Unsolicited School

Take a look around

Don't force things to happen,

Just allow them to happen.

- ?

Robbie

Robbie finally reached the bus stop. The raindrops flowing down the roof of the sheltered bus stops generate a small waterfall in front of the students. There are just 7 students (excluding Robbie) who were sitting on the bench. Their shoes are wet as the rain and puddles that they're stepped on soaked the bottom of their shoes. The puddles on the streets are visible - making a small ocean and stranded the students at the bus stop.

"Hey, Mullet"

"Yo"

Robbie put down his umbrella at the small umbrella locker. The other umbrella greets that sand-color umbrella who placed in number 12. After then, he sits between Mullet and a girl who repeatedly warms her hand. Although today isn't winter, the cold air from the weather was enough to experience anyone about that breezy season. The girl shivered as she didn't wear a jacket or a coat. Robbie heard that girl muttered to herself, "Gosh… brrr… so cold", and she continued to warm herself as she could. It was your fault tho. You didn't bring any coat with you.

Robbie gazed at the sky. The clouds were darker than yesterday, but at least it wasn't too dark and made this morning looks like still night. But thankfully, there's no thunder is visible. Looks like the weather forecast tells the truth. The raindrops suppressed any sound around him, including some students who were talking to each other.

"Hey, Robbie"

Mullet's voice indirectly turned Robbie's head to the left like a robot.

"Did you see him again last night?" Mullet asked.

"Who?"

"That shadow dude"

"Oh, yeah. I saw him in my dream" Robbie answered.

"What did he say?"

Mullet's voice was low, but audible enough to only let Robbie heard him. But when Robbie wants to answer, the bus lights interjected their conversation. That metallic white-blue bus stopped in front of them. Because of the rain, the bus didn't show any funny reflection of the surroundings. The door slides open automatically and welcomed the students to enter the bus quickly. Robbie canceled his reply, took his umbrella from the locker, and walked into the bus.

After Robbie entered the bus, he put his umbrella first and then walked to the back seat where he usually sits there with Mullet. The bus's AC is off to not worsen the temperature. Otherwise, the passengers inside will experience hypothermia. He glimpsed at the middle mirror placed in the front. He saw the usual driver of the bus. He now recognized the driver for the morning shift and the afternoon shift.

Just before he took his seat, the bus accelerates, and made Robbie wobbled when he tried to sit down. This time, he sits next to the window. He has his chance to look at the rainy view. But the raindrops on the window disturb his view. Plus, the fog unclears anything in sight. Robbie cleared the fog with his bare hands. First, he made a square outline, then he cleared the fog inside of the square. Now he could see the view from the window, although he had to clear the fog periodically.

While he's looking at the view from outside, his mind was suddenly drawn to the previous conversation. Oh yeah, about that shadow dude. Robbie turned his head 180 degrees to the left and looked at Mullet, who currently fell asleep with his left hand holding an mp3-player. But he didn't play any music. Mullet's face looked innocent as he drowned in his slumber, and how he's sleeping shows no signs of sleep deprivation. Man, what a dozy dude.

When Robbie was about to wake him, Mullet opened his eyes and he saw Robbie staring at him. Quickly, Robbie glared away and his eyeballs focused on a girl that sits next to Mullet.

"Uhh… are we there yet?" asked Mullet.

"No. And about our conversation before, I saw him in my dream" said Robbie.

"Oh. About that shadow dude, right?"

"Yeah. He told me, "Today is be the best day to harvest the crops. And this will happen again in certain circumstances. And we must make the most of it". But I don't know what he was talking about… do you understand what he was saying?" Robbie explained.

"I don't know either, but mine's different from yours," said Mullet while he stows his mp3 player into his backpack, "He said to me if today, they be with us. And they will come back in the same circumstance,"

Robbie silenced as his brain generating the answer to the whimsical puzzle. But he failed it as his mind was too messed up to think about it. He shrugged desperately, and Mullet changed the topic to avoid their conversation being heard by anyone. "Anyway, I got an idea."

