Note: I have nothing to do with Haunted Junction and its characters except to be a fan who enjoys the series a lot. This story is my extrapolation of the storylines as seen in Bandai's subtitled release of the series. I apologize if the subject matter is inconsistent with the original intent of the creators or the original Japanese. Note: episodes during which specific events took place are identified in brackets.
Haruto spent a mostly sleepless night at home, struggling mightily--but ultimately futilely--to find some other explanation for his...love...for Red Mantle. He'd finally fallen asleep shortly after 2 a.m., but it had been a restless, dreamless sleep that left him more exhausted than refreshed.
The next day he again found himself alone in the Holy Student Council room, hunched over the table as he tried to stay awake but found himself growing sleepier and sleepier with every passing moment.
As a way of distracting himself, he wondered how Red Mantle felt about him. True, they were friends, and Haruto had even gone so far as to asking the spirit to call him by name instead of by title. He wasn't upset that Red Mantle hadn't asked him to call him by his name. It seemed at times as though death robbed a spirit of its identity, and the spirits who returned--at least those that came to Saito High--took their titles as their name.
The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to believe that Red Mantle felt some regard for him beyond the boundaries of President and council member, or student and school spirit. He wanted to believe that Red Mantle had unconsciously done something to steal his heart, to earn his love and respect. Haruto began examining their relationship from the very beginning to the current day.
At first he'd remained distant from the spirits, yearning for a "normal" school life, even going so far as to call up numerous exorcist firms and trying his own hand at exorcism to "cleanse" the school of all the unnatural things. Yet, despite all his--failed--efforts, none of the spirits held it against him. If anything, their first prolonged mission--stopping a tidal wave of demons from entering the world--had started drawing them closer. [Ep. 2] During the missions and events that followed, Haruto hadn't really had much to do with Red Mantle, occupied by other problems while he let the spirit do what he did best--charm the girls.
It hadn't been until the "Blue Hanten" incident that they'd really had much to do with each other. Red Mantle had actually used his cloak to protect him. [Ep. 8] For a moment, Haruto clung to the hope that the spirit's action proved that he felt something for Haruto. Then, he reluctantly admitted that Red Mantle was just the kind of person--spirit--who was heroic and selfless enough to protect defenseless mortals from harm. And, remembering that the spirits were bound in some way to the wearer of the badges, Haruto sadly conceded that perhaps the spirit had been acting in self-interest, though he couldn't bring himself to believe that Red Mantle was so mercenary. [Ep. 6]
Haruto brightened as he remembered more about the incident. Red Mantle had actually confided in him about the past he shared with Blue Hanten, who had actually been the spirit's younger sister. At the time, he'd had the feeling that Red Mantle had never revealed the truth to anyone. Then his smile fell. At the time, he'd also been the only one not yet ensnared by Blue Hanten's magical glove, and therefore the only one who would have been aware of the truth that had come out. Although, he paused, reconsidering, Red Mantle hadn't really needed to tell me about it all, did he? Buoyed by that somewhat cheering thought, he was able to contemplate the way he'd been used to betray Red Mantle--summoning him into the auditorium so the rest of the Holy Student Council, under Blue Hanten's spell, could trap him--with a slightly lighter heart. [Ep. 8]
Then his heart fell again as he remembered the second time he'd betrayed Red Mantel...betrayed all the school spirits. He'd actually used the badges to summon them all and watched, silently, as Exorcist Joe from the Ministry of Education casually sent them all on to the spirit world. True, thanks to the school's location they'd all returned almost immediately, but he'd still betrayed them. Yet, when he'd summoned them, and apologized to them, and asked them without daring to hope for their cooperation against the monster from Pandora's Box, it had been Red Mantle who'd stepped forward first and asked him to count on them again. [Ep. 11&12] Since then, there had been other missions of varying degrees of danger, and--with the exception of one time when the Giant had saved all of them--it was almost always Red Mantle who shielded him from danger and carried him out of harm's way.
So, did Red Mantle actually care about him in some way other than school spirit and student, or council member and president? Were they actually, truly friends? And was their something more?
Haruto sighed. If only there was someone he could talk to! Someone who would understand, however minimally, how he felt!
He paused, remembering what Toilet Hanako had said after the Blue Hanten incident when she'd discovered that Haruto had fallen in love with Red Mantle.
"You've got great taste, I must say!"
If anyone could possibly advise him now, it would be Toilet Hanako. She, at least, had seemed tolerantly amused at his situation at the time. He wondered if she could help him now. He reached up to his chest, lightly touching the badge that would summon her. "I'm sure Miss Hanako can--"
"Hai?"
Haruto screamed and pushed away from the table, tilting his chair back and falling to the floor. His head struck hard, and he lay there dazed for several long moments. It wasn't until he blinked several times before he saw a girl's face gazing down at him.
"Oh, Mr. President, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you like that."
