How To Eat Life:Volume1

Novel Illustrations

Prologue: A Past=. Beyond

He grabbed the iron bars using his right hand. Using his momentum, he did a flip using one arm. Using his body weight and momentum, he lands with his left foot on the bar.

Otogiri Tobi stood on the bars in the playground and crossed his arms together.

“Oi, hey, Tobi...”

The backpack that was hanging from his left shoulder giggled.

"Just saying, what you did just now was kinda weird, okay? You look like you're crazy."

Pretending not to hear what the bag just said, Tobi looked around the playground park. It had monkey bars, a slide, two trees, two benches, a water fountain, and a swing set for two.

Two boys are sitting on the swing. Both of them looked like they were younger than Tobi around fifth grade or sixth grade. The both of them had a look on their faces like were saying, “What’s with that middle schooler? He's scary.”

"You see? Ke ke keh." The backpack laughed.

Tobi clicks his tongue. Shut up, Baku. He says in his mind. He doesn't say it out loud. Those elementary kids can't hear Baku's voice. Tobi is the only one who can talk to this backpack.

Tobi jumps down from the bar.

"You've got quite a nimble body even though you've got nothing. Just like a monkey!"

Ignoring Baku's teasing, Tobi decided to try going up the slide. The boys on the swings were no longer paying attention to him as they fiddled with their smartphones.

Crouching on the slide, Tobi reminisced about how he was around their height back then.

The slide is made out of metal. It had visible dents and peeling yellow paint on it.

"This the place?" Baku whispered.

"I wonder," Tobi quietly replied, rolling up the left sleeve of his uniform. The LCD screen of the watch he bought from a pawn shop showed 4:59 PM. Tobi is in the second year of middle school, he is not involved in any clubs or cram schools.

The curfew at the facility was at 5:30.

Hey, aren't you going to be late if you don't leave soon?" Baku sneered.

Shut up, Tobi thought as he jumped down from the slide. Tobi's shadow was unusually long as he held the backpack.

The chime of Yuyake Koyake started ringing, a familiar melody.

Tobi gazed up at the twilight sky.

"...a piggyback-"

"Huh? What'd you say just now?" Baku asked.

Without answering, Tobi repeated mutters.

"Piggyback..."

That's right.

I was on his shoulders, on a piggyback.

His older brother used to carry him on his shoulders and bring him to this park. His brother had sung something quietly.

"Hey, onii-chan, what song is that?" Tobi asked, but his brother evaded the question by laughing.

"Hm~ what song is it, I wonder."

"Tell me now!" Tobi begged while pulling on his brother's ears.

"Come on! Tell me, what song is it?"

"I just made it up."

"You did?"

"Yeah, it's a song I made up just now."

He remembered it vividly.

Tobi had played on that slide countless times. His brother would watch over him while sitting on the bench, bent forward with his legs crossed, squinting. A smile would appear on his brother's face.

They would also play together on the swing set for two.

"...That's right..."

Not only in the park.

On rainy days, his brother had carried him on his shoulders, holding an umbrella. On the way home his brother would hum Yuyake Koyake to him.

“Tobi.”

Baku calls out to him.

“Oi, Tobi.”

Tobi exited the park without uttering a word. Ahead of him stood a two-story house. Was it to the right or the left? Which direction had his brother taken that day? No, he didn't know.

For the time being, Tobi decided to turn right. It led him down a narrow road, barely wide enough for cars to pass through. None of the buildings lining the street appeared new. Some even seemed quite old.

Among them was a barbershop, sporting a red, blue, and white signpost. Its outer wall boasted a dark green color. The establishment went by the name of Hatsushima Hair and Beauty. Tobi felt a vague sense of familiarity with it, yet also a hint of unfamiliarity.

"What do you think?" Baku inquired.

Tobi shook his head as he continued walking, not pausing for a moment.

Tobi was in search of an apartment, although he didn't know the exact address. It had to be somewhere in this vicinity. The building he sought was two stories high, with a whitish exterior, an outdoor staircase, and a hallway. Tobi used to reside on the second floor of that very apartment along with his brother.

Which room number had they occupied on the second floor? If he remembered correctly, it had been a corner room. Tobi could recall most of the interior details. Black-coated railings adorned the window, and his brother used to sit him on those railings. The image of his brother leaning on the railings with a cigarette in hand was etched into Tobi's memory.

Tobi abruptly stopped in the middle of a T junction, noticing a manhole at his feet. Whichever direction he turned, he couldn't spot any view that stood out in his recollection. It had been eight or nine years since then, and things might have changed during that time.

"What do you think, Tobi?" Baku asked.

"As I said..." Tobi attempted to restrain himself with all his might.

"You're so frustrating!"

But it was futile. He couldn't help but raise his voice.

"...There's no need to get so angry. My bad, okay?"

Apologizing wasn't Baku's usual style either. Tobi sighed and turned on his heel. It was precisely at that moment.

His attention was drawn to a weathered, blackened concrete block wall. Beyond the wall, there was a corner. Another blackened, grimy concrete block wall. A corner.

Strangely, it intrigued him. Tobi tried to approach it. Beyond the corner, he found a narrow alley squeezed between one and two-story residential buildings. Potted plants lined the road, and the electric poles were surprisingly thin. The power cables hung overhead, as if to veil the alley. Tobi's heart raced as if it had skipped a beat.

"I passed through here..."

It was that day.

Tobi had dashed through this alley, and he hadn't been alone. His brother had been by his side, guiding him by the hand. They had been in a rush. Were they being pursued? Yes, that's right. Someone had been chasing them. They were running away. But why?

Why had they been pursued? Did they not even have a moment to contemplate such matters? Tobi wondered. He couldn't recall. Had something happened? Had his brother explained it to him? Or perhaps, even his brother hadn't understood? In any case, they had been running for their lives. Of that, Tobi was certain.

There was no trace of life to be found. The surroundings were enveloped in darkness, though not entirely dark. The sun was either setting or just beginning to rise. One of the two.

The alley led to a slightly wider road. Continuing to the right, there were shops with awnings. Two shops on the right, one on the left. Tobi and his brother must have dashed through this road.

It must have been incredibly painful. Tobi wasn't running now, but his chest still throbbed with discomfort.

Tobi must have whined countless times.

"Onii-chan, I don't think I can go on. I can't. It hurts. I can't run anymore. Leave me behind."

His brother must have encouraged him.

"Hang in there, Tobi. You can keep running. You still have the strength to run, Tobi."

That's right.

I have to persevere.

Because he's telling me to run. My brother is.

As he passed through that road, he arrived at a street adorned with cobblestones instead of asphalt. It was an old shopping street. Most of the shops had their shutters down. He didn't recall this shuttered street. Had he taken a wrong turn?

That wasn't the case. It was the alley. They had entered the alley right away and hurried through it.

"It was here, wasn't it, Tobi?" Baku insisted.

Tobi remained silent. He believed it was here. There was no doubt about it. But really?

A working-class neighborhood. Was that the proper term for it? There were no prominent distinguishing features. To put it simply, it was an ordinary urban landscape. Was it truly here?

His brother had finally begun to carry him. Tobi might have been crying at that point. Or perhaps he had fallen and couldn't stand up. Yes, that was it. He had fallen right here. His brother had lifted him up and continued running.

"It's alright, Tobi!"

His brother's voice awakened him.

The sound of cars reached his ears. In the distance, a red light flickered on. "Shit!" his brother muttered, appearing as if he might turn back.

Most likely, it hadn't been just one or two people chasing after him and his brother. There were many.

"Stop," a voice called out.

It was the voice of a man. It didn't happen now. It was in the past. Yet, unconsciously, Tobi froze. It was eerie how vividly he could remember it.

Tobi had clung to his brother as he carried him, probably closing his eyes. Startled by the man's menacing "Stop," he had opened his eyes.

The man stood there, holding something in both hands. He pointed the front end towards them. A loud noise erupted, a sound akin to an explosion or striking a hard object. At the time, Tobi hadn't understood what that sound was. Reflecting on it now, hadn't it been a gunshot?

The man had possessed a gun. He had shot at him and his brother.

His brother had cried out and stumbled. At that time, Tobi couldn't have comprehended that his brother had been shot. But something had happened to his brother. Tobi was certain of that much.

However, despite everything, his brother had kept running while carrying Tobi. He had been limping, clearly injured. It must have been excruciatingly painful.

How long had they been fleeing? It hadn't been a matter of seconds or a few minutes, had it? It had been dozens of minutes, if not longer.

His brother sought refuge in the narrow alley between buildings. Before that, he had set Tobi down. Or perhaps, Tobi recalled, he had asked to be set down. Regardless, Tobi held his brother's hand. The place was damp, foul-smelling, and filthy. Overhead, several air conditioning units jutted out like a makeshift roof, emitting a rumbling noise.

Suddenly, his brother opened a door and pushed Tobi inside.

"Hide here."

"But, onii-chan..."

"Stay here until I say it's safe. Understand, Tobi? Promise me. Do not make a sound under any circumstances."

His brother was in the alley, and Tobi was inside the building. His brother was about to close the door. Tobi felt scared and uneasy. If he followed his brother's instructions, he would be all alone. No way. He didn't want to be alone. He wanted to be with his brother. He didn't want to be separated from him.

However, his brother was injured. He seemed to be in pain. It must have been unbearable. He must have reached his limit and couldn't go on anymore. Tobi was slowing him down. He was a burden.

He didn't want to be apart, and he didn't want to be alone, but he had to obey. That's what he believed.

"Okay."

As Tobi attempted to nod, his brother placed a finger on his lips.

"Shhh."

His brother's face was partially—or rather, almost entirely—obscured from view. Yet, somehow, in that moment, Tobi felt like his brother was smiling.

Tobi nodded once again, this time in silence.

His brother closed the door, plunging him into darkness.

Tobi remembered that darkness vividly.

It wasn't just a lack of light. It felt like he could grasp the darkness in his hands. The darkness carried weight, engulfing his eyes, nose, and ears. If it covered his mouth, he wouldn't be able to breathe. The darkness seemed to penetrate deep within him.

Feeling like he was losing his sanity, Tobi pressed his ear against the door, trying to catch any sounds from outside. The rumbling of the outdoor AC units brought a slight relief. The darkness hadn't completely muted his hearing.

Soon enough, he heard another sound. Footsteps, perhaps? There was a jarring noise.

Then, voices.

Someone was shouting. Was it his brother, or someone else?

Naturally, Tobi desired to step outside. He gripped the doorknob, but time and time again, he stopped himself just before opening the door.

Hide here. His brother's order echoed in his mind.

Promise me. His brother's words resounded, and Tobi had nodded.

He couldn't break a promise to his brother. He couldn't do such a thing.

But in the end, he was still gripped by fear.

Intensely frightened, he could do nothing but suppress his breaths in the suffocating darkness. Unbeknownst to him, Tobi found himself crouching. He waited anxiously for his brother.

His brother would surely return. Everything would be fine, Tobi. He would say those words. Tobi believed in his brother. He had no choice but to believe.

Beyond the shroud of darkness that enveloped him, there was likely a staircase. The stairs descended, down, down, to the depths of the earth.

Occasionally, Tobi felt as if there was something stirring within the darkness. Each time, he felt a scream welling up inside him. With all his strength, he suppressed it and called out to his brother in his heart.

Onii-chan.

Onii-chan.

Onii-chan.

Help me, onii-chan.

Come back, onii-chan.

Please come back quickly, onii-chan.

Please, I beg you, onii-chan.

Onii-chan.

Onii-chan.

Onii-chan.

I'm here waiting. I promised I would. I'll obey your words, so please, onii-chan—

How many hours had he sat there, trembling—occasionally dozing off only to startle awake—how long had he waited for his brother?

Three hours?

Or was it four hours?

Ten hours, perhaps?

Even longer?

Half a day?

One day?

Could it have been two days?

Or even more?

"......"

Suddenly, the sound of the door opening reached his ears, and light flooded in. It was dazzling. His eyes stung for a moment. None of that mattered.

"Onii-chan!"

Tobi climbed up the stairs. The door was open. He stepped outside. A foul odor permeated the air, reminiscent of a sewer. The alleyway was paved with concrete. The dirty, cracked concrete was stained with red.

It was blood.

...that was his first thought.

Whose blood was it? Could it be...

No, it couldn't be. It couldn't be his brother's blood, could it?

It couldn't be. Tobi found himself on the staircase leading to the pitch-black underground. He was alone. Someone had opened the door. Who could it be?

"Onii-chan."

Yes, his brother. His brother must have opened the door. That had to be it. His brother had returned. He had come back for Tobi.

Tobi scanned the area, searching for his brother. He had to be nearby if he was the one who opened the door.

"O—"

There, at the end of the alley, stood a man. But that man was...

Tobi trembled.

No.

That wasn't his brother.

The man faced Tobi. He was tall and wore a hat. Tobi couldn't recall the exact type of hat, but it was a top hat. The man also had a scarf and a black long coat.

The unsettling part was his face.

His eyes.

He only had one.

It wasn't like having just one eye in place of two. It was a single, all-encompassing eye. The man's face consisted entirely of that eye. If Tobi had seen correctly, the single eye—the man's face—had blinked. It indicated the presence of eyelids.

The one-eyed man carried a bag or something similar on his shoulder. He didn't appear to be carrying anything else. At least, he wasn't holding a gun. He didn't seem to be one of the pursuers after Tobi and his brother; he didn't belong to that gang. Nevertheless, he had only one eye.

In other words, he could be an even more dangerous, terrifying, and enigmatic individual. Having only one eye added to the air of mystery surrounding him.

The one-eyed man slowly removed the bag and extended it toward Tobi, as if urging him to take it.

Tobi quickly shook his head. The one-eyed man was undeniably strange, and Tobi couldn't recall ever seeing that bag before. He couldn't simply accept it without caution.

Eventually, the one-eyed man slightly bowed his head, then proceeded to bend down and gently place the bag on the ground.

The bag.

It appeared to be a bag.

With a shoulder strap for carrying, it was a large bag.

For the time being, Tobi fixed his gaze upon the bag.

When he snapped out of his thoughts, the one-eyed man was nowhere to be found. He had vanished, as if he had never been there in the first place.

But there was evidence.

The bag remained behind.

It was something the one-eyed man had left there.

"All because of him..."

Suddenly, Tobi felt the urge to cry.

It was all because of that one-eyed man. Because he had opened the door, Tobi had ventured outside, breaking his promise to wait for his brother's return. It was all because of that one-eyed man.

Tobi had always been prone to tears. He would often cry, sometimes for no apparent reason. Whenever Tobi burst into tears, his brother would embrace him tightly. His brother never told him to stop crying.

"Cry, Tobi. Cry as much as you want."

Recalling his brother's words, Tobi's tears inexplicably ceased.

Since then, Tobi hadn't shed a single tear.

After much hesitation, Tobi picked up the bag left behind by the one-eyed man. As he lifted it, he found it surprisingly light considering its size. Even at the age of five, Tobi managed to sling it over his left shoulder, mimicking the one-eyed man.

Strangely, he no longer felt completely alone.

The trail of red stains extended further down the alley.

"My brother is injured."

Tobi was convinced.

Those stains were his brother's blood.

His brother must have tried to shake off their pursuers. He likely intended to return once he ensured their safety. However, something must have happened, preventing his brother from coming back.

In that case, Tobi would be the one to search for his brother.

"I have to find him—"

#1 / Horizontal Falling Down

#1-1_otogiri_tobi / Why do flowers bloom

"Otogiri..."

The teacher with black-rimmed glasses called out in front of the school gate. Otogiri Tobi glanced at him but continued walking without stopping. "Otogiri..." the teacher with black-rimmed glasses groaned again.

"That teacher is quite persistent," the backpack chuckled with a ke ke sound.

"Well, it's his job, isn't it?" Tobi replied quietly.

Since enrolling in school, that teacher had given Tobi guidance countless times. He wasn't in charge of his homeroom or any of his subjects, and Tobi didn't even know his name.

"He's always nagging about things like 'that bag doesn't meet school standards' or 'those socks are too flashy' or 'your bangs are covering your eyebrows.' What's the point of school anyway? Trying to fit everyone into molds?"

Baku grumbled, but Tobi ignored him and entered the school building. He changed his shoes at the shoebox.

"Do you remember, Tobi? More than a year ago, that teacher used to bother you every morning about your hair, and you..."

"I don't know. I forgot," Tobi replied.

Tobi climbed up the stairs and entered the classroom for Class 3 of Year 2. His seat was by the window, the third one from the front. He placed Baku on his desk and sat down, resting his face on Baku.

"Sleeping right after entering school? You must be pretty free with no one to talk to. Wouldn't it be nice to make a couple of friends?" Baku commented.

"Baku, just be quiet..."

"Hey, hey, Tobi. Be careful. You might end up being that weird guy who talks to himself."

"I..."

Tobi lowered his voice as much as possible.

"...I'm not speaking loud enough for people around me to hear anyway."

"Why not let them hear? You might get a chance to talk to them that way."

"...That would be even more bothersome."

"Well, you're one of those types, right? The kind of guy who thinks being a lone wolf with no friends is cool?"

"...I don't think that way."

"Nuh-uh, you do. You know what that's called? 'Narcissism.' In Japanese, it's 'jiko tousui.'"

"Yeah, yeah, say whatever you want."

"And I will. I get bored when you keep me zipped up anyway."

"........."

"Just saying, if you think I'll be quiet just because you are, you're greatly mistaken," Baku mockingly laughed.

"As long as you live, I'll never be silent. Don't forget that, Tobi. We share the same fate. We are one, body and soul."

I won't forget.

Tobi muttered inwardly.

I've never forgotten.

"Well, sometimes I've wondered what would happen if I burned Baku until you turned into ash..."

"Hey, I can hear you!"

"...Your ears must be playing tricks on you."

"And where exactly do I have ears?"

"...I dunno."

"By the way, what's the matter with my hearing?"

"...I said I dunno."

"How cold... You're such a cold person. Your heart is at subzero. It's literally freezing at this point."

If only it would actually freeze. Tobi thought to himself. Saying it out loud would only add fuel to the fire. He should just ignore Baku's teasing. He knew this, but couldn't help reacting. He needed more discipline.

"...Discipline for what exactly?"

Tobi had always been a fast eater. He would demolish his lunch in no time, except for the bread which he left untouched. He would quickly clean up and leave the classroom with the bread. On days when the main course was rice or noodles instead of bread, he would leave empty-handed.

Initially, his homeroom teacher would try to stop him, saying, "Wait a second, Otogiri-kun..." But after being ignored, he stopped saying anything.

Today was a bread day, and specifically butter rolls.

Tobi carried Baku on his back and walked briskly down the hallway.

"You like them, don't you? Butter rolls."

"Huh? Not particularly."

"Liar. Your steps are too light."

"...Well, I don't hate them. I don't really have strong preferences."

The hallway was empty. The middle schoolers were still obediently eating their lunch in their classrooms. Nonetheless, Tobi lowered his voice, just in case.

"Tobi, you've always preferred bread over rice, right?"

"I'm a 'whichever one is good' kind of guy."

"You're more of a fish fan than a meat fan, aren't you?"

"I genuinely don't care."

"Then kinako or red bean paste?"

"Red bean paste."

"Red bean paste, huh? That was a quick response."

"...I'm not fond of powdery things."

"I understand, right? No, wait, what would I know? What am I thinking? I'm just a backpack! I've never had red bean paste or kinako."

"How would I know..."

"What kind of tone is that? You and I are buddies, aren't we? What kind of buddies are we?"

"I really don't know."

"We share a rotten fate. Yeah."

"Yeah... that might be it."

"Is it rotten? This fate that binds us. Isn't there a nicer way to put it?"

"You're the one who said it."

"Then correct me! Tell me I'm wrong. I'm lonely!"

"You're lonely, huh..."

"Just a bit, okay?"

Tobi exited to the courtyard. It was a sunny day. The courtyard had a lawn, benches, and flowerbeds, and it was usually bustling during lunch break. However, no one was there yet. It was deserted.

"You're going to do it again?" Baku said, appalled.

Tobi held onto the metal fixtures securing a pipe installed on the outer wall with his middle and ring fingers. With his fingers and toes, he hooked onto other pipe fixtures, gaps between pipes and walls, and grooves on the wall, climbing up swiftly.

"Good grief. People say idiots and smoke or something like that."

Tobi paid no mind to Baku's teasing. He reached the roof of the three-floor building in no time. Today was a good day. He didn't get lost or stuck at all. It went incredibly smoothly. This might be a good route.

In truth, one could reach the roof from inside the building. However, the door to the roof was locked, probably for security reasons. Without a key, there was no way to access the roof except by climbing. As far as Tobi knew, no one else would go through such trouble to reach the roof. He was the only one.

The roof had a flat, unfinished concrete surface. There were low walls on the perimeter, known as parapets. Tobi placed Baku at his feet and sat on the parapets. He tore open the plastic wrapping and took out the butter roll, taking a bite and closing his eyes.

"Does it taste good, Tobi?"

"...Not really. It's just average."

"Can't you be honest and say it's tasty? You're such a contradictory person."

"Yeah, yeah, it's so tasty, really tasty, very tasty, super tasty, tasty, tasty, tasty, tasty, tasty."

"Don't say it so many times. You sound completely fake."

"Like I said, it's just average."

"Koppe-pan and butter rolls, which one would you choose?"

"Butter rolls."

"See?"

"...See what?"

"Do I really need to explain?"

Tobi finished the butter roll in three bites and gazed at the pale sky and fragmented clouds. Soon, he grew bored and turned his attention back to the school building.

The school Tobi attended had a U-shaped building with a courtyard in the concave part. The roof he was on belonged to the special classroom building, facing the classroom building. The first floor housed the third-year students, the second floor was for second years, and the first years occupied the third floor.

The chime signaling the end of mealtime rang, marking the beginning of the lunch break. Students filed out into the hallway of the building facing the courtyard. Occasionally, around one in ten or even fewer, some students had peculiar things perched on their heads or shoulders. Despite noticing them, Tobi didn't turn his head to wonder what those things were.

For instance, three girls walked together in the second-floor hallway. Tobi couldn't recall their names, but they were all second-year students like him. The girl in the middle had a creature clinging to her that resembled a bat or perhaps a flying squirrel. It was possible that the girl had a peculiar pet that she adored so much that she brought it to school. However, Tobi had seen that creature before. In fact, it always clung to the girl. Despite this, neither teachers nor students ever brought up the topic.

It seemed that the girl herself was oblivious to the creature's presence.

"Weird..." Tobi muttered.

"Huh?" Baku responded immediately.

"What's weird?"

"Oh, nothing."

"It's not nothing. You said it was weird. I heard you clearly. So, what's weird?"

"...Well, to be precise, it's you, Baku."

"Hah? What's so weird about me?"

"Do you have no self-awareness?"

"You!"

"Ehh—"

Tobi's gaze shifted downward to the courtyard.

The one who yelled "You!" wasn't Baku.

A man in work clothes was looking up at Tobi. He was the school janitor.

"...Me?"

As Tobi pointed to himself, the janitor shouted, "Yes, you!"

"No matter how you think about it, it's you! There's no one else there, is there?!"

"Ah, I suppose so."

"Not 'I suppose so'!"

The janitor was younger than most of the other staff members. Perhaps it was his facial structure or his perpetually friendly smile. He always greeted Tobi when they crossed paths, but Tobi found it annoying and ignored him. Despite that, the janitor never learned and continued calling out to him.

"Listen, Otogiri-kun, that roof is off-limits, got it?! And about that, you've done it before, haven't you? Sometimes you appear on the roof! I always found it strange. How did you even get up there? The door is locked, right? I'm going to check it! Do you happen to have a copy of the key?!"

"I don't have a copy or anything."

"Exactly! If you went ahead and made a copy of the key, that would be a huge problem! Anyway, get down immediately!"

"You mean jump down?"

"Of course not! No, absolutely not, okay? Ahh, whatever, Otogiri-kun, just stay there! I have a lot to ask you, I'm coming up!"

The janitor hurried off toward the school building. He was probably going to retrieve a key from the staff room and climb to the roof using the stairs.

"Now what, Tobi?" Baku asked, half-laughing.

"What else is there to do?" Tobi lifted Baku up.

"I'm not waiting. It's a hassle, anyway."

"Sure is."

"I was kinda enjoying this place, though..."

With a sigh, Tobi straddled the parapet. Descending along the outer wall took no more than ten seconds. Naturally, when the janitor arrived, Tobi was nowhere to be found.

After school, Tobi was summoned to the staff room by his homeroom teacher, Harimoto-sensei, and received guidance. Specifically, the guidance primarily focused on the incident on the roof, but Tobi let Harimoto's words go in one ear and out the other. Well, not all of them, but most.

"Are you listening, Otogiri? Give a response," Harimoto would check every few minutes.

And Tobi would answer, "Yes" or "I'm listening."

Harimoto, around forty years old, always wore a red track suit except for formal events. With his name being 'Harimoto' and his hair spiked back, he was called 'Harinezumi' or more affectionately, 'Harry' behind his back.

TL note: harinezumi means hedgehog

"Sensei doesn't want to be here nagging you about warnings either. But you know, Otogiri, at the very least, the very minimum, there are rules in society that you have to obey..."

When Harimoto finished his lecture and they walked out of the staff room, it was already past 4:30 PM.

"Pah!" Baku grumbled resentfully.

"He just went on and on, that bastard Harry. I'm tired of staying quiet."

"Don't call him 'Harry'..."

Tobi briskly exited the school. He wasn't particularly in a hurry, but he didn't have a habit of walking leisurely. He either walked slowly with large steps or restlessly fast-walked. That was basically all he did.

"That way of walking. Are you race-walking?"

At Baku's jab, Tobi unconsciously slowed down before the school gate.

"...Shut up."

"You're so restless. Why don't you take your time and try living a more easygoing life?"

"I said shut up..."

Tobi looked at his watch. It took him 15 minutes to reach the facility on foot. There was less than an hour left before curfew, as Harimoto's lecture had consumed 40 minutes of his free time. Taking the bus to the area Tobi used to live took 20 minutes.

"...Can't make it today, huh."

He arrived at the school gate seething with anger.

The gate was less than 2 meters tall. It would be easy to climb up, but that wasn't enough to cheer him up. Tobi kicked off the tile-covered gate and used the momentum to jump up.

"Yes—"

Without thinking, Tobi pumped his fist slightly. Just as planned, he had gotten up the gate without using his hands. He had done well.

"Tobi... ummm...? There are rules in society you have to uphold, you know?" Baku laughed, quoting Harimoto's lecture.

Tobi was about to say something back but forgot what he was going to say.

On the other side of the school gate stood a female student. She gazed up at Tobi.

"Ah..."

With sharp, bold features and her long hair in double buns, she looked familiar.

Or rather, she was a classmate.

Rare enough for Tobi, he remembered her name. It was a bit unique, and he had committed it to memory after seeing it written out once.

Her surname is Shiratama.

Shiratama Ryuuko seemed surprised and blinked several times.

Tobi was surprised as well. Why was Shiratama here? The school gate was deserted. No one else was here. And a girl from the same class, at that.

Tobi sucked in a breath and pursed his lips.

What should I do?

Baku said nothing. This is the time you should say something, Tobi thought from the bottom of his heart. Some stupid nonsense, a mocking tease, an unfunny joke, anything. Say something. Though even if Baku did speak, Tobi would've been the only one to hear him.

Why was Shiratama remaining silent as well?

This is awkward.

Tobi looked closely at Shiratama for the first time. He had the impression she had a sharp face, but her eyes, nose, and mouth weren't particularly big, nor were they strangely small. They weren't distorted or off-kilter at all. How would you put it? They were well-ordered. Everything was in its rightful place; not a single feature was misshapen. You could keep looking at that face and never feel unpleasant. It was a form you never got tired of.

Maybe because of that, Tobi and Shiratama locked eyes. As if they were having a staring contest or something, he couldn't turn his gaze away.

To be honest, Tobi was embarrassed. He should've just looked away, but somehow he couldn't.

What is this?

What time is it?

"Hey you...!"

At that moment, someone shouted from afar. It was the janitor.

"Get down from the gate! Oh, Otogiri-kun! It's you again?!"

The janitor's yell seemed to release him from his spell. Tobi turned around. In front of the entrance to the school stood the janitor, brandishing a broom.

"'Scuse me."

As Tobi lightly bowed his head, the janitor jumped up.

"Didn't you just get scolded by Harimoto-sensei? You didn't reflect on yourself at all!"

"I already apologized..."

Tobi jumped down from the gate. The janitor seemed ready to chase after him, so he sprinted away from the gate.

After making two turns, he turned around. No one was there, so Tobi stopped running.

"What a pain in the ass, that janitor..."

"Looks like you've completely caught his attention."

Baku chuckled with a "kuhehe," causing Tobi to scrunch up his face in annoyance.

"Give me a break," Tobi replied.

"Don't tell that to me. How about you tell him directly?" Baku suggested.

"What should I say?" Tobi asked.

"Well, something like, 'I'm just a pathetic eighth grader, all alone in this world, trying my best to live admirably without turning to delinquency, so please leave me be,' or something," Baku suggested mockingly.

"I don't think of myself as pathetic, though," Tobi responded.

"Isn't it a convenient excuse? You look plenty pathetic just by being all alone in this world, you know?" Baku retorted.

"Anyway, I'm not all alone in this world," Tobi stated.

Whenever Tobi mentioned his brother, Baku would immediately fall silent. Baku had never met Tobi's brother; when he had met Tobi, they had already been separated.

Checking his watch, Tobi realized it was already 4:40. He had to make it to the facility before the 5:30 curfew, so he decided to take a slightly longer route. Tobi's idea of a detour simply meant walking a more roundabout path. He wanted to spend as little money as possible since he didn't have much to spare.

The facility provided middle school students with 3000 yen as pocket money each month. Tobi wasn't sure if that was a lot or not, but a one-way bus ride cost 220 yen, and a round trip took away 440 yen. The money disappeared quickly, and he didn't want to be left without any in case of an emergency. So he tried his best to avoid spending money.