"What is it?" asked Robbie.

"I have a good feeling about this. How about we take a look around?" said Mullet.

"Take a look around?"

"We walk around the school to find out. Maybe it will trigger the message, like the writing in front of our eyeballs or glitch stuff"

"Yeah, I guess that was a good idea" Robbie agreed, "Wait, you have that message too?"

Mullet lifted his eyebrows and shook his head simultaneously.

"Good. And anyway, let's try not to talk about this at the school. I'm gonna take you to somewhere after the school's over okay?"

"Where to?" asked Mullet.

"I'll tell you later"

10 minutes later, they arrived at the school. Robbie took his umbrella, walked out of the bus, and opened his umbrella to cover himself from the rain. The bus door behind him closed automatically, as he was the last one who left the bus. Robbie glimpsed the sky, then he looked around. The rain became a little heavier, and the clouds are getting darker as he arrived at the school. But, according to today's precipitation, the forecast was correct. The rain will last for today and tomorrow until 5 PM.

After Robbie put his umbrella, he walked to the shoe locker to change his shoes. His hands contact with the very cold steel of the locker. It feels like he is touching frozen steel with his palm of his hands. But thankfully the locker wasn't literally frozen. Otherwise, his hands will stick to it.

After he changed his shoes, he closed his locker. Suddenly, the shoe locker in front of him rusted. Robbie startled and recoiled one step. He looked at his surroundings quickly. All of the students were gone, and the shoe locker room was entirely rot like an abandoned building. No lamps installed in the room, only a strange light illuminates above him. But when he blinked for a second, the room was reverted back to normal. Robbie quickly asked Mullet, who also startled like him.

"Dude, did you see that?"

"Yeah, what the heck was that?" Mullet asked.

"I don't know" Robbie shrugged, "I guess we better go now."

The duo agreed to leave the shoe locker and proceed to their class – awaiting the first lesson to begin.

The school bell rang as the time reached 12:00. It's time for students to have lunch. However, Robbie had no appetite for lunch today. He just wants to go to the gym storage room and sleeping alone in there. He also intended to skip the next class. He felt sleepy as the rain hypnotizes him. Robbie looked at Nino, who directly moved out to the hallway alone. She didn't invite Robbie this time. She just walked away alone.

FOLLOW

HER

Robbie's sight pitched black as the red-yellow colored words appeared again in front of his eyeballs for a split second. Robbie didn't scare as he knows it will happen again. Also, he realized if that was a message meant for him, and ask that 17-year-old boy to do so. Obeying the message, Robbie followed her.

"Nino, wait," Robbie called her. Nino turned her back and gazed at him. Her dazzling aura showed as he looked at him. Nino looked like a cheerful princess.

"Yeah, of course" Nino replied him with a smile.

"Sheesh, don't leave me alone like that" Robbie pouts.

"Hehe… I'm sorry, I forgot if you was there"

"Yeah, whatever" Robbie sighed, "Cafeteria?"

"Yeah, I wanna go there" Nino smiled.

As they arrived at the cafeteria, Robbie met Mullet, who wants to order his lunch as usual. Robbie knows if Mullet want to talk privately as he "Psst" Robbie. He moved behind Nino, and asked her to order first.

"Okay then, I'll be waiting for you at the usual table"

After Nino walked away from them, Mullet starts to whisper.

"Do you experience something earlier?"

"Yeah, a message" Robbie nodded, "He asked me to follow her. How about you?"

"Mine's different" Mullet rejoinder, "He asked me to go to the cafeteria"

"I guess there's another message hidden here" Robbie whispered.

"Hey guys, are you wanna order something?" a students asked him.

