Fester continued to eavesdrop as Cherry came into her blind-spot. Otie scratched his chin like a philosopher, contemplating what to do.

  “They say he’s a complete idiot,” Horst said. “So it's also just as likely that the Council Thirteen former members are involved.”

  “Oh yeah!” Cherry said into Fester’s ear, making him jump like a squirrel.

  “Che…Che…Cher…!” Fester stuttered. “Happy birthday Cherry!!”

  “Thanks,” Cherry replied coolly.

  Like two left feet in winter, the two boys seemingly ignored the random noise.

  “Anyway, what are they doing?” Cherry whispered.

  “I-I hope they didn’t see us.”

  Horst continued on his computer to show Otie…

  “Five months ago? Jaromir’s death? Initially it was Urjo who’s an average skater at best who was confirmed as a participant. That alone was strange, and then Jaromir took his place. All last minute. Yoyo park, right before the beginnings of the beach. It circled the inner plazas from south side to the beach’s tip, cutting back into the city by Niger rink, all to end at the central dock by the underground port. This is all without stopping. Jaromir was leading by the half-way. Then something happened. We don’t know what happened, the video was cut. Since Jaromir was a legitimate participant, so police wrote it off as a typical traffic accident.”

  “But it was no accident!!!” Otie shouted with a guttural yell. “It was murder, Jaromir was murdered.”

  “Festy,” Cherry said with concern.

  “M-Mur-Murdered,” Fester’s breath broke into bits, he couldn’t hold back his hyperventilation. Cherry came to his shoulders, hugging him and bringing his head to her shoulder.

  So it’s true… I thought so. “How do you know that?” Horst asked.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Jaromir didn’t die instantly. I was in his hospital room when he died.” “Otie, you must protect… You have to…” “I promised to avenge them…”

  “Ayihcah!” Fester said with fever.

  “How are you gonna do that? When you don’t even know the enemy,” Cherry said.

  Otie drew in a breath. “I’ll draw them out of wherever they are hiding and crush them! Whoever it is, the organizer and his Council Thirteen will be destroyed!” The shadows cast by the clouded sun blanketed his face, his hair fluttered with lukewarm wind. Conviction molded his face, a stone cold stare that held an aura of unimaginable will. “I think the easiest way to do that would be to become a participant. To do that, I need to distinguish myself, then I figure I’ll be brought in.”

  “How do you plan on distinguishing yourself with that face?” Fester asked.

  “Shi—” Otie spun to Horst. “Why are you up here anyway?”

  “Today is July seventh, Cherry’s birthday,” Horst replied. “Since the sky is clear we wanted to meet here to stargaze.”

  “How come I didn’t know?” Otie begged Cherry.

  “Because we didn’t tell you,” Fester replied.

  Behind the rooftop door stood Taiga in a tuxedo without his glasses. Held in his hands was a pleasant bouquet. Whilst to his left stood Urjohar with his braids freshly done with a cake in hand.

  “You don’t wanna go out there, huh Urjo?” Taiga asked.

  “How ‘bout you?” Urjohar replied.

  “Ha, is that a cake? Doesn’t suit you at all.”

  “Yeah, what about you? Black suit and roses.”

  “Do you believe what Ayihcah said? That it wasn’t an accident…” Taiga asked with his jaw clenched.

  “It doesn’t matter! I won’t let that guy get revenge.”

  “Right…”

  “…”

  Pulling Otie down by the collar, Horst quickly demanded an answer. “Don’t act like it’s forgotten, now give us some answers.”

  “Ya Mister Mysterious!” Fester squeaked.

  “You promised you’d tell me who you are.”

  “Ah, ah, ah, you forgot something, Horst. At least I remember you, so you try to remember me too!”

  “Er…” Forgot… Remember…?

  “Hmm, Taiga and Urjohar ain’t showing up?” Otie asked.

  “Mm, I told them, but we do have today off, so I don’t know.” Fester replied.

  Remember… I do, back then we didn’t understand what he meant.

  “Why’s today off anyway?” Otie asked.

  “It’s a holiday,” Fester replied.

  “Seriously!”

  Cherry was left alone with her thoughts. Why no presents, hmm? Behind the rooftop door was left a bouquet and cake. Within it all was merely the thought… When we could finally remember it meant that we had to say goodbye to Otie Ayihcah.