Haruto closed his eyes and slowly got to his feet, fighting the dizziness that followed him up. "It's all right, Miss Hanako," he said, righting his chair. "But, next time, could you try floating through the door instead of just appearing right in front of me?"
"Of course," Miss Hanako said, smiling brightly. "Now, what did you want with me?" She leaned in towards him, the bow that held her blouse closed slipping dangerously low.
Haruto swallowed. "Miss Hanako," he said quickly, "I know you're very intelligent. You aced the college exam questions that Miss Yamiko tried to trip you up with. [Ep. 6] Right now, I need your advice on something serious. Please, can you help me?"
The vacant, lazy look in the spirit's face faded, making her look more mature, more sensual, and much more beautiful. Haruto swallowed again and forced himself to remain calm.
"Of course, Mr. President," Miss Hanako said, her voice becoming brisk and businesslike. "What is the problem?"
Haruto sighed and sat down again. He looked away, feeling a flush rising to his cheeks. "I think I've fallen in love," he said.
"That's wonderful!" she gushed, clapping her hands.
Haruto looked up, surprised. "It is?"
"Well, of course it is," she told him. "You're always so serious, and so devoted to being a good President, even when you were denying it, that we worried about you. Now you've fallen in love with someone, so that part of your life is developing the way it should."
Haruto shook his head. "I'm afraid it isn't," he said quietly. "I don't think it would ever work out between us."
Miss Hanako crossed her arms and stared at him. "Why not?" she demanded. "Is it because she doesn't love you back?"
"It's not that," Haruto said. "It's...well...you see, the person I love isn't...I mean..." He buried his face in his hands. "I'm in love with a man," he groaned.
"So?"
Haruto looked up. "What?"
"So you're in love with a man," she said. "You love your father, right? And you love Kazumi, too, except when he's possessed by a lion, right?"
"It's not the same!" Haruto objected. "I think I want to spend the rest of my life with him!"
"So it's that kind of love then?" Miss Hanako said.
"I...no, it's not!" Haruto said. "But that's not the worst of it! The person I love isn't even alive anymore! He's a spirit, and there's no way it would work out no matter how you look at it."
Now Miss Hanako's jaw dropped. "A spirit?" she asked.
Haruto nodded miserably. "It's Red Mantle," he said. Then he crossed his arms on the table and burrowed into them. "I tried to imagine the girl I wanted to spend my life with, but the only person I could seem to picture was Red Mantle! Oh, Miss Hanako, what can I do?"
Miss Hanako reached out and touched his shoulder gently. "Maybe you should tell me everything," she said.
* * *
"And you saw his face seven times since that first time?" Miss Hanako asked.
Haruto nodded. "I think it was eight or nine times, actually. But the last time was nearly a month ago."
"You haven't seen his face since then?"
"No."
"Well," she said, smiling, "I said it before. You have good taste."
"Miss Hanako, I'm serious!"
"So am I," she said, still smiling. "At least you've fallen in love with someone who is loyal and supportive, as you should know from hearing how much Red Mantle did to help his sister."
"But we're both boys! And I'm alive and he isn't!" Haruto shook his head, frustrated and losing control of his control. "How could this even happen?" He stood up and started pacing. "I always dreamed of having a normal life, of marrying a normal girl and starting a normal family. But for me to love Red Mantle? It's not normal!"
"Why not?" Miss Hanako said. "Isn't it all right for two males to love each other?"
"Like brothers," Haruto said, "or like father and son, or like family. But not like this!"
"Mr. President," Miss Hanako said, "are you afraid that this makes you less masculine, to love another boy and being unable to imagine a future without him?"
"Less--what?"
"Mr. President," she continued, lifting her hands to the bow in the front of her blouse. "How does this make you feel?" she said, slowly undoing the bow, allowing her blouse to open slightly.
Haruto let out a startled meep and whirled around, his hands coming up to cover his face.
Miss Hanako moved up behind him and gently slipped her arms around his waist. She drew him towards her, forcing his back to press up against her. He gasped and tore away, his hand falling away to reveal that blood was dripping from his nose.
Miss Hanako smiled at him, then did up the bow again. "If I can give you a nosebleed, then you have nothing to worry about," she said. "You're no less masculine for loving Red Mantle."
Haruto blinked at her, then wiped away the blood. "But what can I do about it?" he asked. "How can I forget about him?"
"Why would you want to?" Miss Hanako countered.
"Huh?"
"Mr. President, love is a precious thing that you should always cherish. And the kind of love you feel for Red Mantle is more worth cherishing than what Kazumi professes to feel for me, or Asahina's obsession with little boys like Nino-kun. And to be honest, Kazumi's behavior and Asahina's actions only cover up how they really feel about us. You know how hard it was for them to see us exorcised."
Haruto bowed his head. "I'm sorry about that, too."
