My Life in a Bizarre Town: Chapter 8

Haru and Elizabeth were now at the second part of the mall, having decided to enter a video game store called "GameStreak"; now, as you may know, the Archangel mall, or shopping center, is divided into two parts—the northern and southern wing—with a second floor above the rest. Currently, the two were in the northern wing, which consisted of a bookstore, a game store, a co-gendered clothing store, and a barbershop.

Liz watched as Haru was looking at the rows of video games of all genres, game consoles in variety, and other accessories that a hard core gamer needed to play at their best. "Man! I never thought there was a place like GameStreak in this town!" Haru said, ecstatically, with stars in his eyes, "I mean, look at this: Tomb Ravenger for Playconsole 3, Nuketown: New Reno for PC, Battlecraft: Rise of the Ice King for Mac, and...NaughtyGirl Buzzsaw for Nbox; this store has a bigger library of games than the video game stores they have in Tokyo!" Elizabeth just quietly nodded at Haru's enthusiastic comments that, truth be told, she didn't know a thing about video games; better yet, it's more like she's clueless on such pop culture.

10-years-ago; 3 weeks after Haru's departure...

Elizabeth weakly stood on the sidewalk, watching with her eyes with bags under them as Haru and his family drove away in their SUV; tears started to form and fall down her face as her expression faded to that of complete sadness; she couldn't believe it, the only friend she had ever known in her life was now leaving and she had no idea if he'll ever return, lowering her head while the tears fell to the concrete. It's not fair... she bitterly whispered. Her quiet cursing and regret was suddenly intruded when a person came within her space, her eyes widened when she felt a presence standing behind her.

She turned around and saw before her a silhouette of a man towering over her; the man was 6-foot-tall and a slender figure; he was dressed in a long-sleeved white-buttoned shirt with a black vest with vertical gold lines over it, a red tie around his neck, white gloves and a pair of black dress pants and black dress shoes; his face was hidden by the large fedora over his head, casting a shadow that prevented anyone from seeing it. "Come along, Elizabeth, you can't stand out here forever, especially out within the sun's reach. It's time to go home; we can't keep your tutors waiting," he remarked, extending his hand towards the little vampire girl.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she reached out and grabbed the mans' arms, responding to him with a vague, yet still painful, expression, "Okay, I'm ready to go home...father."

10-years-later, present...

Finding herself staring at the floor, Elizabeth was in deep thought, reminiscing about the past: Ever since Haru left, 10-years-ago, my father had to put me through several tutors to become a proper lady of the Youngblood Family and its' noble lineage; since then, my father had forbidden me from leaving the house; Haru was the only exception of a friend my father ever allowed me to see, even though he was human, and when he left, I was never allowed to leave and because of that. Being even more strict than before, I never understood much about the outside world, nor understood the things that were in it; sure, I knew about computers and other technological devices, but I never understood how they worked; when I studied, we did it the old-fashioned way with books, quills, abacus, and metronomes; my father didn't want me to rely on technology, believing it would impair my senses, making me too dependent on them, becoming more like a 'human'. It took me ten years of so much effort, and pleads, to convince my headstrong father to let me attend school like any child. After shortly attending Archangel high school, as if by a miracle, I received word that Haru was moving back in town. Once again, I cried as hard like when he left, but, this time, it was out of happiness and joy; happy to see him, again.

"Hey, Liz, come on, we gotta keep moving before all the best stuff is gone," Haru announced; snapping out of her train of thought, Elizabeth's eyes widened as she noticed Haru at the doorway, waving at her and signaling her to come over.

After Haru had purchased an impressive amount of video games, he and Elizabeth continued their itinerary throughout the mall where they walked into another clothing store; this time, it was a co-gendered clothing store called "Dears!" it had a make-up counter in the center, a men's section on the west, a bed & kitchen supply section in the south, a women's section in the east, and a children's section in the north; on th speakers, the song "New Killer Star" by David Bowie was being played at minimum, yet audible, volume.

At first, Haru thought he was going to go through a similar mess that happened at Chic de Mode, in which Haru was forced to wait, see and comment on whatever clothing that Elizabeth had in mind wearing, then something ridiculously unfortunate would happen to Haru after that, which Haru couldn't help but think that the latter will most likely happen.

However, to Haru's complete surprise, Elizabeth ended up forcefully pulling his hand, dragging him to the boy's section of the store. "W-wait, Liz, what are you doing?!" Haru panicked, stopping his feet on the ground to slow himself down; unfortunately, this was useless as Elizabeth proved to be strong enough to haul him forward, leaving skid marks along the way. "I'm taking you to try out some new clothes, silly!" Oh, come on! I already spent almost all of my savings on the video games from earlier! Last thing I need is to suck myself dryer with whatever cash I have left! Haru mentally screamed. Although Haru protested, after a good five minutes of dealing with Haru's stubbornness, Elizabeth finally was able to calm the boy down, staring down at him with a threatening gaze; Haru, completely unsatisfiedwith how it all turned out, was now changing out of his clothes and into the ones Elizabeth recommended.