The duo obeyed the kid and took their order like usual. After Robbie took his lunch, he waited for Mullet, then the duo walked to their table, where they always sit and have lunch together as a g**g. But sadly, the rainy weather worsens their appetite because there's no warm sunlight shone on the cafeteria. The cold weather cooled their food faster, and the lights in the cafeteria aren't enough to linger the food warmth. Most of the students showed their gloomy face (not literally) as they're eating their lunch. It feels like they're blaming the weather.

The duo joined the g**g, where Robbie sits between Kano and Mary, while Mullet sits next to Shouko. They're the last two people who joined the seat before their lunchtime starts.

"What took you so long anyway?" Nino asked.

"Nah, just a private talk" Mullet answered.

"Oh, come on," Mary sighed, "Why today's weather is so bad?"

"Yeah, I just wanna go out and play today. Why the rain must last until tomorrow?" Kano frowned.

"Don't you watch the weather forecast last night?" asked Nino.

Mary and Kano shook their head.

"Then it's your fault because you guys aren't watch the predictions" said Robbie.

"Oh yeah, by the way," Nino interrupted their conversation, "the food will cold faster because of the rainy weather. So why don't we eat now?"

The g**g agreed. They realized if they keep talking, the food will be cold. The g**g picked up their chopsticks, spoon, and fork and enjoyed their feast.

After they eat their lunch, the g**g decided to stay and chat with each other. The food tray is now clean. Not even a single food and drink on it. Robbie folds his arms and put it on the lunch table. He took several breaths before he continues to listen to their chat.

"You know something," Nino gave a smug smile, "we have three listeners here. Looks like you got a friend with similar trait, Shouko"

"Wh… What do you mean?" Shouko asked while she covers her mouth and nose with her hands.

"Robbie and Mullet have the same traits as you. They always listen to our conversation and rarely speak up," Nino explained. The duo blushed as she teased them.

"Hey, we rarely speak up because we're afraid if our word will kill the scene" Mullet explained.

"Exactly. Kano, you know what should I call these trio?" Nino gave a larger smug while she asked Kano.

"Introverts" Kano snickered and wave his right hand like wiping a window, while Mary giggles. The situation broke as they giggled at the trio for a while. Suddenly, a question flew into Nino's brain like a bee.

"Oh yeah. By the way, You guys haven't joined any club yet. How about you joined one? It would be more fun than slacking off after 3 PM. But I wanna know from you guys, what is your hobby"

Robbie and Mullet alternately tell them their hobbies one by one, until they said the same hobby.

"Going out alone, and take some photograph" said Robbie.

"Yeah, me too." Followed Mullet.

The g**g silenced as they listened to the same hobby from the duo. Nino found a potential similarity from the duo, and finally, she has a perfect question for them both.

"Do you guys have a Pictogram account?"

The duo nodded.

"How's your picture rating by other users?"

The duo embarrassed to tell their ratings. But Nino's curiosity forced them to open their mouths.

"Mostly positive" the duo answered simultaneously.

"May I borrow your phones to see it" asked Nino.

They both took out their cellphones. Before they hand it to Nino, they opened the Pictogram app and lend his phone to Nino. She thoroughly looked at the pictures in their account together. After a few pictures she saw, Nino gave them a smile and a suggestion to join a club.

"I have a conclusion. How about you guys join the Photography Club? You guys have potential. And you can ask Shouko for joining the club, she's the vice president"

"Yeah" Mary agreed, "You guys have are skilled in photographs"

"Uhh… I don't know," Robbie shrugged before Nino returned his phone, "Maybe I should see the other clubs first"

"Yeah, we still don't know about kinds of clubs here. Maybe we had to look around before we decide" said Mullet.

The g**g frowned as Robbie and Mullet didn't sure to join the Photography club. Felt guilty, Robbie glared out the cafeteria. The rainfall is still the same as before. his ears switched to the rain, where the sound of the rain suppressed the cafeteria's ambient.

JOIN

THE CLUB

The message flickered in front of Robbie's eyeballs like a glitchy screen and also muted the whole ambiance for a while. Robbie recoiled from his seat, his eyes wide opened after the message jumped into his eyes. He stared at Mullet quickly, where Mullet also stared him back to start an inner conversation.

