NovelToon NovelToon

One Mysterious Call

Episode 1

EPISODE 1
The Rose Café, Easthaven, August 17, 1900 hours
A young man walks quickly towards a table occupied by three young women.
One of the women is watching the evening news on the café's TV-screen.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Hey guys, sorry I'm late.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Brett-san, where have you been?!
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Traffic jam.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Traffic jam in a small town like Easthaven?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Most unlikely.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
It's true! I promise you!
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
If it weren't for the accident, I'd have...
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Wait... What accident?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Are you talking about the traffic accident we're seeing right now on the news?
Mizuki Kuba points at the café's TV-screen behind Brett at the far end of the room.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Not us, Mizuki-chan.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Only YOU were watching the news.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
*Laughs*
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Quiet! I want to hear.
Brett sits down next to Mizuki.
Male newsanchor
Male newsanchor
...The traffic accident involved two cars and a lorry, which rammed into the smaller cars.
Male newsanchor
Male newsanchor
So far there's one person declared dead and three other people heavily injured.
Male newsanchor
Male newsanchor
Can you tell us more about the situation, Sally?
Female reporter
Female reporter
Of course Jim.
Female reporter
Female reporter
Apparently the lorry's breaks were malfunctioning so the driver lost the control of the vehicle.
Female reporter
Female reporter
The lorry came over to the lane of the approaching cars which couldn't avoid the collision with the vehicle.
Male newsanchor
Male newsanchor
How horrible.
Male newsanchor
Male newsanchor
Can you tell us more about the victims?
Female reporter
Female reporter
Well, the police have identified the death victim of the tragic accident.
Female reporter
Female reporter
It's Larieke Owens, a 25 year old female from Georgia, USA...
Everyone at the table freezes as soon as they hear the victim's name.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
No... No, no, no!!!
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
She was on her way here...
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Man... we were both on the same road...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
*Tears begin to flow from her eyes*
Everyone is silent for a long time.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
*Clears her throat*
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
What, Courtney-san?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
You know...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I don't know if it's a good idea to bring it up now...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Just say what you want.
Aimi takes out a handkerchief, wipes the tears away from her face and blows her nose.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Don't beat around the bush, Courtney-chan.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Okay then...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Guys, do you know of the rumour about young people like us getting strange and weird phone calls?
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
You mean like when you get a call from your future self which predicts your future death?
Brett receives an elbow towards his chest by an enraged Mizuki.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
OUCH!!!
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
It's not funny, Brett-san.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
No.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I'm not thinking about that horror movie series, Brett-san.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
*Looks sternly at Brett*
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Anyway, it's been like this in Easthaven in the last two weeks.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Several young people have received mysterious phone calls with strange messages.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
How strange?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Well...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Even I don't understand it either.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
It seems the recipients receive a prediction about their luck or their... Demise.
Everyone is silent.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
What kind of luck could the recipients get?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Well...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Luck" is perhaps not the correct way of describing it.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
It's more like, getting your desires fulfilled.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
What, like me "desiring" to become a famous model in video games?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Or to manage to get a significant other?
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Or to win the lottery?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Yes, yes AND yes.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Something like that.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
But then you also said...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
...That the call could predict one's death?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Yep.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
It's a 50% chance to either get a good or a bad prediction.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
And once you've gotten the call, there's no way to stop it from happening.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Which kind of people do get those calls?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Apart from young people, I mean?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Well...
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Hey guys.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Why are we even sitting here and talking about a two week old rumour?
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Shouldn't we talk about what to do for Larieke-san's family instead?
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Brett-san, why are you even trying to change the subject?
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
I wasn't...!!!
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
ENOUGH!!!
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Let Courtney-chan continue!
Courtney pauses for a long time before she takes a deep breath and continues talking.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
It's...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Because Larieke-san is apparently a victim of those calls!
Again, everyone becomes silent.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
*Shakes his head*
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
You can't be serious, Courtney-san.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
HEY!!!
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
No, really.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Seriously.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Courtney-san, do you even hear yourself?!
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
*Shakes her head and becomes annoyed*
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Brett-san, please...
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
This is getting more and more ridiculous.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Brett-san....
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Stop it...
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
No.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Stop interrupting me, Mizuki-san!
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Aren't you all realising this sounds like a plot for a bad B-horror movie?!
