3 bar menu

V8 Story II – Part 01

Thinking back, it feels like there was never any joy in my life.

My life was destroyed after a certain event.

The years I led an ordinary life fell apart completely.

To be honest, there were signs of the collapse long before. Even though I knew it was coming, I held my breath. I lived for a long time in peace as fragile as a sandcastle.

I was a coward. A fool. Regretting my constant escape is too late now.

No one will forgive me. No one will approve of what I did.

Because of my continuous avoidance, people died. I might as well have killed her.

I deeply despised someone. And even more, I hated myself.

But once again I turned my eyes away from the anger and hatred I had for myself.

I didn’t harm myself. I forgave myself.

Still, the fact that my life was shattered remains the same.

I can’t live a normal life anymore.

There is no joy in my life anymore. I can’t hope for the same happiness as others.

But it’s okay.

Even if plain happiness was offered to me, I wouldn’t be able to accept it.

I chose despair, resignation. I chose to just cling onto life instead.

Despite all that, I found a place to return to.

A pale figure was hovering in the darkness.

A lifeless body was floating in the blackness.

I stared at it again. The corpse was a grotesque sight, its expression of agony a stark contrast to the smile it once had.

The disfigured form of the girl appeared to symbolize the destruction of normalcy. My hand moved toward the corpse.

Creak.

The body should have been cold, but my fingertips sensed nothing. She didn’t feel real.

Uneasiness washed over me. It was as if I failed to understand something crucial.

Death was sorrowful. Death was lonely. No matter how much I wished for it, I would never be able to see her again.

I had a firm grasp of that absolute truth.

That’s precisely why I should have been capable of understanding his sorrow. I should know how he felt.

But back then…

In that moment, I…

“Da… giri… kun… ri… kun…”

From a distance, a familiar voice reached my ears. Someone was calling out to me, perhaps urging me to wake up. I was aware. The body before me was a figment of a dream. The girl was no longer suspended in the air.

Where was her lifeless body?

Slowly, I opened my eyes. A blaze of intense light seared into my retinas, and tears pooled in the corner of my eyes.

My head throbbed fiercely. My arm was burning hot. Dark, moist eyes gazed into mine. I could feel soft fabric on my back.

Through my hazy vision, a figure came into focus. Dark, moist eyes peered into my face. I was lying on someone’s lap. The ribbons adorning her headdress stirred.

“You’re finally awake, Odagiri-kun,” she said.

The sight of her beautiful, doll-like features gave me relief. All strength drained from my body.

Even amidst chaotic situations, she was the only thing that remained the same.

“There you are, Mayu-san,” I whispered softly.

The moment those words escaped my lips, a disquieting sensation gripped me. My eyes widened.

Where exactly was this place?

“Well, it might have been better if you remained unconscious,” Mayuzumi said, crunching a piece of chocolate in her mouth.

My gut stirred. The pain in my arm intensified. As I tried to pull out my arm from under me, I realized something. My wrists were bound. My arms were tied behind my back.

Raising my head, I surveyed my surroundings. The ground was blanketed with grass. A marble fountain adorned with verdant vines stood before me. Broken statues dotted the area.

Everything I saw was comprised of shades of green and white. In the heart of the garden stood a table and chair, designed like a spider’s web.

Someone was sitting there. Droopy eyes regarded me.

“Oh, you’re alive, Odagiri-san.” Her voice was as sweet as honey. “I was quite taken aback.”

It felt as though the air had been sucked out of my lungs. I looked hard at her.

She was wearing a tight-fitting, pristine white outfit. Glossy white hair cascaded down her back like a veil. She bore a resemblance to a bride.

“Karakuri Maihime,” I muttered dumbly.

“Kugutsu,” she said, turning away from me. “Could you please stop thrashing around. It’s unsafe. Why can’t you stay still? Your wrists might tear. Do you find pleasure in pain, perhaps?”

A man in a suit squirmed in a chair beside her. He was tied down, his wrists bleeding.

“But Princess, we can’t stay like this. Where did that man go?”

Kugutsu snarled, baring his teeth like a rabid dog. He resumed thrashing about.

Maihime showed no inclination to help him. Shaking her head, she took a sip of tea.

I was dumbfounded. It was like waking up from a dream, only to find myself still dreaming.

Why were Maihime and Kugutsu here? I had thought about contacting them, but I never imagined them to suddenly appear before me.

I must have been brought here, to be more precise.

I surveyed my surroundings once more. I recognized the summer garden.

It was the front yard of Hishigami Akira’s atelier. I was in this very place just days ago.

Suddenly, I was kicked from behind, sending me rolling like a caterpillar. I lifted myself up. When I turned around, I was met with Mayuzumi’s disgruntled face. Her black skirt fanned out on the grass like a blooming rose.

Her upper body was wrapped in an elegant blouse, complemented by a tie. Her slim waist, accentuated by a ribbon, arrested attention. She seemed as though she were buried within the heart of a flower.

The corner of her lips lifted. “Could you move away, Odagiri-kun? Hishigami Akira left you on my lap. Each time I tossed you aside, he put you back, so I let you be. Now that you’re awake, I would appreciate it if you picked yourself up.”

Harsh words, yes, but on-brand. I did find it odd that she allowed me to use her lap as a pillow. Not that it mattered right now. I furrowed my brow. She just mentioned Hishigami’s name.

“Mayu-san, what happened exactly? Why are we here?”

“I think it would be faster if you asked him.”

Snap.

Mayuzumi munched on a piece of chocolate. Following her gaze, I looked over my shoulder to see the mansion’s door open.

“Hey there. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Hishigami Akira wore a genial smile.

He was wearing a tweed jacket and jeans. His hair, streaked with gray, was groomed, and his beard neatly shaved. He looked exactly like the deceased Hishigami Akira.

A few days ago, he drove the human Hishigami Akira to suicide, mistaking him for a puppet. Though he was wracked with regret, he decided to live on behalf of the real Hishigami Akira. That ought to have been the case, but something felt amiss.

“Ah, you’re all here. Truly marvelous. Nothing surprising there, of course, given I invited you all to come. Nevertheless, this remains a joyous occasion. Thank you for joining us. Allow me to extend my warmest welcome.”

Hishigami laughed jovially, spreading his arms wide. My eyes widened, and I was rendered speechless.

He was holding a gun in his right hand. His left arm had been severed at the elbow, losing about a third of his limb. The sleeve of his jacket was creased, wet with oil and a red, blood-like substance.

Barely two days had passed since we last saw each other. What on earth happened within that short period of time?

“I brought you here, my dear friends, for one reason. I wanted you to join me in my examination. I invited solely those who bore witness to the death of Hishigami Akira the other day.”

Upon hearing those words, I realized something. Asato, who was with me, was not around. He must not have been abducted. I wondered how he was doing right now. But I didn’t have the luxury to worry about him.

A pale girl emerged from the atelier. It was a puppet resembling Hishigami’s late cousin, Hikari.

The short-haired puppet was carrying a silver tray lined with blades. A coping saw, chisel, and a butcher’s knife gleamed under the summer light.

Hishigami’s lips curled up as he grabbed a knife. “My apologies, but I wish to dissect each and every one of you,” he said courteously.