Robbie lifted his eyebrows while staring at Mullet, and tilted his head towards Shouko, informing Mullet to join the club. Should we join the club? Mullet moved his eyeballs to Shouko, and he nodded as he understood with Robbie's meaning.

"We changed our mind. Maybe we will join your club later" said Robbie with a mild smile. The Nino's expression rises quickly as they partially agreed to join the club.

"Cool. When you guys wanna join it?" Nino asked.

Robbie didn't answer as he doesn't sure when. Instead, Mullet told the g**g.

"Err… maybe tomorrow,"

"It's okay, guys," Shouko halted them with raising her hand in front of her chest; "If you guys want to join my club, just tell me. I'll bring you two to the club room."

"Sure, thanks" Robbie thanked her, then followed by Mullet.

Robbie flexed a little bit. The foods he ate brought back his stamina and completely killed his hunger. He looked at his wristwatch as he has done talking with the g**g. Suddenly, Robbie felt shocked. It's 5 minutes before the next class begins. Quickly, he stopped their conversation.

"Guys! Its five minutes left. We should go now before the school bell rings"

The g**g gasped as they didn't realize the time passed quickly. They quickly cleaned their food tray and walked back to the hallway. The hallway itself has fewer students because it's almost time for the next lesson. Just after Robbie stepped into the class 2-1, the school bell finally rang, informing the next lesson will begin.

3 PM. As usual, the students went to their clubroom while the other students cleaning up the school. Robbie waited in the class until Nino left the class to attend her club. Then, as he planned, Robbie walked out of the class and starts roaming around in the school. His mind focused on two things that he thought before. Hideki's existence, and any clues. Hmm… I must go somewhere to trigger the message.

After he drank a canned choco drink, Robbie starts seeking around the first floor. He walked through the illuminated hallway like a cleaning robot while his eyes glared from side to side. But there's nothing happened in the hallway as there's no message jumped into his eyeballs or any weird stuff written.

He walked to the cafeteria. The rain from outside soaked the atmosphere now. All of the students are gone, only the cafeteria chefs who were sitting at a lunch table. He was holding his phone and chatting with someone. The chef realized if someone stepped into his lair. His eyeballs glared at Robbie's existence, then he asked nicely.

"Hey, kid. What do you want?"

"Uhh-"

"Sorry kid," The chef cuts his words, "There's no more food here. You can ask the vending machine for it"

"It's okay, that's not what I need right now" Robbie answered.

"Then what is it?" he asked.

"Uhh… nothing in particular" said Robbie while he scratching his head.

"Well, take your time. And anyway, he's here"

"Who?" asked Robbie.

"You know who it is"

Huh?

Robbie fell silent after what the chef said. He didn't move a muscle like he was just petrified. His mind ear wormed by one of the chef's lines. He's aware if someone's here. But who? Him?

Without wasting his time, he walked back to the hallway. He carefully looked at each window. Every room he passed is different, from the workshop room to the school lab. His destination ended in the lobby, where some students stayed inside. Some of them are looking at the bulletin board, while some of them having fun on the couch. Robbie sat down on one of the couch, and he looked around the lobby like a CCTV.

EMERGENCY

EXIT

The message flickered on his eyeballs – asking him to go to the emergency exit. He quickly stood up like a jumping bean. And walked towards the hallway that leads to the emergency exit. The sound of the rain became louder as he reached the door. As he stood right behind the door, the message flickered again – telling him to open it. But Robbie was doubtful to open as his conscience call told him not to open it.

OPEN

THE DOOR

The message flickered again. It flickered violently and disturbs Robbie's sight. The message defeats his conscience call and finally forced Robbie to open it. His right hand trembled like a person who had a tremor. He also shuddered in fear as his other thought flew into his brain. What if a bad person stands behind?.

