"Dear Diary,
I've made up my mind to ask the nerd out. I mean, it's not like I'm into him or anything, but I'm curious to know more about his secret. I saw him perform what seemed like magic, and he grew wings. I mean, he grew wings—like, what the heck was I watching? A freaking movie or what?
I have to admit, I was terrified. For a while, I thought I was hallucinating, but it was all real. He just flew up like a bat or something and caught that girl. Who is she to him? Why did he expose his true form? Is he an angel? Or worse, is he a demon, like in the movies?
I have to find out what he truly is. So, wish me luck."
Mira dropped the pen and had a twisted smile on her face. She closed her diary and put it into the wardrobe. Suddenly, she remembered something important. She rummaged through the books sprawled across the table and found a photograph of a seven-year-old girl wearing a red dress.
"Honey, you'd better get down here, or you'll be late for school," Mira's mom called out from downstairs.
"Okay, Mom," Mira responded, holding tightly to the photograph. She rushed down the stairs and approached her father, who was sitting on the couch, reading a newspaper.
"Gosh, such an oldie," Mira thought, rolling her eyes. It seemed she was destined to encounter nerds all her life.
"Um, Dad," Mira said as she sat on the couch beside him.
"Yes, dear, what is it?" her dad responded with a serious look, his eyes still focused on his newspaper.
"The old house at the end of the street—people say it's haunted, but the Tanaka's still live there. Do you think the rumors are true?" Mira asked, crossing her legs.
"The Tanaka's are freaks, and yes, that house is haunted. I remember coming home late one night and hearing music playing at midnight. I mean, who plays Brahms at midnight? It creeped the hell out of me," Mira's father said while flipping a page of the newspaper.
Mira knew very well that her father was an avid gossiper and a skilled talker. After all, he worked at a radio station, so what he said often carried some authenticity.
Her father slowly lowered the newspaper and looked at her with a stern gaze.
"Do you know what freaked me out the most? I'll tell you," he said, leaning forward slightly. "One night, I was coming back home, and I could hear that usual, ear-deafening Brahms piece playing in the mansion. I was mad that day because of a co-worker, so I got out of my car and banged on the door as loud as I could. But no one answered.That's when I realized I was wasting my time. I mean, the Tanaka's are freaks by nature. I got back inside my car and was about to drive off. I took one last look at the old mansion and could swear I saw a tall woman in a red dress holding onto a little girl behind the window. What was strange was that the woman was blindfolded with red ribbon. I still can't forget the look on the little girl's face—she looked like she was trapped and needed help. I mean, I feel some sympathy for the child—who wouldn't? But her parents must be sick in the head," Mira's father said as he picked up the newspaper and continued reading where he left off.
"The woman in the red dress—who do you think she was?" Mira asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"Could've been her mother or some psychopath they hired to watch over the kid. Who knows?" her father responded.
"Congratulations, Mira. You're officially late for school," Mira's mother chimed in with an angry look. Unlike her carefree father, Mira's mother wanted her daughter to be number one in everything. That meant cutting the conversation short before her talkative husband could distract Mira any further.
"I'll get going. Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad," Mira said as she scampered out the door.
The automatic school bell rang, signaling the students to take a break. Everyone hurried to the school cafeteria to have their meal. Hiraku was chatting with Lisa at the midsection of the rectangular table. The bubbling teen spirit filled the atmosphere as students clamored around each other, while some stood in line to grab their meals. Mira quickly made her way over to where Hiraku was sitting and placed her hands on his shoulders, her face coming close to his.
"Hey, friend," Mira said as she sat down next to him.
"Hi, Mira," Hiraku responded, still in shock from her bold gesture in public. To make things worse, Lisa, sitting next to him, was staring at them with her mouth almost agape in surprise.
"Looking at you right now, you actually look cute," Mira said, shifting closer to him.
"Hiraku, who is she?" Lisa asked in a mellow voice.
"She's..." Hiraku began, but was cut off as Mira extended her left hand toward Lisa.
"A friend. Nice to meet you, Lisa," Mira said smoothly.
Lisa looked confused, unable to recall ever meeting this stranger or how she knew Hiraku. Nevertheless, she shook Mira's hand gently with a polite smile, then turned her gaze to Hiraku, who sat between them. Hiraku, sensing the awkwardness, wasn't about to stay silent.
"Lisa, she's my class rep. We don't really know each other," he said, turning to Mira with a sharp look. His expression was clearly meant to convey his disapproval of her sudden appearance. Mira, however, rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Friends, acquaintances, whatever. I'm here to remind you of what you promised," Mira said, her tone slightly teasing.
"What I promised?" Hiraku replied, looking aghast.
"Don't tell me you have a poor memory. You promised to fulfill my wish by granting me a favor," Mira said, clasping her hands softly as if in prayer.
At this point, Hiraku couldn't help but rack his brain, trying to remember any promise he might have made to Mira of all people. Just as he was about to refute her claim, a peculiar face appeared, drawing everyone's attention.