As a result, Tobi had never been to a burger place or donut shop. He was afraid of accidentally buying something unnecessary, so he also avoided entering convenience stores.

However, Tobi didn't mind walking. As long as there weren't many people around, he had Baku to talk to.

"At least I'm completely free," Tobi remarked.

Baku sometimes seemed to read Tobi's mind with his comments.

"I'm basically just being carried around by you anyway," Baku responded.

"Do you want me to throw you?" Tobi asked playfully.

"You shouldn't do that, even by accident," Baku replied.

"Wouldn't it be fun to fly through the sky, though?" Tobi pondered.

"Just a moment. Throwing can't be considered flying. Even though your name is Tobi, don't you know the meaning of the word 'fly'? Next time, try looking it up in the dictionary. No, not next time, go look it up today! There's nothing written about being thrown in the word 'fly'," Baku explained.

Tobi turned into an alley from the road, then entered another street. He tried to take paths he believed he hadn't walked before. However, he soon realized that he was mistaken; it was a road he was familiar with. Having spent over a year walking around near the school, there were probably very few paths he hadn't traversed.

The middle school Tobi attended was in a district called Ourai-chou, while the facility was located in the neighboring district called Asakawa-chou.

Asakawa-chou, as the name suggested, had a river named Asakawa. The river was wide, but as long as the water level hadn't risen due to rain, it was shallow enough to cross on foot.

"But really, Tobi, don't you think the naming is lazy? Just because there's a shallow river, they named it 'Shallow River',"

Asakawa River flowed in a north-to-south direction. Tobi turned away from the setting sun and began crossing the bridge that spanned the river. The road was becoming crowded, but the sidewalk remained clear. Tobi agilely climbed up the bridge's railing.

"You're doing it again..." Baku said in dismay.

Tobi ignored him and continued walking along the railing.

He could feel the wind more intensely here compared to the sidewalk. Whenever Tobi's body swayed with the wind, Baku let out an exaggerated "Uoooh!"

"I won't fall."

"Who knows? Don't you know the saying 'Carelessness is your greatest enemy'?"

"Of course, I know that much. But I'm not being careless."

"You're pushing the limits just because you're used to it. You know, acclimation can be scary. People who think they're perfectly fine end up having accidents."

"Why are you being so cautious? You're Baku."

"Being cautious is just my nature."

"Born like that, huh..."

"Is that a problem?"

"It's not a problem or anything. I was just curious about how you came to be."

"Huh? That was up to you—"

Nnnngh. Baku growled as he pondered.

Tobi remembered that man. The tall man with a top hat and one eye. That man had left Baku in front of Tobi. However, Baku didn't seem to know much about what happened before he started talking.

Tobi stopped and turned to face the river. As he sat down on the railing, he felt the urge to take off his shoes, as they had lost their purpose.

"Hey, Tobi. If you do something like that here, people will think you're about to jump."

"I'm not going to jump. Even if I fall, there's a river down there. I can swim anyway."

"But it's a shallow river. Just the Asakawa, after all."

"It'll be fine."

"Be careful, okay?"

"Mm."

Tobi nodded as he swayed his body back and forth. Baku became agitated.

"Hey! Tobi, I just told you to be careful...!"

"We won't fall just from this."

"You don't know that, do you?! That's what you call being careless!"

"I wasn't being careless. I did it on purpose."

"Is that so? On purpose. You did it on purpose, huh. Don't do that on purpose. Don't do it. Do not. Do it."

"Even if you tell me not to..."

"I am not joking. I'm done. Stop fooling around and come back already."

"Eeehh..."

"It's almost curfew anyway."

"Well, that's true."

"Don't you want to go back?"

Tobi pretended not to hear and didn't answer Baku's question.

Ke ke. Baku laughed.

"So you still can't come to love that place, huh? That facility."

"Not really... I don't like or hate it."

"Other residents tentatively come to call the facility 'home,' but you're different, aren't you? You don't see the facility as your home at all. You just can't think of it like that."

Tobi let his legs dangle. Before he knew it, his back was hunched, and he was looking downwards. He didn't feel like straightening his back. He didn't want to face forward or upwards.

"It has nothing to do with the facility. It's just—"

"Just?"

"It doesn't suit me."

"Really? What doesn't suit you?"

"People."

"Simply put, you hate people, then."

"I don't hate them. They just don't suit me. That's what I said, right?"

"What a troublesome person you are."

"Shut up..."

"By the way, Tobi."

"Yes?"

"Have you noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"She's here."

"Huh? Who?"

"Over there."

"Where?"

Tobi lifted his head.

He looked to the right and then to the left.

Only a meter away from him—of course, not on the railing but below it, on the Asakawa Bridge sidewalk—stood a female student. She was wearing the uniform from the middle school Tobi attended. She had a remarkably bold face and long hair tied in double buns.

"...Eh—"

Strange things could happen.

Just a little while ago, something similar had occurred. Well, not exactly "just now," but recently.

Shiratama Ryuuko gazed at Tobi. Her eyes weren't particularly wide, but it was a gaze that seemed to capture its subject and hold it in place. And that subject was Tobi.

In the past, when Tobi was young, a teacher at the facility had instructed him to make eye contact when speaking to someone. Tobi had followed the instruction and looked the teacher in the eye. But for some reason, the teacher no longer looked Tobi in the eye. Instead, the teacher had shifted their gaze to his nose or mouth.

For some reason, making direct eye contact felt uncomfortable.

In a book from the facility, Tobi had read that cats disliked making eye contact with humans. In most cases, an unbroken gaze was seen as a sign of hostility.

However, Shiratama Ryuuko seemed to be merely observing Tobi. Was the creature known as Tobi such a rare sight? What kind of form did he possess, and in what ecosystem did he reside? That was the inquiry her gaze seemed to convey.

Ah, this person.

She was just here a moment ago.

And now, she's here again.

Was it a mere coincidence? That couldn't be completely ruled out, but it was peculiar. A curious occurrence.

Or rather, it was unsettling.

Tobi felt the urge to run. If he hadn't been sitting on the railing, he might have taken off without a second thought.

Yes, let's run.

He could run along the railing or jump down and escape. If he wanted to get away, he could do it right now. So why didn't Tobi? He didn't know himself. It was similar to what happened at the gate. Looking at Shiratama like this, for some reason, he couldn't divert his gaze.

"Um."

At the exact moment Tobi uttered those words, Shiratama called out his name, "Otogiri-kun."

"Yeah," Tobi nodded instinctively.

"...Huh? What?"

"Do you know me?"

Shiratama continued to gaze at Tobi as she asked. She hadn't blinked the entire time. Didn't her eyes feel dry? Tobi suddenly felt curious about that.

"I... I do know. You're Shiratama-san, right? We're in the same class. Shiratama Ryuuko."

"So you do know. About me."

Finally, Shiratama blinked, two, three times.

Then, she lifted her chin slightly and narrowed her eyes, a faint smile forming at the corners of her lips.

"That's great. I was afraid you wouldn't have any interest in other people."

"...Well, I generally don't."

"You don't?"

Now she widened her eyes and pressed her lips together. As her expression shifted, Shiratama transformed into a different Shiratama. Yet, she was still herself.

"Then why did you know about me?"

"Well... your name is a bit unusual."

"It's a combination of Shiratama and Ryuuko, so I've heard that before. But Otogiri-kun should be just as, if not more, rare than me."

"Is... that so. Well—"

"Tobii."

Baku chuckled with a "hehe."

"Speaking of rare, you having a conversation with a friend from school is quite a rare sight, isn't it?"

She's not my friend. Tobi was about to retort, but Baku had intentionally used that term to provoke him. Furthermore, he couldn't shout at a backpack to be quiet in front of Shiratama.

"It's true that my name isn't very common either—"

Suddenly, Tobi noticed something odd.

Shiratama wasn't looking directly at Tobi. Even though her gaze was directed towards him, it wasn't focused on him. What was Shiratama looking at?

It was the backpack slung over Tobi's left shoulder. Shiratama was staring at Baku.

"...What's wrong, Tobi?" Baku sounded suspicious.

Without replying, Tobi adjusted Baku and held him close to his body.

"It's not... a common... name... Eh? What...? Is something... wrong...?"

Shiratama didn't answer and continued to stare at Baku.

"What—"

Baku was also starting to feel flustered.

"What—what's happening? It can't be, she can see m..."

"You know,"

Shiratama interrupted. She seemed to be fixated on Baku, not taking her eyes off him.

"I wanted to talk to you, Otogiri-kun. That's why I waited for you."

"...Waited."

For a moment, Tobi was unsure of what she meant. But as he recollected, he understood.

"Oh... you mean just now, at the school gate?"

"Yes."

Shiratama nodded without looking at Tobi.

"However, you angered Haizaki-san and ran away, so I followed you."

"...Haizaki-san?"

"The janitor from our school."

"So that person has that name, Haizaki..."

"Haizaki-san always greets everyone and engages in friendly small talk. He's a very amiable person."

"Huh..."

To Tobi, it didn't really matter. The janitor's name or personality had nothing to do with him.

Instead, why had Shiratama been waiting for him? Why did she bother to follow him? What did she want to talk about? And why was she still staring at Baku? That was what Tobi was intensely curious about.

"So... Shiratama-san. Do you... need something from me?"

"If I didn't need something from you, I wouldn't have waited for you or followed you all the way here."

Shiratama finally looked at Tobi instead of Baku and smiled.

Tobi turned his face downward. He couldn't help but look down. There was nothing particularly noteworthy below. He stole a quick glance upward at Shiratama.

"Um. About that..."

Shiratama raised her right hand and pointed.

"...the backpack."

"...Eh—Baku?"

"Ba-ku,"

Shiratama said, tilting her head.

"Bakku? Baku? It's a bag, so B-A-G. Technically, 'bag'?"

"Ah... um, my... English isn't that..."

Tobi had started calling Baku "Baku" because Baku referred to himself as a backpack.

It had been quite some time ago, and Tobi didn't recall the exact conversation. But he was certain he had asked, "What are you?" and Baku had replied, "I'm a backpack." Or perhaps it had been "I'm backpack-sama." Regardless, "backpack" was long and somewhat difficult to say, so Tobi had abbreviated it to "Baku."

"My Baku, no—I mean, my backpack... a bag, huh. Um, so, my back... I mean, Baku... um, my bag, what about it?"

"Otogiri-kun, you often converse with that bag, don't you?"

"With my bag..."

Tobi almost lost his balance on the railing.

"W-with my bag? Me? Talk. Huh? W-why? I don't... talk to it, though..."

"Is Otogiri-kun skilled at ventriloquism?"

Shiratama asked matter-of-factly, posing an odd question.

"Ventriloquism..."

Tobi attempted to perform ventriloquism. Wait. It's pointless. I mean, this is strange. Trying ventriloquism when I've never done it before. I can't do it anyway. No need to attempt it here.

"I don't have any experience with ventriloquism or anything like that."

"In that case, whose voice is it that often speaks to you and doesn't belong to Otogiri-kun?"

"Hey, Tobii..."

Baku whispered in a low voice.

"It seems my voice has been heard. She found us out."

"That voice..."

Shiratama nodded.

"That's correct. I've discovered you."

Seriously?

Tobi couldn't help but think about that.

"...Are you serious?"

He uttered the words unconsciously.

Shiratama puffed out her chest, and a broad smile adorned her finely shaped face, as if adorning it with colorful flowers.

"Yes, I am serious."

#1-2_otogiri_tobi / Boundary Line Hallucinations

Tobi reclined on his bed in his room, engrossed in a paperback book titled "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" It appeared to be a translated version of an American science fiction novel.

In the recreation room of the facility, three steel shelves stood adorned with books donated by former residents. The residents were free to peruse them as they pleased. Since the popular books were always snatched up by elementary and middle school kids, Tobi resorted to reading exclusively unpopular books to pass the time.

Or at least, he thought he was reading. Whenever he encountered unfamiliar words, he would consult the dictionary for their meanings. As a result, he had managed to memorize most kanji characters, yet for some reason, the contents of the books never stuck in his mind. Shortly after finishing a book, he would forget the majority of it.

Tobi glanced at his watch. It was 9:56 PM. In the facility, lights out for middle school students was at 10 PM, leaving him with four minutes remaining. Many residents would exploit the convenient excuse of "wanting to study" to postpone lights out, but Tobi never did so.

"Getting ready for sleepytime, Tobi?"¹

Baku chuckled from the floor.

"What do you mean, sleepytime? I'm not a child."

Tobi placed the book next to his pillow. The room had originally been designed for two people, with two beds. However, in reality, the room belonged solely to him.

It wasn't as if he had requested to live alone. It had once been a shared room, but the other person grew irritated and complained to the staff. They couldn't bear sharing a room with Otogiri Tobi, they had stated.

"If you ask me, an eighth grader is still a child among children, you know?"

Tobi extended his legs from the bed and stepped on Baku.

"Ow, stop that, Tobi, you-"

"Baku, you're even younger than me. Doesn't that make you an even bigger child?"

"I'm an exception. You might even call me 'special'! I'm extraordinary! Hey, cut it out, Tobi! If you keep stepping on me like that, I'll lose my shape! What will you do then?! Hey..."

After playfully nudging Baku for a while, Tobi felt satisfied and stopped stepping on him. He switched off the lights and settled back onto his bed.

For high schoolers, lights out was at 11 PM, and there were residents who would exploit homework or studying as a pretext to stay up late. The walls and doors were not particularly thick, and silence was an unfamiliar concept during nights at the facility.

Tobi wrapped himself in the blanket and lay on his side.

"Are you thinking about that girl, Tobi?"

"I'm not thinking about her at all."

Tobi wanted to express his annoyance by clicking his tongue.

"She hasn't even crossed my mind until you brought her up."

"Really? That sounds suspicious."

"I'm being serious."

The words escaped his mouth casually, not because he was actually thinking about that girl.

"...Really."

As Tobi corrected himself, Baku let out a mocking laugh.

"She's a peculiar woman, isn't she?"

"Don't call her a woman."

"Well, she is a woman, isn't she?"

"That's true..."

"You were thinking about her, weren't you? I mean, it happened. Of course, it would be on your mind."

"Not really, it's not on my mind at all."

"Just be honest already. Besides, even if you're not interested, she, on the other hand—"

"I'm trying to sleep now. Could you please be quiet?"

"Yeah, okay, Tobi. Hope it won't be a sleepless night."

Tobi closed his eyes and pretended to snore. Baku chuckled once again. He should mind his own business. Tobi was a good sleeper; he could fall asleep right away. He wasn't thinking about the girl or anything. He didn't want to think about her, yet he couldn't help but do so.

"—I have a favor to ask, Otogiri-kun, so could I take this opportunity?"

Upon hearing that, Shiratama lowered her chin slightly and her tone changed strangely.

"Can you be my friend and spend time together?"

"......Huh?"

Tobi tried to comprehend her request. Was it even a request? He didn't think it was a question.³ Regardless, Shiratama was waiting for an answer. That much was clear.

But how should he respond?

Tobi couldn't understand. "Eh—ah—uhh—" he mindlessly repeated.

"Ah."

Shiratama covered her mouth with her right hand.

"It's a sudden request, so I'm sorry if it's a bother. I don't mind if you don't respond right away."

"Ah... is that... so."

"Of course, if you'd like to respond now?"

"No, that would... well..."

"Would you prefer later?"

"......I guess?"

"I understand."

Shiratama closed her eyes and let out a sigh.

"I'm glad I could tell you. My heart was pounding."

Tobi's heart was also racing. He couldn't help but feel like he was being put in a difficult position.

"Then, Otogiri-kun, see you tomorrow."

As if relieved after expressing what she wanted to say, Shiratama bid farewell with a bow and left once everything was settled.

What's with this person?

Just as Tobi thought that, Baku muttered.

"What on earth was that?..."

In the end, he didn't get much sleep that night.

It was all because of Shiratama Ryuuko.

She had suddenly approached him like that, and just as he was wondering what she wanted, she said something so strange.

"Will you be my friend and can spend time together?"

Caught off guard, Tobi was bewildered. Otherwise, he would have given some kind of response on the spot. That's what he believed. If a stranger suddenly asked, "Won't you dance with me?" the answer would be "No." A clear rejection.

If only he had refused.

If he had said, "No, I won't."

The reason Tobi didn't respond immediately was that he was perplexed.

Furthermore, the way Shiratama had phrased her question was also a bit odd.

"As a friend."

That part was fine. It was the other part.

"Will you be my friend and can we spend time together?"

Wasn't that strange? Was Tobi the one being weird for finding it strange? Perhaps he was overthinking it. If it were just the first part, "Will you be my friend," that had a clear meaning. However, he couldn't ignore the latter part. Shiratama had emphasized that it was "as a friend." In that case, that's how he should interpret it.

In short, what Shiratama had said was simply "Let's be friends."

Shiratama's way of speaking was also peculiar, mixing in formal language, even though they were in the same grade. Tobi probably shouldn't let that confuse him. It seemed like Shiratama simply wanted to be friends with Tobi.

That was the problem.

Friends with Otogiri Tobi?

Why, again?

Then, there was an even bigger, more serious problem.

Tobi could hear Baku's voice.

As he arrived at school without having slept, the teacher with the black-rimmed glasses glared at him by the school gates. This teacher always wore a perfectly fitting suit. And on this particular morning, Tobi did not want to be called upon by the teacher with the black-rimmed glasses. Tobi took the initiative and quickly bowed his head.

"Good morning, teacher," Tobi greeted the teacher with black-rimmed glasses.

"...O-Oh. Good morning," the teacher replied, clearly taken aback. Tobi had been greeting him every morning since his first year, but this time, something seemed different. The teacher had always responded with a simple "Good morning," but now he seemed surprised by Tobi's greeting. Tobi wondered if he had done the right thing.

"What's gotten into you?" Baku asked as he changed his shoes at the shoe box.

"Who knows? I don't think anything has gotten into me, though."

"Is this what they call a change of heart? What set this off, huh?"

"You're overreacting..."

Tobi felt a bit dejected as he realized that his indoor shoes were a bit tight. Had his feet grown? As his body grew, his clothes didn't fit anymore, and buying replacements was painfully expensive.

As he turned toward the classroom, a long-haired female student emerged from the shadow of the shoe box. Tobi unconsciously took a step back.

"Shi-Shiratama-san," he stammered.

"Good morning, Otogiri-kun," Shiratama greeted him, her gaze fixed on him.

"Wha-what?" Tobi looked down and covered the bottom of his face with his arm.

"Do you need something? So early in the morning..."

"Actually, I was lying in wait for you here."

"Eh... W-why?"

"Didn't I tell you yesterday?"

"......Yeah."

"I wanted to know your answer."

"Tha—"

"T-Tobi?" Shiratama interrupted him, her eyes full of concern.

"...Tha?"

"...t's..."

Suddenly, the phrase "to make your eyes white and black" popped into Tobi's head. He had looked it up in the dictionary before. It didn't mean that the eyes literally turned white and black, but rather that the eyeballs darted around violently. Right now, Tobi's eyeballs felt like they were having a terribly busy workout, and he felt faint.

Several students from their class approached the shoe box, whispering to each other as they changed their shoes. They seemed to be eyeing Shiratama and Tobi's situation, as if wondering, "Woah, what're they doing?" To be honest, Tobi himself was also thinking, "What are we doing?"

"Oh!" A passing janitor called out to them, further complicating the situation. "Otogiri-kun, good morning. What're you doing there, Shiratama-san?"

Shiratama turned to look at the janitor and politely bowed, "Good morning. Thank you for your hard work so early in the morning."

"Thank you," Tobi added.

Haizaki, the janitor, smiled bashfully, holding a cardboard box. Tobi wasn't particularly interested in what was inside.

But Shiratama seemed to be intrigued. "That looks heavy. Shall I help you?"

"No, no. Heavens, no!" Haizaki vigorously shook his head, his slitted eyes widening.

"It's completely fine. This is my job, after all. I'm here to work, and Shiratama-san comes to school to study."

"You know, I'm pretty strong!" Shiratama boasted, lifting her right arm and bending it at a right angle. Her arms were thin, too thin to be considered strong in Tobi's opinion. The whole story didn't seem to add up. Even if Shiratama had super strength, it didn't matter. Haizaki was responsible for carrying things around as part of his job, and a middle schooler like Shir

atama had no obligation to help him. Haizaki had even mentioned it himself. Even Tobi, who Baku had called "communicationally challenged," understood that much.

Tobi's mind flickered with the possibility that Shiratama might be a dangerous person, a thought that had crossed his mind the previous night. A proper middle school student wouldn't normally ask to be friends with someone like Otogiri Tobi in the first place. He knew he wasn't the type of person that people would naturally gravitate towards—he wasn't peppy, kind, or interesting. He had a complicated past that was difficult to explain, and Baku was the only person he could really talk to. Besides, he had the ability to see things that others couldn't see. If someone else also had that ability, what would they think? They would likely consider him a dangerous person.

In the eyes of others, Otogiri Tobi must be seen as a dangerous person. So, trying to become friends with someone like him, Shiratama Ryuuko, must also be considered dangerous.

The urge to run surged through Tobi. He intensely wanted to escape from the situation. Shiratama was engaged in a conversation with Haizaki, presenting him with an opportunity. Yes, he should seize the chance to get away.

Tobi attempted to leave the scene, but his escape was noticed.

"Oh-" Shiratama grabbed his right arm near his wrist.

"No, don't go, Otogiri-kun. At least give me an answer."

"...Wha?" Haizaki's face twitched, showing signs of confusion.

"Did I perhaps get in between something? Sorry, excuse me. Like, 'get kicked by a horse!' right?..."

Why did he bring up horses? Tobi had read it in a book somewhere. There was a saying like that.

'Someone who gets between a person's romance should get bitten by a dog and die.'

As for the dog part, 'should just get kicked by a horse and die' was an alternative.

It seemed that Haizaki had misunderstood the situation. Should Tobi correct him? It didn't really matter. Now wasn't the time for that; Shiratama was still gripping his wrist.

Can you please release your grip?

Tobi tried to convey his request through his eyes.

Unfortunately, it seemed like Shiratama didn't understand. She tilted her head curiously, but it was Tobi who was curious.

He couldn't help it. With caution, Tobi gently shook off Shiratama's hand, making sure not to be too rough.

"Um... About that, how about we continue the conversation while walking, or...?" Tobi suggested hesitantly, and Shiratama nodded in agreement.

Should I just run as fast as I can and shake her off? Tobi briefly considered this, but quickly dismissed the thought. Shiratama fell into step on his left side.

"I would like to hear your response," Shiratama said.

"...Already? Isn't it a bit too early?" Tobi responded.

"Were you already in the middle of considering it?" Shiratama questioned.

"Umm... 'considering it' is a stretch. More like... well..." Tobi struggled to find the right words.

"You're such an indirect guy," Baku sighed.

"Are you an indirect person?" Shiratama asked.

"I mean, he doesn't have a habit of expressing his own thoughts and feelings verbally. People hardly ever talk to him anyway," Baku explained.

"What about with you?" Shiratama inquired.

"I'm different. But even with me, there are times when I think, 'get it!' or 'put yourself in his shoes!'" Baku replied.

"Like, in order to understand each other?" Shiratama clarified.

"Something like that," Baku confirmed.

"Um, excuse me," Tobi interjected, hitting his fist against his forehead. His head was starting to ache.

"Could you not talk as if it's normal? From other people's point of view, Shiratama-san just sounds like she's mumbling to herself..." Tobi requested.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it," Shiratama apologized, dipping her head slightly.

"But wouldn't they think I was talking with you, Otogiri-kun? Or maybe they would think I was talking to you without any response," Shiratama pondered.

"That would be strange in itself," Tobi replied.

"Then please talk with me. If you did so, that would settle everything," Shiratama insisted.

"...Aren't I already talking with you?" Tobi questioned.

"By the way, what's your answer to that question?" Shiratama pressed.

"...Like I said, it's too early..." Tobi replied, becoming aware of his worsening posture. He couldn't help but feel that they were drawing the attention of passing students in the hallway.

"Anyway..." Tobi started to say, but paused.

Or rather, they were definitely attracting attention. And it was because of Shiratama. Of course, it was.

"Why?" Tobi asked.

In response, Shiratama blinked rapidly. "What do you mean by 'why'?"

"...Like, why do you want to be friends with me? What's your reason, or well, your motive?" Tobi clarified.

"That's because Otogiri-kun is Otogiri-kun," Shiratama answered.

"Huh? What do you mean...?" Tobi questioned.

"Do I need to explain?" Shiratama asked.

"If possible. If you could tell me in a way that even I can understand..." Tobi requested.

"Let me make you understand," Shiratama nodded, furrowing her brows slightly. She stopped in her tracks, causing Tobi to take another step and stop as well.

Shiratama stared at Tobi with a gaze that seemed to captivate him

, not letting go.

"Could I have a few minutes of your time? If it's alright with you, during today's lunch break. I can't talk about this topic unless there's no one nearby," Shiratama proposed.

Tobi was vulnerable to that gaze. It bothered him; he couldn't simply ignore it. He couldn't look away.

"...Alright. I don't mind," Tobi finally agreed. What else could he do?

Right after the mealtime, the special classroom building was deserted. Tobi agreed to meet Shiratama at the external emergency stairs. As he sat on the railing of the landing between the second and third floors, Shiratama opened the door and climbed up.

Something felt off to Tobi. It was because Shiratama had a bag on her shoulder. It wasn't the standard schoolbag. Was it called a pochette? It was even smaller.

"Hello," Shiratama greeted politely as she reached the landing.

"Ah... yeah," Tobi replied vaguely, a little taken aback by Shiratama's excessive politeness.

"So, what was it again... your motive? The reason why Shiratama-san wants to be friends with me?" Tobi asked.

"As they once said, the proof is in the pudding," Shiratama replied.

"Well... yeah, that's true. There is that kind of saying," Tobi acknowledged.

"That's why I brought her along," Shiratama said, lifting her bag and opening it.

"Come on out, Chinurasha."

Could it be that Shiratama was calling out to something inside the pochette? If so, that would be quite eccentric, to say the least. Tobi had thought she was odd, but he never imagined it would be to this extent. He started to worry about Shiratama. Was she alright? Or perhaps, there was a small creature like an animal inside the pochette. In that case, it would be an incredibly problematic behavior. Bringing small animals to school was not allowed, and even Tobi understood that. But it seemed like that was exactly what Shiratama had done. Something crawled out of the pochette.

"Hm..." Baku let out a small voice.

See? It was indeed a small animal.

Considering its size, the inside of the pochette must have been cramped. It shouldn't have fit comfortably. However, it appeared quite fluffy, so maybe it could unexpectedly fit into spaces that seemed too small.

Was it a cat? A kitten? That wasn't it, right? Hah, "right," I mean, that wasn't it.

The creature had horns growing out of it. Obviously, cats didn't have horns. It was a small animal, with two horns—did such a creature exist? That kind of creature?

Tobi didn't think it was recorded in the animal field guide at the facility. He had been to the local zoo several times for facility events, but he didn't remember ever seeing a small animal with horns. Then again, it was possible that such an animal inhabited some corner of the wide, wide world, unbeknownst to him. Or maybe it was a baby horned animal or something.

Right after the creature got out of the pochette, it began climbing up Shiratama's body. It wasn't nimble, but it wasn't clumsy either. It seemed quite used to the movement. After reaching Shiratama's right shoulder, it turned to face Tobi.

Did it have eyes? He couldn't see them. Maybe they were buried in its fur? Despite that, he felt something like a gaze.

"Chinu, say hello," Shiratama called out to it.

The creature cocked its head, tilting it diagonally. From within the fur, a tiny, extremely small mouth poked out.

"Yu—"

"Uyu—"

"Kuchyu—"

Tobi heard something like that. Were they the creature's cries?

"......Hi," Tobi instinctively bowed his head.

Shiratama scratched Chinu—or Chinurasha's—chin with a finger.

"Good girl."

"Oi, Tobi—" Baku whispered.

"No way you haven't noticed, right?"

"...Eh? What?"

"That thing's not normal."

"Well, it... it seems to be a rare animal. It has horns and everything."

"That's not it."

Baku seemed irritated. Aside from being able to talk to Tobi, Baku was basically just a large backpack. However, he sometimes opened all by himself when he got unruly. It wasn't like the zipper unzipped. Tobi seemed to be the only one who could see it, but it was like the zipper part turned into a mouth and opened.

Just like right now.

"Don't you understand, Tobi?! You're such a dense guy, dammit!"

Baku spoke, his mouth snapping open and shut. He seemed more agitated than annoyed now.

"Chinu is..."

Shiratama brought her right shoulder up and rubbed her cheek against Chinu.

"Something only I can see."

"......But—"

He could see it.

Tobi could. Clear as day.

Chinu seemed quite attached to Shiratama. Chinu rubbed her head against Shiratama's cheek as well and narrowed her eyes in content. She let out low cries of "hyuru—," "yuu—," "uu—," or rather, they seemed to spill out of her uncontrollably. Chinu's horns struck Shiratama, but it didn't seem to cause pain. At least, Shiratama wasn't in any pain. Maybe the horns weren't hard enough to pierce the skin.

"We're the same!" Baku spat.

He seemed pretty unenthused about it. Or maybe, Baku hadn't come to grips with it either.

"Tobi, you were the only one who could hear my voice. And Shiratama Ryuuko was the only one who could see Chinurasha's form. It's not totally the same, but it's similar, isn't it?!"

"...So— Shiratama-san can hear Baku's voice, and I can see Chinu."

"That's right."

"Hn?"

Tobi furrowed his brows and brought his fist against his forehead.

"...So, this is—What does this mean? Huh......? What is... what's happening..."

"Honestly, I have no idea either," Shiratama said nonchalantly.

"I had noticed a while back that Otogiri-kun was talking to Baku-chan because I could hear Baku-chan's voice. Otogiri-kun and I were the only ones who could hear Baku-chan's voice. I thought that had to mean something special."

"......Special—"

Tobi shook his head helplessly.

"I mean, it might just be abnormal..."

"Me and Otogiri-kun are the only ones who are abnormal?"