The message continues to flicker as he didn't touch the doorknob yet. But he has no choice. He reached the doorknob and gently opened the door. Suddenly, a spiky black-haired student with a black bandana appeared in front of him like a jumpscare. He was drenched in rain, and his uniform was shabby and dirty like a homeless person. It's Hideki.

"Whoa shoot!"

Robbie jumped back like a startled cat and slammed the door open. His heart pounds rapidly as he saw Hideki right in front of his eyes. Robbie was shocked by him. First, he finally saw Hideki after he didn't see it for eight days. Second, his uniform was so dirty. It was too dirty if he was using it for a day; it looked more like he has used the uniform for eight days straight.

Hideki silently stared at Robbie like a dead person for a while; then he walked past him to the lobby, where the other students were also surprised by his dirty appearance. The crowdy situation becomes dead silent as he passed by. After he was gone, Robbie felt relieved, and the situation quickly back to normal. His main question has been answered. Now he must focus on the other things that might trigger the message again. Without further ado, Robbie walked away from the lobby; and make the most of his time to get any messages.

Robbie walked to the second floor, where this floor meant for first-year students. His memory flashed back when he stopped Hayato from his killing spree right on this floor. God, that was a bad day I have tho. While he walked around the hallway, he glared at the class, where several first-year students stayed inside. He quickly averts his sight from those underclassmen before they see him, as he won't interact with them. He was a little embarrassed when he had to talk with him.

He kept walking until he reached the two-story library. The library is merged with the upper floor to make it accessible for all students. After he walked into the library, he went to the computers at the center of the library. He checked all computers by looking at them as a tech support guy. But none of the computers glitched or error, all of them operate normally. Suddenly, a librarian called him when he re-checks the computer again.

"Excuse me. May I have a moment?"

"Sure" Robbie nodded.

"Someone's left you a book at the mystery shelf. The book number is 431.4" He explained.

"Uhh… thank you"

The librarian left him and continues to do his job. Robbie moved away from the computers and walked to the designated shelf, where it's located northwest of the library. As he arrived at the mystery shelf, he points his index finger at the books. There are a lot of books on the shelf. The shelf is partially full. Robbie starts pointing his finger at the books on the top. He traced the books until he found the book that the librarian said.

Robbie examined the book. The book has a plain red leather cover with the title "Read me" Written on the front with a classic typeface. By looking at the cover, the book looked like 20-years old, three years older than him. After Robbie examined it, he opened the book. But strangely, when he opened the first page, the book has no words except a single command repeatedly written on all pages.

GO TO THE

PRINCIPAL'S ROOM

Robbie gasped a bit and lifted his eyebrows. As he understood with the command, Robbie quickly left the library and runs to the fifth floor like a sprinter. He kept his footsteps as low as possible to not make any noise in the hallway. After he reached the fifth floor, he quickly ran to the principal's room. Immediately, a message jumped into his eyeballs – telling him to stop in front of the door. Robbie obeyed the message and halted as he reached that door. He found Mullet, who also ran to the same spot. Suddenly, his sight pitched black, and the sound that was around him vanished. Only the howling wind hits him.

THIS DOOR IS LOCKED.

THEY WILL NOT ALLOW BOTH OF YOU TO GET INSIDE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO GET IN.

TAKE THAT THING.

DESTROY IT.

After the message appeared on his eyeballs, his sights back to normal, and so with the raining sound. They both silenced like a statue for a moment. Then Robbie looked at Mullet – asking him.

"What was that?"

Mullet shrugged. He didn't know what to say. The school bell rang abruptly and interjected their blank-minded soul. Some of the students stared to left their club and proceeds to go home. But the rain slowed down their plans. A moment later, The duo saw Nino and Shouko walked out from their clubroom, but fortunately they didn't see Robbie and Mullet, who was standing still in front of the door.

"Should we go now?" Mullet asked.

"Yeah, let's go." Robbie nodded, understood about where they'll go.

