theapplicationof | [A Story of Messages]

Akira's phone buzzed.

This wasn't an unusual occurrance. Usually it was either Homura, or it's his dad or mom checking in on him (seeing that his uncle hasn't gone crazy or something or worse, the usual concerns from them), or it's said uncle asking him to get something for him.

Sure enough, when he checked the phone from his laying down position, it was his mom asking him how he was. How things were doing. When would he be coming home? She wasn't sure how safe it was for him to be there... Also plans about the New Year later this month.

Akira let out a bit of a sigh, before responding with the usual platitudes of how he was fine and safe. The usual stuff. But he felt... A bit sick in the pit of his stomach. No one really trusted his uncle Mamoru anymore. Not his mom. Not his dad. Not his former friends and associates. Not anyone but him or that Akaba guy, it seemed like.

He wasn't sure what to do though. Was there even something he could do? He felt like when he took a step further in helping his uncle, he'd take a step back in response. It didn't help that sometimes he'd start obsessing over that weird blank card of his...

He closed his eyes for a moment, before getting back up, checking his phone in case his mom had messaged back, but then noticed--

"When did I get this message?"

He realized a new conversation was open. A simple greeting from someone.

"Hello."

Hello? Who is this? He typed that in, in response, not expecting a real answer-- after all, maybe it was a wrong number or something, it happens, but...

"I guess you could call me a friend."

Akira... squinted a bit at that. Friend? Does that mean this was intentional? He responded again, "that doesn't really answer my question on who this is..."

"Hah, sorry. Why not just call me "Friend", for now?"

Akira blinked. For some reason, that didn't bug him so much. Telling him to call them "Friend". It was simple, and while usually he'd be bugged by the dodginess... he continued.

"Okay, but why are you messaging me?"

A response back. "Well, I want to get to know you. I've been watching you for a while, I must admit... But I can't approach you at all."

"Well, why not? How would you be watching me, anyway? Are you an admirier or something?"

"Nothing quite so romantic as that." Akira could almost sense the pause before the next message came. "Like I said though, you can think of me as a friend. Someone who doesn't mind listening to you, if you want to talk."

Akira let out a breath. Talk? Talk about what...? He pondered a moment, before just responding. "I guess if I had anything to talk about, it's me wondering what to do about my uncle..."

A moment passed. "Your uncle... Is he sick?"

Sick? Akira pondered that. "Sick... Maybe that's a way you could put it. But I don't think a cure exists for him."

"Oh, that's a shame... But how would you describe what ails him?"

"Well..." Akira laid back, typing. Typing about his uncle's moodiness. His esteem. His obsession. His physical change. His personality change. The incident that caused it...

For some reason, he felt like he could hear the "tone" of the person on the other end, that sounded easier to type to about this. Besides, it's not like something would happen, anyway.

When he finished, he waited a moment... and another, and another. He almost closed his eyes to rest a moment, before he saw a new message.

"With what you say... Are you sure your uncle is your uncle, and not something invading him?"

Akira frowned a bit, responding. "Who else would he be? Of course he's my uncle."

"You said that it's all because of a "possession" incident though. What if the thing that possessed him never actually left?"

Akira... never really thought of that before. From what he knew about the incident, someone or something had stopped his uncle's rampage, and that he seemed coherent and "normal", if shaken, afterwards... But what if the changes that happened here were because the one in control wasn't his uncle, but maybe believed and acted like they were?

For some reason, that made Akira's blood run a little cold. He didn't want to think about that. He'd rather think of him as just simply being "sick". But... is that just him trying to run away from the idea? He did act weird. And it seemed to be tied to whatever that blank card was...

"I don't think it's that... but just to talk, what would I do if that were the case?"

A moment passed again.

"Well, if I were you, I'd probably try to confirm it... and then force whatever it is that's still in him out of him."

"And how would I do that?"

"That's probably for you to figure out... But I'm willing to lend you a hand, if you truly desire it."

Akira already felt a bit lost about this situation. He didn't know what to do when it came to his uncle. What if it really was all down to him being possessed, or "sick"?

Well, if someone was offering him help, who was he to deny it?

"If it comes to needing help, then I'll take it, if you're going to offer."

The responding message almost seemed instant: "Thank you. That's exactly what I'd want to hear." Akira felt his eyes closing after that--

--

-- Akira blinked, realizing it was already almost 4AM. Did he fall asleep or something? He felt like he had, his hair was mussed up, and he'd forgotten to change out of his clothes. He yawned and stretched a bit, trying to do the mental math of getting himself undressed and back into bed at this hour...

Then he realized his phone was dead. Damnit, he thought to himself. He must've forgotten to put it into the charger last night, too, since he was so caught up with his conversation...

Well, whatever the case was, he might as well get back to sleep, if it was still this early. He plugged in the phone, letting it power back up, before going to get changed.

It was a really interesting conversation, at least, whoever that "Friend" was.