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
I think this is an insult to Larieke-san's memory to talk about anything else...!
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
No, Brett-san.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
YOU stop it!
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Everything is about you, isn't it?
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
*Becomes annoyed*
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
What the...?!
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Guys, please.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Brett-san, I understand that you're in shock...
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Oh, playing the good old doctor, eh?
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
HEY! What has Mizuki-chan ever done to you to treat her like that?!
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
And YOU just have to play her knight in shining armour...
BLAM!
Courtney had slammed on the table with both of her clenched fists.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Brett-san, I think you're being rude now.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Do you honestly believe that I talked about the rumour just to distract ourselves from the serious situation?
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
You know what?
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
I actually DO!
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
I have been in a traffic jam for 2 hours because of that accident which took Larieke-san away from us.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
For. 2. HOURS!!!
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
So what?
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Were you actually close to the accident at all?
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
You weren't in danger during those two hours.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
But Larieke-san was.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
And now she's dead.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Can you imagine how Larieke-san must have felt during the last seconds of her life?
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
CAN YOU?!
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
*Shakes his head angrily*
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Brett-san...
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Guys...
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Do you think Larieke-san would be happy to see all of us quarrel with each other right now?
Everyone is silent.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
I'd like to understand why Larieke-san apparently was another "phone victim".
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
But I don't.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Because I think it's irrelevant.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Larieke-san was a victim of a traffic accident.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
No supernatural forces here.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Case. Closed.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Then you know what?
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
I think you should leave.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Aimi-chan!
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
No, really.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
If Brett-san doesn't want to listen anymore...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
If Brett-san wants all of us to do things HIS way...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Then I think he should LEAVE.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Fine!
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
I think I'm with a bad company anyway.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
*Fighting against her upcoming tears*
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Idiot...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
You're such an idiot...
Brett Whitney rises up from the table and goes angrily in the direction of the exit.
Mizuki Kuba can only helplessly look at him leave.
What an evening.
Five university students had planned to spend their evening together in The Rose Café before the start of the autumn semester.
But now, one has died and one has left the group angrily.
Is their friendship in danger?
But the worst is yet to come...
TO BE CONTINUED...

Episode 2

EPISODE 2
The Rose Café, Easthaven, August 17, 1945 hours
The three young women are shaken after Brett Whitney's sudden change of behaviour and abrupt exit from the café.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
What on Earth is wrong with Brett-san?!
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Who does he think that he is?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Aimi-chan, please...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Sorry Mizuki-chan.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Brett-san is my friend too.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
But that doesn't mean I can accept everything he does towards us.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
I know, Aimi-chan.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
I know you too well.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
*Is too upset to say anything*
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Courtney-san?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Are you ok?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Yeah. I'm just...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I guess I'm a bit shocked, that's all.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Come here.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
*Gives Courtney a hug*
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
*Tears are flowing from her eyes*
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Just let it flow, Courtney-chan.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
You'll feel better this way.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
I promise.
Everyone is silent for a long time.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I'm so sorry guys.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
For what?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
For inviting Larieke-san and Brett-san to our little gathering.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
How can you say such a thing?!
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Because...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Look, I know those guys aren't very close to you.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
You guys have known each other for years.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
But I didn't become acquainted with you until much later.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I was very greatful that both of you were my senpais when I was a lonely foreign exchange student.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I still am.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I'm honored that you both treated me as a close friend and told me to stop calling you "senpais".
Mizuki laughs and shakes her head.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Are you still thinking of the old days?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
*Sighs*
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Those were the days.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
They sure were.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
*Nods*
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I became friends with Larieke-san and Brett-san during my teenage years.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I thought...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Stop it.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
I know you're blaming yourself right now.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Don't.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Because it's not your fault.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Sure, Larieke-san and Brett-san aren't like you, Courtney-san.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
But that's nothing you can do about it.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
I'm sure no one can change Brett Whitney's attitude.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Still, that doesn't stop me from thinking that he's blockhead.
Everyone laughs.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
As for this gathering...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Who would have thought that a traffic accident like this could happen in Easthaven?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Thank you Aimi-chan.
Courtney makes a hug gesture, and she and Aimi hug each other again.
