll need to gather our resources and plan our next steps. For today, let's finalize our roles and assign tasks."
We all nodded, ready to dive into the investigation.
Kaito then walked over to the window, his gaze falling upon the distant view of the schoolyard outside. The fading sunlight cast long shadows across the ground, and he couldn't help but feel the weight of the mystery pressing down on him. His mind was racing with thoughts as he absentmindedly tapped the windowsill with his fingers.
*Man, how are we supposed to crack this mystery?* Kaito wondered, eyes narrowing in thought. *We've got some decent information, but it's nowhere near enough to solve anything concrete. What we really need is a solid lead... something tangible.*
He bit his lip, deep in thought, still gazing outside. *But where could it come from? What if we could actually talk to the people close to the victims of these incidents?*
The idea felt solid in his mind, but it wasn't enough. There was more to this puzzle than just a few interviews. He could feel it in his gut. He knew there had to be something else—some piece they were missing. His fingers stopped tapping as his hand clenched into a fist.
*I have to give it everything I've got because—*
"Kaito?" Yumi's voice broke through his thoughts, snapping him back to reality.
He turned his head slightly, caught off guard.
Yumi stepped up beside him, her arms crossed, her face serious. "Do you think it's really worth it to chase after such a... well, let's be honest, a baseless legend?" Her tone was soft but carried a heavy note of doubt. "I'm not trying to discourage you, but... what if it's just a wild goose chase? Trust me, you could end up regretting this decision."
She gave him a small, sympathetic smile before heading back to where Takashi was busy plotting locations on the map they had laid out on the table.
Kaito felt a sting of doubt creep into his chest. Yumi's words echoed in his mind, swirling around like smoke. *Is it really baseless?* he thought to himself. *Am I just chasing another hopeless future? I don't...*
His thoughts trailed off as he turned to look at his friends. They were all working hard, invested in the club's investigation, despite their reservations. Takashi was marking potential locations, Yumi was flipping through notes, and Izumi and Mei were discussing possible leads.
A wave of determination surged through Kaito as he clenched his fists tighter. *No,* he told himself firmly. *I can't let this fall apart. I have to be something. I have to prove I can lead. I just need to show one good quality about myself, something worth respecting.*
With renewed focus, Kaito turned back to the window. The sky was darkening, the colors blending together like watercolors on a canvas. His mind was still racing, but then—an idea struck him, clear and sharp.
*Wait... What if we check the old school library?*
His eyes widened slightly as the thought took shape. *That's it. The old library has to be filled with old records, books, and information. I've heard there used to be a supernatural club here years ago. Maybe they had some cases like this, and maybe... just maybe, there's something connected to the "Princess of Shadows."*
Excited by his revelation, Kaito spun around and faced the group.
"Guys, I've got an idea," he announced, his voice filled with sudden energy.
Izumi raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Kaito stepped forward. "What if we look into the old library here at school? I heard there used to be a supernatural club years ago. Maybe they investigated cases like this, and we might find something similar to the mysterious girl legend."
Mei tilted her head. "The old library? Didn't it get shut down?"
Kaito shook his head. "Not exactly. It's still there, just... forgotten. And I'm sure it's packed with all sorts of old documents. If anyone would've looked into urban legends, it's them."
Izumi exchanged a glance with Mei before nodding. "That's actually not a bad idea."
"Yeah," Kaito continued, his excitement building. "I think it's our best shot at finding something solid. We could check it out after school tomorrow."
Yumi glanced over at Takashi, who shrugged, looking intrigued. "Worth a shot," Takashi said. "Better than chasing random rumors."
Kaito felt a surge of confidence as the others seemed to agree with his plan. *This is it,* he thought. *This could be the breakthrough we need.*
"We'll meet up here after school tomorrow, and then Izumi and I will head to the old library. We'll dig through everything we can find and bring it back here. Hopefully, we can find some kind of lead."
Yumi nodded, still looking slightly unsure. "Just be careful, okay? That place hasn't been touched in years. Who knows what you'll find?"
