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V10 Story II – Part 08

A woman with a demonic expression clutched a shovel. Disheveled black hair partly hid a face marked by profound weariness. Her eyes, gleaming with a strange light, were wide open.

She swung the shovel hard, as if fueled by an utter disdain for all existence.

Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.

She tenaciously dug into the ground. The floor beneath her was unyielding, as it should be, but an abyss, far beyond imagination, yawned open with terrifying speed. On closer inspection, something wriggled at her feet.

White fur emerged in the darkness. The body was stained with red spots. With each breath, exposed flesh undulated, and sharp bones jutted through torn fur.

The gruesome sight did not bother me one bit. That’s why this haunting scene was etched into this space.

Pain and resentment lingers for a long time. The dog had been mercilessly butchered while still alive.

“Shiro-chan?” Yuina muttered in disbelief.

The woman finished digging the hole. Bloodshot eyes darted all around. She cast a disdainful gaze down at the dog.

“Mom?”

The woman kicked the white fur with her sandaled foot, pressing down on the dog’s body with her sole as if driving away something filthy.

Yuina gasped audibly, her eyes widening. The dog did not cry. Its mouth was taped shut. The dog squirmed weakly in protest, and the woman kicked its stomach hard, pushing it deeper into the hole.

“Ah… Ah…”

Yuina attempted to stand, but her legs refused to move. This was an image from the past. Her mother was currently not in this house. She should know that. Yet she was terrified, the fear still fresh in her mind. Her teeth clattered as she retreated, trembling, helplessly watching the scene unfold.

For a fleeting moment, the dog lifted its head, looking up at the sky. Dark, wet eyes glistened under the light. The dog moved its face, as though barking. As if seeking help from someone.

The next moment, its body rolled down to the bottom of the hole, the white fur disappearing from view.

“…Ah.”

The woman spat out, then raised the shovel again.

Crunch.

The sharp tip scooped up dirt.

“No, nooooooooo! Don’t bury heeeeeer!”

Yuina screamed. She bolted to her feet and stumbled forward with trembling legs. She tried to grab the illusion, but her hands caught empty air.

She toppled over the frame, landing on her face. Blood dripped from her nose to the ground. Still, she immediately stood up and clung to her illusionary mother.

“Don’t bury her, don’t bury her, Mom, don’t bury her, don’t bury her. Shiro-chan is my friend. She’s my friend. Help her. Don’t bury her. It’s my fault, not hers.”

Crying, she pleaded from the depths of her soul. She had likely uttered these same words before.

“Shiro-chan did nothing wrong, it’s my fault, it’s meeeee! Please, please stop it. Mom, please, please, Mom, please! Help Shiro-chan, I’m begging you!”

The mother said nothing. The past footage never changed. Yet, she continued to implore her mother, helplessly, over and over, her hands clawing at nothing but air.

“Please, please, please. Please, please, please. I’ll do anything, anything, so pleeease! Don’t hurt Shiro-chan!”

The image vanished. The floor was now covered with a tarp. Yuina collapsed on the spot, bleeding from her nose, clenching her fist.

“Please,” she sobbed. “I’m begging you.”

Silence fell. No one uttered a word. Mayuzumi, wearing an air of boredom, nibbled on a piece of chocolate.

After some time, Yusuke retrieved the shovel that had fallen beneath the frame and approached Yuina. She lifted her tear-streaked and snot-stained face. Yusuke offered her the shovel, locking eyes with her.

“Let’s dig up your friend.”

“…What?” Yuina uttered in astonishment.

Her gaze shifted between the shovel and Yusuke’s face. Yusuke was still holding the shovel.

“We have to, or you’ll keep looking for your friend forever,” he said. “We have to dig her up. I understand. I feel the same. It doesn’t matter if they’ve turned to bones. What’s important should be cherished. You have to take them in. Otherwise… you won’t even be able to grieve.”

Yuina turned her head, fixing her vacant eyes on me. I nodded affirmatively. Slowly returning her gaze forward, she looked at the shovel blankly.

In an instant, light returned to her eyes. Emotions resembling anger distorted her face. She snatched the shovel from Yusuke’s hand. Sniffling back tears and blood, Yuina stood up, grabbing the tarp.

Rustle.

She pulled it aside, revealing the hidden floor. She positioned herself where her mother had been moments ago, then leaped under the frame, and raised the shovel.

Crunch.

The blade pierced the hard ground. The rhythmic sound of digging echoed as she kept shoveling dirt.

Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.

Wiping sweat away, she swung the shovel. We watched her relentless efforts.

Mayuzumi had disappeared before we realized it, likely returning upstairs. A considerable amount of time had passed. Yuina kept digging deeper and deeper into the dirt. Blood sprayed from her palm.

Yet, she continued digging. Once more, she raised the shovel high.

Clang!

Its blade struck something hard.

“…Ah.”

Clank.

Yuina cast the shovel aside. Kneeling on the spot, she carefully brushed away the dirt.

