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"Hmm... Yep, I think I know who!"

"Really? Can you tell me? I would like to meet them if I can."

Hanako took strands of your hair and lifted them above your head to make them look like bunny ears.

"Their rumor name is " Yousei-san". They take the things that are close to you. Simple items, like a pencil or a hair clip."

"But you should never look their way, if you do..."

He drops your hair and the air goes silent around you. It felt as if he had left so you looked around the bathroom in confusion.

"H-Hanako?"

"They'll take your life too!"

"Ah!"

Hanako jumps out at you, startling you and causing you to fall over. You land on your bottom with a thud.

"Ha ha! Hanako strikes again! Were you scared?"

You sit up and rub your bruised butt.

Sometimes, Hanako seems more like a little brother than a powerful apparition...

"So that's what's stealing Yashiro's things? I should warn her.."

"They're a pretty popular rumor today. I'm sure she already knows by now."

You stand up and dust yourself off. You turn to Hanako and thank him for the information.

"Is there anything else you wanna know? Y/N-chan?"

"Hmm... No, but are you doing anything right now?"

Hanako tilted his head to the side, "Not right now. Why?

"Great! Then can you help me go looking for Yousei-san?"

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You and Hanako walk down the quiet hallways together, talking on the way until you notice anything that could lead you to Yousei-san.

"Ah, I feel Nene-chan's presence not too far from here. Do You think that she could be looking for Yousei-san too?"

"No... My hakujoudai is telling me that's she's in danger. Come on, let's hurry!"

Hanako grabs your arm and pulls you towards Yashiro's general location. You keep up nicely and continue to focus on Yashiro's soul link.

Be careful, Nene-chan...

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You finally find your unlucky friend and just in time as well. She was just about to be taken by Yousei-san.

"Scatter them, Haku-joudai!"

Hanako manages to save Yashiro from a close call with one single blow from his haku-joudai. You cover your eyes from the blinding bright light and when you uncover them, everything is peaceful again.

"Nene-chan! Are you all alright? Your not hurt are you?"

You fall to your friend's side with a worried look. She uncovers her teary eyes and hugs you tightly. Smiling gently, you hug her back.

"You're a sucker for handsome guys and apparitions, huh, Yashiro?"

"Humans die so easily."

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Thump

"Huh?"

A cute little pink bunny falls into your hands, it seems thankful that you caught it.

"What are these?" You hold up the bunny looking apparition to your face to inspect it.

"Those are Mokke, currently known as " Yousei-san." They have lived with humans since ancient times, committing minor thefts and pranks."

You gently caress the mokke in your hands, it seems to like it a lot.

"They look a lot different than before.."

More mokke join your side and you gather them up in your arms, some buried themselves in your hair while others snuggled in your arms.

"They're adorable!"

You burst out into a giggling fit as you cuddle the soft pink apparitions in your arms.

"Mokke cluster together like that and shapeshift when they attack something. They normally aren't aggressive, but..."

The Mokke in your Arms speak up, looking a bit shameful of their past actions.

"We didn't want to hurt anyone, but our story changed. We couldn't help it."

"Their story?" Yashiro questioned.

"Meaning rumors. Most apparitions can't go against the rumors about them. Rumors humans spread exaggerate and change over time."

"Apparitions who don't match their rumors will slowly start to vanish from existence."

"Vanish.."

Yashiro looked over at you and frowned, she watched as the Mokke offered you sweets.

"Yashiro, Y/N. Would you like to change the rumors about the Mokke for me?"

"What do you mean?" You asked, looking up at him.

"I'm one of the seven members of this school. I must monitor all apparitions in the school and maintain order between humans and apparitions."

"I can not ignore murderous apparitions. I have to eliminate them..."

Shivers run down your spine as you feel the aura around Hanako darken. You subconsciously tighten your grip around the mokke, in a way of trying to protect them.

"But... A human, like the two of you, can change the rumors and save them."

"Please!"

mokke at your leg pleads, handing a piece of candy to Yashiro.

"Sorry about earlier... Have a candy."

"We have lived happily here for centuries. We want to stay! Have a candy."

You smile sadly at the mokke and wipe one's tears. You couldn't say no to their cute faces.

"I'll do it!" You smiled, determined to protect the adorable apparitions.

Hanako smiles and turns to Yashiro, waiting for her answer.

"Me too! We'll change the rumors for you!"

"Hurrah!"

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"Oh, just wondering, but is this the "important job" you wanted to ask me about once I finished cleaning?"

"I'd originally planned to wait a bit longer."

"I knew it! Y/N-Chan, that means I can graduate from cleaning duty, right?!"

You smiled happily and caught the falling Mokke that Yashiro had thrown up in the air due to excitement.

"Not a chance!"

"Oh.."

Placing the mokke down gently, you try to comfort Yashiro in her dejected state.

"Don't worry Yashiro, I don't think the bathrooms are that unpleasant to clean. I find it fun, actually!"

"Y/N-Chan... You're so strong-willed.."

"Do you hate it that much?" Hanako asked.

"Not many girls are crazy about cleaning the bathrooms."

You nodded your head, understanding Yashiro's dislike towards the after school activity.

"Hmm, that's too bad."

The sunlight from outside beamed past the opened doors of the school balcony. The warmth of the sun touched your skin as you stepped out into the sunlight.

"Like Y/N, I looked forward to it. Doing something together after school, making small talk, it's kind of like having friends."

"It's... Nostalgic."

You turn towards the blue sky in thought, what Hanako said kinda reminded you of that boy you met when you were younger.

"Hanako-Kun... That sounds more like we're friends, doesn't it?"

Yashiro stands at one side of Hanako while you stand at his other. You watch quietly as their soul bond grows stronger. Seeing your two friends from completely different sides of life getting along, made you happy.

"Nene-chan, I think I know what rumor we should spread..."

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