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V8 Story I – Part 03

I could hear the sound of a rope creaking. A pale body hung in the darkness.

Gray hair swayed lightly. The suspended body resembled the carcass of a fish caught on a line. The emaciated figure didn’t seem human. Gazing at the lifeless form, I let out a deep sigh.

The twisted, broken neck was disturbing. The bulging eyeballs were eerie. The swollen face resembled a rotting fruit. The body undoubtedly belonged to someone familiar.

It was tragic. And unsettling.

I sat on the floor, staring blankly at the hanging body.

Creak.

It was her. I forced myself to accept that fact. She had left a note confessing her love for Yusuke. She made a wish to the fox, hoping for happiness. But her wish remained unfulfilled, and the letter became a farewell. I grieved her death. I genuinely mourned her passing.

Human death was sorrowful. Human death was painful. Human death was tragic.

But in the end…

Ultimately…

I opened my eyes.

The room was empty. I alone was lying among broken junk.

Yusuke was gone. He must have left through the open door.

My head throbbed intensely. Even the slightest movement triggered severe nausea. It felt like a bomb was detonating inside my skull. I moved my tight throat and cautiously exhaled.

I closed my eyes and let the unbearable pain pass. I realized I was alive.

Yusuke had left without killing me.

“Yusuke.”

He was gone. Yusuke said he would kill Mayuzumi Asato and Karakuri Maihime. But I doubt he could do it easily. Asato was being held in the secret cell of the Mayuzumi clan, and I didn’t know the exact location of Maihime’s residence. But the biggest issue wasn’t the feasibility of his revenge.

The problem was his unwavering determination for vengeance.

He had abandoned everything and left. He wouldn’t come back.

What was he thinking now? What emotions was he feeling?

I didn’t even want to imagine it.

“…”

I lay face down, exerting strength in my arms. Bones creaked, and my stomach churned. But even stomach acid no longer rose. Breathing through my nose, I desperately tried to stand up.

First, I should contact Mayuzumi. I considered seeking help from the authorities, but explaining the whole story, including Hirugao’s death, would be impossible. Moreover, Asato and Maihime, the targets of Yusuke’s revenge, were not qualified for police protection. As far as society was concerned, Asato and Maihime did not exist.

There were no espers in the normal world. So no one would stop him.

My legs lost strength. I slammed my knee and groaned.

As I shook my head, the wall on my left caught my eye. My breath seized, and I quickly averted my gaze. Then cautiously, I turned my head. I confronted what I couldn’t face before.

The white wall was covered in drawings of large flowers.

Hirugao and Yusuke must have drawn them. Dried crayon lines filled the wall.

Numerous flowers spread their giant petals. The drawings were unpolished, yet beautiful.

The crude flowers in full bloom exuded a powerful aura. Illuminated by sunlight, the graffiti resembled a solemn mural. It bore the traces of the days they had spent together. That’s why I avoided looking at it until now. Clenching my teeth tightly, I studied the drawings.

Every flower depicted on the wall was of the same type.

In pink, light blue, and blue, the name of the flowers were…

“Hirugao.”

Again I felt like I was struck on the head. I clenched my fist tight. Ignoring the sharp pain, I pounded the floor. Tears streamed down, and bones creaked. Nevertheless, I struck the floor over and over again.

I was an idiot. At that moment, I finally came to a realization.

I did not understand anything about Yusuke’s sorrow.

---

The cell phone in my chest pocket was shattered.

Having it there for quick access turned out to be my downfall. I hadn’t memorized Mayuzumi’s phone number. The apartment was closer to my home than the office. I decided to return home briefly to secure a means of communication and seek treatment.

Leaving Yusuke’s apartment, I started walking. My shirt was stained with vomit, and my face was swollen. I raised my hand, but taxis refused to stop. Dragging my feet, I hurried to the subway.

The city was blanketed in gray clouds. It had been sunny just moments ago, but now it looked like snow might be on the horizon. The cold air stung the wounds on my cheeks. I dragged my body down the subway stairs.

Once inside the train car, passengers avoided getting too close to me. My grotesquely swollen face was reflected in the glass of the door. I looked terrible. This marked the second time I found myself venturing out in such a ragged state.

