Parallel You

Chapter 2: IT'S A MATCH

Raven’s POV

I grabbed my phone as I tried to check the app store to see if it was true. To my surprise, the app does exist. I was about to press install when I heard someone call from the door.

“Hey, Raven! Come on!” I saw Haru said as he peeked through the door.

“Yeah! Yeah!” I replied as I pulled myself from my seat and walked towards him.

He puts his arm around my shoulder since I was smaller. This was not a new thing to me anymore. He is like my older brother in a way so even though people see us as something more, me and Haru knows what we are. We were just friends and nothing more.

“So, what are you going to eat for lunch? Do you want to cut schools and eat fried chicken on the other side of the street?” He asked as he looks around for teachers who may pass by. Haru was really tall so it was easy for him.

“Yeah, you bet. You are tag!” I exclaimed as I ran away from him and tapped his chest.

“Oh, you so asked for this!” Haru said as he chased me through the hallways.

We both raced to the back gate wherein he and I jumped over the fences as we entered the streets and roamed around Mr. Miya’s chicken place where we would usually hang. This was our go-to place especially when the cafeteria food taste and looks like utter s**t. Sometimes we even call Kouji, Kenshin and Ryuu here.

“Oh! It is you two again? Please do not tell me you skipped classes,” Mr. Miya said from behind as we entered the store.

“Let us just say we were bored of books and pencils!” Haru jokes as he pulls a seat.

“Oh, you two! You both are going to ruin your lives!” Mr. Miya says.

“If we are going to ruin our lives, we better do it with a full stomach and no other chicken in town can make us enjoy chicken like you do, Miya-sama!” Haru laughs as he kept sweet talking Mr. Miya.

“Alright, alright! What do you want?” Mr. Miya laughs.

“2 buckets of chicken! One garlic and one cheese and rice please!” Haru calls as Mr. Miya gave him a thumbs-up as he served us two buckets of cheese and garlic chicken and our rice.

“Eat up, kiddos!” Mr. Miya said as he pats our bag.

“Itadakimasu! (Thanks for the food!)” Haru and I spoke as we grabbed our chopsticks and started eating.

“Hey, Haru. I have a question,” I said as I gobbled up a chicken’s leg piece smearing cheese over my fingers.

“Yeah, what is it?” Haru asked with a mouthful of rice.

“Have you heard of this recent app going around?” I asked. “I think it is called “Parallel You” or something.”

“Oh, yeah. I heard some of my classmates talking about it earlier but I do not have any idea what it is,” he replies.

“They say it is an app where you like chat with someone who has the same interests as you, freaking stupid right?” I chuckled.

“Nah, I think it is cool. Who knows I might try it later tonight,” Haru spoke making me look at him in disbelief.

“Are you serious? Dude! That is literally dangerous. Who knows what is inside that app or who made it. They could install a virus, a private camera or steal your identity. The world works different, Haru; and so, does the internet but worse!” I warned him. I did not care if I sounded like a mother or an old geezer but it is really dangerous.

I would always watch the news with Ayumi-san whenever I felt bored and the amount of cybercrime that happens day by day just make me grimace and disgust me on what the world has become.

“She is right, Haruto-kun. I saw my son going crazy on that app and let me tell you it is bad and too addictive!” Mr. Miya spoke from behind the counter as he clicks his tongue in a disapproving way.

“Do not worry, Miya-san and you too Raven-chan. I will just check it out! If it is boring, I will delete it,” Haru said as he gave me a playful wink making me reply with a roll of my eyes.

—

It was already noon time as students where already leaving the school premises and some trying to escape their duties as cleaners. I also do not want to attend cleaning classrooms so I just left without a worry. My classmates could not also tell me to clean with them since they are too scared of me.

As I was walking to the gate, I saw Haruto still doing swimming practices with his club so instead of going to the gang meet with him, I had to go alone.

After school our gang, the Roppongi Panthers get to have a meeting with each other to update each other with opposing groups and other deeds. Despite us being gangsters, we are not as bad people see as to be or think of us.

We never hurt innocent people or fight without a valid reason. Yes, we were built on rough tones, bloody faces and violence but as much as possible we avoid that and if I hear any of my members try to commit illegal stuff or do anything out of the gang’s rules, it is either a beating or they go out of the group.

I changed it to my “tokkoufuku”. It was a color blue jumpsuit with a golden panther shaped logo in the back and a small one the chest area.

I wore my golden brass knuckles before riding my skateboard and skating all the way to our hideout. It was an abandon building that was fixed a little by us to look a bit appealing. I roamed my eyes at the place and grimaced at the sight of the debris bits about to fall off.

“I have to find us a new place,” I whispered to myself.

As I walked to the platform, I caught the attention of hundreds of men who were all wearing the same uniform as me. They all faced my direction and quickly bowed.

“Konbawa, kaichou! (Good evening, President!)” All the men said all together.

I even saw Kenshin, Kouji and Ryuu on the front lines now since they were captains. Like the others they were also wearing our uniform.

“Haruto is not here due to personal attendings so we will start the meeting without him,” I announced as I put my hands in my pocket. I was the only woman in sight but I had a higher position than all of them.

“Are there any reports of gang fights and rule breakers these past few days?” I asked the crew.