Mizuki is also crying, although discreetly, while looking at her best friends with a smile.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Anyway.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I'm not done with the "phone story" yet.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I think you all should know what kind of message Larieke-san got.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
What?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Did Larieke-san tell you about the message?!
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Uh-Huh!
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
When did Larieke-san tell you about it?!
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Well... Yesterday.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Yesterday evening, to be exact.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Larieke-san was visiting the clothing store yesterday afternoon.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
She wanted to buy new clothes for this gathering.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
When she was about to stand in the queue, she received a phone call.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Did Larieke-san hear an ominous ringtone?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Eh?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
No!
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
But this didn't change the fact that the call made Larieke-san upset!
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Why?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Because the message was creepy and didn't make any sense at all.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Furthermore, the one who gave Larieke-san the message didn't sound human.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Huh?!
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Relax.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I'm not talking about aliens or mutants.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I meant that the voice sounded like it was computerised.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
But still human-like.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Could it be an A.I. voice?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
It could be.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I don't know!
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Anyway.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
The message went like this...
Courtney takes a deep breath.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"The hardworking daughter of Lucy will go head to head with a huge force. Boom! Boom! Afterwards, she will return to Him."
Aimi and Mizuki look at Courtney with enlarged eyes.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
What...?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Lucy"?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Huge force"?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Return to him?"
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Him". Larieke-san told me specifically to emphasize on the pronounciation.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Pardon me?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Larieke-san was talking about God.
Neither Mizuki nor Aimi can utter a sound.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I told you the message didn't make any sense!
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Well...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
At first, anyway.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
But now...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
When I think of the accident, everything becomes clear to me.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I know Larieke-san.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
She IS a hardworking and religious girl.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Lucy" must be a reference to Larieke-san's African roots.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Huge force" must mean the lorry which rammed on Larieke's car.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Boom! Boom!"...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Well, I don't think I need to explain that one, do I?
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Two "Booms!"...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
That's the two smaller cars in the accident!
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
...And "Return to Him" must mean Larieke-san's demise.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
My gaaah...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Do you think Larieke-san knew its meaning?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Dunno.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Perhaps, if you think of the part about "returning to Him".
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
But wouldn't you be distraught if you got a message like that?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Eh...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
I think I wouldn't have taken the message seriously.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
I would have treated it as a simple prank call.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Mizuki-chan, do you remember that time when you got a call from a "famous talent manager" who wanted to hear you sing?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Oh yeah, I still do!
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
I normally am very terrible at singing.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
So I was very surprised that the "talent manager" suddenly wanted me to sing for him!
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
I mean, directly on the phone!
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
After singing for him for like... 18 minutes, the "manager" told you that he had called the wrong person, right?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Oh yes, he did!
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
*Laughs*
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
It later turned out that there was this service which offered people make harmless prank calls.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Like the one I had been through.
Courtney feels uncomfortable.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
But guys...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Would you have treated the mysterious call as a prank call today?
Both Mizuki and Aimi look at each other and don't know what to say.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Eh...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Well...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
If that accident didn't happen, and Larieke-san is still alive...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Then I would have treated the mysterious call as a prank call.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Agreed.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Now that the call had predicted a demise which DID happen...
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Then Aimi-chan and I have to take it seriously.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
*Nods in agreement*
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
But then...
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Since when the recipients get the call, they can't stop the prediction from happening...
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
So I can only hope that none of us will ever get those calls.
Everyone is silent.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
But Mizuki-chan...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
But what would you do the day you receive such a call?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Are you just going to accept it?
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
But what do you mean, Courtney-chan?
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
You sound like you want to fight to change your fate.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
That's exactly what I want to do!
BLAM!
Courtney slams her right fist on the table.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Easthaven has been peaceful for a long time.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
It wasn't until now the town gets all of these weird deaths.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I'm not going to sit idle and wait for my "death sentence"!
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Okay, okay, we get it!
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
But what are you exactly going to do?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Well...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Haven't thought of it yet.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
But I will think this through.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
That's a promise!
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Mmm...
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
I can almost understand afterwards why Brett-san was so upset when you brought up the rumour of the mysterious phone calls.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Not you too...!
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
I believe you! I believe you!
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
But before you start your "quest", we really need to make contact with Larieke-san's family.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
Yeah, and offer our condolences.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
Okay.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
You know what?