"Well... it's more plausible than me and Shiratama-san being the only normal ones..."

"Just a second, Oi, Shiratama Ryuuko!"

Baku interjected, this time properly unenthused.

"Stop using -chan to call me!"

Shiratama looked at him blankly.

"Baku-chan?"

"That, yes, that! It makes my skin crawl. It does not fit me at all. It's gross!"

"I'm sorry."

As Shiratama tilted her eyebrows apologetically and bowed her head, Chinu made the same pose.

That's cute...

Tobi was startled as the thought flashed through his head.

By the way, the one he thought was 'cute' was Chinu. To be exact, the phenomenon of Shiratama and Chinu doing the same action at the same time.

"Then, 'Baku-san'?" Shiratama asked.

"Ahemm!" Baku cleared his throat.

"Adding -san doesn't feel too good either. How about you just call me Baku?"

"What're you being so snobbish about..."

Tobi wanted to throw Baku away. Baku retorted back immediately.

"How am I being snobbish? I'm saying it's okay to call me without honorifics, you know. If anything, isn't she the humble one? Huh, Shiratama Ryuuko?"

Shiratama nodded. Chinu did as well.

"Then I shall call you Baku."

"Yeah, that's cool. I'm not good with formal stuff anyway."

"I also wouldn't mind it if Baku called me 'Ryuuko'."

"Of course, that's what I'll do. 'O-Ryuu' or something might be good too. Mmm, it's not bad. How about it?"

"I don't particularly mind it, so please do as you please."

"In that case, it's decided. O-Ryuu."

"Yes."

"...You guys are becoming more and more friendly by the minute."

"Really? Are you jealous, Tobi?"

Baku chuckled with a "kekeke."

"Don't worry, man. Even with O-Ryuu around, our relationship won't change."

"Our... twisted bond, you mean?"

"I said it's not twisted!"

"Then what kind of relationship is it?"

"It's the kind of relationship that's hard to put into words. If I had to say, we're 'partners'?"

"Chinurasha and I are also like partners."

Shiratama smiled and looked at Chinu.

"Right?"

"She doesn't talk to me like Baku talks to you, but she stays by my side. Chinu and I have always been together."

"Just a question, Shiratama-san, if I hadn't been able to see Chinu, what would you have done?"

"Then it would have definitely been..."

Shiratama pursed her lips and puffed out her cheeks slightly.

"I suppose you could call it a difficult situation. A poor middle school student, pretending as if there were a small animal there..."

"Isn't it a relief that I could see Chinu..."

"To be honest, it was a gamble. But I thought, 'maybe Otogiri-kun could see it too.'"

"Everything worked out in the end, didn't it?" Baku said casually.

But if Tobi had been in Shiratama's shoes, he probably wouldn't have taken such a risk.

Maybe there was something wrong with him.

Tobi had questioned that countless times. It was not normal for a backpack to talk to him.

He could hear things that others couldn't.

He could see things he shouldn't have been able to see.

Were these delusions? Perhaps there were abnormalities in his brain. Maybe he had a mental illness. He had even considered getting it checked by a doctor.

Tobi suddenly felt weak. He felt as though he was about to slip from the railing. Why was he so tired? It suddenly became clear to him.

It's not just me.

Tobi felt relieved. It wasn't an illusion.

Baku was real.

He wasn't a product of Tobi's imagination.

He truly existed.

"...Baku's voice, which I could hear, Shiratama-san can hear as well. Chinu, whom Shiratama-san could see, I can see too. Those things that other people don't seem to see—"

In that case, could Shiratama see them too? The things that cling to people, the strange kinds...

Tobi gathered his courage and asked Shiratama.

"If that's the case... can Shiratama-san see them too? The ones that attach to people, the peculiar ones..."

Shiratama met Tobi's gaze firmly.

Then, she slowly nodded.

#1-3_otogiri_tobi / Heaven and Earth Turns

Tobi occupied the third seat from the front, next to the window. Sitting one seat ahead and to the right-front was a serious female student named Kon Chiami, who diligently listened to the teachers and took notes in the front row.

Tobi didn't know much about Chiami, except that she was often accompanied by several other people. But what caught his attention was the bat or flying squirrel-like creature clinging to her back.

"Well, we already noticed that a long time ago," Baku, who was forcibly tied to the desk, whispered cautiously like a backpack. "Those creatures are different from O-Ryuu's Chinu. They simply stick to humans' backs without causing any harm. It's just that ordinary people can't see these peculiar things."

Baku's words were accurate. Although these strange creatures weren't abundant or rare, they were present in the school, the town, and even the facility.

Tobi had become accustomed to their presence. As long as they weren't overly large or swarming, he simply acknowledged their existence without much surprise. However, curiosity gnawed at him.

Trying not to move his face too much, Tobi glanced diagonally behind him. The male student sitting there was gesturing as if engaged in some kind of exchange.

Masaki Shuuji, also known as Masamune. Tobi recalled that nickname, a combination of his first name and surname. Masamune was a lively and expressive student, often telling jokes and making people laugh. Tobi still remembered an exciting comedy act he had performed with someone that had left a lasting impression. He was someone who stood out in class.

Perched on Masamune's neatly set, short hair was a small, monkey-like creature. Its body resembled the size of a tarsier, a small nocturnal primate, but it possessed scales or bark-like skin, similar to the vertically striped epidermis of a Japanese cedar tree. The creature mimicked the "speak no evil" pose of the three wise monkeys, covering its mouth with its forelimbs.

Among the students in class 3 of the second year, Tobi knew of two individuals with strange companions: Kon Chiami and Masaki Shuuji. This ratio of peculiar occurrences was average, with one or two people per class.

However, there was another person that Shiratama had mentioned to Tobi on the stairs—a girl named Shizukudani. The last seat in the middle row belonged to her, but Tobi had never seen her occupy that seat. Apparently, she had stopped coming to school in the middle of the first year and began attending classes in the infirmary instead.

Shizukudani also had a peculiar creature attached to her, according to Shiratama.

"Four people," Baku muttered.

Observing the classroom from his seat, Tobi noticed Shiratama turn her face towards him. The teacher was writing on the blackboard, and the class remained silent. Shiratama must have heard Baku's voice as well.

"That seems like quite a lot, doesn't it? If we include you, Tobi, it makes five out of thirty-six students in this class. Approximately one in seven. That's quite a significant number..."

Tobi felt an urge to kick Baku, not wanting him to continue speaking endlessly without anyone else hearing. However, Tobi realized that Shiratama could indeed hear Baku's words. It was a close call; he almost waved his hand when Shiratama waved hers. He quickly regained his composure and turned his attention forward, resting his chin on his hand.

After the last period, Tobi put his chair on his desk and prepared to leave the classroom. However, Shiratama called out to him, halting his departure.

"Ah, Otogiri-kun."

"What is it?"

"I still have a lot to talk to you about. Do you have any plans after this?"

"Not... really."

"Then, I'm sorry, but could you wait for me somewhere? I have cleaning duty today."

"...Sure, at the entrance."

"Understood. I'll finish up as quickly as I can."

Their classmates gave them strange looks, including Kon Chiami and Masaki Shuuji. Tobi wondered why it was considered strange for Shiratama to talk to him normally. Though he couldn't fully grasp the reasons, he felt uncomfortable and awkward in that situation.

"See you later," Tobi said curtly, leaving the classroom as if escaping. He hurried through the hall, descended the stairs energetically, and swiftly changed his shoes at the shoe box. As he stepped out of the entrance, the janitor Haizaki was watering the front yard flower beds with a green watering can.

"Hello, Otogiri-kun. You're as fast as usual, huh? Goodbye...?"

"I'm not leaving yet."

Without thinking, he replied in a harsh tone.

Haizaki was taken aback.

"Eh? Is that so?"

"...It's none of your business, is it."

"Ah... yeah. I don't mean to pry. Sorry."

"It's nothing to apologize for. You didn't—"

Tobi clicked his tongue and hit his fist against his forehead. No matter what, using the phrasing 'you' was not good.

Tobi was annoyed by Haizaki's repeated apologies. Baku, who was still tied to the desk, murmured, "Haizaki-san didn't do anything wrong."

"Sorry."

Haizaki's face distorted, realizing his mistake.

"I did it again. My senpai warned me before too, 'stop immediately apologizing for everything.' It's a habit, you know? Ah, darn it. But that sure brings me back. They were a strict senpai, you see. I was scolded a lot. It was scary, you see. But they were a good person."

"...What a chatty person," Baku whispered.

Tobi felt the same. Haizaki spoke in a soft, non-imposing voice, and Tobi had listened without thinking. He didn't care about Haizaki's senpai or anything related to him. Haizaki was just a janitor. His senpai might have been the previous janitor, but Tobi didn't care either way.

"Oh—"

Haizaki panicked and raised the watering can. While absorbed in talking, he had started pouring water outside of the flower beds.

"What are you doing..."

"Sorry. Wah, I apologized again. Just now, though, probably would've been an ok time to apologize? Nah, there's nothing to apologize for. I just made the asphalt a bit wet. It'll dry in no time anyway. Huh, Otogiri-kun, aren't you going home? Ahh, you said so, huh. You're not leaving yet. Why? Ah, that might be prying. You don't have to answer that, okay? I just accidentally asked while rambling. Sorry. Ahh, I apologized again. My senpai would be appalled at what a state I'm in. I haven't grown at all..."

"What is this, a comic monologue?" Baku mocked.

Without thinking, Tobi also stared at Haizaki coldly. Haizaki rubbed the side of his neck in embarrassment.

"Talking too much has also been a fault of mine since way back, you see. Ahh, I just can't fix it. I do try to be careful, but I end up forgetting to be careful, you see."

"You sure you're not just stupid?" Baku venomously remarked.

Thinking he couldn't hear it anyway, Baku said it without restraint.

"Haha... right."

Haizaki looked around nervously, realizing that his behavior was drawing attention. He had a towel on his neck and used it to wipe his face. It seemed like he was trying to hide something.

Something felt off to Tobi, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was. Nonetheless, Haizaki should have been working during this time.

"...Don't mind me. How about you focus on your job?"

"You're absolutely right!"

Haizaki nodded forcefully and resumed watering the plants.

"When you think of autumn, it's chrysanthemums, but cosmos are nice too, huh? There are also roses that bloom in autumn. And the second bloom of dahlias sure is pretty, huh? Dahlias. Dah

lias, huh. Ah, that's right, Otogiri-kun, what flowers do you like?"

Could it be that Tobi was wrong for not leaving already? Haizaki seemed to enjoy talking extravagantly. If there was someone nearby, he couldn't help but engage in conversation.

"...I'm not interested, I guess. I don't really know much about them."

"I see. That's true, huh. I had no idea when I was young either. Until I changed jobs, I guess. Before, when it came to flowers, I was just like, 'they're blooming, huh.' But when I started planting and taking care of them myself, all of a sudden, I was thinking stuff like 'how many more times will I get to see sakura again?'"

"Haizaki-san isn't at that age yet, is he?"

"Compared to you guys, I'm quite the old geezer already. To think I've become the kind of old geezer who enjoys flowers. But if you think about it, maybe growing old isn't necessarily that bad. I've come to appreciate more refined things, after all. Simply put, I'm still growing older right now."

As students leaving school passed by, Haizaki bid them goodbye with a smile. He even called out their names, like 'Yamada-san' or 'Ueyama-san,' showing that he had gone out of his way to remember them. Tobi didn't even know the names of most people in his grade.

"...Flowers or refinement or whatever. I don't really get what you're talking about."

"There was also a time when I didn't understand a thing. That's just how it is, you see. It's unexpected, you see. Ah, my watering can is empty. I was still trying to water. Wasn't I doing anything?"

Haizaki looked up at the sky and lightly raised one hand.

"How uncool. I'm so disorganized. I need to get more water. I have other work to do too. See you, Otogiri-kun. No wait, you said you weren't going home yet. Sorry. Uwah, I apologized…"

Tobi felt like he was starting to understand Haizaki's senpai who often scolded him.

Tobi watched Haizaki walk away and sighed.

"...What is with that person?"

"What an odd guy. But it's rare, isn't it? Tobi talking with someone so much. No wait, you were chatting away with O-Ryuu. That means you've been talking a lot with people aside from me, huh? The Tobi, talking."

Tobi took Baku off his shoulder and spun him around vigorously.

"Hey, stop it! My eyes are spinning! I said stop it, idiot!"

What kind of backpack had eyes that could spin? Did Baku even have eyes? He seemed to see things. Did that mean they didn't exist?

"Baku is the oddest one here..."

Tobi grumbled quietly and shouldered Baku once again.

"Spinning a backpack around in broad daylight like this, I can't win against you."

"Should I spin you some more?"

"Seriously, stop it."

"Is that an invitation?"

"Like I said, it's not! Don't spin me. Under any circumstances, do not spin me. I will not forgive you if you do. Absolutely no spinning allowed!"

After a while, Shiratama came out from the school entrance. She spotted Tobi right away and trotted up to him. In addition to her school bag, Shiratama was wearing the pochette that hid Chinurasha on her shoulder.

"Sorry for the wait."

"Well, that was pretty quick, wasn't it?"

"It's because I gave it my all cleaning. I got a little sweaty."

Shiratama's skin was originally quite pale. Now that Tobi noticed, her cheeks were somewhat flushed. Her forehead was slightly sweaty.

Feeling like he had seen something he shouldn't have seen, Tobi turned away.

"...Um, should we go? The question is where we should go, though..."

"Is it better to have a destination?"

"Better than not having one."

"Um..."

"If you have somewhere you'd like to go?"

"What about Otogiri-kun?"

"Me? Not really..."

"What a boring guy you are."

Baku laughed with a keke.

Tobi tried to hit him with his elbow but abandoned the idea. There were plenty of students around them, leaving school. Tobi had forgotten about that. There was something wrong with him.

"That's correct," Shiratama exclaimed with wide-open eyes, startled.

"I actually have one. A place I want to go."

There was definitely something off with him.

Tobi couldn't bring himself to look directly at Shiratama's face. Instead, he found himself tilting his head and glancing at her from the side. Would this kind of gaze come off as creepy? But Shiratama didn't seem to mind.

"I want to go to a convenience store. Is that alright?"

They avoided the stores nearest to the school because buying snacks was against the school rules. Not everyone followed this rule, but if someone found out and reported it, a teacher might be called and issue a warning. Tobi didn't care much, but Shiratama probably did.

Then why did Shiratama suggest going to a convenience store?

After walking for about twelve or thirteen minutes from the school, just as they were about to enter a convenience store, a question popped into Tobi's mind.

Tobi opened the door and was about to step inside the convenience store.

When he turned to face Shiratama, she seemed hesitant to even step on the doormat in front of the door. Her chin was slightly tucked in, and her shoulders were tense.

"...Aren't you coming in?"

Tobi usually refrained from going to convenience stores, mostly to avoid wasting money. If he needed to buy something, he would quickly stop by on his way back from school or wherever. He wouldn't hesitate. It was just a convenience store.

But maybe, for Shiratama, it wasn't just a convenience store?

"I... I am coming in."

Her speech was somewhat strange, and her eyes seemed watery. Shiratama was obviously nervous.

Tobi temporarily closed the door.

"If it bothers you because buying snacks is against the school rules, do you want to stop?"

"No."

Shiratama firmly declared, giving Tobi a stern glare. Well, strictly speaking, it might not be considered a glare, but it was an intense stare. Or rather, it was an utmost seriousness. It made Tobi a little scared. It wasn't like their lives were on the line. It was too serious.

"Then..."

Tobi reopened the door and stepped into the convenience store. Shiratama followed, but her movements were awkward. She seemed visibly frozen with fear. Her expression appeared stiff as well. It was excessively serious.

"...Are you alright?"

"I'm... fine."

Her words were few, and it was evident that something was bothering her. Even the female clerk seemed suspicious.

"You look like someone who's about to shoplift, you know..."

As Baku commented, Shiratama sharply turned her head.

"No way! Shoplift? I would never..."

"Shiratama-san," Tobi mildly scolded.

Shiratama made a strange sound, something like "huff-", and her eyes darted towards the clerk at the register.

The clerk glanced at Shiratama from the corner of her eye and cleared her throat. She was definitely keeping an eye on Shiratama. It couldn't be helped. Tobi himself felt a sense of shame.

"Are you planning to buy something?"

"...A drink."

Her voice squeaked like a mosquito. Shiratama seemed incredibly dejected.

Tobi turned to Shiratama and reached out for her hand, but quickly withdrew it.

What was Tobi about to do? He was probably about to take Shiratama's hand and lead her to the aisle with bottled and canned drinks.

But there was no need to go that far. Of course not. Shiratama wasn't a small child.

They picked their drinks from the shelf behind the glass door. Shirat

ama confidently grabbed a grape-flavored soda, while Tobi chose the cheapest barley tea. It was a waste of money, but Tobi had his own way of reading the situation. He also wanted to avoid giving Shiratama the impression that he was cheap.

After paying and leaving the store, Shiratama clutched the soda bottle tightly and closed her eyes.

"I bought it. It's grape-flavored."

"Eh? Is it some kind of special edition or something? That juice..."

"I buy it sometimes. Secretly, very occasionally. I'm not entirely sure, but I think it's been a popular item for a long time. They always have it in stock."

"Ah, I see."

"Going into a convenience store is quite exciting. If my grandfather and grandmother found out, they would scold me for sure."

"...Shiratama-san's grandparents must be strict."

"They are strict for my sake."

Shiratama smiled, but her gaze dropped downward. Even though she was smiling, a shadow cast over her face.

She referred to them as 'grandfather and grandmother' instead of 'parents'. She must have her own circumstances. It's not like he wasn't curious, but he wasn't particularly eager to find out. It was a hassle to talk about himself with others. He wouldn't want to be asked either.

"Do you want to drink this somewhere? It's a bit crowded here, you know."

Shiratama met his gaze with determination and nodded.

"Yes."

Above the hill road with stone walls on one side, there were stone steps on the left. Beyond the stone steps, there was a small open space. Gravel was spread out, and three rusted horizontal bars of different heights were installed. In truth, it was nothing more than horizontal bars. That's why it was called the horizontal bar park.

Tobi sat on the tallest bar of the horizontal bar park and took a sip of his barley tea. Shiratama stood with her back against the pillars of the bars. She seemed unsure whether to open her soda bottle or not.

She had been hesitating for quite a while now.

Why didn't she just open it already? Was it really something to hesitate about? Obviously, you couldn't drink the soda without opening the cap. Didn't she buy the soda to drink it because she wanted to?

As he began to internally fret and was about to let it go, Shiratama finally decisively opened the bottle. She brought it to her lips, took a small sip, and shivered.

"..."

Baku attempted to say something but stopped. Tobi also wanted to say something to her, but for now, he silently observed her. Shiratama carefully recapped the bottle, shook her shoulders up and down, and let out a sigh.

“It's delicious."

"...It just tasted good?" Baku interjected in a small voice.

Shiratama opened her eyes and lifted the bottle, gazing at it in fascination.

"It really is tasty. No matter how many times I drink it."

"That's great," Tobi replied, unable to come up with a more elaborate response.

Shiratama smiled at him.

"I feel like I could fight for a month after this."

"Fight?" Tobi questioned, intrigued.

"Yes—"

Shiratama shook her head vigorously, causing her long hair to sway.

"No! Fighting is just a metaphor."

"You like it that much..."

"Like?" Shiratama tilted her head and blinked. Tobi felt flustered for some reason.

"...Well, I mean, that juice. You like it... right?"

"My grandmother says that except for 100% juice content, cold beverages, especially carbonated drinks, are the devil's drink, so I'm strictly forbidden from consuming them..."

"'The devil' is quite an exaggeration," Baku commented in a dumbfounded tone, causing Shiratama to lower her gaze.

"She says it's because they are bad for your health. My grandmother despises things that are detrimental to health. Thanks to that, I grew up quickly, as you can see."

Baku snickered mockingly with a "kekkekke."

"Aren't you secretly indulging in it properly? The devil's drink."

Shiratama dramatically scrunched up her face.

"I can't deny that at all..."

Tobi took another sip of his barley tea and then playfully placed the bottle inside Baku. Gripping the bar with both hands, he spun around once backward.

"Amazing!"

Shiratama's eyes widened instantly.

"That move, if I recall correctly, is Hell's Spin! Right?"

"...Maybe. That might have been its name."

"Can you rotate forward too?"

"Oh, forward spins? I can do those as well..."

Tobi faced forward and spun around once. Shiratama jumped up in excitement.

"Heaven's Spin!"

"...I can spin around as many times as I want."

"I want to see!"

"Sure..."

Tobi spun backward three times and then proceeded to spin forward three times.

Shiratama looked astonished.

"Y-you've shown me something I didn't know was humanly possible..."

"...It's not that big of a deal, is it? Just this..."

"What's this?" Baku laughed boisterously.

"Even a cheeky brat gets embarrassed, huh, Tobi?"

"Hah? I'm not embarrassed..."

"Cou-could it be, you can do even more amazing moves...?"

Shiratama's eyes sparkled, and her pupils seemed to dilate. She appeared tremendously excited, with high expectations.

"...Well, I can do more if that's what you want. Didn't you say you have lots to talk about?"

"That can wait!" Shiratama responded promptly.

In the end, Tobi ended up performing the stunt of spinning around repeatedly, then releasing and grabbing the bar in the middle of a spin.

#1-4_otogiri_tobi / You'll End Up Being Unable to Move

It had been a while since he experienced it.

In his dream, his brother appeared unexpectedly.

It was a place unfamiliar to him.

He didn't believe he had any knowledge of it.

The room or hallway had pure white ceilings and walls, and it was excessively bright. However, there were no windows. Was it a room? Or perhaps a corridor?

Tobi was running frantically.

Even when he stumbled, he quickly got back up and continued running.

He had to run. He had to escape. There was something pursuing him. Something. Something. What was it?

He couldn't afford to turn around. There was no time for that. His priority was to flee. He had to run away as fast as he possibly could.

"I've got you now!"

Out of nowhere, something scooped him up and lifted him into the air.

Something...

Something.

What was it?

Tobi attempted to break free. He exerted all his strength to shake off his brother, but it proved futile.

"I've got you."

"I've got you~"

"Tobi."

"I've got you!"

The one who had captured Tobi was his brother. With a tight grip, his brother laughed. His brother was much larger than Tobi. Tobi was too small. Tobi was still a child. Despite his desperate struggles, his brother's arms around his upper body remained unyielding. Nonetheless, Tobi had to keep running. Tobi had to find a way to escape. That was the only understanding he possessed.

His arms were restrained, so Tobi fiercely twisted his body. He thrashed his legs. He even headbutted his brother's chin.

"Owww. That hurt. Ouch," his brother repeated, but he continued to laugh.

What strength he possessed. Who could have known he was this powerful?

Or was it Tobi who was weak? Was he too feeble?

His brother was dressed in white attire.

"Let go me!"

His pristine white clothes were stained with red.

"No."

"Let go!"

Whose blood was it?

"No~"

Was it Tobi's blood?

"Let me go, please."

It was his brother's blood.

"I've got you, you see."

His brother continued to laugh.

"I can't do that, Tobi. I won't let go."

At some point, Tobi began to cry. Why was his brother preventing him from escaping when he needed to? Why couldn't he understand? Something was amiss, it felt wrong. Onii-chan?

Why?

"Shh—"

Why did you capture me and refuse to let go?

"Quiet down."

Let go.

Hey, Onii-chan.

"Behave."

This wasn't like Onii-chan.

"Be silent."

Onii-chan would never behave in such a manner.

"It's alright."

Was it?

"It's okay, so—"

Tobi shed many tears.

"Everything is alright."

He cried, he struggled relentlessly, and he grew weary.

"It's alright."

His brother repeated in a whisper, never releasing Tobi.

His brother caressed his back.

"It's alright..."

Tobi ceased his resistance.

His brother persisted in repeating.

It's alright.

It's okay.

Everything is alright.

Again and again.

He dreamt of his brother.

It was a place unknown to him, or perhaps a place he knew but had forgotten, and Tobi was there, as was his brother.

When he awoke, he found himself in his bed at the facility.

The sky visible through the gap in the curtains remained dark. A throbbing sensation lingered in his forehead.

It was because he had headbutted his brother.

"No," Tobi muttered. It had just been a dream. He reached up and gently touched his forehead, relieved to find no pain.

"...Onii-chan."

Tobi had no memory of his parents. He knew he must have had them since he was born, but his only recollection was of his brother. His brother, who had left him behind and disappeared that day.

No, that wasn't entirely true.

They had been running away together. They were being pursued by someone, something. His brother had been shot, injured. Tobi was still young and couldn't run anymore. So, he had no choice. His brother must have been devastated as well. He had hidden Tobi, acting as bait to distract their terrifying pursuers. His brother had gone off on his own. It was all for Tobi's sake. He was thinking of Tobi.

"Hide here," his brother had instructed.

"Stay here until I give the signal. Promise me, Tobi. Don't make a sound, under any circumstances."

Tobi had promised. But he had broken that promise. He couldn't wait any longer and had left the hiding place before his brother returned.

He had betrayed his brother.

After changing his shoes at the shoebox and ascending the stairs to the classroom, Tobi felt a poke in his back.

"U-"

Startled, he turned around to find Shiratama there, her shoulder adorned with the pochette that concealed Chinurasha. She smiled at him.

"Good morning, Otogiri-kun."

"Good morning. Uh, what...?"

"What?"

"Did you just poke me? Just now?"

"Poke?"

Shiratama poked the air with her index finger.

"Yes, I did. Oh, is poking not allowed?"

"...No, it's not forbidden."

"Did it bother you?"

"It wasn't particularly bothersome, but..."

"Would you prefer if I never did it again?"

Tobi didn't want to be startled and poked like that again. But it felt awkward to outright say, "Never do that again."

"Well... if you suddenly poke me, it can be a little... you know. Especially on the stairs. It could be dangerous."

"You'll be fine, Otogiri-kun," Shiratama said with unwavering confidence.

"...Huh? Why?"

"You were amazing on the horizontal bar. You have exceptional athletic skills. I'm sure you won't stumble on the stairs. I forgot to ask you yesterday, but do you participate in any sports?"

"No... I don't participate in any sports."

"None at all?"

"Not outside of physical education, I guess."

"Never tried any?"

"...I said no."

"When I was in elementary school, I wanted to join the track and field club. I also took dance lessons. But my athletic abilities weren't that..."

Why was she talking about this on the stairs so early in the morning?

Tobi didn't want to listen to Shiratama's ramblings. It wasn't that he disliked her, but he felt uncomfortable with all the attention they were getting. The gazes from others seemed to say, "What are they talking about on the stairs?" It made him uneasy.

It would be different if they were somewhere without people, just Tobi and Shiratama. Not that he preferred being alone with her, but Baku and even Chinurasha would be fine.

A sudden thought crossed his mind.

But was it okay to stop looking for his brother?

At that moment, his chest tightened, and sweat began to form. It had been a while since he felt this way. He hadn't experienced this in years. Before that, it used to happen frequently.

He had to search for his brother. If he just had that thought, he wouldn't feel like this.

When the anxiety overwhelmed him, it became unbearable.

Was his brother safe? Was he alright?

Maybe searching for him was pointless.

His brother was gone.

He couldn't be found anywhere on this earth.

No matter how hard he searched, it seemed futile.

It must be because Tobi hadn't kept his promise.

He started talking to Shiratama. For Tobi, that was the most significant change. But there were other changes as well.

Before, he wouldn't have paid attention to what was happening in the class. It didn't matter who was doing what and where. Tobi was only interested in his own whereabouts, Baku's, and his brother's.

They were just classmates, sharing the same school, the same class, and the same classroom. But they lived in different worlds. That was how Tobi felt. They had almost nothing in common, or at least very little.

Unintentionally, his gaze shifted towards Shiratama.

Shiratama was always serious. Most of the time, she focused on the teacher or the blackboard, occasionally looking down to take notes. She listened attentively and sometimes pondered. There were moments when she nodded in understanding.

The pochette hung on Shiratama's desk. How was Chinurasha doing inside? Baku seemed bored in class, but what about Chinu?

Baku had always been with him, an existence that felt natural. Tobi hadn't given much thought to Baku's presence.

But Tobi had met Chinu.

Chinu didn't speak like Baku did. She was different.

To ordinary people, Baku appeared as a "regular backpack," but Chinu seemed completely invisible.

Only Tobi could hear Baku's voice. That was the norm. But an exception had appeared.

Shiratama.

Chinu's cries were audible to Tobi and Shiratama alone.

Baku and Chinu were not the same, but they shared similarities.

Tobi and Shiratama had nothing in common. At least, that's what it seemed. How did they resemble each other? Was there any common ground between them?

Tobi glanced diagonally behind him. Masamune, also known as Masaki Shuuji, had neatly styled short hair today as well. That peculiar creature, with its tree bark-like skin resembling a tarsier, sat on his head in the "see no evil" pose. What was it?

Only Tobi and Shiratama could see it. Most likely, Masamune himself didn't even notice it.

Or perhaps Masamune was pretending not to notice it?

There was something strange on his head, yet no one commented on it. It seemed like nobody else could see it. So, Masamune decided to act as if it didn't exist. "You may not see it, but it's there—a peculiar thing." If he confessed this, nobody would believe him. In that case, Masamune would be similar to Tobi and Shiratama.

Maybe Masamune could hear Baku's voice too. That possibility couldn't be ruled out. Sometimes, when Baku spoke in class, no one else seemed to hear, so Masamune also chose to ignore it.

Shiratama, too, had pretended not to notice Baku until recently. Masamune might be the same.

Tobi looked up at the ceiling, then turned his gaze diagonally to the front.

Two seats ahead in the adjacent row sat Kon Chiami. At first glance, the creature clinging to her back seemed to belong somewhere other than here. Perhaps a bat or a flying squirrel. But it was neither of those, of course.

That, too, was an unusual occurrence.

Only Tobi and Shiratama had the ability to see it.

But what about Masamune?

And what about Kon Chiami herself?

Tobi's head started to feel heavy.

