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V12 Story IV – Part 08

Suddenly, my feet sank into the flesh. I stopped, raising my gaze.

The hundredth door had formed in the wall of flesh before me. And this time, it stood there as if waiting for my return.

I reached out with trembling hands. I wasn’t sure I could step outside again once I peered into the room beyond.

Still, I couldn’t resist opening the door. I grabbed and quietly turned the knob.

Creak.

“Welcome home. You’re early today.”

Shizuka turned and smiled at me. I swallowed hard. If I simply said “I’m home,” everything would be over.

If I didn’t want to be with Shizuka, I could just close and reopen the door. I could live happily forever with Shirayuki. If I chose Aya, I might be able to revive her, even if just as an illusion. But I couldn’t bring myself to move. I remained transfixed, unable to break free or accept it, just staring at this tranquil scene.

“Um, is something wrong, Tsutomu-san?” Shizuka inclined her head.

I couldn’t respond. She was staring back at me, confusion darting across her face like a passing shadow. With a serene expression, Shizuka gently probed further.

“Why do you reject it, Tsutomu-san?”

“What?” I stared back at her in bewilderment.

This was the first time we had this exchange. What was supposed to be a fixed scene was changing, and the realization made my heart pound erratically. Words caught in my throat, stifling any response. All I could do was stand stock still.

“I want to verify. Why do you keep walking?” Shizuka asked matter-of-factly. “It would be easier for you to stop here. As much as it pains me, if I’m not good enough, there are others. You would definitely be happier.”

Her features morphed, and her face transformed into Shirayuki’s. She smiled warmly, arms outstretched. I shook my head vigorously. Shirayuki’s sad face melted, then shifted into Aya’s.

Raising a hand, she jumped lightly. Her short ponytail wagged like a dog’s tail.

“Hey, Odagiri. What about… me… Your face says you hate the idea. Well, if Shirayuki-san won’t do, then of course I wouldn’t either. That hurts. So, who do you want?”

“No, it’s not… It’s not about who I want. It’s not like that. I just…”

I shook my head frantically. This door had not appeared for a while now. It had been a long time since I talked to someone. I couldn’t speak well. My voice sounded so loud that it almost ruptured my eardrums.

“I… I want to find Mayu-san.”

That was the only reason I’d been wandering all this time. There was no peace by her side. I couldn’t think of any special reason to search for her. Yet, I kept at it desperately.

“I just want to see her. I wonder why… Why do I want to find her?”

I had decided to save her. Above all, until now…

We’d always walked side by side. Mayuzumi and I had never truly understood each other. We never even respected each other. But we made it this far, shoulder to shoulder. Together. Maintaining a constant distance. No matter what or when.

“No. I can’t. I can’t leave her behind. How could I abandon her in a place like this?!”

Once I started shouting, I couldn’t stop. Tears and snot flowed uncontrollably. Aya looked at me calmly.

Seriously, what was I even saying? I was the one trapped in here. Maybe Mayuzumi had already escaped on her own. She could have managed to get away smoothly.

But I kept shouting until my voice cracked. “No! I won’t leave her behind. I won’t abandon her. She’s heartless, and I hate her, but she’s been the one who stayed by my side!”

Tears streamed down my cheeks. My vocal cords quivered to the limit, blood seeping into my mouth.

That was it. That was what I really felt. Why did I want to help Mayuzumi? All the answers I had agonized over were packed into this cry.

I had wished to get away from her. She had never once offered me any support. But Mayuzumi Azaka was the only one who always stayed by my side.

“No, no, I can’t. I won’t give up. I just… I…”

My voice trailed off. I didn’t know what else to say. After struggling with my thoughts, I finally muttered a simple phrase.

“I want to see Mayuzumi Azaka again.”

I wanted to see that sinister girl once more.

Suddenly, something touched my lips. I looked up to see Jingu Yuri standing before me. After giving me a kiss, she gazed at me with eyes like a cat’s and sighed.