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I'll write Larieke-san's parents a message tonight and tell them about the accident.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I mean...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I have met her parents before, so there is some connection between me and the Owens family.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I think...
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
I better go now.
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
Want us to join you to the bus stop?
Aimi Hata
Aimi Hata
I mean, there's nothing else for us to do at this point.
The trio leaves The Rose Café in sorrow.
It is going to be a long night.
Courtney Carr is thinking of how to present the news of Larieke Owens' death to her parents in a good way.
Aimi Hata, tired after having argued with Brett Whitney earlier this evening, goes to bed directly.
Mizuki Kuba however has trouble sleeping because of the "phone rumour".
Why did Easthaven's young people suddenly get the mysterious phone calls?
Why hasn't she heard of them before?
Will she and her friends be unlucky to receive them?
TO BE CONTINUED...

Episode 3

EPISODE 3
Brett Whitney's flat, Easthaven, August 17, 2230 hours
Brett arrives at the door of his flat.
He opens it impatiently and storms inside.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Aaarrggghhh!!!
Brett breathes heavily while closing the door.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
How dare they...!
Brett walks slowly to his writing desk in his bedroom.
He turns on his laptop and goes online.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Ehh?
Brett sees that he's gotten an e-mail notification from "Connect2u" - the social media platform.
He sees that Courtney Carr has written a post at 2135 hours.
In other words, Courtney wrote the post about one hour before Brett came home!
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"In mourning."
Brett clicks on Courtney's profile.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Huh?
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Oh!
Brett sees that Courtney has also written a personal message on Larieke Owens's profile page.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"On August 17, 7 o'clock in the evening, we received the tragic news of Ms. Larieke Owens's passing."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"I have known Larieke since my teenage years."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"I remember the days of laughter and sadness we shared with each other."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"We were always there for each other."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"I remember all of our trips to Cherokee Falls and many other places."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"I know that Larieke loved nature very much."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"So when Larieke got this opportunity to study abroad regarding environmental studies, she took it."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Larieke, I will forever miss you."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Rest in peace."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"I have already given Mrs. Owens a phone call."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"My thoughts are with Larieke's family during this hard time."
Courtney Carr's eulogy on Larieke's profile has got hundreds of views and likes from Larieke's family, friends and other acquaintances.
Brett's eyes are filled with tears.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Idiot...!
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
I have been such an idiot!
Brett breathes heavily while looking around his room in despair.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
No...!
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
I must apologise to the girls.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
But I can't call them now.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
It's already more than half past ten at night!
Brett sees that Courtney is still online and "nudges" her.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Courtney?"
Courtney replies after a while.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Brett."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Have you calmed down now?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Yeah, I guess."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I..."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I want to apologise."
Courtney takes a long pause before she types her reply.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Yeah."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"You acted like a real dummy there."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I'm sorry."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I really am!"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I just felt..."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I didn't think clearly..."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"No, you seriously haven't."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"But what can I say?"
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"You have always been like that since I became acquainted with you."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Headstrong and foolish."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
If it wasn't for Larieke and me, I doubt anywone would dare to be friends with you!
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Now do you have anything else to say?"
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Because I'm actually going to sign off soon."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"No, wait!"
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Wait for what?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Will you forgive me if you tell me about Larieke's phone call?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I mean, right here."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Right now?"
Courtney hesitates for a long time before she types again.
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Idiot."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Idiot, idiot, idiot!"
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"You HAD your chance to hear me out at the café."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"But no, everything just had to be YOUR way!"
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"And now you seriously think it's a good time right now?"
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"When everyone is supposed to go to sleep?!"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I know, I know!"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Please!"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I know I'm wrong."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Please forgive me!"
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Pffft."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Forgive you?"
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Seriously?"
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"After all of those times you had hurt our feelings?"
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"You know, Brett."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"I did forgive you a lot in the beginning."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"I'd hoped you'd change eventually."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"But I have for a long time stopped taking you seriously."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"I know that you can't change yourself."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"This time?"
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"You've crossed the line."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Now please leave me be."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Maybe we'll talk more later, but NOT now."
Courtney Carr
Courtney Carr
"Good night!"
Courtney quickly signs off Connect2u.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
No...
Brett slumps in his chair, feeling beaten.
Suddenly, he sees a familiar name on the laptop screen.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
Mizuki?
Mizuki Kuba is now online.
