3 bar menu

V11 Story II – Part 06

“So, why did you do this exactly?” Mayuzumi asked, arms folded. “What we will do with you will depend on your answer. Do you understand?”

Yukihito sat quietly in front of her. His black cloak, torn at the water fountain, had been repurposed as a makeshift towel by Nanami. Yukihito might soon share the same fate. And he knew that.

“I-I just… It’s Odagiri-san,” he said shakily.

“Why me? Did I really do something that awful to you?”

“I-I didn’t want him to go… With Shirayuki-sama…”

Yukihito rubbed his eyes, tears spilling down his flushed cheeks. Asato squatted nearby, wearing an emotionless mask.

“They were going to take a bath,” Yukihito went on.

“What?”

“And wash each other’s backs… Doing that before marriage…”

I had no idea what he was trying to say. A chilling glare bore into my back. Turning, I found Nanami grinning wickedly, eyeing the lunch fork pointedly.

“Odagiri-san? Quick and clean, or slow and painful?”

“Wait, please, hold on. It’s not what you think! Yukihito, where did you even get that?”

“Just look at this!” Yukihito thrust his phone toward me, tears still streaming.

The screen displayed a message:

Subject: Tomorrow

Body: For our bath, I hope we can wash each other’s backs. Looking forward to it!

Shirayuki had evidently learned to text. It jogged my memory—Aya had taken her to buy a phone and sign a contract. I was told not to use it for emergencies because it would be confusing to operate, but she had given me her email.

It took me a few moments to process the text. Then, I realized what was happening.

“Yukihito, I don’t think she meant me—”

Brrring!

Before I could finish, the phone rang. A new email flashed onto the screen, accompanied by an attached image.

I opened the message and saw a picture of Shirayuki fresh from the bath, her damp hair cascading over her yukata-clad shoulders. She was smiling delightfully. Beside her, Miyabi was glaring at the camera with a tense face.

The lovely photo was likely taken by a staff. We read the accompanying text:

Subject: Hot Springs

Body: Miyabi and I went to the hot springs. I told Miyabi to ask you if you wanted to come, but she forgot to mention it. Such a shame. We’ll bring back souvenirs.

Today, Shirayuki and Miyabi went to the hot springs together—a casual day trip. I was surprised Miyabi agreed to it.

Our collective gaze fell on Yukihito, who hung his head in shame.

“So?” we all said at the same time.

“…I’m sorry.”

Yusuke’s fist slammed on his head with unrelenting force.

As Yukihito wept, I sighed deeply.

The disturbance revolving the god had finally subsided.

“You know Odagiri-san can’t go that far before dating,” Yusuke said.

Yukihito agreed tearfully.

“Are you making fun of me? Knock it off.”

We strolled back from the park. Yusuke, fed up from Yukihito’s bawling, struck his head repeatedly, before sighing deeply.

“Stop crying already. Trust me, I feel like crying too. And what’s with the whole mysterious act, with the cloak and all?”

“Uuh… because, well, the real me… lacks courage… so I wanted to be someone cooler… That’s why I went overboard.”

“Huh? You thought that was cool? Yeah, no. That wasn’t it, chief.”

The two of them bickered as we walked on. Asato and I trailed behind. Asato was unusually quiet, seeming completely drained.

Suddenly, he muttered under his breath, “Odagiri.”

“What’s up?”

“It’s impressive how you manage to live this mundane life without getting worn out.”

His voice carried a noticeable fatigue. I glanced at his ink-stained self. Up ahead, Yusuke was ruffling Yukihito’s hair.

“Well, there are moments when I feel drained too. But…”

“But what?”

“Instead of isolating yourself or toying with people, I think it’s better to get exhausted from having fun like this. Don’t you agree?”

After a prolonged silence, Asato murmured, “You’re naïve. I’d rather die.”

I didn’t expect his approval, but I felt content. The fox had likely only witnessed tragedies his entire life. Even in high school, everything might have felt like a stage to him.

Knowing the unknown is important. It might lead to change someday. I wanted to believe in that slim chance.

Suddenly, Mayuzumi turned around. Standing beside Nanami, twirling her parasol, she said, “Come to think of it, what are you doing here? Did you escape from the dungeon again?”

“Let me tell you, little sister. The anomaly here isn’t that glaring yet. It’s worse over there, you know?”

Mayuzumi narrowed her eyes. “I see. So that’s how it is. I didn’t realize it had gone that far.”

“That’s correct. To the scarlet woman, I’m another pawn. It’s rather annoying.”

I had no idea what they were talking about. The serene atmosphere clashed with his words. Why mention the scarlet woman now?

“Why would you bring up the scarlet woman?” I asked, astounded.

“Have you ever wondered what exactly is the fox’s ability?” Mayuzumi said.

Her words reminded me of something I heard a while back. Back in the fox’s cell.

“Yes, people turn into bubbles. A girl’s womb sticks to a man’s stomach. Lifeless babies become demons. It’s likely that passing through the spirit world transmutes the human body into a form influenced by human emotions. Like replacing cells through an infinitesimally small window. The same principle applies to objects and space. I wonder why. I’m nothing but an imitation. This ability, distinct from Mayuzumi Azaka’s, is like… It’s as if someone is handing it over to me from the spirit world.”

“Yes, he’s nothing but a pawn. A mere tool set up by her to kill Mayuzumi Azaka. The fox, possessing an innate albeit weak connection to the spirit world, was given power by her. She liked his violent streak, so she gave him his abilities and let him do as he pleased, all while pulling his strings. The fox’s powers are not his own. He was just a conduit for her to connect to the world of the living. Without you, Odagiri-kun, I’d probably be dead by now.”

Her words took me by surprise. What was she getting at? The idea of Mayuzumi dying seemed crazy. What could I have done to change things?

“That reminds me, Odagiri-kun, I haven’t told you yet. I’ve probably made it this far thanks to you. You’ve somehow always managed to avert any crises that befall me without any particular plans.”

Her black-stained parasol twirled round and round. As if reminiscing about old memories, she revealed things I didn’t know.

“Think about it. How many times do you think I’ve been in danger? You happened to be present each time, and I survived. I can’t say it’s thanks to you, but it’s definitely your fault. Why is that? Is it because of the demon in your belly that the scarlet woman can’t influence? Or maybe it’s because you act recklessly without thinking?”

Mayuzumi chuckled softly. At that moment, a sense of foreboding crept over me. Her eyes gazing into the void and her suggestive words felt eerie.

Mayuzumi Azaka reminiscing about the past felt like the beginning of the end.

“But… I wonder what’s going to happen this time.”

Suddenly, Mayuzumi stopped laughing. She tilted her parasol and looked up at the sky.

I followed her gaze upward. The shadow of a small bird appeared in the dark night sky.

A swarm of red birds filled our view, fluttering wildly. Crimson filled the landscape in an instant and painted the night sky without warning.

Feathers stirred like a wall of flesh. Then, I realized what they really were.

They weren’t birds. The red dancing in the wind wasn’t alive. They were soft and bright as a woman’s lips.

Flowers. Countless red petals danced in the dark night.

“What’s going on?”

“What?” came a puzzled voice from Nanami’s side.

Aya lifted her pale arms. She inclined her head, her ponytail swinging. Her skin quivered, then her arms and legs melted away.

Red petals blanketed the sky, blurring the boundary between realms.

And then, suddenly and without warning, the end began.