“Hey there, cutie. I asked you the question because that’s what you wanted. You didn’t want to give up despite the hopeless situation. But you almost did. You wanted someone to give you a push, or tell you it was okay to let go, thus changing us. But as much as I think it’s too good to be true, your voice has reached her.”

Yuri closed her eyes. Her face morphed into an indistinct form, resembling no one in particular. Like the three girls I saw in the locked apartment, she became someone I knew but didn’t. Yuri started walking and stopped in front of a large window.

Then, she reached for the thick curtains that had been tightly closed until now.

“You created this space. Odagiri Tsutomu’s refuge, built inside the scarlet woman’s womb. It’s your sanctuary, Tsutomu-san. Even the ruler of the spirit world doesn’t monitor every nook and cranny of her own womb. Surveillance here is weaker than elsewhere. And here you refused to leave and shouted her name. Your voice reached someone who cared about you.”

She gripped the curtain tightly. I couldn’t see her face with her back turned to me.

“Ugh. I hate how things turned out the way she hoped it would,” she said in a familiar, exasperated tone. “Because of you, I couldn’t keep hiding either.”

“Mayu-san.”

Then, she dramatically pulled open the curtains.

My eyes widened. Outside, cherry blossoms were in full bloom. It was a place I knew well. Before me stretched the window of the office.

The kitchen behind me had disappeared without a trace. A gaping man was faintly reflected on the window glass against the dark background. I had seen this before. Mikage’s prophecy flashed in my mind. But I didn’t have time to really think about it.

Countless cracks appeared on the glass. From outside, a wave of white flower petals surged like a storm.

The glass shattered. Countless shards rained down on me. But just before they hit, they transformed into cherry blossom petals that caressed my entire body. Beyond them, I saw red. Desperately, I reached out towards the bright color, swimming through a sea of cherry blossoms. The red flapped. She turned.

A small hand gripped mine.

It was then that I finally realized.

A hundred years had passed.

---

The next thing I knew, we were standing face to face beneath the fully bloomed cherry blossoms.

The surroundings had transformed into the place where we first met: the row of cherry trees on the slope in front of the condominium. Just like before, we were holding hands.

I was down on my knees, and she was studying me. She looked the same as ever, dressed in the usual black gothic lolita attire and holding a red parasol.

“You really are an idiot, Odagiri-kun,” she snorted. “You never back down. There’s a fine line between foolishness and madness. It’s a bad habit of yours to slog away even when you can’t do anything.” Mayuzumi’s tone was nostalgic yet biting. The red parasol twirled behind her.

I gripped her hand back tightly. She wasn’t an illusion; I could feel her warmth. I tried to speak, but I couldn’t find the words. I couldn’t even think straight.

My mind had stopped working. I just sat there thinking how beautiful Mayuzumi was.

“Mayu-san, I…”

“There’s nothing I can do now since I showed myself. Looks like she found me.”

The red parasol spun. I had no idea what she was talking about.

“What?” I blurted out.

“You can relax, Odagiri-kun. You were never a part of this mess. There are still things I can do, and I’m sure she’ll let this slide if I surrender. Now, before I disappear, let me tell you something. Whether this is good or bad news for you, I don’t know. It’s about the fox that closed your belly.”

My mouth flapped open and shut like a fish’s gasping for air. I couldn’t fathom why she would bring up the fox now. But Mayuzumi paid no mind to my confusion.

“A while ago, I checked with him,” she continued melodiously. “The fox in his current state can grant your simple wishes at no cost. He can’t get rid of the grown demon, but he can reinforce the seal on your belly. I’ve already informed the branch family. So, you don’t need to worry too much. I, too, can show some compassion. Think of it as your severance payment. Take it graciously.” She shrugged.

I recalled when she emerged from the fox’s room. She was likely telling the truth about confirming with him. But those words didn’t quite sound like her. What was compassionate about them? Compassion wasn’t in Mayuzumi’s nature.