"Are you sure I would look good in this?" asked Haru as he spoke through the door inside the changing room.

"Of course, I'm sure; don't be such a cry baby," Elizabeth teased; opening the curtains, Haru walked out wearing a light-green sweater vest with a long-sleeved white-buttoned shirt under it, a pair of tanned jeans, and a pair of black dress-shoes with long white socks on his feet. The buttoned shirt enhanced Haru's innocent, yet firm, look, as it gave him a different opinions about the boy than when he was wearing his average clothes.

Immediately, after seeing Haru's new look, Elizabeth face was flushed red from excitement as she felt her heart beat faster than usual. Oh my God! W-what is this feeling I'm having?! When I look at Haru in that outfit, it's like the world around me is melting and only him and I are the only ones left! It makes my heart aflutter seeing how handsome he had become over the years; oh, what am I thinking?! Get a hold of yourself, Elizabeth! She mentally gasped; turning away from a confused Haru, Elizabeth started shaking her head while she cupped her face, trying her best to calm herself down. "O-okay...now, let's try something else, shall we?!"

Now, the roles have changed; it was Elizabeth's turn to observe Haru as he changed. Every set of clothes Elizabeth gave to Haru, he would wear and she would examine and judge them. The next outfit consisted of a blue T-shirt with a symbol of a sword inside a cog, a pair of blue jeans, a black belt, and red sneakers. The next outfit consisted of a teal-buttoned shirt, with a tanned coat, khakis, and brown dress shoes; the last outfit consisted of a fedora, a dark-purple shirt with a violet flower pattern, a black, sleeveless leather jacket over the shirt, black pants, and a pair of black shoes. Oh God! He's so dreamy! Elizabeth mentally screamed, feeling her face, as it turned red while steam shot out of her nostrils.

Finally, after purchasing with what little money Haru had left, they were almost done with our activity throughout the mall, as it was now 3:23PM. Just then, right when Elizabeth went to the bathroom, Haru bumped into someone, causing both of them to fall on the floor. "Ouch! I-I'm so sorry, I didn't see..." Shocked; Haru's face lost all expression when the person he bumped into was no other than Hikari Setsuna, the J-Pop star that sang at the gym last week.

"Ara? Haru, I didn't expect you to be here," said Hikari, smiling as her face blushed a little; she looked, as she didn't mind being pushed earlier. Man, I really can't understand how Hikari can manage to stay smiling like that...I know Elizabeth would be upset with me if I pushed her down like that, even if it was an accident! Haru instinctively remarked as the only thing he was staring at was the same expression that included her sincere smile and her closed eyes. Hell, he couldn't feel the slightest malicious aura emanating from her. Hikari, also, had a certain poker face where whatever situation she was in, she would cover her face with her eyes closed and would respond with a smile on her face.

"Hikari! What are you doing her in a place by this!?" Haru responded in panic, as h didn't expect Hikari to show up. Haru never thought in a thousand years that Hikari, who Haru could say with confidence, was the richest person he met so far is in an average mall that usually the middle class goes to. Then again, Haru also thought the logic was lacking some data, as he didn't really know why she was here at all.

"Oh! If you're wondering why I'm here, that's because..." Hikari's remarked drifted as she leaned closer to Haru's ear, obviously to make sure no one but the boy could hear it. "...The reason why I'm here is to buy supplies to make my costumes for my next concert next week!" Haru's expression faded into a deadpanned one, thinking on why in the world Hikari was so concerned with keeping such harmless knowledge a secret, let alone coming here dress like she wanted to hide herself from someone? Like anyone will make a fuss on Hikari wearing some flashy clothing that could make any boy drool on sight, and having her dance intensely on stage for everyone to see...

...Okay, so Haru could imagine a lot of reasons why Hikari didn't want this to be public knowledge that he was willing to admit. Still, this is just his thought on the matter; he should ask Hikari on why she was so set on hiding herself. "Hey Hikari, I got to ask, why are you so determined on disguising yourself in this getup just to go out and buy stuff?" Haru whispered in the same tone as Hikari said to him. It didn't make sense. Haru was for sure that Hikari's more than wealthy enough to go to another place, one more fitting for her social class to buy from than just coming here in such a secretive manner. Wouldn't her parents be concern for her if that were the case?

"...That's because, I don't want my father finding out about what I'm really doing here for..." Hikari's face slowly losing her smile, and her tone sounded more nervous with each words, "...Or the concerts either." Hikari finished. Now Haru was really confuse about this. She doesn't want her father to find out? About the concerts, or her being here? Haru, unable to process the information Hikari had just told him, was about to ask her for more details until a cry came from across the mall.