Quivering fingertips made contact with something. Yellowed old bones jutted from the ground. Yuina reached out gently, cleared away the dirt, then lifted it. A dog’s skull rested in her hands.

Yuina stroked it repeatedly. “I’m sorry it took so long,” she mumbled in a quavering voice. “I’m sorry I didn’t make it in time. This happened because of me. I’m sorry for leaving you alone for so long.”

Bits of dirt fell from the bone with each stroke. Needless to say, there was no reply. The dog would never bark again.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I’m sorry.”

Her voice gradually weakened. She hugged her completely transformed friend tight, like it was the only thing she could do. She pressed the bone against her body, inspecting its appearance.

“You’re so cold,” she whispered softly. “It must have hurt. I’m sorry. I’m so…”

Her face twisted, and she wailed. Covered in dirt, clutching bones, she let out her sorrow.

Yuna, without feigning childlike innocence, cried out, as if trying to release ten years’ worth of tears.

She mourned the death of a friend she couldn’t mourn before. She let out her grief for not making it in time. She appeared as if she were trying to reclaim something she had long forgotten.

---

There was a ping, notifying me of a new message. I opened my phone and checked the attached image.

Aya was smiling, flashing a V sign. Next to her stood the sago palm, shrouded in gold and silver tinsel.

Subject: Decoration

Message: What do you think? Pretty, isn’t it?

Aya seemed to think sago palms were the same as fir trees.

After sending a reply, I lifted my gaze. A figure in black was reclining on the couch, a ribbon tied around her neck. Resembling a disgruntled cat, she lazily tossed candy into her mouth.

Mayuzumi was eating chocolate today too.

Since the incident a few days ago, her mood had darkened. The particulars of that case were not to her liking. I averted my eyes from her and glanced to the left.

“Hmm, I think this one’s great. Depends on whether you find a new job or not, though.”

“Oh, absolutely. Thank you so much! This one does seem better. It’s small, but it gets good sunlight. This will do. The assistant manager at my last job apologized for handing over all sorts of tasks despite me telling them I wasn’t feeling well. He’s referring me to a different store.”

Yuina and Yusuke were sitting beside me. Yuina was flipping through rental apartment brochures. She put a clip on Yusuke’s choice and stowed it in her bag, wearing a contented expression.

“So, you’re really moving out?” I asked.

“Yup! Well, I still have to think about managing the house, but yes, for now I’m moving out.”

Her face was radiant, like a significant weight had finally been lifted off her shoulders.

Several days had passed since the incident. She had already spoken with the neighbor about Shiro, visiting them repeatedly until they accepted her apology. After that, she and the owner’s grandson held a service for Shiro’s bones in a pet cemetery.

Currently she was making preparations to move out. She clutched her bag tight.

“I always thought I had to stay there. I believed that I had to follow orders, shut myself in, unable to leave, forever.”

She lowered her face slightly, hugging the bag even tighter. Her hand was still wrapped in bandages.

Yuina bit her lip. “But from now on, I want to try to live in a different way. I’m… I’m a hopeless case. And that hasn’t changed.”

I wanted to tell her that that wasn’t true, but before I could say anything, she lifted her face. There was fire in her eyes.

“So I’m gonna become someone who can be proud of myself.” Her voice was clear and resolute. “Someone who can protect her friends. I couldn’t protect Shiro-chan.” She stood up and regarded us with a steely gaze. “So I’ll do my best to change. Thank you so much for your help!”

She gave a deep bow, then raised her voice.

“Odagiri-san, Yusuke-san, Nanami-san, Aya-san, and Mayuzumi-san too. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me, no matter what!”

She lifted her face, and her soft black hair cascaded over her shoulders. With bashful, reddish cheeks, she flashed a powerful, dazzling smile.

Mayuzumi remained asleep and didn’t respond. Yusuke and I nodded.

Her bright expression foretold a future different from what she had experienced until now.

I could feel her smile giving me solace.

---

“See ya, Odagiri-san. Can I come hang out again?”

“Yeah, sure. Come anytime. And if you do, bring a gift for Mayu-san.”

As the sky darkened, Yusuke took his leave. After seeing him off at the front door, I returned to the living room.

A slight fatigue settled over me. I rotated my shoulders and sank into the couch. Closing my eyes, I turned my face to the ceiling.

I slowly recollected the events of the past few days, a warm feeling swelling within my chest.

This incident had concluded more smoothly than any before. Relief washed over me at the thought of having successfully saved someone. I inhaled deeply, savoring the air filled with the scent of chocolate. Even the sweet aroma felt comforting now.

Then, I opened my eyes and met the gaze of the scarlet woman. She lay before me, lips gently curled.

Propping herself up on one elbow, supporting her cheek, she inquired softly. “How was your break? Enjoyed it?”

“Yeah, it was satisfying,” I answered in my mind.

My field of vision darkened. It was as if a curtain had been drawn. My consciousness dissolved in the darkness.

When I looked at the woman, only her lips remained. They moved softly.

“I wonder what will happen in the next one?”