A slim dude walked up the line and raised his hand as I nodded as a permission for him to speak.

“As for these days boss, no reports of gang fights and rule breakers but there are threats towards us from the Tsukiji Mob and they are starting a thing with our gang,” he reported that made me furrowed my eyebrows in annoyance.

Tsukiji was a district in Tokyo, just around us. There were currently twenty-five districts around Tokyo but only six of these districts had official gangs.

The Shibuya Ace, Tsukiji Mob, Shinjuku Boyz, Akihabara Hustlers, Harajuku Gals and... Roppongi Panthers.

I only met two of the head leaders of these other five mobs. Hiroshi from Tsukiji Mob and Kai from Akihabara Hustlers.

Hiroshi was a hot-headed and a cocky punk leader and always wanted to butt heads with other gangs so it was no surprise his gang was starting another fight with us. Haruto and Hiroshi were always clashing heads whenever they met before and when they fight, their whole gangs fight. That is why our gang has a huge history with the Harajuku Mob.

But unlike Hiroshi and the Tsukiji Mob, their group was only built three years ago and Hiroshi was its fourth leader. They decide the leader by fist fights and strength that is why it was not hard for Hiroshi to gain the top spot since that bastard was a tough nut.

As for the Roppongi Panthers, the gang was established since the 80’s. It was Haru’s Uncle, Ayumi-san's husband, who started all of it. The Roppongi panther’s leader ship is passed on by bloodline so after Haru’s uncle was his dad, next was his two other older cousins and him. But after beating him in a fight, Haru wanted me to be the new boss. Haru’s cousins were disapproval of his decision and even Kenshin and Kouji since I was not family by blood and I was a woman. I do not whether it was prejudice or if they are worried about me.

But since it was Haru’s decision as president during that time, I was appointed as the first ever non-blood related president and woman member of the Roppongi Panthers.

“Should we move boss?” Ryuu asks.

“No, it is too soon and as long as they do not use their fists, we remain silent for the mean time,” I ordered.

We talked more about further things regarding the group when I ended our conversation early for them to go home. As I was walking away from the building, my eyes were still glued to some of our member’s screen were shining of the color purple, the same color the girls from my class’ screens were. I shook the thought off as I skated back at the house.

“Tadaima! (I’m home!)” I said before removing my school shoes and using my slippers for home.

“Irasshaimase! (Welcome home!”)” I heard Ayumi-san’s voice from afar. I already saw Haru eating dinner.

I went inside my room before going out as I changed clothes. Luckily, I was able to remove my gang clothes earlier before coming home. Ayumi-san will be shocked to see me wearing a gang biker uniform.

Ayumi-san knew nothing about me and Haru’s involvement in this. Even before it was just Haru doing this stuff, he tried his best to hide it from her because he knew his aunt will not be able to handle that news since Ayumi-san always had a weak heart. But even though we were able to keep this a secret from her, she was wary of her husband, her brother’s husband and two kid’s involvement in it. Although after that, she thought the gang has disbanded already since her husband and one of her boys were already overseas and the other has a family now.

Haru’s parents died years ago when he was still a child. He practically grew up with Ayumi-san so that is why she was so important to him.

I went out of my room as I sat on the dinner table as Ayumi-san did as well.

“Itadakimasu! (Thanks for the food!)” both of us said as we started eating.

“Haruto-kun! Stop playing with your phone while eating! Have some respect for the food,” Ayumi-san scolded him.

“Okay, okay... sorry,” Haru said as she scratches the back of his head and turns his phone away.

He puts the phone on his side but the flash of the purple light was flashing through the screen.

“You already downloaded it?” I asked him while my eyes were still glued to it.

“Yeah, it was really cool! I matched with someone and we have been talking with each other for hours,” he chuckles.

“I also saw the app around the bakery today. It looks quite fun,” Ayumi-san butts in.

I sighed in response as I ate the soba noodles. Why the hell can’t I get my mind off that stupid app?

-

It was already midnight but I was looking at my ceiling and my mind was still not off the app.

“Argh!” I grumbled as I ran my hands through my face.

I got my phone as I tried scrolling around f*******: to calm my mind.

Many of these posts where from my gang mates and school mates.

Kouji just posted a photo!

A notification popped up as I clicked on it.

He posted a picture alongside Ryuu and Kenshin on motorbikes with the app on their phone screens.

“Download this cool app now!” Kouji said on the caption. Kouji was quite popular because he was a gaming streamer so this might have been a sponsor post.

I clicked on the app and pushed the download button. I mean, what could go wrong right? Maybe my mind will be at peace after I have tried it.

Parallel You app has been downloaded.

I opened the app immediately as. a purple screen blinded my eyes but I tried to read what was written on the screen.

Enter your name...

I typed in the name “raven” on the blank.

Great! Finding you a match...

My heart was pounding as I waited impatiently for my partner. My mind was racing with many ideas as I waited for it to find me a match. Would this really work? Would I really meet someone just like me?

I jumped at the sound of a bell that dinged as I looked at the screen. My eyes widened with shock as I read what was written.

WE HAVE FOUND YOU A MATCH! MEET YOUR “PARALLEL YOU”... ROUMEI!