Until now, he had believed that only he was special. He could see things that others couldn't see and hear voices that others couldn't hear. Otogiri Tobi was not normal.

Shiratama seemed to have the same realization. She was different from the rest. Shiratama Ryuuko was not normal.

But they were wrong.

It wasn't just Tobi or Shiratama.

There wasn't just one person, but two.

Was it limited to just the two of them? Was it only Tobi and Shiratama, as expected?

If there were two people, then it wouldn't be surprising if there were three or four.

Like Masamune or Kon Chiami, for example?

And what about Shizukudani, who practiced infirmary schooling?

In other grades and classes, there were others who had strange things with them. Tobi hadn't counted them properly, so he didn't know the exact number, but there should have been more than ten people just in their middle school.

So there were those who had strange things with them but couldn't see or hear them, and there were those like Tobi and Shiratama who could see and hear them. Or perhaps everyone could actually see and hear them, but they pretended not to in order to appear normal?

Tobi pressed his right hand against the back of his neck and let out a sigh. He wouldn't find a clear answer just by thinking about it. It would be best to ask them directly.

Ask Masamune and Kon?

But how should he approach them? Tobi had never spoken to either of them before. What about Shiratama?

Shiratama was polite and friendly. She seemed to get along well with her classmates. Maybe he should ask Shiratama to inquire for him. Tobi requesting Shiratama to ask the two of them on his behalf? It was a bothersome idea, and he was reluctant to do so.

He felt tired.

Moments like these were perfect for taking a nap. Tobi prepared to lay his head down on his desk when something caught his attention.

Kon Chiami's strange creature turned to look at him.

Tobi almost blurted out "gross" without thinking. That thing definitely wasn't a bat or flying squirrel. Its face was different. It had big dark eyes with round pupils and a small nose. It resembled a human baby. Its body was like that of a bat or flying squirrel, but its face was that of a baby.

"Tobi..."

Baku's voice trailed off.

A commotion came from behind him. Tobi turned around to see someone standing up. It was a female student in the last seat by the window.

"Hm?"

The teacher called out to the student.

"What's wrong, Takatomo?"

Takatomo was probably her surname. She had her head down, facing downwards. Was she feeling unwell? Her breathing was heavy, as if she had been running. And she was trembling.

"Takatomo...?"

The teacher called out again.

Takatomo tried to respond, but her words didn't come out clearly.

"Takatomo-san."

Shiratama stood up. Concerned, she was probably trying to approach Takatomo.

"Don—"

Takatomo suddenly raised her head. Her complexion looked terrible, and there were dark circles under her eyes.

"Don't come...!"

"...Oh damn," a boy muttered under his breath. Several others echoed the same sentiment, and the classroom erupted in chaos.

Instead of telling them to be quiet and stop, Takatomo held her head in her hands.

"Hey, be quiet!"

The teacher yelled, but the class didn't calm down.

"I can't take it anymore...!"

Takatomo screamed and bolted out of the classroom, knocking over her desk and chair in the process. It happened in an instant. Takatomo forcefully opened the door and ran out. The teacher chased after her in a panic. Several students tried to follow her, but the teacher quickly drove them back into the classroom.

"Seriously, what was that? Isn't it bad?"

"So scary, so scary."

"She said she couldn't take it anymore."

"No, maybe it's us who can't take it anymore..."

As the students chattered and whispered, Tobi locked eyes with Shiratama.

Shiratama had a furrowed brow and pursed lips. She seemed genuinely perplexed, perhaps worried about Takatomo.

The girl sitting next to Shiratama said something to her. They were having a conversation. Was that girl her friend? Unlike Tobi, Shiratama had classmates she was on friendly terms with. That's how it should be, right? It would be strange not to have any. Tobi was the strange one.

Soon, the teacher returned. With a brief explanation that Takatomo wasn't feeling well, class resumed. But Class 3 of Year 2 remained unsettled. As soon as class ended, everyone started gossiping about Takatomo.

Shortly after, their homeroom teacher, Harimoto-sensei, entered the room. Harimoto, with his slicked back hair resembling a hedgehog, looked downcast. It seemed that the issue hadn't been resolved yet.

Harimoto was surrounded by several students, discussing something with them. Among them were Shiratama and Kon Chiami.

"Takatomo is probably fine. Please continue with your classes as usual and let me know if anything comes up."

Did anyone really believe that Takatomo was fine? Apart from Shiratama, Kon Chiami, and some of the girls, nobody seemed genuinely concerned about Takatomo. That's what Tobi thought. Among both boys and girls, there were those who found it amusing and those who were quickly losing interest. It was one of the two.

During lunchtime, Takatomo was still nowhere to be seen.

She had left notes and textbooks open on her desk. Tobi was very curious about that, even though he didn't know her first name.

Today, like always, he quickly devoured everything except the bread. Tobi held the koppe-pan in one hand and carried Baku on his shoulder as he swiftly left the classroom.

"Ah, Otogiri-kun."

Just as he was considering his path to the roof in the courtyard, the janitor Haizaki walked by.

"What are you doing? Wait, it's still lunchtime, isn't it?"

Tobi clicked his tongue.

"Haizaki-san again..."

"Well, what do you mean 'again'? Generally speaking, I'm always wandering around the school. No, not just wandering. I have a lot to do. It's my job, you see."

Haizaki glanced from the top of the school building to Tobi.

"You weren't planning to climb up to the roof, were you? Eh...? Were you climbing up the walls and stuff all this time? If that's the case, you could have gotten to the roof without a key. Eeehh...? Otogiri-kun, are you good at free climbing or something? Like bouldering?"

"...Nah, not really."

"You're not denying that you climbed up the walls? So it's true? You were getting to the roof by climbing in from the outside? If that's the case, it wouldn't be that surprising, but did I guess right? Eh...? Isn't that impressive?"

"I don't think it's that impressive..."

"You know, sorry to disappoint you while you're being so modest, but I'm not praising you, okay? Honestly, I'm impressed, but it's not a good thing to do. It's dangerous, you know? What if you fell? It could result in more than just an injury. The school building is three stories high, quite a considerable height."

"Well, I've never fallen even once, so..."

"Could it be, Otogiri-kun, that you do a lot of dangerous stuff like that? Well, I grew up in snowy regions myself, so I've jumped down from roofs too. But there was snow to cushion the fall, you see."

"That seems quite enjoyable."

"Yes, indeed. It was fun, truly fun... There was a thrill to it. But that thrill could have easily turned into a tragic accident with one wrong step. Reflecting on it now, it sends shivers down my spine..."

Suddenly, Haizaki snapped his fingers and exclaimed, "That's right!"

"Otogiri-kun, I wanted to ask you something. Have you ever been with someone else on the roof?"

"On the roof?" Tobi shook his head. "I don't think so. I've only been there during lunch breaks."

"I see. You're right. I patrol the roof once a week, and I haven't noticed any signs of anyone getting in. But Otogiri-kun managed to get in..."

Baku grumbled suspiciously, "You're asking some strange things."

"No, you see..." Haizaki began, then widened his eyes and said, "Ah!"

A small "ah" also escaped from Tobi's mouth.

"Did that guy just respond to me just now?" It was Baku.

Haizaki was not looking at Tobi but at Baku.

He quickly turned away from Baku and shifted his gaze towards Tobi, but it was too late.

"You can hear it, right? Haizaki-san. Baku's voice."

"What...?" Haizaki looked in the wrong direction. "Are you...? Referring to...? I wonder...? Mm? What was that...?"

"I mean, Baku's voice."

"Baku? Ah... that? By Baku, do you mean that thing? Uh... you know, there's something like that, right? An animal called 'Baku'?"

"No," Tobi tried to shake his head. "Not that."

"Heh, not that...?"

Haizaki took the towel draped around his neck and repeatedly wiped the tip of his nose and his forehead.

"Well, anyway, what was it? So, as I was saying, the roof, you see? The key, you see, it's usually hung on the wall of the staff room, but anyone could take it if they wanted to..."

"What are you suddenly talking about?"

"The key, the key to the roof. I don't know when, but it disappeared. It's strange, right? It should have been there yesterday. Somehow, it can't be found anywhere. This morning, I was looking for a student, and I couldn't find her. It's... you know. Ah, right. You know, from Otogiri-kun's class, Takatomo-san. She's missing, isn't she? Can't find her anywhere. Though it doesn't seem like she left the school. It's weird, isn't it?"

"I think it's pointless to try to hide it now," Baku said sardonically.

Tobi was convinced as well.

Haizaki could hear Baku's voice.

It wasn't just Shiratama.

Haizaki could hear it too.

What did this mean?

Tobi felt a little dizzy. He looked up at the sky. The weather was perfect today. The color was so vibrant, even more intense than diluted blue paint.

There was a figure on the roof of the special classroom building. Tobi gasped.

It wasn't just any figure.

It was a person.

"What's that?" Baku muttered.

"Eh..." Haizaki looked up at the roof. There was no doubt about it. Haizaki had reacted to Baku's voice. No, that wasn't the main point.

There was a student on the roof of the special classroom building.

She was wearing the school uniform. It was a female student.

Her skirt fluttered in the wind.

She stood at the edge of the roof.

Balancing on the low walls surrounding the edge, the parapets.

Tobi could see the girl's face. It was pale. The girl looked at Tobi, acknowledging his existence. There was no other meaning behind her gaze. It was devoid of life.

He didn't know what had really happened.

Everything happened in an instant.

The girl's body lurched forward. Even though there was nothing to hold her. She was standing on the edge of the parapets. If she fell forward, something terrible would happen. There was nothing to catch her. She would fall.

Tobi could only watch. There was nothing he could do but watch. "I have to do something," Tobi wasn't sure if he thought that or not.

The girl fell.

"Wait!" Haizaki let out a strange sound.

Tobi remained silent. Baku shuddered.

The girl was falling.

In a moment, her head turned downward.

In that position, the girl crashed down in the courtyard.

#2 / The Bygone Days of Dahlia

#2-1_kawauso / The Story of Senpai and I

The Otter made a conscious effort to avoid abruptly pressing down on the accelerator pedal. The same caution was applied to the brakes. Whether it was speeding up or slowing down, he handled it with the delicacy of strangling someone like using a piece of floss.

That was the way he had been taught. The Otter obtained his regular motor vehicle driver's license immediately after turning eighteen. He remembered the praise he received from the instructor. "Are you really just starting out?" the instructor had asked. "Haizaki-kun, you have great sense. You're good at this." By the way, Haizaki was the Otter's real name.

Rather than being good, was he simply cautious? That's what the Otter thought. He tried not to push himself unnecessarily. Since he didn't receive speeding tickets due to his job, he would hurry when necessary but never engage in reckless behavior. His philosophy was centered around smooth driving, without wasting any effort.

The Otter parked the black sedan by the pedestrian walkway. He stopped with the intention of stopping. That's how he brought the car to a halt.

As he basked in a sense of achievement, someone began pulling on the rear door handle with great force. GAN. GAGAGAGAGA- It was a noisy disturbance. They were pulling recklessly, but he wasn't particularly surprised. This happened frequently.

"No, senpai, the lock..."

As soon as he unlocked the lock, the rear door swung open immediately. From there, a large dog, or rather, a wolf-like creature swiftly slipped inside, but the Otter remained unperturbed.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't an animal.

That creature, known as Garm, sat down in the inner seat. Its body was quite big, so it barely fit. Without any hesitation, a beautiful and well-proportioned woman entered and forcefully slammed the door shut.

Before being urged, "Go, quickly," the Otter started the car.

Senpai pushed back her long hair and let out a laugh.

"So you understand, Otter."

"Because I was educated by senpai."

"Hah, you still have a long way to go. Anyway—"

Senpai may have been trying to give him some harsh advice, but her cellphone began to ring. Senpai answered the call.

"Dahlia 4. Yes. I've just met up with the Otter. Yes. Right. Yes. Mm. Yes. Right. Hah? Yes. Right..."

The person on the line was likely their boss, senpai and the Otter's superior. Dahlia 4 was a secret codename, a division name, or perhaps the name of their duo.

Senpai and the Otter were the only members of Dahlia 4. Garm and the weasel-like Olver, who had settled in the passenger seat, were not counted as personnel. As evident, neither Garm nor Olver were human.

Dahlia 4 was a two-person group, the fourth squad from a unit named Dahlia. Hence, Dahlia 4.

Of course, Otter was also a codename. Naturally, the Otter was not an otter named Haizaki. He was a proper human.

Glancing at the backseat through the rearview mirror, the Otter saw senpai removing the phone from her ear. It seemed the phone call had ended. Senpai's exquisitely crafted face was contorted.

Even with her face distorted, the Otter's senpai was not ugly.

When he first met senpai, the Otter had wondered, "Hasn't this already been fixed?" No matter how he looked at it, her makeup didn't seem to be at a fraudulent level. If that were the case, it would be strange if she hadn't undergone extensive plastic surgery. Her features didn't have a single dull spot. Despite having the wolf-like Garm by her side, senpai's face had feline characteristics. It was a top-tier cat-like face. Her physique, too, with a small head and long limbs, resembled that of a fashion model from overseas. It was hard to imagine she was just a human like him. Could she belong to a different species? Perhaps she was an alien.

As much as he wanted to say he was accustomed to it, whenever he let his guard down, he couldn't help but think, "What's with this person?" This was the true definition of "beauty." It existed right in front of him and nowhere else.

"Senpai, what did the division head say?"

"Nothing much."

Senpai held her cell phone in her right hand, using her thumb, while she scratched the end of her left brow with her left pinky. Even with light makeup and claiming not to have done her eyebrows, she exuded a captivating allure. It was unclear what she thought of herself, but she was stunning in the looks department.

Noticing his gaze through the rearview mirror, senpai raised an eyebrow and asked, "Huh?"

"...Senpai, you're sometimes a bit like a delinquent, aren't you?"

Senpai's codename was Dōru, pronounced as Dōru, but not as "doll" like a marionette. It was "dhole," a name shared with an animal, a mammal in the canine family. Another name for it was "red wolf."

"Heh," Dhole-senpai laughed.

"Well, that's where my roots lie."

"Is that so?"

"I'm kidding, obviously."

"It's not so obvious, is it? The theory that the 'Dahlia's prized ace, Dhole-senpai, is a former delinquent. It sounds quite believable."

"Like hell it does. What part of me is Yankee? I meet none of the requirements. If you keep talking shit, I'll break your ass into four."

"...Your expression is quite intimidating."

"Hah? What's wrong with it? Breaking your ass into four, can you even imagine it? That would be quite amusing, won't it?"

"Splitting my bottom into four, that kind of stuff is that...it's more like a horror film with gore in it..."

The Otter's black sedan crossed the bridge below the highway and entered a reclaimed land that resembled a rectangular floating island.

On this reclaimed land, there were numerous public multi-family residential buildings. In addition to that, there were schools, parks, and sports fields. On the side facing the sea, there were docks and warehouses lined up.

The apartment complexes gave way to towering residential skyscrapers, creating a stark contrast between the gloomy complexes and the gleaming towers. A canal separated the two sides, making them feel like different worlds despite being in the same location.

Upon reaching the intersection, The Otter made a right turn. On the left side, building number 22 of the apartment complex came into view, followed by building number 24. Several patrol cars and an ambulance were parked nearby, indicating a significant gathering of people.

"There's quite a crowd, isn't there?" The Otter remarked.

He gently pressed the brakes, parking the car by the side of the road. As he switched on the hazard lights and turned to ask, "What should we do?", he realized that senpai had already opened the door and was ready to go.

Senpai didn't explicitly say, "Let's go," but that was typical of her. The Otter turned off the hazard lights and unbuckled his seatbelt, only to find that senpai and Garm were no longer in the backseat.

"Shall we proceed then?"

The Otter called out to Olver and stepped out of the car. Olver promptly climbed onto his back, as he usually did, perching on the Otter's left shoulder. Despite being the size of a 500ml bottle, Olver was not heavy.

Dressed in a black pantsuit, Dhole-senpai, accompanied by Garm, was trying to navigate through the crowd. Senpai not only possessed long legs but also walked briskly. She always wore white sneakers, never opting for high heels, pumps, or loafers. This style suited her perfectly.

"Move aside, please."

Senpai pushed her way through the crowd, regardless of age or gender. Some people wore expressions that seemed to question her presence, but no one appeared terrified upon seeing Garm.

This lack of fear stemmed from the fact that they couldn't see Garm. It wasn't just Garm—Olver, who clung to the Otter's left shoulder, was also invisible to ordinary humans.

As the Otter followed senpai, he noticed that he had forgotten to wear a tie. He was clad in a gray suit with a pink shirt underneath, but the absence of a tie gave off a more casual vibe. Considering she was his senpai, he wanted to present himself as properly as possible as a kouhai. He tried to keep that in mind at all times but often failed.

This was one of those instances. While scolding himself, he quickly changed his mind. The Otter didn't dislike this aspect of his personality.

Past the crowd, a police officer with a lit baton stood. Senpai showed her ID and was allowed through, but when the Otter attempted to follow suit, he was firmly stopped.

"What's the matter? No, no. You can't go in alone."

"Um, just so you know, I am part of this."

The Otter had no choice but to show his ID as well. After catching up to senpai, he received a scolding.

"What do you think you're doing? How embarrassing."

"I'm sorry..."

Before entering building number 24, the Otter glanced back at the crowd. Upon initial inspection, it seemed that at least half of the people present were over sixty. The apartment complex likely had a predominantly elderly population. There were a few individuals in their thirties and forties, and scattered among them were young people sporting street fashion or vibrant dyed hair. On the whole, they appeared somewhat uncouth. However, judging people solely based on appearances wasn't fair.

"It seems it's not here," the Otter murmured, preparing to follow senpai. But just to be sure, he checked again. As expected, it wasn't there.

Ordinary humans couldn't see it—the target the Otter was dealing with.

"If it were here, senpai would have noticed it long ago," he pondered aloud.

The Otter entered building number 24, proceeding to the third floor where the problematic room, number 305, was located. He entered without removing his shoes and was greeted by the musty, slightly salty scent of other people's furniture. Senpai was already inside, accompanied by several uniformed police officers and detectives in nylon jackets.

Rather than dirty, the room appeared cluttered, with many items left untidy. It seemed impossible to clean up at this point.

A kotatsu occupied the center of the living room, despite the season not requiring heating. Had they left it out all year round? In front of the kotatsu, right by the television, sat an elderly woman who seemed to be a resident of the apartment.

The old woman's white hair was covered by a knit cap, and she seemed on the verge of toppling over the kotatsu, her back significantly hunched. She was of a small stature.

A navy blue-jacketed police detective glared at the Otter, his stern expression reminiscent of an illustration.

"Hello," the Otter greeted, bowing his head. He had encountered this detective at a previous scene. His name was Kogure, either pronounced "Kogure" or "Kogure" with different kanji. Either way, it was 'Kogure'.

Senpai closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and squatted down next to the old woman. Garm stood directly behind her.

Garm resembled a wolf, though excessively muscular in the shoulders, capable of walking on its hind legs as well. It resembled a werewolf in the midst of transforming into a human, caught in that transitional phase. A wolf-like human. A slightly human-like wolf. A phantom, yet not an illusion. Garm was undeniably real.

The Otter observed the old woman, who appeared frail, almost like a lifeless corpse. Apparently, a neighbor who hadn't seen her in a while had grown concerned and decided to pay her a visit. Receiving no response, the friend had eventually entered the room, only to find the old woman in this state.

"What's the situation?" Detective Kogure inquired, scratching his hairline.

Senpai remained silent, her gaze fixed upon the old woman's body.

Kogure crossed his arms and sighed dramatically, characteristic of his style—or rather, his personality.

"What's that?" a younger detective in a suit asked the older detective beside him.

"It's the flower shop," the older detective curtly replied, spitting out his words. The younger detective seemed visibly displeased.

"Oh, you mean those guys you mentioned?"

There was no need to despise them so much. As part of Dahlia 4, the Otter couldn't help but feel that way. Nevertheless, he understood why the police officers felt the way they did.

When an incident or accident was classified as a special case, outsiders like the flower shop—referring to people like the Otter—would intrude upon the crime scene.

The police had to provide all the information they possessed, but the flower shop wasn't obligated to reciprocate. What exactly qualified as a special case was a mystery to most police officers. They only knew that the flower shop was an organization within the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office.

The Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office's role was to collect, analyze, and investigate information concerning critical government policies. Naturally, it operated under the highest administrative body, the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers. CIRO, also known as the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, served as an intelligence agency supporting the Cabinet, with the flower shop being a part of it.

In other words, the flower shop held a position far above the ordinary realm of this country.

Of course, "the flower shop" was not its official name. It bore the more formal title of the Special Cases Countermeasures Office. However, whether it could truly be considered a "fine" name was debatable.

The vice chief, second-in-command of the Special Cases Countermeasures Office, hailed from the National Police Agency, establishing considerable ties with the police force. Nonetheless, rank-and-file police officers didn't hold the flower shop in high regard.

Understandably so. If the Otter were a police officer, he probably wouldn't welcome the intrusion of an unfamiliar group that occasionally barged into crime scenes either.

"Otter," senpai called, still fixated on the old woman.

"Yes," the Otter replied, kneeling beside senpai and giving the old woman another close inspection. On his left shoulder, Olver emitted a sniffing sound.

The old woman was facing downward, likely in her seventies or maybe even eighties. Most women of her age had short hair, and she was no exception. Her hair at the nape of the neck was cut short, exposing the back of her neck.

There was a wound on the back of her neck, resembling more of a hole than a scar.

A small, darkened hole, measuring two or three millimeters in diameter.

"...It's the same, isn't it," the Otter remarked, prompting an immediate nod from senpai.

"Yeah," she replied, her gaze still fixed on the old woman.

"Looks like it."

#2-2_kawauso / I Didn't Know Anything About You

He awakened to the sound of his cellphone's alarm.

"Ugh..."

Chakachakachaka, what an irritating noise.

With that thought, the Otter reached for the phone beside his pillow and turned off the alarm. It was fine. The alarm would continue to ring several times. He had set multiple alarms. It was alright. As he made excuses in his mind, he curled up the comforter and embraced it like a body pillow.

Hmm?

Wasn't that a different sound from the alarm?

Oh well, whatever.

Good night.

At that moment, the phone rang with a chakachakachaka once again.

"What the hell?"

Should he just ignore it?

As soon as that insolent thought crossed his mind, pain shot through his left ear.

"Ow! Hey, Olver, you..."

He immediately recognized it as Olver's doing. The Otter lived alone in this one-room apartment. The only one who would bite the lonely man's ear could be none other than Olver.

"Alright, alright. I understand..."

He reached for the phone once again. As he lifted his heavy eyelids and stared at the screen, he saw the word 'senpai' displayed on it.

"Oh, whoa! It wasn't an alarm! It's a ph-ph-phone call... Crap..."

The Otter quickly got up and answered the phone.

"Y-yes, helloelloello. Good morning, this is the Otter..."

"Isn't that too many ellos?"

"U-um, I-I-I just woke up..."

"I'm not really criticizing you. Actually, stop apologizing for everything. You apologize too much."

"I-I'm sorry... Ah, I apologized again..."

"Maybe you won't understand until I stretch your tongue out and tie it into knots?"

"That's scary! Tying my tongue into knots, that's too horrifying!"

"I'm not actually going to do it."

"If it were senpai we were talking about, you'd do anything, wouldn't you..."

"What exactly do you think of me?"

"Of course, I think you're a great senpai. I respect you. Seriously, respect. This feeling might be to the extent of worship..." (He says respect in English)

"I'm not exactly the type of person who should be worshipped, but I won't engage in such enjoyable torture so casually."

"'Fun torture' is quite an extreme interpretation..."

"That's enough nonsense. We have another case today."

"Huh? Again?!"

"U-understood. I'll head out right away! As quickly as possible!"

The Otter dressed at a rapid pace—well, calling it "light speed" would be an exaggeration—sonic speed too—no, even sonic speed was an exaggeration. Regardless, he dressed as swiftly as he could.

It wasn't because his name contained the word 'grey' or anything, but somehow, most of the suits the Otter owned were grey. Once again, he opted for a grey suit today, paired with a navy blue shirt. Before the mirror, he tied a patterned tie that wasn't overly flashy.

"Nice, nice. Ah, socks. Where are my socks? Ah, my hair is sticking up..."

As he stepped into the parking lot with Olver perched on his shoulder, he noticed that dawn had not yet broken. Although he must have glanced at the time on his phone, he hadn't fully registered it.

"That's the kind of thing it is..."

The Otter drove his car out and along the way, he picked up senpai and Garm, heading towards the crime scene. Senpai was dressed in her usual black pantsuit and white pumps, her hair slightly damp. Had she just taken a shower? The thought involuntarily crossed his mind, sending a strange sensation through him.

Speaking of which, did senpai have a boyfriend?

If he asked, he would probably get scolded. He couldn't really bring himself to ask.

It was senpai, so he had a feeling she might unexpectedly answer.

Without hesitation, like saying, "Yeah, I do?"

He wondered if she had one. It wouldn't be unusual for her to have had one or two lovers. He could accept it if she didn't have one as well. She had a strong personality... that wasn't the right way to put it, but she was a spirited and intense person. There was also her work and Garm. Well, if the other person couldn't see Garm, that wouldn't be a problem.

The Otter himself had dated an ordinary girl who couldn't see Olver. Despite his current situation, he had quite the reputation in his youth. Not that he wasn't young now, but being in this line of work came with its own set of circumstances.

This wasn't the time to dwell on romance. He couldn't afford to waste time on such matters.

So senpai had to be single, right? No matter how you looked at it, she was a workaholic. She had to be single. She was a free spirit anyway. He wanted her to be single. That's it. He would prefer it if she was single.

Senpai was probably single.

After all, she was senpai.

If, for example, he found out that senpai had a partner living with her, the Otter would probably feel disappointed. He would definitely feel disappointed.

How should he put it? If an idol you supported suddenly got married, as a fan, you couldn't help but feel despair. Something like that? Was senpai his idol? Was the Otter a fan of senpai?

Senpai used her phone silently. Maybe she was contacting her lover. No, no. There was no way senpai would do something like that.

Or was there really no way?

The Otter only knew Dhole-senpai from Dahlia 4. He only knew the face she showed at work. She never talked about personal matters. He didn't even know where she was born or anything about her family. Some time ago, he casually asked about her birthday, and she snapped, "I'm not telling you." Did she snap?

He was curious about so many things. Once his curiosity was piqued, he couldn't help but feel incredibly curious.

As a result, his driving was a little sloppier than usual, but senpai didn't comment on it. He almost wished she would get angry.

This time, the crime scene was located under an overpass, less than 2 kilometers away from the apartment complex where the old woman had met her unnatural death. Police officers were present, and caution tape had been set up. The Otter parked the car in front of it.

Under this stretch of overpasses, there were parking lots, bicycle parking lots, and parks. The victim had been discovered on a pedestrian and bicycle lane between the parking lot and the bicycle parking lot. Apparently, a passing man had found the victim slouched against the graffitied concrete bridge pier and had called the police, sensing that something was amiss. Detective Kogure, wearing a blue jacket, was at the scene.

"There is one. That wound," Detective Kogure informed them as he scratched his hairline.

Upon seeing that gesture, the Otter involuntarily let out an "Ah."

"...Yes? What?"

"Oh, it's nothing," the Otter hastily brushed it off, and Detective Kogure didn't pursue it further.

The victim remained in the same position as when he was found. His head was shaved close. He wore a baggy hoodie and cargo pants. His sneakers were scuffed. He appeared to be in his twenties, around 20 years old. His hands and fingers, lying limply by his knees, were tattooed.

The shaven young man slouched with his head drooping. His head slightly tilted to the left, and on the right side of his neck was the aforementioned wound—a hole measuring two or three millimeters in diameter.

Senpai, along with Garm, crouched down to carefully examine the young man's body.

The air reeked of alcohol. An overturned can of alcohol lay beside the corpse's thigh. Some of its contents had spilled out, dampening the ground. Had the young man been drinking before his death?

"Just a moment ago," Senpai maintained her focus on the young man as she spoke.

"What was it?"

"Huh? 'Just a moment ago'—"

"Didn't you try to say something to Kogure-san?"

"Well, not exactly saying something, more like it crossed my mind..."

"Go ahead and say it."

"But it really doesn't matter, I mean, it's not a big deal..."

"Tell me. I'm curious."

"...I always felt like that detective reminded me of someone. I didn't know who, but it just came to me just now. It's Columbo."

"Columbo?"

"Wasn't there something like that? It's a bit old though. A drama? Or was it a movie? Detective Columbo. From America."

"Kogure-san doesn't look like a foreigner, does he?"

"He just gives off that vibe, somehow. The vibes? Yeah, the vibes. I've never really watched Columbo anyway..."

"So you've never seen it and you're saying they look alike..."

"That's why I didn't want to mention it... if it was a strong resemblance, I would have said it to him. I might even ask, 'Don't people tell you that you look like Detective Columbo?'"

"This is more pointless than I expected. Let's not bring it up again. Columbo or whatever."

"I'm sorry..."

He ended up apologizing once again.

Would there ever be a day when he wouldn't have to apologize to Senpai? It would probably never come. He would never be able to raise his head in front of her. She got angry at him at every opportunity, and each time he would apologize. No matter how many years or decades passed, until the Otter left this world. From the Otter's perspective, it felt like forever.

The young man's body didn't appear to have any wounds aside from the mentioned hole.

The victim had simply sat there until his heart stopped. There were few, if any, signs of struggle before his death.

The elderly woman in the apartment where she lived and this young man under the overpass had died silently.

On that note, six days ago, a 46-year-old male office worker had died slumped against a vending machine, less than 1 kilometer away from here.

Fifteen days ago, in an apartment not far from the building with the vending machines, a 32-year-old woman had died in an unnatural manner. She was crouched on the balcony of her home. The one who discovered her was a male acquaintance who was being investigated for involvement in her death.

All four of them had a hole with a diameter of two or three millimeters on their neck.