"There she is!" A familiar man said, wearing a certain set of clothing that had Hikari's face on his headband; Haru couldn't help scowl just by looking at him. Oh great! It's those guys from the fan club that pummel me last week! While Haru was reminiscing his mistreatment from the Hikari fanclub, and the teachers that's also a secret admirer of Hikari, Hikari was more concerned with the fact that she had been found. H-how did they found me! I thought I blend with the crowd! Hikari panicked within her thoughts, as of now, losing all composure, replacing her smiling face with one of worry; as she was unable to think of anything to overcome this situation.

As Hikari dreaded as the mob ran in herds towards the two, but as the mob passed, for some reason, Hikari was left untouched, as for Haru, he disappeared. Before the boy realized it, he was being carried by the Hikari fanclub across the mall. "W-what the hell?! Put me down, you idiots!" Haru screamed from the top of his lungs as he was being carried away. "No way!" said one of the members. "We saw you pushed down our angel like a rabid animal! You're going to regret what you have done!" Another nameless person said. This is insane! I'm being kidnapped by a bunch of fan-crazed freaks for something I did by accident! Haru's train of thought halted when his captor brought him before a water fountain at the center of the mall, which was when he realized what they were planning to do to him. "H-hey guys, you don't think throwing me in a water fountain is going to sol—" right before he culd finish his sentence, he screamed as he was tossed right into the fountain, becoming soaking wet, along with the clothes he was wearing and everything he had just purchased.

After the mob left and once area was cleared, Hikari rushed over to the fountain as the young man climbed himself out of it.

"Haru, are you okay?!" Hikari asked while giving her hand to pull Haru up, which the latter gladly accepted as he used Hikari as a leverage to pull himself out of the body of water.

"I'm fine, despite the fact that my clothes are soaking wet, at least the things I bought are saf..." Haru's voice trailed off as his attention turned to the spot in the fountain where sparks of electricity were dangerously flying out. He took a closer look, seeing a shadow reflecting in the water and realized that the stuff he bought were in there.

The clothes he didn't care for, but the games he bought:; the irreplaceable source of entertainment that would last him for months...such a tragedy could not be expressed the pain a video game otaku like Haru was going through.

"U-um, Haru, are you...really okay?" Hikari tried to talk to him as she heard him trembling in grief; his eyes became mortified at the sight of what he was seeing.

Haru could only make overly-dramatic tears as they fell down his cheeks like a waterfall with depressing music played in the background as a surge of electricity was coming out of the clearly broken video game products. It took all of his savings to by that!

The fanclub had struck, yet again...

20-minutes-later...

After the whole ordeal with the idol-obsessed mob was over, Haru tried to calm Hikari down as she kept bowing her head, apologetically, while shouting "Sorry" for allowing something like that to occur.

She even offered to repay for all the damage that was done to him during the incident. However, Haru couldn't let Hikari do that and didn't want to abuse their friendship, no matter how enticing the offer was to buy more video games. Haru then politely refused the offer, but accepted Hikari's apology. With a response so adorable, Hikari could have sworn she made a surprised expression as her eyes opened, revealing her grey eyes, and felt a hint of warmth on her face, probably blushing, as well. Remembering that she had materials to buy and stalkers to outrun, Hikari bid farewell to the young man and headed off to the next store.

Elizabeth looked around the area around her, searching for where Haru wandered off to. Oh God, where can he be?! Did he leave me behind?! Maybe he's in the bathroom, again! Maybe I should wait until he shows up! Just then, walking up to the vampire girl, she saw Haru was drenched from head to toe, letting out a growling sigh while looking at a flabbergasted Elizabeth. "Haru, what happen to you?!" she questioned. Shocked at Haru's current state of appearance.

"Don't ask," Haru stated; he walked passed Elizabeth and added, "Let's keep moving, Liz!" then, he proceeded to another part of the mall, hoping that the walk might help dry his clothes while a confused Elizabeth followed him.

Soon, they were preparing to head out the entrance way when, suddenly, they heard a voice call out to them, "Oh, Haru! Elizabeth! It's so nice running into you!" the two turned around with surprised expressions; running up to them, dressed in a white undershirt with a long-sleeved teal top over it, a pair of tight blue jeans, and black ankle-strapped sandals, was Ms. Celia Hatsugawa, waving her right hand to them, unaware that her large, giggling breasts were drawing lots of attention from the perverted gazes of men that passed by her, young and old.

"Ms. Hatsugawa, what are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked, not helping but stare at her teacher's large mounds and feeling a bit of envious for them as her face turned a little red.

