[Kids are drawn to the woods. To the eerieness, to the tales that you can tell in the dark. Some dark tales are folklore, others are warnings.

Heck, maybe most are warnings. After all, stories come from somewhere. Still, Hikaru can't help but play out the role of unconcerned and over eager teen. (Was Hikaru the same? Or did he know what was up in the mountains). The Goatman infiltrates. It creates paranoia. It doesn't have a desire to become, only to be for a short period.

Why?

After the third time, his companion has vanished and reappeared, Hikaru fixes his flashlight up ahead, keeping it straight, not searching, but fixed like a spotlight.

Hey... Why do ya think he does it? The Goatman? When he looks at us... what does he want?

He isn't sure he has much use for a witch. He doesn't think he's capable of learning magic. And he isn't sure enough of Hikaru remains in this form to do so. But hey! He could meet a witch. Maybe she's something more like him, ugly on the inside and human shaped on the outside.

And yet, when he sees her, he squints, rubs his eyes, and looks at her, then around at his companions. Surely, this is a joke...?]

Hey, hey. Psst. Aren't witches s'pposed to be ugly?

[He asks, loudly, like he doesn't even know what whispering is. Hikaru wasn't good at it so neither is he.

So the life of a student in Ashbrook is pretty much like the life of a student in rural Japan.

But... that sucks! The teen boy sits on the edge of the curb, face in his hands, trying to make sense of his compulsion to sit at his desk and do homework. He hasn't even done it as himself for a year and he's already over it. At least he can keep it together enough to retain his shape.

He looks up at anyone who pays him any mind, face twisted in agony.]

Please, I don't wanna go t'school. I played hookie once! I could play hookie every day here but... my feet. They just keep goin' towards the school!