As of now, the cause of death was still unknown. However, the hole-like wounds showed signs of vital reaction. In other words, the wounds were inflicted while they were still alive, not after death. Consequently, there was little bleeding.

It was speculated that someone had pierced the victims with a thin tool. Afterward, something must have happened to stop their hearts. Naturally, when the heart stopped pumping, the bleeding ceased. After the victims died, someone removed the tool.

The police had not determined whether it was an intentional incident or an accident. The matter of the holes had not been made public, so there was limited press coverage.

For now.

If similar deaths continued to occur in the future, it was uncertain what would happen.

After examining the victim, Senpai questioned Detective Kogure about various details. Information about the initial discoverer of the body and the background of the victim. Many aspects remained unknown, so Detective Kogure promised to compile everything into a report later.

"Do you think it's one of your cases, after all?" Detective Kogure asked Senpai, scratching his hairline. Was that a habit? It seemed like a habit. The Otter didn't even know if Columbo was a movie or a drama series, but he had seen it countless times on TV. If he remembered correctly, the main character Columbo would press or scratch his forehead just like Detective Kogure. That wispy, slightly disheveled hairstyle was also reminiscent of Columbo.

"I hope not," Senpai replied curtly, and Detective Kogure shrugged with a wry smile. His face also bore some resemblance. Or maybe not.

As they returned to the car after leaving the scene, the day had begun. Senpai started talking to the boss on the phone, so the Otter went in search of a convenience store to buy coffee. Within three minutes of walking, he found one.

Senpai seemed like someone who would enjoy black coffee, yet she only drank chilled cups of cafe au lait or coffee milk in paper cartons. She insisted that it wasn't that she couldn't drink it, but he had his doubts. The Otter mostly preferred his coffee black. Even when he occasionally craved sweetened coffee, he opted for the more mature black coffee. Especially in front of Senpai.

In addition to the coffee, he quickly selected some sweet bread, onigiri, and packaged chocolate. He left the store and, even though the way back was to the right, for some reason, he looked to the left.

At that precise moment, had he not shifted his gaze to the left, he might have missed sight of his target. The Otter was in the midst of shopping, not searching, so this encounter was purely coincidental.

Approximately twenty meters ahead, a man walked. He had an average height, likely male, and was dressed in a military-style jacket with denim underneath. He had black hair and appeared to be young.

Despite the early morning hour, the man continued to walk without any apparent urgency. It would have been easy to ignore him. However, a cord-like object dangled from his sleeve, which he dragged along as he walked. What could it be?

The Otter glanced at his own left shoulder. Olver's face twisted with unease, revealing his tiny fangs. That cord-like object was far from ordinary. It seemed Olver sensed it too.

The man didn't turn around; he simply continued walking, seemingly oblivious to being observed by the Otter.

The Otter decided to follow the man. While he trailed behind, acting as if he were casually heading home after completing his shopping, he called Senpai on his phone. Since she was engaged in another call, he left her a message. He switched his phone to silent mode and placed it in his pocket, still holding onto it. Soon enough, a return call came through.

The Otter answered the phone.

"Are you tailing that suspicious man?"

"Yes."

The Otter covered his mouth with his hand and responded in a hushed voice. Senpai lowered her voice as well.

"Understood. I'll be there soon."

"If you can."

"If he notices you, apprehend him. Don't let him escape."

"Roger that."

The Otter ended the call and placed his phone back in his pocket.

The man continued walking along a street adjacent to the overpass. Eventually, he turned a corner, leading to a stretch of low-rise apartments and residential buildings.

The road ahead was straight, providing excellent visibility. The Otter maintained a safe distance as he trailed behind. He ducked into an alley and cautiously peeked out, monitoring the man's movements.

It appeared that the man was about to turn around, so the Otter quickly withdrew his head. Had he been spotted?

He waited for a moment, then carefully poked his head out again. The man had disappeared. Panic surged within the Otter. No, stay calm. Take a deep breath, walk out of the alley slowly, making sure not to make any noise, and proceed until you locate the man. To his left was a vacant lot where buildings had recently been demolished.

Beyond the vacant lot stood the apartment buildings, and there stood the man within the premises. He held his phone to his ear and glanced over.

Indeed, he was young, probably in his twenties, or even high school age.

The man took off running.

The Otter chased after him. Had he made a mistake? Senpai would surely be angry with him again.

The man ran out of the apartment grounds and onto the street, then turned right. He seemed to be engaged in a conversation on his phone, but the words were inaudible to the Otter.

The Otter entered the street as well. The man was about fifty meters ahead, running quite swiftly. However, he wasn't as fast as a sprinter in a short-distance race. If the Otter sprinted at full speed, he could catch up to him.

But he couldn't ignore the cord-like object the man was dragging along. What was it?

The man crossed a crosswalk, disregarding the red light. It was a wide, two-lane road. When the Otter reached it, the light was still red, and a truck was passing by. Despite the timing being tight, the Otter didn't stop and crossed the road. The truck honked at him, sending a chill down his spine.

The man darted into a narrow alley adjacent to the pedestrian traffic light. The Otter followed suit, entering the narrow alley just as the man rushed into the adjacent alley on the right. If he had waited for the truck earlier, he would have certainly lost sight of the man.

"Nice job, me...!" The Otter patted himself on the back, boosting his morale. The alley the man entered was lined with small workshops and old apartments, and it was cluttered with steel drums and trash bins, making it even narrower.

The man glanced back at the Otter and accidentally knocked over a steel drum, producing a shrill noise that obstructed the path. Had it come to this? The Otter widened his eyes.

"—Olver!"

Olver, who had been perched on his left shoulder, swiftly descended and coiled himself around the Otter's right leg, merging with it.

The Otter's right leg, now merged with Olver, stomped on the ground. Although it was a simple action, something extraordinary occurred.

The Otter soared.

It wasn't a matter of being flung away. It was a leap that surpassed the world record in high jump. The force was comparable to that of pole vaulting. Moreover, the Otter effortlessly soared to an unbelievable height, as if it were a joke.

"Ueeeh..."

The man stopped running, astounded.

The Otter had jumped up between the workshops and old apartments. The man gazed up at him, his mouth agape. As he watched, the Otter flew over him.

The Otter's right leg was now Olver's head, and Olver's mouth was positioned at the Otter's tiptoes. His left leg remained flesh and blood. By utilizing his left leg to absorb the impact of such a tremendous jump, the Otter avoided disastrous consequences. He landed behind the man, pivoted on his right leg, and spun around.

"It's useless to run...!"

The Otter seized the man's collar with his right hand.

"Guah—"

Gasping for air, the man stumbled backward.

That's when something touched the back of the Otter's neck. Was it that object? The Otter instinctively reached for his neck with his left hand and found it there. It was indeed the cord-like object that dangled from the man's sleeve. As he attempted to remove it, it slipped away, wrapping itself tightly around the Otter's left wrist.

"Wha-"

The Otter delivered a knee strike to the man's left side. He groaned in pain, but the object wrapped around the Otter's wrist remained unaffected.

"Take it easy...!"

This time, the Otter unleashed a kick to the man's right side with his right leg, fused with Olver.

"Agah...!" the man cried out.

The Otter felt the man's ribs break through his leg, and the cord-like object around his wrist finally loosened. Without hesitation, the Otter grabbed the man's hair with his now-free left hand. He pressed the man against the outer wall of an apartment and used his right hand to twist the man's right arm.

Inside the man's sleeve was emptiness. The cord-like object was nowhere to be found.

This was bad.

As soon as he realized this, the Otter released his grip on the man and propelled himself upwards. Without a running start, Olver's right leg could achieve a vertical leap of up to three meters.

The cord-like object launched itself into the air. It had detached from the man and attempted to attack the Otter but missed, swirling wildly.

But what on earth was that?

Rather than a snake, it resembled an excessively long earthworm. It even bore some resemblance to a tapeworm. However, neither an earthworm nor a tapeworm would move through the air in such a manner. Its astonishing vitality was repulsive and unsettling.

Above all, it was dangerous.

Could this be the work of the man? The Otter suspected as much.

In just half a month, four people had died under mysterious circumstances. Each victim had a hole-like wound. Perhaps this revolting, energetic creature, resembling an earthworm or tapeworm, was responsible. It seemed to enter the victims' bodies through the hole-like wounds, ceasing their hearts.

Guided by gravity, the Otter's body began its descent. He attempted to stomp on the man using Olver's right leg, but the man skillfully evaded the attack.

Upon landing on Olver's right leg, the Otter jumped again. However, this time, it was not a vertical leap but a forward one. As frustrating as it was, retreating seemed like the wiser option for now. It appeared that the earthworm or tapeworm creature was responsible for the murders. It possessed the power to kill people. The Otter had no desire to die, nor could he afford to be killed.

He dashed out of the alley and into a lane without a sidewalk. In that lane, a car raced toward him at high speed. A white minivan. It was dangerously close.

"Wait, don't run ov—"

His lower body erupted in pain. That was the sensation of impact. The Otter attempted to avoid the minivan, but his timing was off. The vehicle collided with him, sending him spinning through the air. Upon crashing onto the ground, his vision plunged into darkness.

Am I dead?

He genuinely contemplated this thought, but it seemed that he was still alive.

"Uuugh..."

This groan. Was it his own voice?

Indeed, it sounded like his own.

The Otter lay face down, his vision blurred and distorted. More than being in pain, the situation was dire. He could hardly feel his body. It wasn't entirely numb, but most of the sensation had faded away.

"He's moving, huh," a voice remarked.

Whose voice was it? It belonged to a man.

"We should carry him."

"Like this? He's still alive, though. What should we do?"

It wasn't just one person. There were several individuals present.

Shit.

This is bad. But what exactly?

What even is bad?

He doesn't know. It felt as though he was descending.

His consciousness was descending into utter darkness.

Senpai—

#2-3_kawauso / A Name that I can't Call

—... Why?

A question immediately surfaced in his mind. Well, it couldn't be deemed the 'first' thought. After all, he hadn't just been born into this world. Nevertheless, he wondered, why?

Was he not dead? He had been convinced he was surely dead.

Why was he not dead?

Well, that was good. He was still alive. Yes, he hadn't died.

He had just experienced something that felt like dying. It wouldn't have been surprising if he had died. What had happened?

What was it...

He didn't really know, but there was light.

He could see light.

It wasn't bright, but there was light beneath his feet.

Was he sitting? It seemed that way. It appeared as though he was seated on a chair. He couldn't move. It felt as if he were bound to the chair. Why a chair?

Oh, right. He remembered.

The car.

He had been struck by a car. A white minivan. He had been tailing a young man. He had spotted him and given chase. He had attempted to apprehend him, but the man had utilized a long cord-like creature, resembling an earthworm or a tapeworm—

"...Zingai..."

That cord-like creature was no ordinary cord or elongated earthworm or mutated tapeworm.

It possessed a substantial illusion. It was known as a phantom body.

Another term for it was zingai¹.

It was a zingai.

人外 means an inhuman being

That man had brought it along. It was the man's zingai.

Speaking of zingai—

He looked toward his right leg.

It was gone.

Or rather, he was gone.

Olver, who had merged with his right leg, was gone.

The Otter nodded and muttered, "Okay, okay." English? he thought. Or is 'okay' not English? If it isn't English, then what language is it? I suppose it's English.

Regardless of what had occurred, he was still alive. He didn't know his whereabouts, but it was a dim place. There was light, probably from an electric source. The floor was made of cracked concrete. He was definitely indoors. He was bound to a chair. Was it a factory? Or perhaps an abandoned factory. It could also be a warehouse.

Footsteps approached.

The Otter raised his head. He strained his eyes, blinked, inhaled, exhaled, and eventually he could see.

Someone was there. They were drawing nearer. They stopped in front of the Otter. It was a woman with short hair. Or was it a man? Their figure was difficult to discern. They wore an oversized hoodie and track pants. They were not large; rather, they were quite slender.

"...Are you awake?"

From the voice, it seemed to be a woman.

The woman leaned forward slightly and peered at the Otter's face.

"Hey, I'm asking you a question. You're awake, aren't you?"

The Otter tried to nod his head. The woman turned around.

"Hey! He's awake!"

The Otter and the woman were not the only ones present. It appeared that the woman had companions. It seemed she was summoning those companions.

The Otter surveyed his surroundings. Some sort of old machinery lay on its side. Rebar pillars and beams were scattered about. The roof was made of corrugated iron, with missing shingles here and there. Was this truly an abandoned factory? A camping lantern had been placed some distance away, serving as the sole source of light. The surroundings were dark.

If it was nighttime now, it must have been over twelve hours since he had been struck by the minivan. Upon reflection, he seemed to have had a dream before waking up. Had it truly been a dream? Or was it something else? The Otter had woken up multiple times, but his mind had felt hazy, causing him to fall back asleep immediately. He had likely lost consciousness.

On the edge of the lantern's light, the minivan was parked. It was most likely the vehicle that had hit him. The sliding door of the backseat was open.

From there, a man emerged. He wore a military-style jacket and denim pants. From the sleeve of his jacket dangled a long, worm-like creature, resembling an earthworm or a tapeworm—a zingai.

The young man walked, dragging his zingai along.

"Ibe-kun," the woman called out to the young man.

Was that his name? Ibe. It was probably his name.

The woman inquired of Ibe, "What about Hideyoshi-san?"

Ibe shook his head.

Hideyoshi. It didn't appear to be the woman's name or Ibe's given name. This meant there was another person. Hideyoshi, as he was referred to, was likely inside the car.

Was this a group of three?

Ibe, with his tapeworm zingai. The woman and Hideyoshi were probably in the minivan. The Otter had been run over just as he had entered the road. Was it mere coincidence? Who knows. He couldn't clearly recall the moment of impact, so he couldn't provide any commentary. But these people had brought the Otter to this abandoned factory by car. The extent of his injuries was uncertain, but it was likely more than a mere scratch. Despite that, instead of taking him to a hospital, they had restrained him here. That was not a conventional course of action.

Ibe approached the woman.

"You're from the flower shop, right?"

The Otter didn't respond. Ibe's tapeworm zingai slithered across the concrete and drew near the Otter's foot.

"I know all about it. When an incident or accident involving zingai occurs, you guys go out and investigate, don't you? Sneaking around like hungry stray dogs."

This was the first time he had gotten a proper look at the tapeworm zingai. Its elongated body had a diameter of approximately one centimeter. From its rounded tip, something resembling a snail's antenna protruded.

He contemplated crushing it underfoot, but his ankles were tightly bound to the chair. Due to this, he could hardly move anything except his toes.

"You guys are pawns for that organization, aren't you?"

Ibe pressed closer, his face near. The Otter didn't meet his gaze. He stared at Ibe's tapeworm zingai.

"Yeah? I know, you know. That you're pawns for that organization. All the politicians, megacorporations, and mass media in the world. That organization's reach can extend anywhere."

"...You're a classic conspiracy theorist, huh."

The Otter couldn't help but let out an inappropriate laugh. Ibe grabbed his shoulder.

"Ough..."

The pain was overwhelming.

"It's futile, you idiooot-."

"We know the truth. Sullivan has told us everything. Do you understand? I suppose pawns of that organization wouldn't comprehend. We, we are now awake."

He gasped. He continued to breathe in and quietly exhale. He shouldn't have appeared shaken.

—Sullivan.

Ibe's gang was connected to Sullivan.

Dhole-senpai and the Otter were not just the Dahlia 4 duo. The flower shop, Flower House, and the Special Countermeasures Division of the police, known as the Special Cases Countermeasures Office, had multiple active divisions. These divisions handled special cases while also searching for a person named Sullivan.

A creature, the tapeworm zingai, was crawling up the Otter's left leg, resembling a snake climbing a tree. The Otter tried to shake it off but couldn't since he was tied to the chair.

"We know everything. We know that you guys are also trying to find Sullivan. We see through it all," said the person named Ibe.

Ibe grabbed the Otter's jaw tightly, questioning him about the flower shop's affiliation with the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, their superiors, and their knowledge of Sullivan.

The Otter, feeling the tapeworm zingai nearing his neck, spoke up, causing Ibe to exert more force on his jaw. The Otter denied any knowledge of the organization Ibe referred to and claimed to be a regular civil servant.

Ibe mentioned that the Otter was a zingai user, someone who could see and utilize zingai, just like them. The tapeworm zingai continued to press against the Otter's neck, threatening to penetrate his skin.

The Otter observed Yuki, the woman with Ibe, wondering if she was also a zingai master. He realized that his own zingai, Olver, was missing.

As the conversation continued, a door in the abandoned factory swung open with a loud noise. Before Ibe could react, he was attacked by a wolf, who turned out to be Garm, Dhole-senpai's companion. The Otter and the chair fell to the ground due to the impact, but Olver, the weasel-like zingai, intervened and fought against the tapeworm zingai.

Yuki kicked at Garm but missed, and with her help, Ibe managed to stand up. Meanwhile, Dhole-senpai, dressed in a black pantsuit and white pumps, freed the Otter from the chair with a knife and quickly left without saying a word. The Otter called out for Olver and Garm, realizing that Dhole-senpai had used Garm as a distraction to rescue him.

Olver quickly rushed over and coiled around the Otter's leg, while Garm, being even more daring, jumped and embraced senpai. Every time the Otter witnessed this, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy, thinking to himself, "That must be nice. I'm somewhat jealous." However, he refrained from expressing these feelings, fearing that senpai would look at him disdainfully and subject him to scathing verbal abuse. That's precisely why he chose to remain silent.

Garm held senpai close to his chest, and the Otter wondered if such an action should be described in such a romantic manner. Garm's chest and abdomen split open, seemingly engulfing senpai, who entered inside him.

Or perhaps it would be more appropriate to phrase it this way:

The wolf devoured senpai.

Unlike the wolf in the fairytale "Little Red Riding Hood," Garm didn't open his mouth wide; instead, his entire body split in two down the middle, and he consumed senpai as if that were his mouth. Senpai was swallowed whole.

The bond between a zingai and its master was something special. Masters and zingai were paired one-to-one, and there were no replacements, to put it mildly. They formed a completely unique combination. To use an idiom, she was the apple of his eye, and he loved her so much that he could have devoured her. Was that the reason why Garm had eaten senpai?

However, that couldn't be true.

Senpai hadn't allowed Garm to consume her; instead, she had entered inside him. It was reminiscent of the concept mentioned in the New Testament: a wolf in sheep's clothing. Well, in this case, it was the opposite. Senpai wasn't a sheep to begin with.

What appeared was Dhole-senpai, wearing a wolf's clothing.

How should I put it? Senpai had become a werewolf.

"Kuh...!"

The Otter kicked off the ground using Olver's right leg and used the recoil to leap up. He landed with Olver's right leg, supporting his body with his own left leg, but he felt quite uneasy. However, even if he was injured, the Otter remained focused on one thing: senpai's gaze. Was she watching him or not? It was a little unclear.

"Ibe shouted, 'Deathworm...!' Was that the name of his zingai? Deathworm, also known as the tapeworm zingai, seemed to want to meet its master's expectations. It instantly coiled around the Otter's senpai-turned-wolf-woman. However, it proved to be futile.

Senpai, clad in Garm's skin, was undeniably dangerous.

She was not only fast, but also incredibly sharp and possessed a violent strength.

She exhibited merciless ferocity, bordering on cruelty.

Senpai arched backward with the force of a backflip, effortlessly evading Deathworm. But she wasn't finished yet. In the next moment, she leaned forward and sank her teeth into Deathworm, devouring half of its body along with the antenna at the end in a single bite. With a couple more bites, she demolished the remaining parts.

"Aah..."

Ibe collapsed.

For a zingai to disappear and the master to remain unharmed, was that even possible?

Ibe had just asked that question and now experienced the answer firsthand.

Senpai's attention was fixated on the gun, and the Otter was equally focused on it. They were familiar with zingai encounters, having fought against lion and brown bear zingai before, but never ones armed with guns. It was a rare occurrence for zingai masters in Japan to use firearms. The Otter had never experienced a gun being pointed at him before, and while he couldn't be sure about senpai, he didn't think she had either. Even though she was his senpai, it was natural for her to feel nervous in the presence of a gun.

Hideyoshi held the gun in a showy posture, gripping it with one hand and holding it sideways. It was evident that he was an amateur and not a trained professional. The gun might have been a real handgun, but it could also be a model. In Japan, it was possible to acquire firearms if you knew the right channels and had enough money, but they weren't readily available everywhere. The Otter wondered if Hideyoshi was bluffing.

Hideyoshi pulled the trigger.

“Bang!”

It wasn't the gun. It was his mouth.

Hideyoshi had said it with his mouth. He’d imitated the sound of a gun.

Of course, senpai hadn't been shot. Fucking around like that. The Otter was pissed. If Hideyoshi had been right beside him, he probably would've punched him. But had that really been just a practical joke?

“—..."

The Otter was speechless. It was the meat lump.

The meat lump dropped downwards, aiming for senpai. He couldn't believe it. Could you say that it had fattened up in its brief time in the air? It was clearly bigger than before.

Even fatness had its limits. What an enormous lump of meat it was. Still, this wasn't like senpai.

To think that senpai hadn't dodged.

It was all because of the gun. Because she’d turned her attention to the gun, her reaction was slowed. Her attention had been thoroughly diverted.

The meat lump completely squashed senpai.

She disappeared from view.

Senpai.

She’d been pinned beneath the lump of meat.

He had to help. He had to help senpai. The Otter tried to kick off the ground with Olver’s right leg. He’d been careless. Until that moment, he hadn't noticed it at all. It was Omen, Yuki’s zingai, the white dolls. They closed in. They began to swarm the Otter.

“Ah…!”

The white dolls jumped not at Olver’s right leg, but at his flesh left leg, his body, and his arms. In the blink of an eye, Omen had dragged him to the ground.

“Uahahaha-”

Grating laughter rang out. Hideyoshi. The spidery man was coming. Or rather, he was already here. His hollow-cheeked bearded face looked down at the Otter. He aimed his gun at him. At his head, between the eyebrows. The gun was still held sideways.

“You fucking ate Ibe’s zingai. That’s the end of the torture. We’re soldiers who offered up their souls to Sullivan’s ideals after all. The organizations dogs are the enemy. And we’ll kill the enemy. You’re dying too.”

No, it wasn't a model gun. It was real. He was going to be shot. Even with that grip, there was no discounting the distance he was at. There was no way he was going to miss. On top of that, Hideyoshi used his left hand to support the right hand gripping the gun. Like that, he pulled the trigger.

He was desperate. The Otter used all the strength he could muster to twist his neck to the left.

He wanted to praise himself for not closing his eyes and resigning himself in such an extreme situation. He was just a little bit proud of himself for trying to survive.

The Otter felt a strong impact on the right side of his head. His right eye burned terribly, but he wasn't hit directly. The bullet had not hit him. That was undeniable.

“Aah?! You bastard…!”

Hideyoshi flipped out, immediately reaching to fire the next bullet. It might it this time. If he was hit, the Otter would probably sustain life-threatening injuries. It was possible he could be hit in the head and die instantly.

“UAAAAAAAAAAAAH…!”

There was a beast-like roar. From that, the Otter understood. It was senpai. There was no mistaking that sound. It was senpai’s voice.

“Wha-...”

Hideyoshi looked to the side. He didn't mean to withdraw the gun, but the mouth of the gun turned away from the Otter.

“Olveeeer….!”

The Otter opened his eyes as wide as he could. He didn't think a thing about what he should do, or how. He entrusted it all to Olver.

The Olver melded with his leg jumped up the Otter’s body, shaking off Omen, the white dolls, and blowing Hideyoshi away with them.

The Otter spun. Not vertically or horizontally, but diagonally through the air. As he spun through the air, he caught a glimpse of the majestic figure of senpai wearing Garm’s skin lifting the meat lump zingai in the air—the wolf-woman, Dhole-senpai.

The Otter tumbled to the ground. Senpai was flinging the meat lump zingai in Hideyoshi’s direction. Hideyoshi jumped to the side, dodging the meat lump zingai just in time. It would have been funny for a master to be crushed to death by his own zingai though.

Hideyoshi barely managed to get up and yelled.

“Go, Fat Man…!”

Fat Man bounced and rushed to attack senpai again. Senpai faced it without running. She grasped Fat Man and snapped at it. Senpai and Fat Man rolled around, entangled together.

Senpai bit off chunks of meat. With all her strength, she tore the meat off the meat lump zingai. No blood came out. Even as meat scattered around, splintered, and collapsed in on itself, even more meat came out. It was meat. The meat lump zingai was just like a cluster of meat personified. Even so, the meat lump zingai expressed discomfort. It twisted its body, its meat, around, and tried to push senpai away. It couldn't. Senpai wouldn't let it.

Senpai had the upper hand.

But that didn't mean he could stand idly by and wait for the fight to conclude. Sorry about this, Olver. Just one last stretch. The Otter cheered on Olver’s right leg and stood up. He scolded his flesh and bone left leg, which hurt so much he could hardly put any force on it. The bones seemed to be broken. That didn't matter. He’d steeled his resolve.

The Otter pivoted on Olver’s right leg and rushed at him.

He would kill him.

Hideyoshi.

From now on, the Otter would kill people.

Call it murder or whatever you want, but it was the mission. He had to do it. More than that, he had to lend senpai his strength, if just a little. The Otter wanted to stay the kouhai who let their senpai handle all the dirty work. But he couldn't stay like this forever. He had to become a kouhai who could bear senpai’s burdens with her.

Hideyoshi knelt on one knee, watching over senpai and Fat Man’s tussle. He wasn't aware of it himself, but the Otter seemed to have let out something like a war cry. Thanks to that, he was spotted.

“—ah?!”

Hideyoshi shot immediately. He fired many shots in the Otter’s direction. He felt a strong impact like he’d just taken a baseball bat to the guts, and staggered, but he didn't stop. He tried to keep running. It was like his posture wasn't steady, and he couldn't run like he wanted to. And what of it? He was already covered in wounds and unsteady anyway. After that, his left arm was hit as well. It’s fine. The Otter decided to think. If it’s the arm, that’s fine.

“The bullets—”

Hideyoshi pulled the trigger, but no more bullets came out. It was right after that. Finally. The Otter caught Hideyoshi.

He grabbed Hideyoshi’s neck with his right hand, and pressed him to the ground.

That’s not it.

I have to kill this guy.

His flesh and blood was now on his hands, but it was the Otter’a turn to shine.

“T…”

Hideyoshi was trying to say something, but his neck was constricted and he couldn't speak.

That’s good. Very good.

Die.

Let’s keep my body weight on him like this. I’ll crush his throat. You’re dying.

Just die already.

He had intended to kill him, but what had happened?

—Goh.

He heard a loud noise. It wasn't Hideyoshi. Had something else shoved the Otter away? Had he been punched?

The Otter was on his hands and knees. Or was he lying on his back? He couldn't even discern if he was facing up or down.

Someone was there.

He was standing right nearby.

It was a large man.

He wore long boots, and had what seemed to be gloved hands.

The large man was wearing a mask. A mask with a bared teeth design drawn on it.

Did he have a shaved head? Or was he wearing a hat?

Hollow eyes stared down at the Otter.

“...Sullivan’s—”

Someone spoke. Was it Hideyoshi? Maybe Hideyoshi said that. Sullivan.

Sullivan’s.

Sullivan’s what?

The masked man lifted one leg. It seemed like he was going to step on the Otter with his long boots. It seemed like it would be painful. It probably wouldn't just be painful. The one who was about to be stepped on by the masked man was the Otter, but for some reason, he felt like that wasn't somebody else’s business. He felt his consciousness fading.

Could this be the end?

Is it really ending like this? I'm sorry, senpai.

If I apologize, would you be angry? You'd tell me to stop apologizing for everything. But still, I'm sorry. Truly--

"NGAAAAAAAAAH...!"

Senpai.

Why did senpai's voice...

Of course, it was because of senpai.

Senpai had rushed over and sent the masked man flying.

Whenever her unreliable kouhai fell into a tight situation, she would come to save him without fail. That was senpai.

"Who gave you the right...! You beat up my cute little kouhai, you pieces of shits...!"

When the time came, she would stand in the enemy's way and have her kouhai's back, hurling abuse defiantly. The ace of the Special Cases Countermeasures Office's active force. Dahlia 4's Dhole. Senpai, who wore Garm's skin. The horrifying and beautiful wolf-woman. How about it? Isn't my senpai amazing? She's awesome, isn't she? She's more awesome than anyone.

The Otter laughed. Well, he tried to laugh. His voice wouldn't come out. Maybe because of the pain or something, he couldn't move his body. He couldn't really see anything either. This might be bad. Am I not dying? It was possible the Otter was on the verge of death. Even so, he wanted to laugh. He wanted to at least die laughing.

This wasn't the time to be laughing. The Otter couldn't understand that this wasn't a situation where you could laugh.

-Why?

Senpai suddenly shed Garm's skin.

Why?

Garm picked up the Otter and carried him on his back.

What is Garm doing?

"I'll leave the rest to you."

That was what senpai told him. Her voice was quiet, and her tone dull. Senpai didn't look at the Otter. But those were words aimed at the Otter. That, he understood.

Leave it to her?

The rest?

What did she mean?

Garm started running. It seemed like Garm was carrying the Otter away from this abandoned factory. What are you doing? What are you doing for me? Stop it. The Otter tried to resist. Please stop. Let me down. I said no, Garm. Why are you doing this? He wanted to stop Garm, even if he had to use brute force. He would if he could. But the Otter was hovering between life and death. The surroundings were dark. Was this the darkness of the night? Or had he already lost consciousness? He called for senpai in the darkness. Again, and again, and again, and again, he called senpai's name.

The Otter knew senpai's real name.

Shima Touko.

He had once tried to call senpai by her real name to tease her.

Touko-san, he had called, and without missing a beat, senpai had shot back, "What, Haizaki Itsuya?"

How can you remain unbothered? Haizaki had protested, and senpai had let out a laugh through her nose. "I mean, it's just my name. I don't think anything of being called by it."

Senpai.

Dhole-senpai.

Shima Touko-senpai.

Touko-san.

Suddenly, the Otter was thrown into the darkness.