"Oh, I'm just doing a little clothes shopping and...other things," in her hands, one of the bags she was carrying had the logo, "Bedtime Secrets", which she tried to hide behind her back as she blushed a bit while flashing an embarrassing smile.

The two could've sworn that they saw a rod-shaped object in the bag. Deadpanned; Haru and Elizabeth pretended that they didn't see "that" and moved on with the conversation. "So, are you here by yourself," asked Haru in a straightforward tone.

"Not really, I'm just doing this on my own; what about you, have you and Alexandra patch things up from last time?" she questioned, inquisitively. Hearing that, Elizabeth flashed an "What last time" glare at Haru, causing him to cringe in fear. Haru flashed a sincere grin at Elizabeth as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Yeah, like I'm going to tell Liz about that little mess; I don't want another misunderstanding to be made from that. Haru thought as beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

"S-so, I guess it was nice meeting you, Ms. Hatsugawa, b-but we need to go; so, we'll see you on Monday," Haru, once again, tried to change the topic, hoping Elizabeth wouldn't press any further on what Ms. Hatsugawa carelessly commented on. Unfortunately, that hope diminished in just one sentence.

"Oh no, no, no! I would love to hear what happened between you and this Alexandra I keep hearing about!" Elizabeth sweetly, yet too sweetly, pressed on the information that piqued her interest.

"Oh! Well then, if you're so keen on hearing about that time, then I'll be happy to tell you!" Ms. Hatsugawa said with enthusiasm. And just like that, Ms. Hatsugawa began telling the story just like how she made her lectures in homeroom class, or literature, class; of how Haru accidentally pissed off a female werewolf, being chased through the halls, and following it by how he saw a poor girl naked and exposed after that; how Ms. Hatsugawa presented all of it only made Haru look more guilty. He could only pale as Elizabeth nodded every confirmation of Ms. Hatsugawa's account of the story; her aura of mass amount of bloodlust grew, mainly directed towards him! After that, once Ms. Hatsugawa said her goodbyes and left their sight, Elizabeth's head turned directly towards Haru. Judging by her, dark highlighted eyes, and her ever increasing malice on the background; Haru knew what was coming for him.

"Oh my, to think that Haru was such a naughty boy...", Elizabeth darkly spoke as her hands twitched as if she couldn't restrain herself on squeezing the boy's neck. "How you seeing another girl naked with no shame what-so-ever bewilders me?! And here i thought you were a gentleman; well, I guess I better teach you some etiquette, don't you think?" 

As if the world was against him, Haru was getting smaller as if he had been reduced to chibi form of his former self as he was getting closer to meet hell herself. "L-Liz! I can explain!"

As Elizabeth was getting closer to Haru, getting more menacing with each step, she said the following,"So, do you prefer slow and painful or quick and horrible?"

Haru can only wait for what's to come as Elizabeth unleashed her righteous fury on the poor little man. The last sound ever made was a loud scream of agony.

Meanwhile; outside of the mall...

Standing on the rooftops, a silhouette watched Haru and Elizabeth through a pair of military grade binoculars, observing as the boy ran away from the enraged girl while she held an umbrella over her head; unfortunately, he couldn't outrun her as she was proven faster than him. "Cleric, come in, Cleric!" said a voice coming from the walkie-talkie beside the person

Dressed in a black jumpsuit with a black ski mask of the same color, it's hard to see who this is person was. The only thing that stood out was that the person's body was female in shape, as her figure and curves were pressed on her current clothing.

Picking it up, the person held it against his ear and answered, "Cleric, here, over."

"Do you have the boy in your sights?"

"I do; he is with the vampire, as well, so I cannot apprehend him at the moment, over."

"Do not worry; there are too many people, including monsters, in the area for any of us to handle;once he is alone, then you will be able to make your move; once you've made your move, report back to the us to the cathedral in town," the woman listened to every detail of the plan; then, to finish it, the person behind the voice said: "DO NOT fail this mission; learn and report your findings back to the church; we must know everything we can this boy's 'gifts' if we are to win this bloody war."

"Understood; Cleric, over and out," hanging up, the woman, Isabelle continued spying on the boy as he was being berated by the vampire girl, scolding him with demands of explanations and admonishments.

Her current objective was to observe the anomaly known as "Haru Takashima" who, despite being human, possessed a bizarre ability that easily defeated a troll; it was difficult finding the town due being in a remote area surrounded by trees and mountains, which made it diffcult for satellites to locate, but when Haru's power was unleashed, they were able to pinpoint the location of the source.

Recently, the spy, disguised as a high school girl, had been observing the boy for the past few weeks after the incident at the concert. After much examination and background checks on the boy, the higher ups became even more puzzled by the explanation behind the incident and had sent the cleric down to investigate more on the phenomenon. Now, once she is done, she'll return to the safe house, conserve her energy, and prepare for the ultimatum to be executed.