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You visited your local convenience store, buying a plethora of sweets as offerings for the spirits you'll visit today.

This was your daily routine, but you began to miss days the more and more you got caught up in something involving Hanako or Yashiro.

"Hey, are you alright? You seem a bit down today." A voice speaks out to you from behind.

You turn around to see one of the spirits you usually visit. His name is Akihiko Yoshikawa, he died not far from your house a few years ago, so you see him every day.

"Oh! Good afternoon Akihiko-Kun. Did you find what you've been looking for?"

He sighs and shakes his head, floating beside you he looks down at your feet as you walk.

"Not yet... But thanks to your map I think I'll find it soon. All this floating around isn't good for me."

He closes his eyes and stretches, you smile at him but it doesn't quite reach your eyes. Akihiko takes notice of this.

"Hey... Y/N are you alright? You still didn't answer my question."

"Don't be silly. I walk this route everyday. I doubt I'll ever get lost."

He floats in front of you and flicks your forehead, you mumble an ow and glare at him, this only makes him chuckle teasingly.

"No dummy... I meant that you look lost in thought."

Nodding your head, you continue to walk towards your home. He follows you closely, waiting for your reply.

"It's just that... I'm worried about my friend. He's--"

"He?! Y/N do you have a boyfriend? Why didn't you tell me?"

You shake your head, smiling. "I don't. Actually, I'm pretty sure that he likes my friend. Their soul bond is unique and strong... I'd call them soulmates."

Akihiko nods in an understanding way and lets you finish.

"He was about to get exorcised today. It made me wonder about the things he needed to do to pass on."

Hanako-Kun's past is filled with pain... I could tell that much. If there are exorcists like Minamoto out there... What if he runs into a powerful one?

Will he be able to pull off what he did today?

I don't want to see Hanako-Kun unhappy... I want him to fulfill his duty...

Your thoughts are interrupted by the ring of your phone, you pull it out of your pocket to see that the person who was calling you was Yashiro.
"Yashiro? Is there something that you needed from me?"

Your friend sounded panicked on the phone, so you knew something was definitely wrong.

"Come to school quick! Something weird is happening and I don't know what to do!"

"Huh? What about Hanako-Kun?"

"I can't find him anywhere... maybe you can help me look for him?"

You hummed and told her that you'd be there soon. Hanging up, you smile apologetically at Akihiko and hand him a bag of sweets. He thanks you and you quickly run off in the direction of the school.

"I hope Nene-Chan and Hanako-Kun are okay..."

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Running into the school, you instantly notice that the time seemed to have rolled back. Just a few minutes ago it was the end of the school day, but now the day seems fresh and the school looks as if it's just now starting.

"Y/N-Chan! I'm so glad that you're hereee!"

Yashiro calls out to you, looking very distraught. She calms down and explains to you the situation. She even tells you about the Misaki stairs, you both assume that her friend's disappearance has something to do with the rumor.

"Have you found Hanako-kun yet?"

"No, I've looked everywhere... hopefully he comes back soon."

You nod thoughtfully and smile warmly at the worried girl.

"Don't worry Nene-Chan! I'm sure we'll find your friend soon. Why don't we wait in the old girl's bathroom until Hanako appears?"

"O-okay!"

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You and Yashiro waited in the old girl's bathroom all day, prepared to relay the mysterious disappearance of your classmate. When he does come, Yashiro wastes no time filling him in on the current situation.

"Missing? Hmm..."

"We need more than a "hmm"! You weren't around all day! Y/N and I had to wait this late for you."

"Well, I'm busy, too. Why not call the police?"

"We think that it's not just any disappearance. Nene-Chan's friend disappeared in the school, and every trace of her is gone... not even her mother knows who she is anymore." You explained.

"It might be one of the school wonder—"

"Hanako!!"

The exorcist from earlier cuts you off, sliding into the girl's bathroom. He grabs on to Hanako's shoulders and shakes him.

"Damn you! What'd you do with Yokoo and Satou from my class?!"

"H-Hang on, Calm down "

Kou ignored Yashiro's words and continued to shake Hanako until he looked dizzy. You decided to step in and calm Kou down yourself.

Grabbing the blonde boy's arm, which caused him to stop and let go of the poor apparition.

"O-Oh hello Y/N senpai! I didn't see you there..." He smiled bashfully and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Have your friends gone missing as well? Maybe our suspicions are right then..."

"In that case..." Hanako starts, fixing his collar.

"I have an idea."

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"There are seven places in this school that connect to the spirit world. Those stairs are one of them."

"The missing students must have neem taken to the spirit world."

The spirit world... I've heard of that before. It was written on the back of a letter my grandmother sent me once. I was too young to know what that meant at the time, but hearing it again makes me feel... Calm.

"When a living human wanders into a boundary, their whole existence is erased."

"Boundaries... My brother told me about those. They are the seas between the shores of this life and the next. A world of ghosts and apparitions with nowhere to go, things everyone has forgotten."

"Only a few people can enter a boundary unharmed and unforgotten. They are called Soul connectors or Sourukonekutā, and their people are very rare."

You look down at the floor, fidgeting with the hem of your school uniform.

Sourukonekutā... I can connect with spirits and my mother and father are dead.

Maybe I'm being a bit childish, but...

"HEY!"

The abrupt yell of Kou forced you out of thought. He's pulling Yashiro away from Hanako, so you can only assume that he's protecting her from his... Unique nature.

"What is it? I was just getting to the good part."

Hanako wiggled his fingers, he tried to look innocent but that didn't stop Kou from shielding both you and Yashiro from Hanako.

"You're taking Yashiro senpai and Y/N senpai into the Boundary, right?"

"Well yeah."

"I'm coming, too! I'll protect them."

You smiled and tried to cover your giggles. You found Kou silly, but you were still thankful for his protection. Although you might not need it.

"I don't mind, but you're not my assistant, so I won't protect you."

"Hey! Y/N senpai isn't your assistant either! How come does she get special treatment?"

Hanako glided over to you, wrapping his arms around your shoulders. You instinctively hugged him back, not thinking much of it.

"Because we have a special connection. We're practically soulmates!"

You sweatdropped, looking apologetically towards the other two.

"Whatever! I don't need your protection anyway." Kou glared, pulling Hanako off of you with one arm.

"Don't cry to me when you become shredded meat."

The two continued to bicker childishly, usually, you would have been intrigued by a fight between two rivals. But too many thoughts flooded your mind at that moment...

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