"We will," Kaito promised.
Kaito stood in the center of the club room, hands on his waist, surveying the space with a determined gleam in his eyes. "Alright, today's goal is simple," he announced, his voice full of energy. "We're going to plot out the map and decorate the place. This is going to be our base of operations, so it needs to be... well, welcoming, right? We're going to be solving some serious mysteries here, so let's make it cozy."
I leaned against one of the empty bookshelves, looking around at the half-bare walls and scattered furniture. "You sound way too enthusiastic about decorating, man," I teased.
Kaito smirked, spinning around to face me. "Hey, it's all about creating the right atmosphere. You want a room that inspires creativity, not a drab, boring office."
Mei nodded in agreement, crossing her arms. "He's got a point. If we're going to spend time here, we might as well make it a comfortable space. Aesthetics matter."
"Yeah, yeah," Takashi grumbled, pulling out a roll of tape. "Let's just get this over with. I'm not much of a decorator."
Yumi was already at the corner, holding up a couple of posters she brought. "How about these?" She asked, turning to the group. The posters were of various urban legends and supernatural phenomena—just what you'd expect for a club like this.
"Ooh, those are perfect!" Kaito said, rushing over to help her tape them up on the walls. "This is exactly what we need."
"Urban legends, huh?" I muttered, inspecting one of the posters. It had the title "Mysterious Disappearances of 1921" with grainy black-and-white photos of people who had vanished. "This one's creepy enough."
Yumi chuckled as she taped up another poster. "Exactly what we need for the vibe."
Mei was near the whiteboard, setting up the markers and erasers. "Alright, I'll be the one organizing our info here," she said, glancing at Kaito. "And since you made me vice president, it's only fair I take on some responsibilities."
Kaito grinned. "Vice president duties, huh? Fine by me. Just don't write too much nonsense."
"Oh, please," Mei retorted, rolling her eyes. "I'll keep things neat, unlike you."
Meanwhile, Takashi was by the window, trying to hang up some curtains. "These things are ancient," he muttered, struggling to get the fabric to stay in place. "But they should give the room a more mysterious feel."
"You sure about that?" I said, stepping over to help him. "Looks like they're about to fall apart."
"Better than nothing," Takashi replied with a shrug. "At least they'll block out the sun when we need some 'mystery-solving ambiance'."
Kaito pulled out a large map from one of his bags and laid it out on the table. "Alright, here's the map of the city," he said. "We're going to start marking all the places where incidents involving the mysterious girl were reported."
Yumi grabbed a red marker and moved closer to the table. "I'll handle the marking. You tell me where to put them."
Kaito nodded. "Perfect. Let's start with the one from last year near the train station. That's where that guy Otonashi had his first encounter."
As Yumi marked the spot on the map, I walked over to the wall and pinned up a corkboard. "We can use this to post any news clippings or photos we collect."
"Good idea," Kaito said. "And I'll bring in some thumbtacks tomorrow. Maybe we can even get some string to connect the dots, detective-style."
"Going full detective mode, huh?" I teased.
"You know it," Kaito replied with a wink.
Mei finished setting up the whiteboard and clapped her hands together. "Alright, whiteboard is ready for action. Now we just need the rest of the stuff, like a lamp for the corner, maybe a few comfy chairs..."
"I was thinking bean bags," Yumi suggested.
"Bean bags? Really?" I raised an eyebrow. "That's a little too casual for a mystery-solving club."
"Nah," Yumi insisted, smiling. "They're perfect. You can't solve mysteries with stiff backs. We need comfort and creativity."
Takashi snorted. "Bean bags are more your style, Yumi."
Kaito waved his hand dismissively. "I don't care as long as the room looks good and we can get some serious work done here."
Mei glanced over at the half-decorated space, nodding approvingly. "It's coming together. By the time we're done, this will feel like a real headquarters."
Kaito grabbed another poster and hung it up near the door. It had the words "Believe in the Unseen" in bold, dramatic letters. "This one's going to be our motto."
