Friday night passed and Saturday came. I laid and slept till noon. Then with the first two bags in hands arrived at mom’s. Seeing me coming with bags she offered to take the rest with a car. Made my original plan from going back and forth easier. She was overjoyed that she did not even question me. As far my mom was concerned her daughter was with her and all that mattered. She helped me to take everything back over to her new home.

  I spent all of my Sunday inside the basement working on my development project. Spending hours and hours not wasting a minute. By the end of a Sunday I was finished and done.

  Athena has sent me over some of her files. I revised some but most were of great help.

  Itsuki or Reigen have not reached out to me thankfully. Neither Yukari. They didn’t need to. Not yet.

  “Rory?” My mom came downstairs.

  “Yes?” I looked up from my computer screen and at my mother’s confused face.

  “Oh! Wow! What did you do here?” She looked amazed.

  My project camera was built. Not one but multiple cameras. Five to be exact. All were connected together with a wire that was connected to an outlet which was eventually connected to my laptop. From the sight my mom stood it looked like a web of lots of wires with me right in the middle.

  “Finishing touches on my development project.” I replied. Then I raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?” Noticing a small letter in her hand I asked.

  “Oh…your friend…didn’t catch his name. He left you this.” Mom said. Walking over to me and handing me the letter.

  I reached out and took it.

  “What time is it?” I was not aware of anything around me right now.

  I opened the letter.

  “Half six.” My mom answered.

  I nodded and opened the letter.

  7.15 PM Study club. And location. Picture of a building that looked like a bookstore.

  I've seen it before. It was close to the central park. My curiosity did not want to ignore this. Especially with everything else going. I was wrapped in something I was not aware of and the only way to untangle is to see it and live through it. At least that’s what I felt was the best to do.

  “I will head out soon.” I said closing the letter and putting it next to my laptop.

  “What’s in it?” My mom cautiously asked.

  “Oh? My friend wants to meet me.” I replied.

  “Isn’t that an odd way to invite?” She asked.

  I shook my head and smiled. “Nope! This one is very dramatic about technology.” I waved my hand. Washing her worries away.

  My mom smiled back at me.

  “Want me to drop you off?” She asked.

  “That would actually be nice.” I agreed.

  “I will go get ready then.” She smiled and turned away to leave the basement.

  And eventually, I reached the address on the note. A small bookstore that looked as if it was closed for customers. This place did not even look to be in position to take customers. The front entrance was definitely closed.

  I hovered around it for a couple minutes and looked at the picture and note. Definitely this is the place. I actually had no idea who sent this.

  I don’t want my mother to worry. She must know nothing.

  “Rory?! Is that you?” A voice called out.

  I turned around instantly. It was someone I wasn’t expecting.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Athena looked rather surprised to see me. I’ve seen Athena’s handwriting so I knew this wasn’t her handwriting in the note. She ran up to me and hugged me.

  “Omg! I’m so glad you’re okay!” She hugged me very tightly while I stood squeezed in her embrace quite uncomfortably.

  “Sorry.” Realising what she did Athena jumped back.

  “It’s okay but what are you doing here?” I asked her.

  “Me? I…amm…uhh…why are you here?” Athena looked uncomfortable to answer my question. Instead asked me back.

  I did not answer. I just blinked at her and extended my hand. Handing the note I received.

  “Do you happen to know whose handwriting is this?” I asked it straight out.

  Athena looked over at the paper. She stared at it for a long moment. Then randomly she grabbed my hand and pulled me in a side street.

  “Don’t say a word!” She quietly shushed me.

  Though, I wasn’t saying anything.

  Then she pulled out a key from her pocket and opened the doors. We went inside the bookstore from the back.

  I breathed in the dusty air. A room filled with old books. A small reading space. An admin register that is for holding cash, which looked rather old-school. Turning left there were three desks and chairs that looked like a reading space. And four other people were gathered here.

  “You’ve got to be kidding!” A girl I recognised as the servant from Shanks.

  If I recall correctly, Dina. Her annoyed expression took my attention. Her eyes facing Athena disapprovingly.

  “Athena!!” A tall guy I had never seen got up from his seat.

  “What is it?” Athena asked looking back at Dina, then at the guy standing.