Garm, who was supposed to be carrying the Otter, was nowhere to be found. Where was this? He had no idea. But it seemed to be thick grass. Was a river flowing nearby? He could hear the faint sound of water. The Otter was alone.

Garm was gone.

He had disappeared, suddenly.

Senpai's zingai, Garm, had been eliminated without a trace.

What did that mean? The Otter couldn't comprehend it.

It was okay if he didn't understand at this moment.

He didn't want to know.

#3 / I'd Be There for You

#3-1_otogiri_tobi / Open the Door

He wasn't scared, and he didn't particularly feel sick. Otogiri Tobi's heart was just pounding extremely quickly.

"Don't look," Baku said.

"Don't look, Tobi," he said.

It might not have been "Don't look," but "You don't have to look."

Why, he wondered.

Tobi couldn't tear his eyes away from the girl lying face down in the courtyard. The girl lay in a pool of blood. That pool of blood was spreading by the second. Her fingers, arms, and legs twitched and spasmed.

"Don't!"

Someone covered Tobi's eyes.

It was the janitor, Haizaki.

"You shouldn't look! Don't look, Otogiri-kun...!"

He only had hazy memories of what happened after that.

Ambulances arrived, if he recalled correctly. The police, too. The police asked him many questions. He believed he honestly answered everything he was asked. It seemed like classes were suspended for the afternoon. As Tobi left the school, all the students were leaving too.

A facility staff member came to pick him up by car. He didn't want that, but he endured and rode in the staff's car back to the facility.

The school remained closed for a couple of days. After that, the weekend began. Tobi read books scattered around the facility, zoned out, talked with Baku about random things, and dozed off. He didn't feel like going outside.

What had happened to Takatomo occasionally flashed in his mind. But Tobi didn't know her well. Actually, he didn't know her at all. He hadn't even known her full name, "Takatomo Miyuki," until he heard it from a police officer. There was no point in thinking about someone he didn't even know. He didn't even have the material to think about in the first place.

Why had Takatomo jumped?

Tobi had no way of knowing.

On Monday morning, as Tobi left the facility, a staff member told him he didn't have to force himself to go to school. Tobi ignored them.

"Are you okay with that?" Baku asked.

"With what?" Tobi asked in return.

Baku didn't respond.

The teacher with black-rimmed glasses stood at the school gate. He usually gave Tobi a resentful look, but this morning when he spotted Tobi, he pushed his glasses up and looked away.

"Everything's messed up..." Baku muttered.

Tobi changed his shoes at the shoe box and headed to the classroom. Something felt missing, or rather, he felt a little disappointed.

He realized it as soon as he entered the classroom.

It was because Shiratama wasn't waiting for him.

Class 3 of year 2 was quiet. It wasn't that everyone was silent. Some students were talking among themselves too. But their voices were noticeably quieter than usual. Everyone spoke with restraint. There was no laughter to be heard. No one was laughing.

Shiratama was sitting at her desk. When she saw Tobi, she stood up. Then, for some reason, she bowed.

"Good morning."

"...Good morning."

He felt the gaze of his classmates. About half of the students in class were looking at Tobi.

"You're a witness after all," Baku said with a half-smile.

I see.

So it's about that.

Apparently, Takatomo Miyuki was in critical condition.

During the morning homeroom period, their homeroom teacher, Harry, a.k.a. Harimoto, had explained.

"She's being treated at the hospital, but she hasn't regained consciousness yet."

Instead of his usual red tracksuit, Harimoto wore a white shirt and black slacks. Tobi didn't know the reason why. He didn't have the slightest clue.

"Everyone must be worried. If we find out anything else, sensei will inform you. There seem to be strange rumors going around, but please don't believe them. Alright?"

What were these strange rumors?

Tobi didn't know.

It was all things he didn't understand.

This world was composed of things Tobi didn't know.

Apart from Tobi, there were thirty-five students enrolled in class 3 of year 2. Among those thirty-five people was the female student Shizukudani, who practiced infirmary schooling. Tobi had never seen her once. So, in reality, it was thirty-four people. Between those thirty-four people and Tobi, there existed something like a transparent membrane. That thin yet unbreakable membrane had almost completely separated Tobi from those thirty-four people.

Tobi missed that wall he put up terribly.

If that wall were intact, he wouldn't have been worrying about his classmates like this. Likewise, his classmates wouldn't be paying attention to Tobi either.

Even though they were in class, students' eyes flickered towards Tobi. Some students casually glanced at him while pretending to look out the window.

Unconsciously, Tobi was scanning the classroom. As he did so, his eyes would meet with someone else, and it became quite awkward.

Shiratama seemed lost in thought; her gaze was often downcast. Her complexion had always been pale, but it seemed even worse now. Was she not feeling well? Maybe she hadn't been sleeping much.

Had Shiratama been friends with Takatomo? Tobi didn't know.

During the break between the second and third period, a girl started crying. Until then, she had been talking about something with two other girls in hushed voices, and before long, she began sobbing.

"Chiami..."

The two girls looked visibly upset.

On the sobbing girl's back clung a weird thing that resembled a bat or perhaps a flying squirrel.

Kon Chiami was the one crying.

Shiratama tried to approach Kon Chiami but stopped halfway.

Eventually, the two girls took Kon Chiami out of the classroom. The three of them didn't return until after the bell rang. The teacher didn't scold them.

After the third period ended, Masamune, a.k.a. Masaki Shuuji, with the tarsier-like weird thing in the 'say no evil' pose riding on his head, stood in front of the blackboard and cleared his throat.

"Um, you know. I get it, but, like, what do you think of this atmosphere? I get it, you know? I get it and all, but even if we're all bummed out, that's not gonna change anything...like. I'm not saying it's better to be all happy or anything. But like, could we be a bit more normal?"

The reactions among their classmates were muted. About eighty percent seemed confused, and the remaining twenty percent were antagonistic. That was how it appeared to Tobi.

"--Pwease excuse mwe~!"

Masamune exclaimed, his brows furrowed as he placed both hands on the teacher's podium. He appeared on the verge of tears.

"I said something unnecessary. I'm sorry..."

Some laughs could be heard in response. Tobi was somewhat impressed that Masamune was joking around in such a situation, but it seemed that some people were offended as well.

"Stop messing around, seriously," a male student muttered in a low voice.

But that wasn't all. The boy kicked the floor, causing a slight noise. Although it was just the sole of his shoe rubbing against the floor, the sound was noticeable.

Tobi, who was sitting near the boy's seat, was startled. Even Baku, who was hanging on Tobi's desk, trembled slightly and let out a soft "Oh..."

The boy had long bangs that covered his eyes. If Tobi remembered correctly, his name was Asamiya. Asamiya something. Shinobu, right. Asamiya Shinobu.

Masamune glanced at Asamiya but quickly averted his gaze. Had Asamiya's words not reached him? However, the monkey on Masamune's head, in the "say no evil" pose, stared at Asamiya with its tarsier-like eyes.

Perhaps Tobi was overthinking it, or maybe it was just his imagination. In any case, Kon Chiami was definitely giving Asamiya a side-eye. The peculiar creature on her back also turned its human infant-like face towards Asamiya.

Suddenly, a question popped into Tobi's mind.

Why had Takatomo Miyuki jumped?

Lunchtime passed in the blink of an eye, and Tobi carried Baku on his shoulder as he left the classroom. The weather was decent today, but the courtyard was sealed off due to the incident. Even if Tobi didn't pass through the courtyard, he could go to the roof by going outside. He briefly considered it but didn't feel like doing so. He didn't want to go to the roof because of Takatomo's jump. A classmate, a single girl, had jumped from the roof of the school building. Why had she jumped?

Restlessly, Tobi paced around the hallway, walking briskly. He didn't have a specific destination; he just felt uneasy standing still.

At a time like this, Baku remained silent. It sulkingly kept its silence. That annoyed Tobi a little. A Baku that didn't talk was just a backpack.

He couldn't go to the roof because of Takatomo's jump.

It was Takatomo's fault. Was Takatomo at fault?

Tobi didn't think so. Takatomo probably hadn't jumped willingly. What would happen if you jumped? She should have been able to imagine. It wouldn't end well. She would sustain serious injuries.

It could even lead to death.

Tobi didn't understand. He didn't understand Takatomo's feelings at all. He had no way of understanding.

Soon, lunchtime came to an end. Students began to come and go in the hallway, and Tobi started searching for a place without people. It felt like he was searching for a hiding spot, like a fool. He looked foolish.

For some reason, Baku remained silent.

Perhaps it was just an ordinary backpack. Maybe it had always been just a backpack.

That thought crossed Tobi's mind. Of course, it couldn't be true.

Say something already, Baku.

If he said that, Tobi would lose. But what was he losing? What was he losing at?

The hallway on the third floor of the special classroom building was empty. Feeling a sense of fatigue, Tobi sat down on the stairs.

The special classroom building had three floors. Tobi sat on the stairway that led to the roof. If one didn't climb up from the outer wall like Tobi did, they would have to use these stairs to reach the roof.

Takatomo must have used these stairs to reach the roof as well. Beyond the stairs, there was a door. Takatomo had somehow managed to open the locked door.

The key to the roof was missing.

The janitor, Haizaki, had mentioned it.

Takatomo had probably taken the key. If Tobi recalled correctly, there were numerous keys hanging near the principal's desk in the staff room. Did Takatomo swipe the key to the roof from there? It was a conspicuous spot, so it must have been challenging.

Regardless, Takatomo likely used that key to unlock the door, stepped onto the roof, and then jumped.

Tobi had stared intently at Takatomo's figure after she landed in the courtyard. However, he couldn't recall any details. Takatomo had been facing downwards. But what about her face? Was it facing downwards or to the side? Were her arms and legs bent or straight?

As he closed his eyes and recollected, his heart raced, causing a pang in his chest.

No, don't dwell on it.

His heart seemed to be urging him to retreat.

"What the hell," Tobi muttered to himself. He heard footsteps approaching. Someone was climbing the stairs from the second floor to the third. Tobi let out a sigh.

Tobi attempted to stand up.

"Ah."

The person ascending the stairs was Shiratama. When she saw Tobi, her face lit up with a smile.

"So you were here, Otogiri-kun."

"Well..."

Tobi lowered his head and sat back down on the steps. Shiratama stood in front of him for the time being. Neither of them spoke a word. After a while, Shiratama sat down beside Tobi.

"Were you looking for me, O-Ryuu?" Baku asked.

Shiratama nodded.

"Yes. I wanted to talk to him."

"No way. Talking to this guy would be boring. Unlike me, Tobi is terrible at communication."

"That's not true. He's not boring at all."

Shiratama toyed with the pochette on her lap.

"I have never once felt bored while talking with Otogiri-kun."

"It has only been a short while, though..."

As Tobi chose his words, he stared at Shiratama's fingers fiddling with the pochette. Her neatly trimmed nails showed no signs of white.

"It hasn't been that long since we started talking."

"Now that you mention it, that's true."

After that, Shiratama muttered, "How strange."

What was strange? Tobi wanted to ask but couldn't for some reason.

In the end, they hardly conversed. It wasn't complete silence, but their interaction didn't qualify as a proper conversation. Even though people passed by, casting curious glances at the two of them, Shiratama didn't seem to mind. To be honest, Tobi felt a little self-conscious. However, he gradually stopped caring when he realized that Shiratama didn't mind.

They remained on the steps of the special classroom building until it was time for the afternoon class. Occasionally, they would give brief and unremarkable answers, but other than that, they simply sat side by side.

Tobi didn't dislike it. He found it odd how the silence didn't become awkward.

During the middle of the fifth period, Asamiya Shinobu, the boy with long bangs, suddenly raised his hand.

"What's the matter, Asamiya?" the teacher noticed and called out.

Asamiya had his right hand raised, but both elbows were on his desk, and his head drooped. He didn't say anything.

The classroom erupted in murmurs, then quickly fell silent. Finally, Asamiya spoke.

"I don't feel well."

"I see. It's better if you don't force yourself. Who's the health committee member in this class?"

"It's me."

"Kon, take Asamiya to the infirmary."

"Alrighty then."

As Kon stood up, a loud noise resounded. It didn't come from Kon but from Asamiya. Asamiya pushed his chair back and hurriedly made his way towards the exit, with Kon chasing after him in a panic.

"Asamiya-kun!"

"Don't follow me!"

Asamiya forcefully pulled open the door and glared at Kon, giving off an intimidating aura. Startled, Kon took a step back.

"I'll be fine on my own, so..."

Asamiya weakly muttered what sounded like an excuse and hastily left the classroom.

"Scary..." someone whispered in a small voice.

Voices began to rise in response, creating a chain reaction.

"Quiet down!"

The teacher clapped his hands together, trying to restore order.

"We're in the middle of class. Kon, return to your seat."

"But..."

Kon hesitated, glancing back and forth between the door and Asamiya's empty seat. Was she worried about Asamiya?

For some reason, Tobi's gaze turned towards Masamune. Masamune had both hands clasped in front of his mouth, coincidentally resembling the "speak no evil" monkey on his head.

Kon returned to her seat, and the teacher resumed the lesson.

Is it okay like this? Tobi wondered. Was it fine to leave Asamiya alone? Did he really make it to the infirmary by himself?

His eyes met Shiratama's several times. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her lips pressed tightly together. Towards the end of the class, when their eyes met again, Shiratama moved her lips as if trying to say something, but Tobi couldn't make out her words clearly.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of the fifth period, Tobi stood up before the teacher could dismiss the class. Just as he was about to leave the classroom, he realized that he had forgotten about Baku.

"Hey, Tobi! Oi! You!" Baku shouted.

Ignoring him, Tobi left the classroom, striding quickly down the hallway. Where was he going? He initially headed towards the restroom, but he didn't actually need to use it. That wasn't his destination.

He stopped outside the infirmary. Even though he had arrived there on his own, he couldn't help but question his choice.

Here?

The infirmary.

His thoughts were fixated on Asamiya. Was he really in the infirmary? Tobi wanted to confirm.

Confirm, and then what? There wasn't much for him to do. He had never spoken to Asamiya before, and he didn't particularly feel the need to now.

Something felt off. Tobi himself felt strange. It was odd, he thought.

No, he hadn't made a firm decision yet. He could still turn back. He just had to change his mind.

"Otogiri-kun!"

If Shiratama hadn't hurriedly caught up, panting heavily, Tobi would have definitely turned back. Shiratama reached his side, bending over and clutching her chest.

"I... I was also... concerned about... A... Asamiya-kun..."

"You didn't have to run all the way here..."

"Ugh... Otogiri-kun, you're so fast. I... I tried to catch up, and..."

Shiratama pulled out a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and wiped her face.

"Now I'm all sweaty."

"Was it necessary to chase after me?"

"Now that you mention it, for some reason, yes."

"Um..."

Tobi hesitated. Without any delay, Shiratama leaned in and said, "Hm?" in a close proximity. Tobi leaned back slightly but didn't step away. He somehow managed to keep his ground.

"I... how should I put it... I don't really have anything in common with Asamiya..."

"I get along pretty well with him."

"Ah, I see."

"We were in the same class in the first year. We got along well enough to have small talk from time to time."

"Small talk..."

"Like 'It's sunny today' or 'It's getting pretty hot around this time, huh?' or 'It's getting cold, huh?'"

"And that's considered getting along well?"

"I can't talk about the weather with someone I don't get along with."

"Is that so..."

"Am I mistaken?"

"Who knows. I don't really understand socializing anyway. Shiratama-san is probably more correct..."

"Am I correct?"

"Probably."

"Having Otogiri-kun agree with my opinion... it makes me kind of happy."

Shiratama bashfully lowered her head and put the handkerchief back in her pocket.

With an "Excuse me," Shiratama entered the infirmary. Tobi had never visited the infirmary before, but he knew there was a school nurse in a white robe.

However, the school nurse wasn't there.

Instead, a bespectacled female student sat on a chair with a backrest, crossing her legs.

"Huh?"

As the student looked at Shiratama, she blinked her eyes behind her glasses.

"Well, well, if it isn't Shiratama Dango."

"Shizukudani-san."

Shiratama appeared unsurprised and greeted her with a slight bow.

"You're as excessively polite as ever, Shiratama Dango."

Shizukudani chuckled and looked down at Shiratama. Resting her elbows on the desk, she twirled a pen in one hand. After discontinuing regular classes and starting infirmary schooling, she seemed quite relaxed.

"Wait, 'Shiratama Dango'..."

As Tobi muttered under his breath, Shizukudani stopped twirling the pen.

"You, what was your name again? The super oddball from Class 3, right? Ah, Shiratama Dango, you don't have to tell me. I want to remember it on my own. I think I can remember it. Mm... right. Got it. That's right. Otogiri Tobi. Did I get it right?"

"...That's right..."

"From now on, I'll call you Tobi-tobi."

"Eh...?"

"Obi-obi or Giri-giri or Tobi-tobi. Which one do you prefer?"

"...Well, Tobi-tobi, I guess."

"Then, Tobi-tobi it is."

"What's with this person..."

"I'm Shizukudani~ You can call me 'Ruka-chin.' My full name is Shizukudani Rukana. You can call me Ruka-chin, but it weirdly pisses me off, so if you insist on using that, I'll beat you up. Nice to meet ya."

Shizukudani playfully jabbed the air with her pen. Tobi didn't want to be beaten up or stabbed, so it was best to avoid calling her Ruka-chin. Not that he wanted to use such a friendly form of address.

Tobi briefly glanced around the infirmary. There was a bench without a backrest, a round table with a laptop on top, and two chairs. The beds were separated by curtains, and there were a total of three. Among them, only one bed had its curtains closed.

"Shizukudani-san, did Asamiya-kun come to the infirmary?"

Shiratama asked, and Shizukudani pointed her pen towards the bed with the closed curtains.

"He's there. Resting. He wasn't feeling well or something."

Shiratama looked up at the ceiling, closing her eyes. She placed both hands on her chest and let out a sigh.

"...Thank goodness."

"Hm?"

Shizukudani tilted her head and glanced at Tobi. Why was she looking at him? Tobi averted his gaze.

The curtain parted, and Asamiya's face peeked out.

"Shiratama-san... and Otogiri too. What did you come here for?"

Rather than his physical condition, Asamiya's mood seemed to be terrible. He glared at them with upturned eyes, and Shiratama appeared crestfallen.

"Asamiya—"

Tobi paused at that point, unsure whether to add "-kun" or "-san." Since Asamiya had just called him "Otogiri," maybe he didn't need to add anything.

"Your hair."

"...Eh?"

"Your bangs. They're long."

"Yeah..."

"In the morning, the teacher in front of the gate with the black-rimmed glasses—"

"Yagarashima-sensei?"

"I don't know his name. Doesn't that teacher give you warnings?"

"He does, sometimes."

"I thought so."

"Mm."

"That's all."

As Tobi finished speaking, he wondered what he was trying to convey. Tobi himself wasn't even sure, so Asamiya must be even more confused.

"...Seriously, what did you come here for? Shiratama aside, Otogiri, you've never talked to me, have you?"

"That's true..."

"Actually, not just me, I've practically never seen Otogiri talk to anybody."

"Yeah..." Tobi unintentionally let out a hum.

If he were in Asamiya's position, he would probably find it quite strange.

"Um!"

Had a lifeline come to save him? Shiratama cut in fiercely.

"How are you feeling, Asamiya-kun? Does it hurt anywhere?"

"...It's not really that..."

Asamiya sat up in bed, not wearing shoes. He had taken them off and left them on the floor. Tobi widened his eyes.

There was something under the bed. Had Asamiya not noticed it, even though it was right by his feet? Maybe it hadn't entered his field of vision. If he lowered his gaze, he should have been able to see it clearly. It wasn't small—it was about the size of a human torso. And it had a considerable size.

Its form resembled a human torso as well. It had arms, but not just two—four arms sprouted from it. It also had a head, bald and with indistinct features. It looked somewhat human and somewhat like a mysterious creature. It didn't have one pair of eyes but two—it had four eyes.

Tobi surreptitiously glanced at Shiratama's expression. Shiratama glanced at Tobi and gave him a slight smile. Was that smile trying to convey something to him?

Tobi had heard about Shizukudani from Shiratama. The owner of the empty seat in Class 3, Year 2. She did infirmary schooling and had been in the same class as Shiratama in their first year.

And she had something strange with her.

Tobi's Baku.

Shiratama's Chinu, also known as Chinurasha, hidden in her bag.

Masamune's "see no evil" monkey.

Kon Chiami's creature that resembled a bat or a flying squirrel.

Compared to those, Shizukudani's strange thing was particularly bizarre. It was no exaggeration to call it grotesque—it was practically a monster. Its appearance was horrifying, and its movements were unsettling.

Shizukudani's monster wriggled its four arms, its fingers squirming restlessly, and began crawling across the floor with unnerving smoothness. Moreover, it seemed capable of climbing walls, like a bug. If there were a bug of that size, it would be quite terrifying. What's more, it had a slightly humanoid appearance, making it nightmarish.

Shizukudani's monster crept along the walls and reached the corner of the ceiling, curling its four arms dexterously. Its four eyes darted around, scanning the surroundings.

"It's quite strange, isn't it?" Asamiya said in a dark tone.

Shizukudani's monster? Tobi pondered for a moment. But it seemed that Asamiya was referring to something else.

"Our class. It's strange. I couldn't stand it anymore..."

"Weird?"

Shizukudani asked, twirling her pen. After posing the question, she answered it herself with an "Ah, I see."

"The incident, huh? The jumping incident. If the class were okay, that sort of thing wouldn't have happened. It's terrible, huh? Ruka-chin is in the infirmary division, so I don't know much about the situation, though."

Asamiya clicked his tongue and shook his head, appearing annoyed.

"If you don't understand, then don't say anything."

"How scary."

Shizukudani shuddered and hugged her own shoulders, deliberately giving off a shudder.

"Stop it with that kind of thing. It's scary. Ruka-chin stopped going to school. I've finally managed to do infirmary schooling, you know?"

"As if I care. Miyu is unconscious and in critical condition, you know. We don't even know if she can be saved..."

This time, Asamiya shuddered. Unlike Shizukudani, he genuinely seemed to tremble uncontrollably.

"Sorry."

Shizukudani clasped her hands together, but her apology didn't seem sincere.

"Who's Miyu, though? Who? Ah, Takatomo-san? Takatomo Miyuki, was it. Her name. So, 'Miyu'? Huh? Are you dating?"

"Of course not. ...No. Our houses were close by, so we're childhood friends. But we didn't talk much after middle school. It's just that our parents know each other, and..."

"A relationship based on familial connection, right?"

As Shiratama nodded, seemingly satisfied with that explanation, Asamiya said, "Like I said!" raising his voice.

"We're not in a relationship. How many times do I have to say it..."

"Asamiya, you're quite emotionally unstable, aren't you?"

Shizukudani chuckled. The owner of the seat with the monster didn't seem to have a great personality.

"But it's true that there's a problem in the class. Ruka-chin attends the infirmary five days a week, so I have a pretty good understanding of the situation. There are quite a few Class 3 students who come here complaining about stomachaches or similar issues. Usually, the problem is mental, isn't it? I'm quite well-informed about that, just as a related party, you know?"

"...Miyu too?" Asamiya inquired.

Shizukudani promptly replied, "Yes," for some reason in English.

"Recently, she's been coming here several times. Rested for a bit and took some medicine. From the top of my mind, there's also Yoshizawa-kun, the hot guy. And a while ago, Murahama-san and Shimomaeda-san came frequently. Ah, not together, of course, separately."

Upon hearing their names, Tobi could only recall Yoshizawa's face. Shizukudani had referred to him as "the hot guy." He was a refreshing and sweet-looking handsome guy.

"Murahama, Shimomaeda..." muttered Asamiya as he bit his right thumb.

"They are both girls who are friends with Kon. Recently, Miyu has been hanging out with her too."

Tobi and Shiratama exchanged a glance.

Kon Chiami always had a bat-like, flying squirrel-like creature clinging to her back.

So, what did that mean?

He couldn't explain it concretely, but he couldn't shake off the thought.

Shiratama lowered her gaze and spoke.

"Kon-san seemed quite shocked, though..."

Indeed, between second and third period, Kon had openly cried in front of everyone. The two girls who comforted her were probably Murahama and Shimomaeda.

"But none of that matters," Asamiya said, holding his head in both hands and running his fingers through his hair.

"...No matter who cries and shouts, Miyu isn't going to get better. We don't even know if she has any hope of recovery. Not knowing... It's terrible, isn't it? I'm so scared... I can't sleep. I end up thinking about bad things. Being unconscious... I wonder what that feels like. Can she not hear sounds? Can she even dream? Or does she not feel anything at all? Miyu is alone in the hospital, isn't she? Unable to move and in pain. Why didn't I notice anything? No... that's not true. To be honest, I thought Miyu was acting strange. I wondered if something was wrong. But we hadn't talked in ages, and if I suddenly approached her, it might have been creepy. So... I did nothing. I never thought something like this would happen..."

Shizukudani looked out the window and twirled her pen. Her monster remained motionless in the corner of the ceiling.

The bell rang.

Asamiya raised his head and looked at Tobi and Shiratama with dull eyes.

"Don't you have to go? Sixth period is starting, isn't it?"

"That's... true," Shiratama replied, hugging the pochette containing Chinu. Was she hesitating?

"Are you skipping?" Tobi ventured.

Shocked, Shiratama shook her head, causing her long hair to sway.

"I'm not skipping class. It's not that, Asamiya-kun."

"What?"

Asamiya reached for the curtain.

"I want to lie down for a bit. If you're going to class, then hurry up and go."

"Do you want to pay her a visit—"

"...Huh?"

"—at the hospital where Takatomo-san is staying? Otogiri-kun as well, if you'd like."

"Eh?"

He was completely caught off guard.

Shiratama looked at Tobi with a terribly earnest gaze. Was this a request? If he wasn't mistaken, she seemed to be pleading with him. He couldn't help but feel that way.

A visit?

To the hospital?

Where Takatomo was?

Why?

Even if they went, it wasn't like she had a minor illness or a broken bone. Takatomo was in critical condition. They said she was unconscious. In other words, visitors wouldn't be allowed, would they? But Shiratama must have known all that too. Despite that, she suggested they pay her a visit for some reason. It seemed like Shiratama wanted Tobi to accompany her.

"...Well, I'm fine with that."

After school, Tobi, along with Asamiya and Shiratama, headed towards the hospital where Takatomo Miyuki was staying. It took them fifteen minutes to walk there.

Asamiya negotiated with the general reception, but Takatomo was in the ICU, and as expected, they weren't allowing visitors. Even family members could only see her face for a limited amount of time.

"I see, right..."

Asamiya slumped down on a bench in the waiting room. Tobi and Shiratama didn't sit down.

"Coming here on a whim is all well and good, but there's no way we'd be able to see her..."

"Takatomo-san is in the intensive care unit, isn't she? Shall we go?"

Had Shiratama not given up yet? Why hadn't she given up? Tobi couldn't understand. Asamiya also seemed confused.

"We can't go inside anyway. I don't think it'll work..."

"Just in case," Shiratama insisted.

Shiratama appeared determined.

"O-Ryuu is surprisingly pushy, huh," Baku muttered.

Shiratama glanced at Baku and smiled slightly.

Checking the floor plan of the hospital, which hung on the wall, they discovered that the ICU was on the third floor of the building. They could reach the third floor simply by taking the elevator, but before the ICU, there was a locked door. To go beyond that point, they needed hospital staff to unlock it with an ID card or use the intercom to request access from the inside.

"That's why I told you..." Asamiya sounded more sad than angry.

On their way back, they noticed a small waiting room. A woman sitting on a bench called out to Asamiya.

"Shinobu-kun?"

The woman seemed to be Takatomo's mother. She grew teary-eyed as Asamiya approached.

"You came all the way here? I'm sorry, Shinobu-kun. Miyu isn't in a state to see anyone..."

"No, I was prepared to not be able to see her... but I just couldn't stay still..."

In a choked voice, Asamiya introduced Shiratama and Tobi to Takatomo's mother as classmates. Takatomo's mother kept bowing her head, expressing gratitude for their visit.

To be honest, Tobi couldn't bear it any longer.

He felt sorry for Takatomo's mother. Tobi himself didn't even know what feelings he harbored for Takatomo. Should he talk to her mother? Tobi had witnessed the exact moment Takatomo jumped. He hadn't been able to stop her. He hadn't tried to stop her. Should he apologize to Takatomo's mother for that? He needed to apologize. Did he feel remorseful? He felt somewhat peculiar about it.

The human known as Otogiri Tobi didn't particularly feel guilt. Perhaps his heart was cold.

Why was such a cold-hearted person here right now?

At the hospital where Takatomo was admitted.

Shiratama gently tugged on Tobi's sleeve.

Asamiya was conversing with Takatomo's mother. It seemed that Shiratama wanted to leave. Tobi nodded.

Following Shiratama, they somehow ended up back at the ICU. Of course, the door was still closed.

"We can't enter, can we?" Tobi said.

Without answering, Shiratama opened her pochette.

A small, fluffy animal emerged from the pochette. It had two horns on its head. Without saying a word, it was Chinu, also known as Chinurasha.

Chinu jumped from the pochette onto Shiratama's arm. She wasn't slow, but her movement was unsteady. Nonetheless, Chinu climbed up Shiratama's arm and finally settled on her shoulder. Chinu faced them, appearing pleased for some reason.

"Yo," Baku greeted casually.

Chinu tilted her head in response and made an "Uyuu—" sound. Tobi instinctively tilted his head as well.

"...Huh? What?"

"Chinu."

Shiratama tucked her head in and rubbed her cheek against Chinu. Chinu didn't even flinch.

Tobi was about to speak but was restrained by Baku.

"Shh. Stay quiet, Tobi."

What was going on?

He wanted to protest, but Baku wouldn't say something like that without reason. Tobi stared intently at Shiratama and Chinu.

Chinu's round eyes appeared vacant.

She seemed to be asleep.

"Can't you reach it from here? How about it, Chinu..."

Shiratama whispered to Chinu.