I couldn't help but laugh. "That's cheesy as hell."
Kaito grinned. "Cheesy or not, it fits us."
Yumi stood back and admired the room. "We're almost there, but we'll need to bring in more stuff tomorrow—city maps, newspapers, and maybe some more posters."
"Decoratives, too," Mei added. "We need to make it personal. Each of us should bring something to add a little character to the place."
"Fine by me," I said, stretching my arms. "But I'm not hauling in anything heavy."
Kaito looked around the room with a satisfied expression. "Alright, let's call it a day for now. Tomorrow, we'll add the finishing touches and officially start our investigations."
With that, we all stepped back to admire our work. The clubroom wasn't perfect yet, but it was already feeling like our own space—a place where we could tackle any mystery that came our way.
"Good job, everyone," Kaito said, a hint of pride in his voice. "This is just the beginning."
After an hour or it was time to go home ,the time really felt like have passed in a few moments.
We then decide to go home today and procrastinate the rest of the work for tomorrow.
Kaito walked with us until we hit the main intersection, where he turned toward his usual route home. He waved back with that cheerful grin of his, but as soon as he was alone. He always put on this confident front, but once the group was gone, his posture slumped, his hands stuffed deep into his pockets. Kaito had a tendency to talk to himself when he thought no one was around—an odd habit he got right from his childhood.
As he walked through the quiet streets, his thoughts were racing. He was proud of being the club president, but knowing that , he was also second-guessing every decision he'd made so far.
"Club president, huh? Sounds cool, no one really didn't found it bother for me to take such an important position that's so nice of them, but... what if I'm just setting us up for failure ?". The evening air was crisp, yet it seemed heavy around him. There was always that nagging doubt lingering in the back of his mind.
It wasn't like Kaito hadn't failed before—he had, more times than he probably cared to admit. His mind was drifting back to last year's student council election by in his middle school. That disaster had crushed his confidence for months. He'd been so eager to make a difference, but in the end, it was a humiliating loss. Hardly anyone voted for him, and he became the subject of laughter for weeks.
He stopped walking for a second, staring blankly under a flickering street lamp. The memory still stung. His classmates hadn't been kind, their taunts echoing in his head: "Kaito? Leading us? The guy can't even make a simple decision not give a simple speech."
Shaking his head, he started walking again, his steps faster, more agitated. "I can't let that happen again. I don't want to be the failure they remember. No it can't happen again, I don't wanna be called a failure again"
Kaito was a guy who struggled with those thoughts more than he ever let on. To everyone else, he seemed like the carefree, energetic guy who could brush off anything. But deep down, he was afraid. Afraid of letting people down. Afraid of being laughed at again. Afraid of being a failure.
As he turned down the familiar street that led to his house, he was wrestling with those feelings. He had to make this club work. It wasn't just about solving some silly urban legend anymore. It was about proving to himself that he wasn't a joke. That he could be someone people relied on.
"What if I mess this up, too?" he would've been thinking, his frustration building with each step. "What if I lead them into nothing but dead ends?" Kaito clenched his fists. I imagined the determination on his face as he kicked a small stone ahead of him, watching it roll across the pavement. "No... I can't let that happen ."
He didn't want to fail—not again. Not like before.
Then there was that moment of self-doubt he always fell into. "Why does it always feel like I'm going to screw things up? I don't want to be that guy again... the one who can't follow through on anything." His steps slowed as he approached his house. "I'm pretty sure it's going to be a failure this time as well. "
Kaito stopped just before opening the gate to his home, glancing up at the fading light in the sky. That look in his eyes—determined but scared—was all too familiar. "I think yumi was right,I really am not suited for this." He continued "I am a fake masked friend, such a cowardice."
With that, he headed inside, probably already thinking about how tomorrow would be different, how he'd make sure everything with the club went smoothly. Kaito wasn't just in this for the mystery; he was in it to prove something to himself. And this time, he wasn't going to let anyone—or himself—down "I am sorry everyone" .
To be continued...