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V6 Story IV – Part 06

“That wasn’t like you. What’s the matter?” I asked as we descended the stairs.

Shirayuki lowered her gaze. A moment later, she opened her fan and wrote words hesitantly.

“I apologize for using you. I wanted to learn more from Miss Benihina. Since I first heard about the case, something has been weighing on my mind.”

“What is it?”

After a moment of silence, Shirayuki closed her fan and opened it.

“I wanted to know what kind of woman the esper was. What did she feel? How did she die?” There was deep sorrow on her face.

I thought back to the incident at the Minase estate. Shirayuki’s brother left the clan after his wife’s death. He believed that his wife, who was unable to bear children, was killed by the clan. Supernatural abilities can sometimes shackle people, drive them mad, and even kill them.

Mayuzumi Asato turned into a fox. Jingu Yuri turned into a cat.

“I wished to know more about her. I once dreamed of dying by my brother’s hand.”

Shirayuki took my hand and held it tightly, her eyes filled with profound sadness. She mourned the death of a woman she didn’t even know. She felt sorrow for the death of the esper. She looked outside the large window in the hallway.

A black shape landed on the ground. A crow.

“I resented my brother for a long time. Being abandoned is painful.”

The woman took her own life in front of her friends.

Shirayuki pulled on my hand and headed towards the dining room. When we opened the door, Itsuki was nowhere to be seen. Akimasa was making something in the kitchen. There was a fragrant aroma in the air.

“Akimasa-san? What are you doing?” I asked.

“Oh, making food. I’m roasting chicken. You got a problem with that?”

With a practiced motion, he picked up the pepper mill, ground some pepper, and placed the cooked chicken on top of the toasted bread, creating a sandwich of chicken and gobo salad.

He shot me a glare. “You got any other ideas? I’m the only one who can cook around here. The others’ skills are catastrophic.”

“I-I don’t really have any problem with it,” I replied.

“Then stop making that face. It’s pissing me off.”

He stirred the enamel pot. The gentle fragrance of vegetable soup wafted through the air. He poured it into the soup cups. There were plates for us too.

“It looks delicious,” I remarked. “I didn’t expect to have such a nice lunch prepared.”

“Hmm, yeah, well, cooking is the only thing I’m good at. Hina complimented me for it too. I hate feeding these guys, but since Hina said I’m the best cook, I have to do it. I have to make delicious food.”

Akimasa rubbed his nose, a bright smile on his face. Then he glared at us again. The animosity he exuded reminded me of a small dog.

“I don’t know why Itsuki brought you guys today, but I guess I can give you food. A cook can’t let guests go hungry.”

“Is today a special day?” I asked, curious. “I heard that it’s rare for everyone to gather like this.”

Akimasa scrutinized us. He frowned and scoffed. “You guys are suspicious, all right. I can tell you’re pretending. Itsuki suggested that we all remember Hina-san today. I don’t really wanna see those guys, but one person missing would be annoying. Then suddenly we get more people? Like, what’s the deal?” His words were laced with hostility.

It made sense. Itsuki believed that one of the three were behind the crows’ strange behavior. He summoned them all today, when Mayuzumi was coming, to find out who was controlling the crows and what their purpose was.

“Itsuki-san just consulted us about the crows’ behavior,” I said.

“That so? I believe you. Not.”

Clicking his tongue, he stuck olives onto the sandwiches. He handed me a large plate and placed the soup coups on a tray.

“Carry this. If you spill any, you’re dead. There are no seconds.”

Shirayuki and I were in the middle of carrying dishes when Itsuki returned. His radiant expression said he had already sobered up.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” he said. “I went to wash my face. I get drunk quickly, but I also sober up quickly. I think I’m good now.”

Itsuki carried the drinks for us. At that moment, Benihina descended the stairs, and without saying a word to anyone, sat at the table. Akimasa clicked his tongue, while Itsuki shrugged. She was given her portion anyway.