The rainfall was still heavy like before as Robbie waited at the bus stop. Neither of them talking at each other. They had to keep their mouth zipped as many students waited at the bus stop. The five minutes of awkwardness filled them both until the bus arrived. And as usual, they both sit down at the back seat with Robbie sits next to the window.

Instead of going home, Robbie and Mullet went to a small café located at the Shironeko district, which it's one mile away from Robbie's house. They walked out the bus and opened their umbrella right after.

"A café? Really?" Mullet asked.

"Yeah. Get in, bud" Robbie welcomed him and opened the door.

The duo locked their umbrella, then walked into the café wearing their trench jacket. The waiter came and asked for their menu. Robbie ordered a hot Mocha while Mullet ordered a hot Café Latte. After the waiter left, they begin their conversation.

"So, what do you saw before?" Mullet asked.

"Messages," Robbie explained, "First, he told me to follow Nino to the hallway, then asked me to join the Photography club,"

"Mmhm" Mullet nodded.

"Second, at 3 PM. When I was looking around for any messages at the cafeteria, the chef told me that someone's in the school – waiting for me to find him. As I find the guy, it's Hideki. His appearance was so messy,"

"How messy he was?" Mullet interrupts him.

"Messed up. He looked so shabby and dirty since I found him today. It looks like he used his uniform for eight days straight since we didn't see him. And the last one, I walked to a library, where the librarian told me someone's asked me to read his book. The book is just a command written repeatedly on the whole page like he's spamming me. He asked me to go to the principal's room as you did." Robbie explained descriptively. "Then how about you?"

"Mine's also same, but with some differences. He directly told me to go to the cafeteria. And the person I saw was different. I saw Erika act weirdly today," said Mullet.

"What the- explain it, please" Robbie replied

"Well-"

"Sorry for the long wait. Here's your Mocha and Café Latte, Bon Appetit" The waiter interrupted Mullet, who was about to explain what he saw to Robbie. After she walked away, Mullet continued his explanation.

"As I was saying. When I looked at her, she was sharpening a knife. It looked like an ordinary kitchen knife, I guess. But also I heard her giggled."

"Whoa, then what happened?" asked Robbie while he examines his Mocha.

"I don't know. She knew someone was peeking at her. So I had to hide" Mullet shook his head.

The duo silenced for a moment as they brainstorms. While their mind battles with the question, Robbie and Mullet took a sip from their drink. The warmth and sweet taste of the Mocha warmed his blood, and energized him to continue speaking.

"I have thought about Hideki, but I wanna ask you one thing," said Robbie with his right hand holding the coffee mug, "How many days did you not see him?"

"Same as you" Mullet answered.

"Exactly. After we see him at the rooftop on day two, he was gone, and everyone didn't see him. Not even his friends saw him. I feel like Hideki was trapped, or he hid from all of us."

"Why do you think so?" asked Mullet.

"I have a bad feeling about him. I think he was still possessed. He just stood dead in front of me. He didn't try to bully me or something" Robbie took another sip before he continues. The sweet taste of the Mocha he drank faded slowly as his taste bud just adapted with the taste.

"About the club, I guess we should join it. I think this is a good idea for us to get another message via photographs because you already know if he could do it easily. But are you sure we should join it tomorrow?"

"Yeah, the sooner the better." Mullet agreed before he took another sip from his Latte.

"Third, about the principal's office. I guess we literally can't get in there. But he said there's one thing that we had to steal and destroy it. I guess that thing meant everything in school. But I don't know how to get access to the office," Robbie took a breath before he continues. The Mocha taste remains in his taste bud as he breathes, "And as for Erika…"

"Yeah, about her. D'you thinking what am I thinking?" Mullet asked.

"Yeah" Robbie's mind went darker when he thought about Erika, his mind vanished the Mocha taste in his taste bud and made his warm drink turned cold and tasteless like a plain water.

"I have a bad feeling about this. Something will happen again in the school"

To be continued…