3 bar menu

V10 Story IV – Part 02

Today, she wore a drape jacket with a noble-style tie. A cameo brooch adorned her small neck. Exquisite black rose relief added elegance to her overall outfit.

Mayuzumi placed Yumeno Kyusaku’s Dogra Magra face-down on the table, next to an empty cup, and slowly looked at me. Smiling, she picked up her cup.

“Ah, Odagiri-kun, you came at a good time. I’m out of drinks. Can you make me something? Anything will do. I’m sure there were tea leaves left from yesterday.”

“Yeah, yeah. I understand, Mayu-san. I’m really, really glad that you’re finally having normal food.”

“Didn’t anyone teach you that one ‘yes’ is enough? And there’s no need to emphasize it that much. I don’t remember causing you so much worry,” Mayuzumi growled peevishly.

I had actually been worried for a long time. I genuinely felt relieved that her extreme pickiness about food had improved. I headed to the kitchen to make some tea. Despite following the basic steps, the taste wasn’t that great.

However, Mayuzumi didn’t particularly complain, and I was very grateful for that.

“Here you go, Mayu-san.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Handing her the cup, I returned to the kitchen. I had to prepare Mayuzumi’s dinner.

It had been quite some time since she started having normal meals. I opened the fridge. It was filled with various foodstuff. After some contemplation, I took out ingredients for stew.

Then, my phone pinged. Glancing at the screen, I furrowed my brows. There were two messages.

I opened the first one. It was from Yusuke. As I read the text, my mouth curved into a smile.

Subject: Dinner

Message: The clan head is asking what you want.

Shirayuki was waiting for my return in my apartment. Her cooking skills were improving day by day. I opened the attached image. Shirayuki, wearing an apron, was smiling brightly. Nanami and Aya were folding laundry behind her. I was looking forward to returning home.

I turned back to the refrigerator. When I took out the carrots, for some reason, I felt uneasy.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t checked the other message. A sinking feeling settled in my gut. I picked up my phone and checked the message, but there was no subject. I checked the sender, and frowned.

“…Mayuzumi Azaka?”

I glanced back at the living room. Setting the ingredients down, I stood up.

Mayuzumi, sitting on the leather couch, was watching a movie. Her face looked serene. On the screen, a man in a suit was sitting in a bathtub.

Noticing my presence, Mayuzumi looked over her shoulder. “Hmm? What’s the matter, Odagiri-kun? Do you need something?”

“Well… This might sound strange, but did you send me a text?”

“I didn’t. You’re right there. If there was something I needed, I would just ask you directly. Where is this coming from? Really.”

Mayuzumi chuckled. She picked up the cup again, took a sip of tea, and returned her gaze to the screen. Children were playing some game in the grainy footage.

As the dog piece advanced, Mayuzumi said, “By the way, Asato said he wanted to see you.”

My eyes shot open in surprise. Mayuzumi turned to me again, her expression as gentle as the Mona Lisa.

“He’s decided to explore new ways of living, and he wants to apologize for all the things he had done to you.” Her tone was gentle. “I don’t think what he did could be forgiven that easily, but if you’re open to it, would you be willing to see him? It seems he’s genuinely trying to change, and I’m willing to give him my support.”

I carefully considered her words. She was right. I couldn’t forgive him. But if he was looking to change his approach to life, then I didn’t want to deny him that. I felt genuine relief.

The earlier unease disappeared. Mayuzumi returned her gaze to the screen. As I headed back to the kitchen, the phone slipped from my hand.

Thump. Beep.

“…What?”

An unopened message appeared on the screen. The text contained a simple sentence.

Butterfly’s Dream.

There was no other text. I was baffled. It didn’t make any sense. An inexplicable fear stirred in my chest. It felt as if the ground beneath me was crumbling, as though some crucial foundation had been shaken.

I looked behind me. Empty eyes met my gaze. Mayuzumi was staring at me, her head turned at an unnatural angle.

“What’s wrong, Odagiri-kun?”

Her lips moved up and down mechanically. I quickly shook my head. There wasn’t anything to be afraid of.

“I-It’s nothing.” I forced the words out.

Mayuzumi returned her gaze to the screen again, and I stumbled back to the kitchen.

I had to prepare dinner. Not having food would be a problem for Mayuzumi. I didn’t want her returning to the days of getting nutrition from candies alone.

My knees buckled. My legs trembled, making it hard to walk. The turmoil within me didn’t subside.

Feeling a dull pain, I touched my stomach, and my hand froze.

“My stomach hurts?”

I was sure the fear and dull pain were related, but before I could check, the pain faded away. I glanced at my phone. The screen was glowing pale blue in the dim light, as if trying to tell me something.

I opened the message again. There was no subject, and only one sentence in the main text. Then, I noticed that an image was attached. Fearfully, I opened it. I frowned at the screen.

There was a photo that would generally be classified as gruesome. A bloody wound. Someone’s stomach was open. The gray fingers of a baby reached out through a hole in the graphic flesh.

My eyes widened. I believed it was a prank, but I felt more and more shaken. The phone slipped from my fingers. I hurriedly picked it up, clutching it tight.

I felt like throwing up. Despite the unrest, my stomach no longer hurt. The familiar dull pain was nowhere to be found.

“Oh, I see… I’ve been…”

I took a breath, and slowly exhaled.

My white breath dispersed in the air. The year had turned, but it was still cold. The spring sun was yet to arrive. With gloved hands, I grasped the doorknob.

As I opened the door, a stream of sweet air rushed out. I closed the door behind me, shutting out the winter chill.

Before me stretched a dark hallway. I proceeded to the living room as usual.

As always, the air-conditioned room looked surreal. Despite coming here every day, it felt like visiting an uncharted place. Mayuzumi’s apartment was like the inside of a candy box. It was almost hard to believe that it existed on the plane of reality.

I stopped midway. The living room was still a bit away. I stared at the distant door. Taking in the sweet air, I looked around. This place didn’t seem real; I firmly etched that fact into my mind.

I stood frozen in the corridor, lost in my thoughts. Then, a voice shattered the illusion, dispelling my reverie.

“What are you doing, Odagiri-kun?” Mayuzumi grouched. “You’re creeping me out just standing there in the corridor. If you’re coming, come quickly, will you?”

“Okay… I’m coming, Mayu-san.”

Clenching my fist, I resumed walking, then flung the door open.

Upon entering the living room, the lights dazzled me. Mayuzumi was lying on the leather couch.

Today, she wore a red kimono. She looked like a courtesan. More than half of her ample bosom was exposed, and her loosely worn attire exuded captivating allure.

She placed the red piece of flesh she was holding on the floor, next to a cylindrical tumor, and slowly looked at me. Her thick lips twisted softly.

“So…”

“…”

I stared at her in silence. Out of nowhere, the living room walls were turning crimson. The hallway had transformed into a wet hole reminiscent of an esophagus. I looked around to verify the truth.

This was not a space for humans. The scarlet woman looked up at me.

“Do you have something you want to say?” she said softly.

“…”

In a corner of the spirit world, the woman and I faced each other. I took a deep breath.

Then, with anger burning deep inside me, I said, “Give me back my child.”

My vision shattered. The crimson wall exploded, like my eyes had been crushed. Blood dripped as my consciousness slipped away. The world melted and crumbled. Everything disappeared.

And my reality collapsed.