Reach what?

Chinu's tiny mouth moved.

"Why..."

He heard it clearly. It was a voice. It wasn't a cry. It was different from Chinu's voice.

It wasn't Shiratama's voice either. Naturally, it wasn't Tobi's or Baku's.

"Why? Mine... My..."

It wasn't a male voice. It was a girl's voice. Tobi shivered.

"...Wh— eh? Whose..."

"I... why... the key... I mean... the key was..."

Was it Chinu? Chinu wasn't moving her mouth like a human when they talked. But she opened and closed her mouth ever so slightly. So, was Chinu the one speaking?

Why was Chinu able to speak?

Could this voice belong to Chinu?

"The key... the key... to the roof... it's in my desk... the key..."

The voice sounded like that of a young woman.

The key.

The key to the roof?

In her desk?

"Ah—"

Tobi couldn't help but shiver. He didn't recognize that voice from his memory. He could barely put names to the faces in his class. Unless it was a remarkable voice, he wouldn't remember it. Could it be possible, he wondered internally. The voice of the girl was coming from Chinu's mouth. But that didn't make any sense. It was absurd.

Could it be Takatomo Miyuki's voice? he thought.

"It seems like we've somehow reached it," Shiratama said.

"Takatomo-san's voice."

It was a voice that shouldn't have been audible.

A voice that shouldn't have resounded.

The girl was critically injured and unconscious. She was receiving treatment in the ICU bed.

"I can't take it anymore..."

The words spoken by Chinu echoed in Tobi's ears.

On that day, Takatomo had run out of the classroom of Year 2 Class 3 and never returned. Just before that, the girl had exclaimed.

"I can't take it anymore."

#3-2_takatomo_miyuki / A Voice That Couldn't Be Heard, Found

"What happened today?" my mom asks me. Previously, it was my dad who asked me every day. It had become a habit since I was very young, even before I could remember. After entering middle school, my response changed to "it was normal."

"Normal?" my mom says, dissatisfied. "Wasn't there something good or something that made you mad?"

If something good did happen, something bad happened as well, but all of it fell under the category of "normal."

That's how I felt every day.

"Then, was today a good day for you, Miyu?" my mom tries to confirm.

It's bothersome, so I reply, "It was a good day."

But when did it start again?

As the words "It was a good day" escape my lips, my chest tightens, and breathing becomes difficult.

I mean, it hadn't been a good day at all.

When did it all start to go wrong?

When I first sensed something was off...

That's right.

"Hey, did you mistakenly take my mechanical pencil?"

When Nagisa said that, I remember thinking, 'Huh?'

Nagisa had been in my class since the first year, and we continued to get along well in the second year too. Just to be sure, I checked my desk drawer and pencil case, but Nagisa's mechanical pencil was nowhere to be found. "Hmm, I really liked that one, though..." Nagisa muttered, and I couldn't help but feel uneasy about her unwillingness to accept it.

After that, things became a bit strained between us.

Nagisa, Shimomaeda Yoriko, Kon Chiami, and I were often together. Well, to be more accurate, we were only together fairly often. I didn't do well in group settings. The feeling of always being with the same fixed group... how should I put it? It sometimes made me feel suffocated. If there was someone outside the group whom I got along with or found interesting, I wanted to have normal conversations with them. And I did that quite often.

After the incident with the mechanical pencil, Nagisa became more tense. It was unlike her. She would be oddly nervous or feel unwell in the mornings and go to the infirmary. Yoriko and Chiami were mostly concerned about Nagisa. I was worried too, but I guess I didn't express it much. Everyone has days when they feel unwell or are in a bad mood. Instead of overanalyzing or imposing my kindness on them, wouldn't it be better to leave them be?

Truth be told, after a while, Nagisa returned to her usual self. She did.

Next, Yoriko started acting on edge.

I had gotten to know Yoriko in the second year, so we weren't close. Apparently, Yoriko and Nagisa had attended the same kindergarten and primary school. Yoriko would jokingly say, "Besties! Maybe we're besties?" But I didn't get along well with Yoriko. It's not that I hated her, but I didn't particularly like her either. It was just... you know? Yoriko would use coarse language, so I was sometimes scared of her.

"Nah, seriously, it's gone. I forgot it again. That's weird, man. Do I forget it this often? Isn't it a bit too much?"

Countless times, I heard her say something like that while rummaging through her desk.

"...I mean, seriously, didn't it get stolen? Someone stole it. I've lost one too. Seriously, not funny. I mean, I lose things a lot though. But for real, this is not a joke. Mama's gonna be mad at me again. What a shock..."

Nagisa and Chiami would laugh and calm Yoriko down, but I didn't feel like getting close. Yoriko was disorganized and forgot things frequently. Saying that someone had stolen it or something like that, even if it was in the heat of the moment, there were things you could and couldn't say. It truly wasn't something to joke about.

I simply thought, "It's kind of strange..."

Yoriko's complexion appeared unhealthy. Her skin was chapped. She would complain about stomachaches and spend a long time in the restroom, sometimes leaving school early.

It was strange... wasn't it?

It was just a feeling, but somehow, I knew. Something was off.

I mean, regardless of what happened, Chiami remained the same as always.

Chiami was cheerful every day. In the mornings, during break time, during lunch break, after school... she would always engage Nagisa and Yoriko in conversation—I would sometimes be present for those moments—she would laugh at anything, frequently send us text messages, and if we didn't respond the next day, she would laugh and say, "Eeeh, why didn't you respond..." She didn't seem angry, but to me, it felt like subtle pressure.

Though... I didn't hate her. I didn't think she was a bad person. It was just a little difficult to be around her. Chiami and Nagisa got along well, so I went with the flow and hung out with them. I was already friends with Nagisa, so if that hadn't been the case, I might not have become friends with Chiami.

I don't think Chiami is a bad person.

No matter if it was Nagisa, Yoriko, or me, if something happened, Chiami was the first to notice. She had a keen eye, or rather, she was kind, I thought.

"Tell me anything" was Chiami's catchphrase. But I felt somewhat uneasy about it. I would tell her if I wanted to tell her anyway. If I didn't say anything, it meant I didn't want to share, so I wanted them to respect that.

Nagisa and Yoriko were also bombarded with Chiami's "Tell me anything"... Weren't they annoyed?

But in the end, the two of them probably really did "tell her anything." Unlike me.

I didn't say a word.

My phone disappeared. It was a hand-me-down from my mom, an old iPhone. When I arrived at school in the morning, I checked my messages and the weather forecast, then put it in my bag. When I tried to find it during lunch break, it was gone. I panicked. It couldn't have vanished. As I searched for it, Chiami asked, "What's wrong?" and I replied, "It's nothing."

"Really?" Chiami didn't seem satisfied with that answer, as if she already knew that my iPhone had gone missing.

Then came Chiami's usual line.

"You can tell me anything."

I couldn't find my iPhone. When I told my mom, she mentioned that the iPhone had a location tracking feature, and we tried to use it to locate the phone. However, maybe the battery was dead, or for some other reason, we couldn't find it.

My mom wanted to contact the school, but I stopped her because I didn't want it to become a big deal.

"You'll be without a smartphone for a while. Are you okay with that?" my mom asked.

I put on a brave face.

"It's not a big deal."

The iPhone was the beginning of it all.

I started losing my belongings every few days.

An eraser, a notebook, then a mechanical pencil.

I didn't tell anyone. Not Nagisa, not Yoriko, and certainly not Chiami.

I had other people I got along with. I would talk with the beautiful and cool Kihomi, the intelligent Kuze would teach me various things, and Rindou Takaya, who had declared that he wanted to become an entertainer, was quite fun. Masamune, who easily got carried away, had developed the wrong idea after we talked a lot in the first year and confessed to me. I rejected him with a bad taste in my mouth, but now when he teased me, I could respond normally. Shiratama-san was in the same class as me in the first year, and just looking at her was a delight for the eyes. She would sometimes come talk to me even when she didn't need anything from me. I had plenty of people to talk to.

But I didn't say anything.

When my pouch disappeared, I panicked quite a bit. That pouch contained items for that time of the month. I would be in trouble if I didn't have it. More than just trouble. What should I do? Borrow from someone? No way. I would have to go to the infirmary.

The second time I lost my pouch, a thought suddenly crossed my mind. Was it the same with Yoriko? After all, Yoriko looked furious. Losing menstrual products was terrible. Should I ask Yoriko? After all this time. Yoriko would definitely "tell anything" to Chiami. It would be bad if she spread the word to Chiami.

I became suspicious. Wasn't it Chiami? Wasn't Chiami the one stealing things? Stealing my belongings and secretly hiding them somewhere.

—For what reason?

I mean, how could she even do it? It wasn't impossible to do it while changing classrooms, I guess. I was being cautious too. I had started keeping my distance from Chiami. Even so, there were many instances where Nagisa, Yoriko, Chiami, and I were together. I kept an eye on Chiami.

Chiami was most likely not the one stealing things. It couldn't have been her doing. Besides, she had no reason to do so. She wasn't a bad person. But despite that, things were still disappearing.

When Masamune asked me, "What's wrong?" I snapped back, "Huh? What?"

It was after that incident. As I walked alone down the school hallway, I heard a voice.

"Isn't it weird?"

Who was it?

I was alone, with no one around. Was my hearing playing tricks on me? Was I imagining things?

"It's weird."

The voice whispered right by my ear. Without thinking, I asked, "Who?"

I wondered if someone was nearby, but there was no one. There was no one near me.

In the distance, someone was laughing. Masamune was in front of the classroom, making the class laugh.

"...Who?"

Who was speaking?

"It's you."

Even when I covered my ears, the voice persisted, saying, "You've gone weird." Whose voice was this? I didn't want to hear it, even though there was no one around, even though I was completely alone.

"Who's saying that? Who? 'You'? Me? Who? What's going on..."

I ran down the hallway. I rushed into the restroom and entered a stall. I even flushed the toilet, although I didn't need to. I couldn't hear it. I shouldn't have been hearing it. I couldn't hear any voice at all. See? I can't hear it. I can't hear anything. At that moment, I couldn't hear a thing.

At that moment...

When I went to change my shoes at the shoebox, there was only one indoor shoe left.

Again? I thought. "Isn't it weird?" the voice said. Was it weird? I thought so too. Maybe I was going crazy. "That's right," the voice said.

"You're weird."

No one was to blame. It was my fault. I was to blame. After all, I was hearing voices that shouldn't have been there. "You're weird," the voice said. This was strange. I was strange. I had become strange. Was I weird? Was I?

I wasn't lying. They truly disappeared. My things were going missing. Who was doing it? Whose doing was it? I didn't know who, but someone was responsible. "Is it because you've gone weird?" the voice asked.

"You're weird," I replied. "Weird." "It's your fault." "My fault?"

Who was saying that?

This voice?

Who?

"The one to blame is—"

It whispered by my ear.

"Me?"

Was this voice mine?

"—Me."

"Is it my fault...?"

I was tired, but I didn't tell anyone. If I let my guard down, Chiami would say, "Tell me anything." There was no way I could tell her, right? I gave half-hearted responses like "Thanks," "Mm," and "Right." It drained me.

I couldn't handle it anymore.

I had reached my limit.

Whenever something bad happened, I would go to a high place. Before I moved, I used to like going to the roof of our apartment building. There was also the roof of the department store near the train station. I enjoyed ferris wheels as well. The large ferris wheel at the amusement park I visited during summer break in elementary school. When I mentioned this at school, Masamune said, "Eeeh, I'm afraid of heights." I didn't understand what there was to be afraid of. I had gone to the roof of the department store alone countless times. I wasn't the least bit scared as I looked through the gaps in the fence. However, I didn't have the courage to climb over the fence. If someone saw me, they would think I was weird. They might try to stop me. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. I just wanted to feel better.

It was during class. I didn't hear the voice. It was quiet. The teacher was saying something, but it was quiet. Too quiet. I started feeling uneasy. I checked my desk drawer. During times like these, things would disappear. My fingers brushed against something hard. I closed my hand around it. A key? I took it out of my desk, and indeed, it was a key. The key tag read 'Roof.'

What was this? The key to the roof? Why was something like this in my desk?

The roof. I liked high places. The key. I knew that the door to the roof was locked. I had talked to my friends about wanting to go up there. I had tried to go to the roof before. But the entrance was always locked. The key. The key to the roof was right here.

I stood up. I understood. That wasn't important. I could go. It was telling me to go. I had to go.

"Hm? What's wrong, Takatomo? —Takatomo...?"

The teacher was saying something. But that wasn't important. I could go. It was telling me to go. I had to go.

"Takatomo-san."

Another voice called out to me. I recognized whose voice it was. It was Shiratama-san. She was approaching. I started trembling.

"D-don't come near me!"

As I shouted, many voices closed in on me. Shut up. Stop it. I clutched my head in my hands. The voices wouldn't stop.

"I can't take it anymore...!"

I had to run. I had to get away from here, or I would break. Maybe I had already broken. Maybe I broke a long time ago. I didn't want to believe that I was broken. I ran. In truth, I had been desperately trying to escape for a while now.

I tightly held onto the key to the roof and ran everywhere. When it seemed like someone had spotted me, I took off running. I hid in the restrooms and in storage cabinets under the stairs. I was stalling. I didn't know what to do. In that case, I just had to do it.

And so I did.

I climbed the stairs, inserted the key into the keyhole, and turned it. The door opened, and I finally arrived where I was meant to be. The wind felt good. The fact that it felt good made me happy. I felt like crying.

I walked from one corner of the roof to another, taking deep breaths. There were low walls around the perimeter. I climbed on top of them and stretched.

"What happened today?" I felt like my mom was asking me. I couldn't answer. Then my mother continued, "Was today a good day for you, Miyu?"

"Not at all," I shook my head.

It wasn't a good day. I'm sorry, Mom.

I'm sorry for always lying. I'm sorry for not being a good girl. I also have to apologize to Dad. I want to apologize to Shiratama-san as well. Even though she tried to stop me. I'm sorry.

As I gazed down at the courtyard, there were people there. Otogiri-kun from my class and the janitor, Haizaki-san.

Oh well. I can't take it anymore.

I leaned my body forward.

I wasn't scared. That was a lie. I was actually a little scared. I closed my eyes. And then, there was a loud sound.

#3-3_otogiri_tobi / Eat.

They were unable to see the patient, so they couldn't stay for long. When they left the hospital, they bid farewell to Asamiya. Tobi and Shiratama walked back down the twilight road.

"O-Ryuu," Baku broke the silence. "That was... Long story short, what was that?"

"How should I explain..." Shiratama frowned, biting her bottom lip. She paused for a moment as they happened to pass by the children's park, noticing the empty benches.

"Wanna sit down?" Tobi suggested.

Shiratama nodded, and the two of them sat on one of the benches in the children's park.

"It happened a long time ago," Shiratama began, bringing out Chinu from her pochette and holding her gently. "I was in fourth grade at the time, so it was four years ago. My grandfather fell seriously ill and was hospitalized. So my grandmother brought me along to visit him..."

Shiratama's grandfather had a strict personality and had a fondness for kendo and jiu-jitsu. Before his hospitalization, Shiratama had been unaware of his illness. She had never seen her grandfather lying down, and seeing him sleeping in the hospital bed was frightening for her. Shiratama couldn't bring herself to enter his hospital room. In the end, only her grandmother went inside, while Shiratama waited outside.

During that time, Shiratama already had the pochette that hid Chinu. She knew that others couldn't see Chinu. Shiratama took Chinu out of the pochette and let her ride on her shoulder. Feeling restless, she walked slowly down the hallway.

The hallway had rooms on both sides, some with open doors that allowed a glimpse inside. Most of the patients on that floor had serious illnesses, with some relying on medical equipment to survive.

Shiratama wondered if her grandfather would end up like them. However, the surgery had gone well, and her grandmother assured her that he would recover. The thought brought her some relief, but also a sense of guilt for using the suffering of others to comfort herself. She felt like a bad person.

As Shiratama stopped in front of a four-person room, she noticed a woman and a small girl visiting. The woman addressed the patient as "Papa," who seemed to be her husband. The woman and the girl desperately called out to him, hoping for him to wake up and play with them. But there was no response; the husband was unconscious.

Unable to bear the situation, Shiratama prayed silently for the stranger's recovery and his reunion with his family.

"Looking back on it now, it might have been some sort of compensation for finding solace in the suffering of others... a form of atonement," Shiratama continued, her voice filled with reflection. "I may have wanted to reassure myself. But then, Chinu..."

At that moment, Chinu let out a voice that wasn't her own. The voice spoke the names "Hana" and "Kayoko" repeatedly. It was a man's voice, clearly not coming from Chinu.

The voice spoke about the time his daughter was born, bathing her, and taking her to the zoo. He reminisced about meeting Kayoko for the first time and how he had never felt such love before. He expressed his disbelief at his illness and his fear of dying. He desperately wanted to see his family and spend time with them. It was a heartfelt cry of a man on the edge of life.

"I heard his voice," Shiratama said, her voice tinged with sadness. "He agonized over his wife and daughter, his fear of death, even though he was unconscious. He was asleep, in a coma. His voice shouldn't have been audible, but somehow it came through Chinu..."

"Hmmm..." Baku hummed, pausing for a moment before speaking. "So Chinu has some kind of special ability, even though she's so small. She's not just an ordinary person, huh? Wait a minute, does that mean I have a special ability too? Something incredible... like shooting rockets or being super strong."

"Not really," Tobi replied, half-exasperated. "Baku, you're already pretty good at running your mouth."

"Oh, that!" Baku laughed, satisfied. "Ahahaha... wait, no! That's not the kind of special ability I meant. There has to be something more, like having incredible powers or something cool."

"Just having a talking backpack is pretty cool, isn't it?"

"That's not enough. I'm telling you, I just haven't shown my true potential yet. When I overcome challenges and become stronger, I'll show you something amazing!"

"That's kind of gross... I don't want you to peel off your skin..."

"It's just a metaphor! At least understand that much!"

Tobi glanced at Shiratama, who was looking down silently. After recounting the story of her grandfather's hospitalization, she remained quiet.

If Chinu didn't possess that special ability, Shiratama wouldn't have heard the voice of that unknown patient. He was on the brink of passing away, leaving his wife and daughter behind. He was barely holding on, realizing there was little hope. In his despair and grief, he cried out.

Tobi didn't want to hear that voice. Even if he did, what could he do? He was a complete stranger with no relation to the man. There was nothing he could do to help. It couldn't be helped.

"...Did Shiratama-san suggest visiting so we could hear Takatomo-san's voice?" Tobi asked, breaking the silence.

To Shiratama, Takatomo Miyuki was not a complete stranger. They were classmates and had even been in the same class in their first year. Takatomo would talk to her even when there was no particular reason, and Shiratama was someone she admired. Takatomo's voice had said so. Their connection was different from that with an unknown patient.

"I thought that if we could hear it," Shiratama replied hesitantly, "if we were able to hear it, then we had to listen. Because that might be something only Chinu... only I can do."

The next day, Asamiya was late. Tobi felt a slight relief as he had been concerned that Asamiya might not come to school. But it wasn't just Asamiya on Tobi's mind.

It appeared that Kon Chiami was indeed friends with Murahama Nagisa and Shimomaeda Yoriko. They often spent time together outside of class. Before, it used to be the four of them, including Takatomo.

In addition to losing or having her possessions stolen, Takatomo had been hearing strange voices repeatedly.

Losing things that seemed unlikely to be stolen and hearing voices that shouldn't be audible. Weren't those signs of delusions or hallucinations? Perhaps Takatomo was not in a normal state of mind.

However, Chinu possessed a special ability. The mysterious power to transmit voices that shouldn't be heard, speaking on behalf of those who couldn't.

And Kon Chiami, whom Takatomo suspected as the culprit, had that bat-like, flying squirrel-like creature with her.

For once, Tobi took his time eating lunch. His seat was near the window, three rows from the front. In the first seat of the adjacent row sat Kon Chiami. And clinging tightly to her back was that strange creature, neither a bat nor a flying squirrel, motionless.

"I know what you're thinking right now, Tobi," Baku said without lowering his voice.

"Does that thing always stay like that, never leaving Kon-chan's side? Or does it have the ability to go off and do things on its own? If, for instance, that thing was an ill-mannered thief..."

Though talking during lunchtime wasn't forbidden, the cafeteria was so quiet that school announcements could be heard clearly. Tobi and Shiratama were probably the only ones paying attention to Baku's solo recital.

"Stealing the key to the roof from the staff room shouldn't be possible. It wouldn't have been difficult for that thing to sneak it into Takatomo's desk drawer, though."

"Sensei," Asamiya suddenly raised his hand.

Their homeroom teacher, Harimoto, who was eating lunch at his desk, stopped and half-rising from his chair, asked, "Hm? What's wrong, Asamiya? Hey, you haven't eaten anything. Are you feeling unwell? Are you okay?"

"I'm not okay," Asamiya said, placing both hands on his desk as he stood up. His long bangs concealed his expression, but he seemed visibly angry.

"There's no way I could be okay. Why are you just eating as if nothing happened? Aren't you going to investigate? After what happened, Miyu... Takatomo has been hospitalized."

"Well, investigate, you say..." Harimoto hesitated, touching his face excessively with his hand.

"Hey, hey!" Masamune staggered toward Asamiya and attempted to sling an arm around his shoulders. "Chill out, okay? Asamiya—"

"Don't touch me!" Asamiya brushed away Masamune's hand roughly. With an "Uwah?!" Masamune exaggeratedly flew back and spun in circles, eliciting laughter from many onlookers. Seeming irritated, Asamiya approached Masamune.

"Wahh!" Masamune stepped back.

"Stop it already!" Kon Chiami cried out. Her face scrunched up instantly.

"Miyuki wouldn't be happy if you were fighting! Miyuki hates seeing people arguing. Don't do something that would make her sad at such a time, please..."

Tobi suddenly had doubts. Was Kon crying? Her behavior seemed exaggerated and deliberate. Were those crocodile tears? Asamiya also seemed to sense something was off.

"Acting like you were friends. Kon, you weren't getting along that well with Takatomo lately, were you? Takatomo was avoiding you, wasn't she?"

"How terrible!" "How could you say such a thing!"

Defending Kon, Murahama Nagisa and Shimomeda Yoriko began reproaching Asamiya. The classroom descended into chaos as everyone joined in. Even as the homeroom teacher, Harimoto, scolded them, "Hey, stop it!", the chaos continued.

Kon sank into her chair, as if breaking down in tears. Murahama, Shimomeda, and a few other girls rushed to her side. Some students criticized Asamiya harshly. Asamiya stayed quiet without rebuttal, but his eyes glared through the gaps between his bangs.

"Don't get so heated, guys! Asamiya has a point to make, right?"

Masamune, ever persistent, pressed closer to Asamiya. At that moment, Asamiya's patience ran out. He pushed Masamune aside and ran out of the classroom.

"Asamiya!"

Harimoto chased after him. Masamune soon returned with a troubled, or rather, funny expression and dramatically shrugged his shoulders. Some students laughed.

Tobi looked at Shiratama, who had an appalled look on her face. He was relieved that she wasn't laughing.

Harimoto and Asamiya still hadn't returned, and lunchtime ended. Tobi prepared to leave the classroom with Baku on his shoulder.

"Otogiri-kun."

Shiratama's call stopped him. Tobi met her gaze, and she directed his attention to something else. Tobi followed her gaze.

Kon sat draped over her desk. Murahama and Shimomeda were comforting her. Was Kon still crying? She seemed stricken, or maybe she was pretending.

It was gone.

The strange creature was no longer clinging to Kon's back.

"Tobi!" Baku exclaimed. Tobi looked around his seat. On Asamiya's desk, there was an untouched meal. Something darted in the shadows of the desk. Tobi had clearly seen it.

Tobi approached Asamiya's seat. There was nothing abnormal about the desk or the chair.

"It must be inside."

He didn't need Baku to tell him. Without looking in the drawer, he reached in. His fingers brushed against fur. Without hesitation, he closed his fist around it, and the creature struggled furiously in his hand. Its torso was warm, even hot. Between its forelimbs and hindlimbs, there was a thin, rubbery membrane. It writhed and wriggled its limbs.

He pulled it out of the desk drawer. It was Kon Chiami's strange bat-like, flying squirrel-like creature. It had a face like a human baby, and a long tongue darted in and out of its tiny mouth.

Several classmates looked at Tobi suspiciously, but no one noticed the creature in his hand. They couldn't see it.

Kon was still being comforted by Murahama and Shimomeda. Tobi met Shiratama's wide eyes. She seemed surprised, and Tobi himself was shocked. He had caught that strange creature. Now what should they do?

"...Tobi! For now, let's go somewhere without people—"

Urged by Baku, Tobi went out into the hallway. Shiratama followed, holding the pochette that concealed Chinu. They descended the stairs without a destination in mind. There was no one around the shoe box. In the outdoor shoe area, Tobi faced Shiratama.

"O-Otogiri-kun, that thing..."

"I don't know. It's just a guess, but... it was in Asamiya's desk, so it seems like it was trying to steal something. What's with this thing..."

Tobi gripped the creature tightly in his hand. He felt like if he didn't, it would escape. To be honest, he didn't want to keep holding it. It was gross.

"Hey, don't let it go, Tobi!" Baku raised his voice.

"If you let go, that thing will definitely do something bad again. It looks like Kon Chiami wasn't even aware of it herself. That thing could be the root of all evil."

"So you mean—" Shiratama hugged the pochette containing Chinu tightly.

"Ignoring Kon-san's intentions, it goes off and steals things, and as a result, Takatomo-san becomes paranoid... is that it?"

"Well, maybe she's just unaware of it, but she really wished for it in her heart. Whatever the case, this creature is different from me and Chinu. Tobi and O-Ryuu have a proper awareness of our existence. Whether we can talk is another matter, but we can understand each other. That's not true for Kon Chiami. We're only superficially alike."

"...If I ask Chinu to stay, she will. Baku also listens to Otogiri-kun's wishes, doesn't he?"

"I don't know about that..." Tobi murmured noncommittally, and Baku let out an aggrieved "Aah?!"

"I don't always do as I'm told, but I listen most of the time, don't I?"

"Maybe this creature—" Shiratama glanced at the struggling creature.

"and Kon-san don't have that kind of relationship..."

"Whether it's Takatomo or Murahama or Shimomeda, if this creature was the one stealing their stuff, then it's causing harm to others. As a result, Takatomo even jumped."

Shiratama repeated Baku's words.

"The root of all evil."

"If that's the case, the same thing might happen again..."

The creature Tobi held had been rummaging through Asamiya's desk drawer.

Asamiya had criticized Kon to her face. It was possible that the creature had been trying to retaliate. Just as Baku had said, when Kon felt hostility toward someone, the creature would attack them and steal things on its own. Was that how it worked?

Maybe they were incompatible, or there was some misunderstanding, but Kon didn't like Takatomo.

If Kon didn't have her creature, that would be the end of it. The creature had caused something strange to happen, and Takatomo had been pushed to the edge. Distressed, she had jumped off the roof of the school building. Without that creature, Kon and Takatomo might have eventually fought and gone their separate ways, and that would've been the end of it.

This struggling creature in Tobi's hand had brought about a grave and serious situation.

There was no doubt, it was the root of all evil.

"...Otogiri-kun?"

Shiratama tilted her body diagonally and peered up at Tobi's face, awaiting a response. However, Tobi remained silent, preoccupied with another task at hand. He couldn't help but wonder what he should do and if he had the capability to accomplish it. Even if there was a solution, he questioned whether he could truly execute it successfully.

"Leave it to me, Tobi," Baku assured him.

Understanding Baku's intention, Tobi nodded in acknowledgment. Even if he himself couldn't achieve it, he had Baku by his side, willing to assist him.

"I will devour this creature," Baku declared.

Tobi carried Baku on his left shoulder using the strap. Baku's head emerged from above Tobi's shoulder. Although Baku had been a backpack ever since they met, this was merely a metaphorical description since backpacks don't possess protruding heads. But Baku did have a mouth.

Baku's zipper opened partially, approximately a third or halfway at most. It was sufficient for their purpose. Baku's mouth revealed itself, resembling teeth formed by the zips. In reality, those zips were indeed teeth. A tongue, larger and more robust than Tobi's own, shot out from Baku's mouth.

Tobi comprehended Baku's intentions clearly. If Baku desired to consume the creature, he should do so. No, he must. Tobi empathized with Baku's sentiments.

This strange creature wriggling in his grasp was the source of all the malevolence.

If it hadn't existed, the dreadful events wouldn't have unfolded. It would be better if it simply ceased to exist. However, erasing something from existence proved impossible. At the very least, Tobi had to make it disappear.

Furthermore, an overwhelming hunger suddenly gripped him.

He heard footsteps approaching. Shiratama was saying something about Haizaki-san. Tobi paid no heed, as his hunger intensified. His stomach wasn't empty, but he realized it was Baku's hunger manifesting. This was the extent of Baku's voracity. It felt as if every cell in his body had been depleted. Tobi couldn't bear it any longer.

"Wait...!" someone tried to halt him. It appeared to be the janitor, Haizaki. However, Tobi couldn't care less. He was starving. It wasn't a matter of an empty stomach. This hunger was likely Baku's. This was how ravenous he truly was. The sensation was unbearable.

"—It's too late."

Tobi loosened his grip, and in an instant, Baku's tongue ensnared the peculiar creature. Just before that, the creature emitted a high-pitched screech, akin to nails scraping against glass, before abruptly falling silent.

Closing his zipper teeth, resembling a mouth, Baku chewed vigorously.

He gulped with a loud swallow.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, the janitor, Haizaki, dressed in work clothes, materialized before him. Haizaki clasped his forehead with both hands.

"What have you done? Otogiri-kun, what—what did you feed that zingai?!"

Shiratama widened her eyes in astonishment, while Baku let out a burp. Although Baku was the one who devoured the peculiar creature, Tobi's stomach felt slightly bloated as well.

"What... you mean... 'zingai'?" Tobi asked.

"Ahh, I see..."

Haizaki paled and shook his head.