Miss Hanako shook her head. "We all forgave you, so don't worry about it. Exorcist Joe wasn't playing fair. He was using your dreams and wishes against you."
Haruto's lips twisted into a wry smile. "Like the Chairman does," he said.
Miss Hanako laughed. "Right! But Mr. President, don't try to destroy your love for Red Mantle," she continued. "It's all right for you to love another man. Not that it could ever be consummated anyway, but it's still all right. And eventually you'll meet a girl who will affect you the same way that Red Mantle does, but she'll be flesh and blood. I don't think you'll ever stop loving Red Mantle, but your heart is infinite, and you can love many people in many different ways. You can still have a normal life with a normal girl. It's just that a part of your heart will always belong to him, and not to your wife."
Haruto was silent for a few moments. "Are you sure it's really all right?" he asked.
She nodded. "Of course it is," she said. "But I really think you should talk to Red Mantle about this. He at least deserves to know how you feel, even if nothing can ever come of it."
"All right," Haruto said. "I will. Thank you, Miss Hanako."
"You're welcome," she said, smiling. "But don't tell anyone, okay? I have a reputation to maintain." Her smile faded into a lazy grin, and the intelligence that had shone in her eyes disappeared behind half-lidded eyes and long eyelashes. With a last flip of her skirts, she floated up through the ceiling.
Haruto scrambled for a tissue as blood began dripping from his nose again.
* * *
Haruto was studying when he became aware of a sudden commotion out the window. He stood up and looked out. His jaw dropped in surprise.
Spirits--more spirits than he'd ever imagined could exist in one place--were herding the students out through the front gate, urging them to leave as quickly as possible, even if the school day wasn't yet over. The students, rather than jumping at the chance to leave school early, seemed nervous and frightened as they left.
Haruto blinked. Small wonder the humans should be nervous when the spirits themselves were plainly upset and worked up about something. He turned and started for the door. He needed to talk to the Chairman about this.
"HARUTO!"
"Aaaa!" he screamed, falling back as the Chairman's face covered the ceiling.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" the Chairman demanded. "I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU FOR THE PAST HOUR!"
"I've been here the entire time!" Haruto shouted back. "And quit doing that!"
"HERE? Oh," the Chairman said, shrinking back to normal size.
"Why are the spirits sending all the students home?" Haruto demanded. "And why were you looking for me?"
"The evil is coming," the Chairman said. "It's coming here tonight, and I don't want the students here before it shows up."
"Tonight? It's only just after lunch!" Haruto pointed out.
"Chairman!" Kazumi said, running in the door. "Miss Hanako said you wanted to see me."
"This had better be good," Asahina warned as she entered. "The boys are out in the playground at the elementary school."
"An evil I've been sensing lately has decided to make its move," the Chairman said. "It's going to attack the school tonight, and we must be ready to stop it."
"Is that why all the students are going home?" Kazumi asked. His eyes widened and his pupils dilated, but Asahina bopped him on the head, and the spirit that had begun possessing him floated out and away.
"The evil has already been here once," the Chairman said, "but it was only a part of something bigger."
"Sort of like a scouting party," Asahina suggested.
"Yes," the Chairman said, pulling on his mustache. "Something like. It left, but now it's coming back, and I don't want any humans getting caught in the crossfire."
Haruto stood up. "Then we should be going to," he said, starting for the door.
"Sempai," Kazumi said reproachfully, "you know you belong here."
Haruto sighed, and returned to his seat. "I know."
"I don't know what the evil is, but it--" The Chairman broke off. "It's here!" he shouted.
The three students jumped up, changing into their council robes almost immediately.
"Where is it?" Kazumi said, his voice taut with tension. "I don't sense anything."
"Me either," Asahina said, but she remained wary.
"It's not the whole evil," the Chairman said. "It's that little part that came before." He paused. "It's approaching the front gate."
They all hurried to the window.
Outside, the front gates were slowly swinging shut as the last students hurried through them. As they finally sealed off the school, the spirits that had been herding the students darted off, presumably going back to wherever they usually haunted. Beyond the gate, however, a figure was slowly drawing closer.
As one the Holy Student Council dashed out of the room, practically flying down the stairs and out into the yard. They stood before the entrance to the building, Haruto taking the point with Asahina and Kazumi on either side of him.
They watched as the person approached. Then, as the person became more visible, Haruto gasped. "Himeko?" He felt the eyes of his friends on him, but his sight remained fixed on the girl who was becoming larger with every step.
Until he realized that she was becoming larger, her body swelling and expanding until she was twice as tall as an ordinary human. Her skin changed color, becoming a dark green. A crown of horns emerged from her head as her hair lengthened and expanded into a hideous mane. Her hands and feet now sported long, terrible claws. And when she opened her mouth to smile, two rows of sharp, needle-like teeth glinted in the light.
"An ogre," the Chairman breathed.
"Oh, my God," Haruto whispered.
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