I vividly remembered that day, when the cicadas were chirping loudly. I hadn’t made any progress since that distant summer day.

I traveled four stations from Yusuke’s apartment and arrived at the nearest station to my apartment. I managed to catch the bus just in time. After getting off the bus, I crossed the park and walked along the road by the embankment.

I stumbled down the slope in front of the apartment. Along the way, I stopped in my tracks.

A figure stood nonchalantly under the overcast sky.

“Hmm, hhmmhmm…”

Random humming filled the air. Aya was sweeping the path with a broom. It seemed a stray cat had scattered garbage around. A torn garbage bag lay at her feet. She gathered some and lifted her head.

A yellow lion roared on her chest. Her short ponytail bobbed up and down.

“Not bad at all. Go, me! So cold… I’m craving for some potato-filled stew. Huh? Odagiri… Uh, not him I guess. Who are you?”

Aya frowned deeply. My appearance must have been so awful that I no longer resembled the same person she knew. Or perhaps her way of recognizing people was slightly off from the norm.

I raised a hand. “Unfortunately, it’s me,” I said weakly.

“Huh? Odagiri? No way. Your left cheek is all discolored, and you look all wobbly. Are you injured? Wait, why do I even need to ask?”

I passed by Aya. There was no time to talk to her. My head felt hot and hazy. If I lost focus for even a second, I might just collapse.

I pressed on with unsteady steps. Nausea welled up, and I covered my mouth. Helplessness burned my stomach.

The child in my belly whimpered, but I didn’t respond. Ever since leaving Yusuke’s apartment, a particular question had occupied my mind.

Recalling the large flowers, I repeated the question: What could I possibly do about someone’s pain?

“Odagiri, are you hurt?”

I raised my head and met Aya’s grim gaze. My words got caught in my throat. She was right; my body was in excruciating pain. But I didn’t know how to respond.

Unaware of my inner turmoil, Aya crossed her arms and groaned. “Pain is not good. It’s awful. Wait there for a bit. Nanami-san! Nanami-san!”

“Ah, wait, hold on. I’m leaving immediately.”

Aya tossed aside her broom and dashed off. I quickly turned on my heel. I had to get to my room before Nanami arrived. I didn’t want to worry her.

I gripped the railing of the rusty staircase.

Bang!

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.

A door slammed open in the distance, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps. Loud footsteps. My gut stirred, and I fearfully looked over my shoulder.

The sound ceased. Standing there was someone who resembled a demon.

“What the hell are you doing, Odagiri-saaaaaan?!”

“N-Nanami-san?”

Nanami stood with arms akimbo, radiating an extraordinary intensity. Her soft pigtails seemed to billow ever so slightly. I held my breath as she scrutinized every inch of my body.

Then, she furrowed her brow deep and delivered a sharp kick to the back of my knee.

“Gah!”

“Take him, Aya-san.”

Once again, my knee was struck, and I crumpled on the ground. Nanami seized the collar of my shirt and, treating me like a piece of luggage, handed me over to Aya.

“Roger that, Nanami-san! Let’s go, Odagiri!” Aya cheerfully walked off, dragging me along.

“S-Stop, Aya. I can walk. I can walk! Don’t drag me!”

I shook off her hand and swiftly got to my feet. Nanami’s cold gaze bore into me once more.

I hesitantly met her eyes. Nanami had a charming smile on her face.

“Don’t run away, Odagiri-san. If you don’t want to worry people, you shouldn’t return with a swollen face.”

I nodded, overwhelmed by her commanding presence. Aya, standing beside Nanami, wore a strangely proud expression.

I stared in astonishment at the two of them standing in a power stance. A peculiar sense of relief washed over me.

All those days we spent together were never coming back. Hirugao was gone, and Yusuke had decided to seek revenge.

But these two remained the same. Nothing had changed about them.

It brought both comfort and pain.

“O-Odagiri…”

Would the day come when Yusuke would join us here?

Would our shattered lives ever return to normal?

“Why are you crying?”

I couldn’t find the right words to answer the question.

I couldn’t convey his anger and sorrow.