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V8 Story I – Part 05

The fox had slipped out of its cage. It now roamed freely.

And Saga Yusuke was trying to kill him.

It was the worst-case scenario. I ruffled my hair, and the child inside me whimpered in response to my frustration.

The image of the fox locked in the underground cell flashed through my mind. He claimed he had no intention of leaving his prison. But the fox was a cunning creature, capable of easily deceiving others. I was a hopeless fool to have believed him, fully aware of his deceptive nature.

“After Hirugao-kun’s body was discovered, he seized the opportunity and escaped. Hirugao-kun made it through the spirit world trap and paid the fox a visit. It appears that he retrieved the key she somehow had in her possession.”

The key was given to me by the fox. A sudden realization dawned upon me.

If I hadn’t accepted that key, she might still be alive.

My throat constricted, but I pushed aside the rising guilt. I could blame myself all I want later. Right now, my focus needed to be on finding the fox.

“Members of the Mayuzumi clan are also searching for him. However, the likelihood of finding him is slim. Their morale is low. A fierce talking-to from me might push them to desperation, but even if they do find him, he can use certain spells with preparation. There is a high chance of a counterattack.” Mayuzumi’s voice carried a hint of annoyance.

I clenched my teeth. The Mayuzumi clan had never been keen on keeping Mayuzumi Asato captive. As long as he didn’t pose a threat to Azaka, they preferred not to interfere with the fox. Fear of the supernatural and blind admiration loosened the restraints on the fox. And just like before, the fox had run away from the clan.

Everything had returned to square one. This time, Yusuke was entangled in the web as well.

“Yusuke doesn’t know this. Though the chances of them bumping into each other are slim, I can’t let Asato roam around in the open. Mayu-san, is there anything I can do right now?”

“Wouldn’t that be nice? The connection between you and the fox runs deep. There’s a possibility he will appear before you. If you can do something about him then, I wouldn’t have to lift a finger. His games are repulsive. I have no desire to humor him ever again,” Mayuzumi said with a sigh. In her languid tone, she continued. “Then again, I don’t know if he even wants to play at all.”

My brows knitted. Mayuzumi stated that the fox had no intention to play games. Then why did he escape? The fox had no reason to flee. I was perplexed.

Mayuzumi sighed. “Someone is calling for me, so I must end the call. We’ll talk later, Odagiri-kun.”

“Okay. I’ll get in touch with you later.”

After hanging up, I stared blankly at the sky. The gray clouds glowed dimly from within.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a crumpled cigarette. Placing it between my lips, I lit it. The smoke stung my throat as I inhaled. My arm still burned with a searing heat.

I exhaled the smoke into the air and desperately tried to gather my thoughts.

Where did the fox go? Why did he leave?

I recalled the fox’s words. He claimed he would live as if he were dead from now on.

Believing in the fox was madness. But his words seemed to be genuine.

He admitted to being nothing more than an imitation. I couldn’t fathom that the proud fox, who had blindly embraced his own uniqueness, would utter lies that diminished himself.

But he had escaped from his cage. Hirugao’s death must have triggered some change within him. By fulfilling Hirugao’s wish, he destroyed her. Each time he fulfilled a wish, someone wept and shattered. I fought to suppress my anger. If my fury surged once more, my belly might split open.

I remembered our last exchange. When I shouted at him, he wore a face that resembled a fox mask.

“I knew what would happen. I knew you would put the blame on me.”

I held my breath and lifted my head. A certain thought poisoned my mind.

The fox used Hirugao’s death to escape. Where was he planning to go?

The one who berated and blamed him—the one who screamed his name—was right here.

I stubbed out the cigarette and stuffed it into a portable ashtray. I rose to my feet, mindful not to strain my injured arm. I walked along the external corridor, went up the rusty staircase, and stopped before my room. As my gaze shifted downward, my heart seemed to skip a beat. Yet, despite the shock, I reached out my hand calmly.

A white sheet of paper was wedged into the gap of the door.

Words in red crayon marked its surface. The ominous color stung my eyes.

A familiar letter. The fox still delighted in theatrics.

I extracted the letter, swiftly scanning its contents. An address was inscribed on the back in ballpoint pen. On the front were taunting words.

“If you’ve come this far, come alone. If you don’t, it’s goodbye forever.”

It resembled the wording he used when he summoned me to Shizuka’s place. The baby let out a cry and squirmed.

I caressed my belly, and blood stained the leather glove. Calming Uka, I took a deep breath.

I crumpled the letter and tucked it into my chest pocket, forcefully suppressing the trembling of my fingertips.

I couldn’t figure out his intentions. Was his goal to kill me or use me? It didn’t matter either way. With the fox now on the loose, someone needed to rein him in once more.

That responsibility fell upon me. I had to prevent anyone else from breaking. Before the fox and Yusuke ran into each other, before one of them was killed, I had to put an end to it.

People made wishes to the fox, but I harbored none. I wouldn’t fall to his temptations. The white child was no more. With Uka, there was a chance of success.

And what would I do afterward? Put him back in his cage? Cast him into that underground cell and find satisfaction in it? Capture him each time he escaped?

I could only think of one way to keep the fox in its place forever. But I had no intention of choosing that. If I did, I would be undone. That much was certain.

Without finding an answer, I unlocked the door and stepped inside the room. I took off my clothes and wiped away the blood from my stomach. After changing into fresh attire, I departed the apartment once more. Before closing the door, I cast a final glance behind me.

Memories of recent events flooded my mind. The liveliness from when Hirugao was still alive resurfaced. Suddenly, I missed the time spent with Yusuke and Yukihito very much. I shut the door, locked it, and set forth.

To confront the fox, just as I had done before.

The designated location was an ordinary residential area.

I stepped out of the taxi and paid the fare. As I listened to the sound of the car driving away, I gazed at the building in front of me.

There stood a two-story apartment right in front of me. It didn’t appear to be an exceptionally old building, but the cream-colored exterior was slightly dirty. There was no laundry in sight. The adjacent parking lot lay empty, devoid of a single vehicle. On the opposite side was an electronics store, its shutters firmly closed.

This corner alone was deserted, as though a hole had formed in this part of town.

A sense of déjà vu swept over me. I had encountered similar occurrences in the past; this place alone felt detached from the currents of everyday life. It was encircled by avoidance and indifference, allowing abnormalities to persist unchecked.

I disregarded the shiver creeping down my spine. Stubbing out my cigarette, I pressed onward.

The room number had been inscribed in the letter. I made my way toward Room 204.

My footsteps echoed hollow as I walked down the narrow corridor. I grabbed the doorknob of the designated room. An uncanny chill seeped into my fingers through my leather gloves. Steeling myself, I opened the door.

Click.

A noxious stench of decay poured out.

The putrid odor of rotting flesh and the thick smell of blood enveloped me. It felt as though I was peering into the belly of a living creature. I looked into the oppressive darkness. The atmosphere inside and outside the door was starkly different.

Fear slithered up my spine, compelling me to retreat. But my conditioned mind succumbed automatically. I told myself that there was no escape, and the fear and revulsion gradually faded away.

I was going to meet the fox again. There could be no more hesitation.

I stepped inside without taking off my shoes. A cold wind blew in through the open doorway. I glanced over my shoulder and saw the gray sky and the grimy entryway. The colorless scene resembled a monochromatic photograph, except for one colorful object.

Pink children’s sneakers were lying between a pair of leather shoes.

Bang!

The door slammed shut. The light of winter was snuffed out, plunging me into darkness.

I turned to face the gullet-like hallway, suppressing the resurging fear.

Slowly, I started walking.