  “You’re being selfish here!” Dina proceeded to say clearly disappointed about something.

  “I told you not to do this!” The tall guy said to Athena. His expression wasn’t disappointed but looked like something he expected. He did not tolerate it and turned towards the doors about to leave. He did not leave yet but lingered.

  “And what is this that I am being selfish about?” Athena asked curiously. Her tone is rather harsh. Questioning the people looking at her.

  Rio was here too. Smiling knowingly, he got up.

  “I must apologise!” Rio, the same guy Athena introduced me to in Shanks. He took everyone’s attention, walking forward and smiling.

  “It was me!” He announced happily.

  “I know it’s you!” Athena narrowed her gaze holding that piece of paper I gave her in the air showing that she is being blamed unreasonably.

  The invite was from Rio.

  “What were you thinking?” Dina almost shouted. Turning up towards Rio.

  He seemed to enjoy the attention, not caring about his friends being angry at him.

  “Oh! C’mon!” Rio pointed at Athena. “You would have brought her here anyways.” He was looking at her with a knowing glance.

  “I wasn’t.” Athena tried to say but only received a look back at the tall guy lingering by the doors.

  “Well…not now!” She corrected her words with uncertainty in her tone.

  There was another guy sitting a little away from Rio. His head down. Fully immersed in reading a book. I couldn’t see the title. Only now he glanced up.

  “Julius left.” He said at the same time the door slam shut behind us.

  Athena looked back. Letting out a long perplexed sigh. Her expression was lingering. Her lips pursed slightly. Then turned her glance back at Rio.

  “This is your fault!” She pointed. Fully shifting the blame towards him.

  “If you say so!” He only laughed. Not caring of the damage he had done.

  “Excuse me…but I’m not sure what is going on here?” I finally spoke up. At a loss. Glancing at Athena. Then at the one who sent me the letter, Rio.

  “This is a study club.” The guy who was reading the book answered quietly and quickly.

  “Yeah…” Rio replied. “We want to invite you to our study club!” Rio smiled brightly at me. Cheerfully giving me a welcoming smile.

  Dina did not say a word but only looked in my direction.

  The guy reading the book kept on reading.

  Athena eyed me hesitating. Pointing at that guy reading. “That one is Marco.” She gave me the names of people in this room. “You met Dina.” She pointed at the girl standing. “...you also met Rio.”

  Dina did not look welcoming to me.

  Rio flashed me a big friendly smile.

  “...the one that left was Julius.” Athena introduced me to everyone.

  Julius? That was the guy she mentioned she liked…

  I nodded to her giving names to these people.

  “I don’t think your group agrees with another member.” I slowly replied.

  “They are just being cautious…you know what happened with your boyfriend…” Rio said. “Don’t mind them.” He encouraged me.

  “I also don’t think I want to be involved with whatever this is.” I said.

  It was shady. Definitely.

  “It’s a study club!” Marco put his book down for the first time and looked in my eyes.

  Rio laughed.

  “Marco was second on the ranking of our grade. Dina was third. We are a pretty capable group.” Rio told me as if saying that would sway my mind.

  “It’s true. These guys are very smart.” Athena confirmed, smiling.

  “That is why you should listen to us!” Dina looked at Rio and then gave a small glance towards Athena.

  Rio completely ignored Dina and moved on.

  “What happened with you and your boyfriend?” Rio was interested in that development after seeing the scene of me being dragged out. They all wanted to know. I could read in the eyes. Dina. Marco. Rio. Athena. All eyes rested on me. Waiting for my response.

  “Ex boyfriend. We broke up.” I corrected him. Narrowing my gaze. “Nothing else that should concern any of you.” I wasn’t going to give anything more to someone who was practically a stranger.

  Though that response didn’t sway Rio. He only smiled brighter.

  “Athena considers you a friend and so do I. Friends care about other issues. Especially affairs with their heart.” Rio sounded very genuine and convincing but I was not having it. They could be sent as a back up plan after the Shin and Yuji scheme was exposed.

  “This is a waste of my time and yours.” Turning towards Athena expressing my intention to leave. “Sorry Athena. Talk to you Monday.” I apologised and stepped away.