Brett quickly "nudges" Mizuki.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Brett-san?"
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"You couldn't sleep either?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"No, Mizuki-san."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I couldn't."
Brett looks up for a while.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
I better not tell her that I recently came home.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
That's just...
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
...Details.
Brett continues typing.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Mizuki-chan, I had a talk with Courtney-san earlier."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Oh?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Well..."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"She was mad at me."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"I'm not surprised."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"You were really rude back there."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Yes..."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"You all don't have to tell me twice."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I'm so, so, sorry."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I should have taken Courtney-san's thoughts seriously."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I should have let her continue telling us about Larieke's phone call before making my own assessment."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I shouldn't have yelled at all of you."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I shouldn't have made fun of you."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I..."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I'm really sorry."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I'm really sorry for my behaviour earlier this evening."
Brett is exhausted after typing feverishly all of his apologies.
He is staring at the screen.
Mizuki starts to type again after at least 5 minutes.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"I believe you."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
*Gives a sigh of relief*
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Arigato (= Thank you), Mizuki-chan."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Daijobu (= It's okay)."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Mizuki-chan, if you don't mind...?"
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Yes?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Did Courtney-san tell you about Larieke's phone call?
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"She did."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"After you left the café angrily."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Okay um..."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Can you please tell me what the message was about?"
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Didn't Courtney-chan tell you?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"No."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"She was mad at me, remember?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"She said she needed to sleep, so she signed off Connect2u.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Well, she wasn't wrong."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"This IS the wrong time to be talking about rumours."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Why do you want to know about it now so badly?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Well, because..."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I'm also a part of this group."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Anything that happens to anyone in the group is also my concern."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"You REALLY have calmed down now."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Eh, Brett-san?"
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
":-)"
Brett's face shines as he sees that Mizuki is joking with him.
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Okay."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Since I can't sleep anyway..."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"I might as well tell you straight away."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Thank you!"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Thank you so much!"
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Okay, I hope I'll quote the message correctly."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"The message was: 'The hardworking daughter of Lucy will go head to head with a huge force. Boom! Boom! Afterwards, she will return to Him.'"
Brett looks puzzled and scratches his head.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"That's it?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"That's the message Larieke-san got?"
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Yes."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Didn't Courtney-san say anything else?"
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"No."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"I mean..."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Apart from analysing the strange message, she didn't say anything else."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Okay."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Thanks again."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Btw, when did Larieke-san get the phone call?"
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Yesterday afternoon."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Yesterday afternoon..."
Suddenly, Brett realises something.
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Hey...!"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Isn't that around the same time the accident happened, although one day before?"
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"It could be."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Why?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I was thinking..."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"If the rumour is true, then the prediction call will happen exactly 24 hours before the result."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"o_o"
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"None of us have thought about that!"
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"That means, apart from eating and sleeping, we will have less then 24 hours to figure out how to avoid the predicted result!"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Exactly."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"I have to tell Courtney-chan about it tomorrow."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"She said she wanted to change her fate and not embrace it."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Did she?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"That sounds much like her."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"LOL."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Sorry for asking, Brett-san."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"But how close are you with Larieke-san and Courtney-san?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Sorry?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"What do you mean?"
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"I can't help but notice that all three of you only use the honorific '-san' towards each other."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Is there a specific reason?"
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
*Chuckles*
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"No reason at all."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"We don't use honorifics where we come from."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"So we aren't very used to them."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"I know Courtney-san had been an exchange student at your school before."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Since she normally uses honorifics when talking to Aimi-san and you, both Larieke and I thought it would be best if we did the same."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Well, you can stop doing that now."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"It does feel a bit strange when you - our friend - who isn't used to our culture try to do so."
Mizuki Kuba
Mizuki Kuba
"Just call me Mizuki."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"Okay."
Brett Whitney
Brett Whitney
"And you can just call me Brett."
And so the long and sad night is going to end well since Mizuki has forgiven Brett.
Brett and Mizuki wish each other "Good night" and log off Connect2u after commenting on Courtney's eulogy at Larieke's profile.
Now that the two of them have stopped using honorific towards each other, does it mean that something will happen between them?
But still, the threat of the "phone predictions" are still there...
...If there are such things.
Who will the next recipient be?
And when will next call happen?
TO BE CONTINUED...

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