"Hotaru, Hotaru!"

A young girl dashed through the flow of students, darting in between bodies, making her way to another young woman, lurched over and dragging herself forward. Catching ear of the siren-like calls of the girl quickly intercepting her, Hotaru glanced over and let out a weak smile, forcing her arm upwards to give a half-formed wave. The other girl beamed with joy, a smile reaching seemingly from each border of her face.

"So, you want to come over again! Aiko is home so we can probably get her to make us some Castella if we bother her enough"

Hotaru chuckled slightly at the thought but politely declined, raising her hand up to dismiss the suggestion.

"Not today, Kyoko. I have to go to the church before the priest leaves." she explained, swinging her backpack onto her shoulder. "It's imperative that I speak with him, and I'd rather not have to go all the way to his home and bother him."

Kyoko frowned slightly, stamping her foot a bit, "Hotaru! You and all this Christian stuff. You better not be becoming a Jesus freak or something."

Hotaru smirked, "I assure you I am not. It's just that..."

"What"

"Well, last night, I had a dream"

Kyoko's face twisted into a puzzled expression, "A dream, about what?"

"It...It's hard to explain. It was just, dark, and empty, it felt so unnatural. And with the news of the things that have been appearing on that..app, if you could even consider such a monstrous thing a simple phone app! I think something evil is happening, and with people talking about end times..."

"No! Okay, Hotaru, no!" Kyoko snapped at her friend, drawing the attention of some passing students who congregated to gawk at the girls' argument. "I'm not going to tolerate you thinking such stupid things! There is nothing evil or "satanic" about the app. I've talked to several people already who think it's just a hoax. They've made pretty good arguments."

"Look, the whole talk of this thing is just unnerving me, and I think I need to talk to my priest to ease my mind."

Kyoko said nothing, simply frowning at her friend

"Kyoko"

"Fine, fine"

"Good," Hotaru said, mounting her bike as she looked back at the girl opposite her. "I have to go now. I'll call you later. Bye"

As she peddled down the street towards the priests home, thoughts raced in Hotaru's mind. The cognitive vortex was beginning to give her a headache.

[i]Ugh, maybe I just need some water[/i], she thought, catching sight of a convenience store nearby.

[i]I guess I have time to get some water. Father Joji won't be gone that quickly[/i]

Hotaru pulled into the parking lot, quickly chaining up her bike and darting past a group of smoking delinquents loitering on the walls. Water was all she needed.