“What about Aoi?” Itsuki asked.

“Ugh, fine. It’s not good when it’s cold. Well, actually it would still be tasty, but it’s best eaten when hot. I’ll go call her. Wait, we’re missing one person.”

Akimasa scanned the room, and only then did I notice her absence.

“Mayu-san… I mean, Mayuzumi Azaka-san is sleeping in the lounge.”

“Tsk. Making herself home at someone else’s place, eh? I’ll go get her first, then.”

Akimasa tossed his apron aside and headed to the lounge. Shirayuki and I quickly followed him. As we passed by the hallway, I noticed something peculiar outside. There were no black shapes in the dense redness.

The eyes that were observing us had vanished.

Mayuzumi was sound asleep in the lounge. Her posture hadn’t changed since we last saw her. Looking like a life-sized doll, she blended in with the décor.

Before Akimasa could wake her up rudely, I approached her and gently touched her shoulder.

Incurring her rage would have dire consequences.

“Mayu-san. Please wake up, Mayu-san.”

“Mm… Hmm…”

Mayuzumi softly opened her eyes. Eyes shimmering like glass beads stared at me. She blinked several times. She straightened her hand and placed her palm on her skirt.

“…Odagiri-kun.”

“What is it, Mayu-san?”

“…My neck hurts.”

“I can imagine.”

Mayuzumi frowned. She turned her head and winced in pain.

Akimasa clicked his tongue. “The soup’s getting cold!” he roared. “Get up already!”

I didn’t think he was a bad person.

Shirayuki bent down beside Mayuzumi, her face marked with concern. She touched Mayuzumi’s neck and gently rubbed it.

Mayuzumi grimaced. “Not there. A little to the side… Ow… Don’t press it.”

“Save that for later,” Akimasa said. “Apply wet compress on it.”

Caw!

Suddenly, the shrill cry of a crow pierced the air, silencing the chatter in the room. A strange, muffled sound echoed throughout the lounge. I looked out the window, but saw nothing. No black shapes in the red landscape.

But the cry went on.

“…Huh?”

Caw!

The muffled cry sounded eerie, like the ringing of a hollow bell.

We looked around for the source of the voice.

“The fireplace?” Akimasa muttered.

The strange cry was indeed coming from the fireplace. A chill crawled down my spine. But I couldn’t tell what was wrong.

Akimasa knelt down in front of the fireplace, frowning. “Did it get stuck in there or something?”

“Don’t look inside,” said a low murmur.

Startled, I turned to Mayuzumi. Her eyes glinted like a cat’s. But Akimasa was already peering inside the fireplace. I quickly put my hand on his back and pulled him back.

Caw!

“Huh?”

Akimasa stumbled backward. A crow was perched on his face.

The creature’s sharp talons dug into his cheek, drawing blood that trickled down his skin. The bird spread its wings, trying to maintain its balance. Akimasa also spread his own arms. The scent of wild animals filled the air. The crow flapped its wings, the wind it produced ruffling Akimasa’s hair. The creature exerted force on its legs. The poor man’s skin looked as though it might peel away under the bird’s sharp talons. His eyes remained wide open. The crow lifted its beak in a mocking gesture.

Caw!

The beak closed and came down with a swift and brutal strike, piercing Akimasa’s eye socket. Akimasa’s mouth opened, but no scream came out as the beak pushed further into his flesh, his peach-colored tongue writhing in the air like a living thing. The beak went in deeper and deeper.

A children’s tale came to mind. A crow thrust its beak into a pitcher to drink water.

“Ugh… ah…”

I couldn’t move. The intense pain I had experienced before came flooding back. The pain of having my eyes gouged out blurred my vision. The child cried out. I couldn’t tell if it was my eye or his eye that the crow was stabbing. Tears and drool streamed down his slackened jaw. Desperately I forced my head to turn toward Mayuzumi.

She was smiling thinly.