Chapter Thirty: Telephone Scatolgia:

March 1st, 2010.

5:30 p.m.

"Make a wish," Tsuzuki said. Anna closed her eyes and mumbled something before blowing out the candles. The couple clapped.

"Yay!" Tsuzuki cheered. "So what did you wish for?" Anna turned to him, smiling.

"Secret!" she whispered. Her fianc� pouted.

"Aww."

"Sorry." Anna kissed him on the nose. Tsuzuki sighed happily.

"Alright," he said. Anna turned to the cake.

"I suppose you want a piece now, huh?" she asked. The shinigami nodded eagerly.

"Yes!" he said. "Please cut it!" His love gently shushed him.

"Okay, okay," she said. "Hang on." Anna picked up the knife and cut the first slice of cake. Tsuzuki waited with an excited heart. I hope your wish comes true, he thought.

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April 9th, 2010.

6:30 p.m.

At another Shinto shrine, a miko had just opened up for the day. She swept around the steps. Today looked like another slow one. The miko came over to a stone bench outside. She paused when she looked out of the corner of her eye. She backed up to see two women in black sitting hand-in-hand, looking asleep.

"Ladies!" she called. "Please don't sleep here. Go somewhere else." The miko puffed up her cheeks when she got no response. "Ladies! You can't sleep here!" She shook on one of the women's shoulders. "Hey! Hey! Hey!" The coldness of the woman's skin made her jump. No� Not the Cupid Killer! She turned and fled into the temple.

"Help!" the miko cried. "Someone help! There's another dead couple!"

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10:00 a.m.

The goth women fuelled him again. Today, he would ask Kimiko out. All morning, he pumped himself up. I can do this! He nodded and went into the high-tech company he worked for. Maybe� he could come upstairs today. It wouldn't hurt, right? Had to give a little in love, now?

He wandered down to the cafeteria upstairs. Right away, they all stared at him. He expected the whispered at this point. They didn't even reach him today as his eyes scanned the room. Get something first and then wait for Amaterasu. He walked up to the sweet bread stand. The caterer gave him a puzzled look.

"You're actually out of the basement for a change!" she said, gasping. He gave her a little smile.

"Can I have some red bean bread today?" he asked.

"Okay�" the curved caterer said, hiding her shock. She pulled out a fresh one from the top.

"How much?" he asked.

"Eighty yen," she said. He paid up and took a seat in the corner. At that time, the news came on the TV in the top corner of the cafeteria.

"Another couple has been found at another shrine this morning," the anchorwoman said. "Both female, but just like the previous couples found. There are still no leads on the case." The room filled with chatter. He smirked to himself. It felt strangely good to hear about his work in the news, fuelled him more to ask his Amaterasu out.

"Scary, isn't it?" someone asked next to him. He glanced to his right to see Kimiko sitting next to him. He changed back to his confident self.

"When did you get here?" he asked.

"Just now," the tea girl said.

"I see," he replied. They looked up at the TV. He unwrapped his bread.

"It won't be scary if I'm around," he said. The tea girl turned to him.

"Hm?" she asked. He looked her straight in the eye.

"You said the murders were scary, right?" he asked. Kimiko nodded with her lips pressed together. He gently placed his hand over hers on the table.

"Come out with me on Friday night!" he said. "I'll keep you safe." Kimiko blinked at him.

"Why?" she asked. He drew back with a nervous chuckle.

"That's if you're available on Friday night," he said.

"Wait, are you� asking me out on a date?" Kimiko asked, tilting her head.

"Pretty much," he replied.

"Alright," she said. He smiled and bowed his head.

"Thank you," he said, modestly. Inside, he let out a loud cheer. I did it! She will be mine! The high from the kill last night still fired in his belly. The rest of his day saw roses and lollipops from that little victory as he waited for tonight at six o'clock to arrive.