Don’t Judge a Book
[7:42 AM – Kosei Line – Train to Kyoto]
A pair of silver wireless earphones blink with soft LED light in the ears of Haruki Minobe. He stares at his reflection in the train’s window, headphones on, but the music is paused. He isn’t listening he’s observing.
Haruki Minobe
(thinking) Everyone here pretends. The guy in the business suit? Reeking of desperation. The girl laughing into her phone? Lying.
He closes his eyes briefly as the train slows down.
Announcer : “Next stop—Mibu Station. Mibu Station.”
[8:09 AM – Ginkaku High School – Main Entrance]
The entrance gate looms taller than expected, modern but built in traditional blackwood. Haruki steps through, his transfer documents clutched lightly in one hand.
Girl 1
(whispering) “Is he the transfer kid? Looks gloomy.”
Boy 2
“Eh. Just another quiet type.”
Haruki ignores them. His eyes quickly scan the campus: gates, fences, blind spots, and
Haruki Minobe
Three security cameras. Two are fake. The blind spot is near the vending machines. Noted.
[9:01 AM – Classroom 2-B – Homeroom Begins]
Mr. Katsuro Inoue
“Class, please welcome Haruki Minobe. He’s just moved from Tottori.”
Kaoru Shinomiya
“Tottori?”
“Where is that again?”
Naoto Fujikawa
It's a small village in the countryside Kaoru
Haruki Minobe
(bowing Slightly) “Nice to meet you.”
He’s seated near the window second from the back. The wind is soft. The boy in front of him is already asleep. Someone chews gum in the back row.
[9:17 AM – Same Classroom – Literature Period Begins]
Mr Sakamoto
“Minobe-kun, care to read the first passage?”
Haruki Minobe
(without hesitation)
“‘In darkness, a shadow hides. In silence, the truth whispers. Kyoto, it said, was never pure.’”
The teacher pauses. A few heads turn. The line isn’t from the textbook.
Mr Sakamoto
“…That’s not in the book.”
Haruki Minobe
“Sorry. Old habit.”
Silence. Some students glance at each other, confused. The teacher just nods and moves on
[12:32 PM – Library – Lunch Break]
Instead of the cafeteria, Haruki wanders into the quiet, two-floor library. He picks a seat in the darkest corner, reading a book about local urban legends.
Haruki Minobe
Here are many ghosts stories that i haven't heard of lately
[2:48 PM – Courtyard – After Final Class]
A breeze rustles the trees. Haruki takes his time walking through the courtyard. A gust tosses a baseball toward him. He catches it smoothly.
Rikuya Jinouchi
“Nice reflexes, Man!! You areee..
Rikuya Jinouchi
You don’t look like the sporty type. Or the quiet type either.New To the School
Haruki Minobe
yes Transferred today
Rikuya Jinouchi
Nice To Meet You Man, the name is Rikuya by the way, See you soon.
[3:12 PM – Clubroom Building – Rooftop Access Hall]
At the hall way he again met Rikuya and learns that Rikuya is also in the same class as Haruki is and was not able to attend the class due a baseball match.
Rikuya Jinouchi
(walking beside him) You Know Kyoto is a whole lot different from any other city.
Haruki Minobe
Why is that🧐
Rikuya Jinouchi
“You’re gonna hear rumors, Minobe. Not just gossip. Real rumors. Kyoto’s haunted, cursed, ruled by shadows. People disappear. Students vanish. Nobody talks about it out loud.”
Haruki Minobe
Sounds Like a Myth or Some kind
Rikuya Jinouchi
“Yeah. Because pretending it’s normal doesn’t work anymore.”
Rikuya Jinouchi
Hey You interested in more Mysteries and other supernatural Stuffs
Haruki Minobe
Hmm Kinda off 🤗
Rikuya Jinouchi
Cool I just happens to know a club which deals with this kind of Things the Mystery Club
Haruki Minobe
Mystery Club That Sounds Cool does schools allow this type of clubs to run
Rikuya Jinouchi
They usually don't but the president of the club is the daughter of one of the four directors of this school so it shouldn't be a problem
Rikuya Jinouchi
Let's Head to the Club Room
[3:27 PM – Stairwell – Outside Mystery Club Room]
Rikuya Jinouchi
Hey President I Found a new Member Recruited him myself. 😎😎
Yui Amamiya
Keep it Quiet Will You Rikuya-kun
Haruki Minobe
Hey I Know You, u are from our class Right..
Yui Amamiya
Hey There Transfer Student The Name is Yui Amamiya
Yui Amamiya
So Is it true that u want to join our club
Haruki Minobe
Hmm Yes I like Mysteries and Urban Legends a lot and from where i came from there are many Urban Legends stories
Yui Amamiya
I like to hear them All😲😲😲
Rikuya Jinouchi
Cool Down President 😆
[6:09 PM – Back Alley – Near Kifune Street]
Far from school, a camera goes live. A masked figure livestreams from the alley.
SoutaShin_Stream
(Voice Distorted) “Kifune District. Another missing person. Fifth this month. Police say ‘runaway.’ I say lie.”
He points the camera to a chalk drawing on the wall — a shadowy figure on a bike. Red X marked on its helmet.
[7:00 PM – Over Kyoto Night View]
Author
“Kyoto is quiet. Too quiet. Like a still pond above a hungry whirlpool. Everyone plays a role… student, teacher, thief, ghost. And someone watches from the rooftops. Waiting.”
To Be Continued......
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