"Zingai is the term we use to refer to those beings, like the one you carry on your back. There are other names for them, but 'zingai' is the most commonly used in this country. The majority of people are unaware of their existence, and there's no need for them to know. They can't perceive them anyway—"

"Haizaki-san can see them, right?"

Shiratama opened her pochette, and Chinu emerged from within. Haizaki appeared disheartened.

"...You got me. You really got me. I'm just a janitor employed by this school, nothing more, nothing less. Nevertheless, I can't simply pretend that I haven't seen anything. I can see them, but that's not important at the moment. Otogiri-kun, what did your zingai consume?!"

"Man, what an annoying guy," Baku sighed. He burped once again.

"I'm free to eat whatever I want, right? Whether it's a zingai or whatever you called it."

"Just as I suspected..."

Haizaki turned pale and trembled. In contrast, he gripped Tobi's shoulders firmly and shook him.

"Whose? Whose zingai was it? That incident—I didn't wish for it to happen, but were zingai involved?! Whose did you eat—was it a student from year 2 class 3?!"

Haizaki's forcefulness overwhelmed Tobi, leaving him feeling intimidated.

"...It was."

"This is bad! We need to hurry!"

Haizaki dashed away, leaving Tobi perplexed and yearning for an explanation. But Haizaki was already gone.

"We should go too!" Shiratama called out, urging him to follow.

Somehow, Tobi felt reluctant.

Baku had consumed Kon's zingai, or whatever it was called. In truth, he had intended to do good. He couldn't leave that zingai alone, which led to his decision to consume it. It was permissible to eat it.

Baku had devoured a zingai. According to Haizaki, Baku himself was a zingai. One zingai had consumed another.

Tobi recalled that intense hunger.

Baku had—no, it wasn't just Baku. Tobi himself had desired to eat it as well. He wanted to satiate his hunger, so he did.

Tobi didn't wish to return to the classroom, yet Shiratama clung to his hand. He couldn't bring himself to shake her off.

Together, they hurried to the classroom of year 2 class 3. A commotion unfolded, with a crowd gathered outside the classroom. Tobi and Shiratama elbowed their way through students from other classes until they entered the classroom.

Kon Chiami lay collapsed on the floor. Haizaki crouched beside her, feeling her neck, seemingly checking her pulse.

"No way..."

Shiratama appeared on the verge of collapsing as she clung to a nearby desk. Tobi felt no less disheartened than she did, or perhaps he couldn't determine if he was truly shaken or not.

What had Tobi done? It was Baku who had consumed Kon's zingai. Baku was the one responsible, and it had nothing to do with Tobi—or so he thought.

Baku had eaten Kon's zingai, which explained why she had collapsed.

Why was Baku remaining silent? Say something. Was he not going to speak up? Tobi found himself in the same situation.

Haizaki was making a call on his cellphone, possibly contacting an ambulance.

Tobi could only watch helplessly. There was nothing he could do but observe.

The following day, Asamiya returned to school. During the morning homeroom period, their teacher, Harimoto, provided an update on Kon's condition.

He reassured them that she was fine and not in any immediate danger. Her health was stable, but she would be taking some time off to recover.

During the lunch break, Haizaki visited their classroom and summoned Tobi and Shiratama. He led them to the janitor's room.

The room had a small kitchen and a large work table. Haizaki brought out folding chairs, and Tobi and Shiratama sat down while Haizaki leaned against the work table.

"The bond between zingai and their master is incredibly strong and cannot be easily severed, even if one desires to. It runs deep. In cases where zingai are lost for some reason, the master often experiences what is known as heart desolation³. It's not an officially recognized medical condition as its cause remains unclear."

"Is there a cure...?" Shiratama asked in a soft voice.

Haizaki wore a grave expression and let out a low hum.

"It's difficult to say. Each case varies, ranging from severe to relatively mild. It's described as a decline in mental activity, but it affects the ability to think, feel, and move intentionally. However, it doesn't seem to worsen after the initial onset."

"That's somewhat relieving," Baku sarcastically remarked. He had been quiet since the previous day, seemingly disheartened in his own way.

"And what about Kon?"

Tobi asked bluntly, causing Haizaki to cast his eyes downward and sigh.

"I accompanied her to the hospital, but... well, it doesn't appear to be a severe case. She won't be confined to bed, and she was able to provide vague responses. She's currently at home, and I don't think it's a severe condition."

Haizaki didn't say, "So you can rest easy." Even if it didn't worsen, there was no guarantee that her condition would improve. Kon might remain in that state for the rest of her life.

Shiratama wore an expressionless face. Tobi wondered where she was directing her gaze—it didn't seem fixed on any particular spot. It was as if a doll version of Shiratama was sitting on the folding chair. Without thinking, Tobi checked for signs of her breathing. Her chest rose and fell slightly. Clearly, she was still breathing.

"It's not Otogiri-kun's fault," Haizaki stated, nodding as if trying to convince himself.

"It was simply a stroke of bad luck. No... regardless of whether it was bad luck or not, Otogiri-kun may have prevented a future tragedy. Once zingai become hostile towards humans, it's difficult for them to revert."

"So, you mean we shouldn't worry about it?"

"I suppose so. There's no need to blame yourself. It may not be easy, but I encourage you to continue with your lives as usual. If anything happens, you can always come to me. I may be just a janitor, but I can offer some advice."

"Just a janitor?"

"Yes."

Haizaki met Tobi's gaze without averting his eyes or even blinking.

"It seems that most people are unaware of zingai. I believe they make up the majority. However, if you search for information online, you can find all sorts of details. I can't vouch for the accuracy of each piece of information. After all, I'm just a janitor who possesses limited knowledge about zingai. I don't want to provide unreliable information."

"Your way of speaking is quite circuitous and uncertain, though."

"To be honest, I don't fully understand it myself."

Haizaki's gaze suddenly turned clouded.

"As you can see, I have aged, and I possess more wisdom than middle school students like yourselves. I wish I could conduct myself as a proper adult, but... I would like to do whatever is within my power."

"You sure sound like an adult when you talk that way."

"I'm aware that it's not meant as a compliment."

Haizaki attempted to laugh, but it distorted midway, resulting in an ugly and crumbling expression.

"I truly apologize..."

Was he feeling pain somewhere? His expression suggested so.

Baku remained silent, and Shiratama still seemed detached. What was Tobi supposed to do? Sitting there accomplishing nothing would serve no purpose.

After school, Tobi left the classroom before anyone else but stayed within the school premises to observe Shiratama as she changed her shoes at the shoe rack.

Tobi discreetly followed Shiratama. Baku didn't utter a word; he was like an ordinary backpack.

Shiratama walked for about twelve or thirteen minutes from the school until she stopped in front of an apartment building. It stood at ten or eleven stories high and appeared neither new nor old. Shiratama hesitated before deciding whether to enter.

Tobi approached Shiratama, and she seemed completely unaware of his presence.

"Shiratama-san."

He didn't want to startle her, which was why he called out her name. However, Shiratama let out a small "Ah!" and quickly turned around.

"To-to-tobi-kun?! Ah, no, I mean, Otogiri-kun..."

"It doesn't really matter to me, though..."

"Is that so?"

"Eh? Is that bad?"

"...I thought suddenly using someone's given name would be too familiar. The name Otogiri has its charm as well, but I secretly called you Tobi in my head, thinking it's a wonderful name."

"Oh... is that so? Hm..."

Even though he wasn't feeling itchy, Tobi scratched the tip of his nose.

"...If that's the case, how about you call me whatever you want?"

"'Tobi'? Ah—"

Shiratama waved both hands in front of her face as if trying to erase something.

"I-I didn't mean to be so bold as to call you without honorifics..."

"It's fine if you do. Baku has been calling me Tobi all this time, anyway."

"After all, I've known you for a long time."

Finally, Baku interjected into the conversation.

"But if O-Ryuu insists on going that far, then there's nothing we can do, I suppose."

"Is Shiratama-san really going that far?"

"If O-Ryuu insists on it no matter what, then I might even grant special permission."

"Why is Baku the one deciding...?"

"Thank you so much!"

Shiratama's eyes sparkled, and she bowed her head. Tobi wondered what made her so happy. It was beyond his comprehension. But if Shiratama felt happier this way, then he supposed it was alright.

"For now, I'm fine with both Otogiri and Tobi, so..."

"Tobi?"

"...Like I said, that's fine."

"Then, please call me Ryuuko as well!"

"...No, that's a bit..."

"Is that so..."

Shiratama's expression completely changed, becoming dejected.

"I-I guess we haven't been talking to each other for that long, so we're not at that level of relationship yet..."

"Hey!"

Baku immediately turned around. Tobi felt sorry for the disappointed Shiratama, but he simply couldn't bring himself to call her Ryuuko.

"...Um, can I practice and get used to it before calling you that?"

"Practice?"

Shiratama tilted her head. Had Tobi said something strange?

Perhaps he had. Practice. What kind of practice? Imagining Shiratama's face secretly when he was alone and attempting to call her Ryuuko? The mere thought of it made him embarrassed.

"Well... after I have mentally prepared myself, something like that?"

"Then at least stop calling me 'Shiratama-san' and just call me Shiratama."

Shiratama's gaze was strangely serious. Was this so important to her?

"...That's fine. If Shiratama-san doesn't mind."

"I do not mind. That's it. When one day you're prepared to call me Ryuuko, then I shall call you Tobi-kun."

"What kind of deal is that..."

"I suppose it's a promise, rather than a deal?"

He didn't care about the promise or whatever it was, but would the day ever come where his heart was prepared for that? He couldn't imagine it, at least not at this point in time.

"...I mean, what is Shiratama doing here in the first place?"

"Huh? And why is Tobi-kun here?"

"Tobi, that guy. He was following you, O-Ryuu."

Baku laughed with a kekeke.

"Isn't it gross? He's not even a stalker."

"That's not true... well, it is but..."

This was awkward. Tobi looked the other way.

"When school let out, I thought... Shiratama might try to go to Kon's house alone... I just felt so."

"Why?"

Shiratama's eyelids opened as wide as they would go, then blinked twice.

"...You were spot on. I just couldn't help being concerned about Kon. Kon had told me once before, where she lived, and I remembered it, so... Of course, I don't know if I'll be able to see her or not..."

"Her voice—"

As those words came out of Tobi's mouth, Shiratama bit her lip hard.

It seemed like Tobi's prediction was right on the mark.

"Kon's voice, which we shouldn't be able to hear. Did you want to hear it?"

Shiratama nodded silently.

The two of them paid a visit to Kon Chiami's home.

They didn't even know the apartment's room number, but they were able to find out by checking the mailbox. Kon's mother was delighted by a visit from classmates. It seemed like she wanted them to come see her daughter, and she welcomed them in.

Kon's home was on the sixth floor. When the elevator came down, a woman who looked to be Kon's mother was waiting for them. Tobi was taken by surprise. It was because Kon's mother donned quite elaborate makeup and wore what looked like formal clothes. The scent of perfume was impressively strong. On top of that, she was so cheerful, it felt out of place.

Tobi and Shiratama were led to the living room. Kon's mother sat them down on a leather sofa and went to prepare sweets and milk tea. Shiratama didn't hold back; he thought he heard her say, "Please, don't go to the trouble," but those words didn't seem to reach Kon's mother's ears.

Various fragrances mixed together intricately, filling the air. It was a strangely luxurious living room, which made him feel ill at ease. He shied away from Kon's mother's rapid-fire shower of questions about school and friendships, too. Tobi couldn't answer most of them anyway, and Shiratama was struggling as well.

"That's right."

At that, Kon's mother got a photo frame that was hanging on the wall and showed it to them.

It was a photo of a couple and a young girl smiling at a beach somewhere. It was a family photo they had taken in Hawaii, Kon's mother informed them. Apparently, they had traveled to Guam and Cebu island in the Philippines, to Barcelona, London, and Paris as well.

"...She sure seems fond of bragging," Baku grumbled.

Was that it? Tobi wondered. Rather than bragging, it seemed like Kon's mother was being urged on by something, even to the point of pain.

"Excuse me, how is Chiami-san?"

Unable to bear it any longer, Shiratama cut into her story, and they were finally led to Kon Chiami's room. She opened the door without knocking and let Shiratama and Tobi into her daughter's room.

White and pink made up the vast majority of the room.

Clad in frilly nightclothes, Kon rose from the bed.

"Chia-chan."

Even when her mother called out to her, there was no response.

"Chia-chan. Chia-chan? Can't you hear me?"

Her mother approached the bed and pressed her hands on Kon's face, clutching it between both hands.

"Chia-chan! It's Mama! Your Mama! Chia-chan! Chia-chan!"

"Mama."

Kon sounded out, staring vacantly at her mother before her.

"Mama. The one here right now. Mama."

"That's right. Mama has always been here, hasn't she? Your friends have come to see you, Chia-chan. Shiratama-san and Otogiri-kun. I've heard Shiratama-san's name from you before, Chia-chan. Right? You told me before, remember? Isn't it great, Chia-chan?"

"Mm."

Kon just let out a noise. Her head didn't move in the slightest. Her mother smiled at her.

"That's right. Do you want something to drink? Are you thirsty? Or hungry? I'll bring you something, okay? Mama knows all the things Chia-chan loves to eat, alright? Wait here. Alright, Chia-chan?"

Kon didn't respond. Her mother left the room eagerly.

This room had large windows. Though the lace curtains were closed, the rays of sun coming from the window dyed the white and pink of the furniture and walls orange.

Kon's hair was braided and tied up. She hadn't worn that sort of hairstyle to school. Her mother had probably changed her into those nightclothes, as well as combed and tied her hair.

Shiratama brought Chinu out from the pochette. Without a moment's pause, Chinu began to speak.

"Chiami is Chiami."

But it wasn't Chinu's voice.

Kon faced forward. Most likely, she wasn't looking anywhere in particular. Her face was just facing forward. Her mouth didn't move at all.

"Chiami is Chiami. Mama—"

That was a voice they shouldn't have been able to hear.

Without a doubt, the girl was right here.

Nevertheless, it was her voice, which shouldn't have rung out.

"Chiami is Chiami."

#3-4_kon_chiami / The Isolated Girl's Unheard Voice

Who was it again?

I forgot already.

I talked about someone to Mama.

“You know XX-chan, she said she bought the plushie from XX.”

Was that what I said?

In truth, when I said that, I had a little hope that maybe I could buy it too.

Just a little, okay?

I already knew, anyway.

"Chia-chan? Mama always tells you, don't I? XX-chan is XX-chan, and Chia-chan is Chia-chan, right? Other people are other people, aren't they? And you're you, aren't you?"

Mama was angry, and Chia-chan understood that. Chia-chan was Chia-chan, after all. She wouldn't bring it up anymore. If she did, Mama would get mad. We shouldn't compare ourselves to other people's children, Mama would say. Chia-chan is Chia-chan. Other people's children are different.

Mama's precious Chia-chan. Chia-chan was special. She was Mama's one and only. Chia-chan was precious, more important than anything or anyone; Mama's child.

"What should we do for summer vacation, Chia-chan? Apparently, XX-chan's family is going to Hawaii. XX-chan's Mama said they went to Saipan for New Year's, didn't she? Papa can't take time off work. Papa's always like that. I saw XX at the class reunion for the first time in a while, and they said they were building a house. A detached house. You wouldn't want to live in an apartment forever, huh? So, what should we do for summer vacation?"

Chia-chan was fine with anywhere. For summer break, winter break, and spring break, they should just do what Mama wanted to do. Piano, ballet, English conversational classes, swimming, and cram school—all of these were also decided by Mama. If Chia-chan said she didn't want to go, Mama would surely become furious.

"Whose sake do you think this is for? Chia-chan? It's for your own sake, isn't it?"

Chia-chan had wanted to try calligraphy. Who was it again? Someone had practiced it and developed good penmanship, and I had been envious. I had asked Mama about it, but she had gotten angry.

"XX-chan is XX-chan, and Chia-chan is Chia-chan, right? Other people are other people, aren't they? And you're you, aren't you? Mama always tells you, don't I? Why don't you understand, Chia-chan?"

I was at fault for not understanding.

Other people are other people, and I am myself.

The things Mama decided were for Chia-chan's sake.

Chia-chan was precious to Mama, after all.

Because Chia-chan was Mama's special girl.

But you know, Mama, Chia-chan is not good at piano and ballet, after all. I always get scolded by Mama. English is not fun at all. Swimming is just tiring and a huge pain. Mama snapped and yelled, "Then just quit! What a waste of money!" so I ended up quitting. I was scared that Mama would get angry if my grades dropped, so I went to cram school, but it's not like I really wanted to go, though.

"It's alright. Because Chia-chan is Chia-chan. Chia-chan should just be Chia-chan. Mama loves Chia-chan just the way she is. Okay? Understand, Chia-chan?"

When did it start again?

Mama would definitely get mad at me.

Somehow, whenever Mama called me "Chia-chan," my whole body would feel uncomfortable. It became hard to breathe. It felt unpleasant. I never said it because I didn't want to make Mama mad. After all, Mama loves the phrase "Chia-chan," and she loves "Chia-chan" as well. But you know, maybe that's just the case.

Maybe the one Mama loves is not me, but her beloved "Chia-chan" that other version of me.

Whether it's piano, ballet, English conversational classes, or swimming, I'm glad I didn't quit. Because Mama wanted me to do them. If I didn't do as Mama said, I wouldn't be "Chia-chan" anymore, and she would hate me. Wanting something was not allowed. "Chia-chan" wouldn't make Mama angry.

In middle school, many kids had smartphones, and I wanted one too. I wanted it so badly, but I was scared of making Mama mad if I asked for one. So I pestered Papa about it until he bought one for me.

After that, Mama and Papa had a huge fight. Mama screamed late into the night.

"You haven't even bought a single ring for me, and you get your daughter anything she asks for! What am I to you? How much do you think I've sacrificed for you and our daughter!"

I pretended not to hear it.

Ah ah ah ah ah aah ah aaah I can't hear anything, I can't hear, I can't hear, I can't hear ah ah aah I can't hear, I can't hear, I cannot hear ah ah ah...

Mama is scary when she gets angry. I can't make her angry. When she's not angry, she's kind. Everyone praises Mama. Mama gives off a friendly impression. When "Chia-chan" was in elementary school, she frequently attended PTA events. She has many friends too. Papa's parents, grandpa, and grandma also side with Mama more than Papa. And Mama is willing to love "Chia-chan" no matter what. She is "Chia-chan's" mother, after all.

Maybe it's my fault.

Maybe it's all my fault.

I don't have a friendly impression like Mama—I mean, I'm not a kind person. If I'm not in the right mood, I can't even smile. I always compare myself to the kids around me. And I don't have that many friends either. I secretly vented my dark thoughts on social media too. If I didn't, the pain was unbearable.

If I continue like this, I won't be "Chia-chan" anymore, and Mama might come to hate me.

Even though I'm trying so hard.

I told my friends they could "tell me anything." I was willing to accept anything that came my way. If there was something I wanted, I would endure it. I was doing as Mama told me, as much as possible. I was careful so Mama wouldn't get mad—so I wouldn't make her mad. And even though my skin crawled when Mama called me "Chia-chan," I still responded with a smile, saying, "Yes, Mama?" I was doing my best.

When I vented, there were people on social media who encouraged me, and I was quite encouraged by them too. They would say it wasn't my fault, but deep down, I knew it was.

(Isn't it strange?)

Sometimes I hear a voice.

Strange?

Whose?

(It's you)

Me?

(It's your fault)

Maybe that's true. If only I could remain myself, the "Chia-chan" that Mama loved so much.

I know. I know that Nagisa, Yoriko, and Miyuki don't really like me that much.

After looking at social media, I realized that people have hidden sides to them. After all, Mama is like that too. I'm not really "Chia-chan" either. It would be nice if I could become Mama's beloved "Chia-chan," but I can't be anyone other than myself. Chiami is Chiami, after all.

I'm working so hard, so why doesn't anyone like me?

"Look for your true self!"

Someone wrote that on social media.

"Search for yourself!"

"Try to find your own self!"

They said I just had to ask myself. What am I? Who am I? What do I want to do? What do I want to become? What do I want?

“Chia-chan”

Mama, please don't call me “Chia-chan”. But I don't want Mama to hate me. Mama, please keep liking me. Because I love you, Mama. Nagisa too, and Yoriko, and Miyuki, please keep liking me. Please like me more. I’m lonely, and anxious, so everyone, please like me. Please don't hate me. Mama, that’s not me. I’m not “Chia-chan”.

I am Chiami. Chiami is Chiami. Does Mama hate Chiami?

Please don't hate her. Please keep liking me. Please love Chiami.

If everyone won't love me, then I hate everyone.

#3-5_otogiri_tobi / Someday, At The End Of The World

“Otogiri…”

The teacher with black-rimmed glasses in front of the school gate called out. Tobi stopped.

“Good morning, Yagarashima-sensei.”

“...O-oh hey. What, Otogiri?”

“I have to use this backpack—”

Tobi gestured to Baku on his back.

“It has to be this one. I’m sorry about making sensei unhappy all the time.”

“I’m not particularly unhappy about it…”

“Is that so. Well, thanks for the hard work every morning.”

“Y-yeah. I mean, it’s my job so…”

Tobi bowed his head slightly to the staff before entering the school gates.

“Hmm…” Baku hummed.

“Is this what they call a change of heart?”

“...I just felt like it.”

Around the shoe box, Shiratama was waiting. Tobi changed his shoes and walked to the classroom with Shiratama. Shiratama seemed like she wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words. It was the same for Tobi. He caught sight of Asamiya’s figure in the classroom, and felt relieved. Shiratama probably felt the same.

In the morning homeroom period, their homeroom teacher Harimoto talked about Kon. Kon was absent today as well, and it would take a little while longer before she recovered. That was all. He didn't talk about Takatomo.

Murahama and Shimomaeda, who’d been close to Kon, joined a group of other girls and boys. Masamune, a.k.a. Masaki Shuuji, was messing around energetically, making the students in that group laugh. Asamiya had an unpleasant look on his face.

He demolished his lunch in seconds, leaving just the Koppe-pan. Tobi shouldered Baku and left the classroom with the bread in hand.

Entry into the courtyard was still off limits. As he tried to go outside through the front entrance, it started raining. It couldn't be helped. Tobi squatted in front of the shoe box and ate his bread.

“The world turns, huh?” Baku grumbled.

Tobi finished his Koppe-pan in a flash.

“What was that?”

“Just a feeling, you know. Don't you get it? At least get this much.”

What Baku was trying to say was probably this:

Such things had happened to Takatomo and Kon, yet other people were already quickly getting back to their ordinary lives. If Tobi were to disappear today, it would have no effect on the revolution of the Earth. It would keep on turning without fail. The world turned. One by one, everyone continued living their lives as usual.

Beyond the transparent glass door of the entrance, thin drops of rain fell. He couldn't hear the sound of the rain.

As meal time ended and lunch break began, someone approached the shoe box. That someone squatted beside Tobi.

The two of them gazed at the rain.

“Did you look it up?”

Tobi asked the girl beside him without looking at her.

“On your phone… like on the internet?”

“About the zingai?”

The girl asked in return. When Tobi nodded, she replied, “A little.”

“Did you find out anything?”

“Ghosts or spirits, yokai, fairies— apparently their true form is actually zingai. And also, the strange phenomena spoken of in urban legends—those have to do with zingai as well.”

“So a bit of everything.”

Tobi laughed dryly. The girl laughed too. Tobi looked beside him. Shiratama looked at Tobi as well.

“So me and Chinu are on the same level as monsters?”

Baku let out a “Tch” as if he were clicking his tongue. Shiratama stroked him, as if to say, “Now, now.”

“There are some people who want to connect everything and anything to zingai. At the end of the day, only the people that can see zingai can see them, after all.”

“Like Tobi and O-Ryuu? At least that part seems correct.”

“Those who can't see are the majority, so there’s a lot of people who aren't taking it seriously too. Like the occult—”

“Baku is part of the occult?”

As Tobi muttered, Baku went wild. Even though he had no legs, it was like he was trying to kick him. That, or he was trying to hit him. Once again, Shiratama stroked Baku, pacifying him.

“I haven't tried SNS before. Maybe I’ll try signing up next time.”

“Well, I don't have a smartphone.”

“It’s convenient to have one.”

“Is that the sort of thing it is?”

“Well, you can stay in contact no matter where you go.”

Even in the facility, it was not rare for residents to have smartphones. Those who messaged or called friends all night long would get a warning issued from the staff.

“If anything happens—”

Shiratama looked outside.

“We can talk. Anytime…”

“Mm…”

Tobi nodded halfheartedly.

“Keh!”

Baku seemed like he wanted to say something. If he had something to say he could just say it.

“Ah, that’s right.”

Shiratama pulled her phone out of her skirt pocket. She tapped the screen and launched an app. Tobi looked at the screen.

“You can look at maps like these, too. You can zoom in and out. And you can change the direction in any way you like.”

“Ahh, that’s amazing.”

“You’d never get lost again.”

“Um, Shiratama, are you trying to sell it to me…?”

“I wouldn't dream of it!”

The strangely old fashioned words suddenly came out of Shiratama, and Tobi felt like bursting out laughing. Shiratama looked stupefied.

“So the map,” Tobi murmured.

“And you can contact people.”

Shiratama fiddled with her phone and repeated her words from earlier.

“...Do you find me persistent?”

Tobi shook his head.

“Not at all.”

The rain was growing stronger. It looked like it was about to thunder.

“There was something on my mind—”

Shiratama spoke, then hesitated. When Tobi prompted, “What?”, Shiratama turned off her phone screen and took a breath.

“It’s about the voice.”

There was one part that came to mind. Tobi felt a little caught on it as well.

“You mean, the one that said “Aren't you weird?”, that voice?”

Takatomo and Kon had heard something akin to auditory hallucinations. As their mental health crumbled, it was possible for such things to arise. But it hadn't just been Takatomo. It wasn't just Kon either. Both of them had heard a similar voice. Shiratama looked down and bit her bottom lip lightly.

“I just don't think it was a trick of the ears or a hallucination…”

Baku let out a “Haah…” as if sighing.

Takatomo hadn't regained consciousness. And what about Kon? Her future was unclear. But it was settled, for now. Wasn't that it?

The world continued turning.

If it hadn't been a hallucination, then whose voice had it been?

In the afternoon classroom, you could hear the sound of rain even without straining your ears. From time to time, lightning flashed in the distant sky. A second later, thunder rumbled, and Masamuune would say something, making people laugh. Then, the teacher would warn them to be quiet.

Tobi checked in on the nearby Asamiya frequently. Asamiya had textbooks and notes open on his desk. But mostly, he just looked downwards. It was like he carried an invisible boulder on his back, and was trying his best to bear its weight. That was what it looked like.

Whenever Masamune spoke, Asamiya would lift his face slightly. He would turn and glance at Masamune. After that, Asamiya would shake his head, or heave a deep breath. Tobi couldn't hear what, but sometimes he would mutter something under his breath.

Right after fifth period ended, there was a particularly loud clap of thunder, and Masamune fell from his chair with an “Uhyaa!” year 2 class 3 roared with laughter, and even the departing teacher laughed.

“It’s not me!”

It was sudden. Asamiya stood up and glared at Masamune.

The laughter stopped all at once. Masamune sat on his ass, his mouth dropping open.

“You’re the one who’s weird!”

Who was the ‘you’ Asamiya was talking to? Of course, it was Masamune, wasn't it?

With the say no evil monkey that resembled a tarsier with tree bark-like skin on his head, Masamune was indeed weird. But that was because Tobi could see that zingai. Disregarding the zingai, Masamune was just a simple class clown.

“I’m not weird!”

Asamiya’s shout sounded like a howl.

“I’m not weird! I’m not weird! I’m not weird! Stop it…! I’m not weird, I’m not weird at all! It’s not me, you’re the ones that are weird! It’s not me! I’m not weird! I’m not weird! I’m not! I’m not weird, I’m not weird, I’m not weird! I am not weird…!”

“....Uh, objectively speaking, I think you really are being weird right now though?”

Masamune smiled tightly, and taking that as a joke, some of their classmates laughed reservedly. Asamiya started hitting both sides of his head with his hands.

“Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up! Who are you! I’m not weird! You’re the ones that’re weird, you’re weird, not me!”

“A-asamiya-kun…!”

Shiratama ran up to Asamiya.

“Tobi—”

At almost the exact same moment, Baku called out to him. Tobi noticed it. When had it happened? He wasn't sure, but he noticed in that moment. It was the say no evil monkey.

Right now, that unsettling zingai sat plopped on Masamune’s head. But it was no longer the say no evil monkey.

Its pose with the covered mouth resembled the ‘say no evil’ from Nikko Tosho-gu’s three wise monkeys, so that’s what Tobi had called it. But that was no longer the case. It wasn't covering its mouth. To be exact, normally there would have been a mouth there. But it was missing that part. There was nothing there. It had eyes like a tarsier’s. Ears and a nose too. But no mouth. Was it missing one from the very beginning? Or had it disappeared? Whichever it was, that zingai had kept its nonexistent mouth covered. Why had it stopped making that pose?

Asamiya pushed Shiratama aside.

“—...”

Shiratama crashed into a nearby desk and staggered. Asamiya’s upper body lurched forward with great momentum, then immediately bent backwards. He repeated the movement.

“UUUUUuuuAAAAAAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaaAAaaa…!”

The students were distressed. Some ran away, frightened. It was a panic. Of course, Tobi was shocked as well. Asamiya. What had happened to him? He was screaming that he hadn't gone weird. As if he were being told “You are weird”, and was arguing against it.

Who had told Asamiya such a thing?

At the very least, Tobi could not hear it. Could Asamiya hear it? Only Asamiya.

Tobi saw him. It was Masamune. Masaki Shuuji covered his mouth with both hands.

In place of his zingai, Masamune assumed the pose of the ‘say no evil’ monkey.

“....That bastard!” Baku spat.

Masamune’s eyes were narrowed, his shoulders shaking. What was so delightful about this? He was laughing. Masamune seemed ready to burst out laughing, desperately trying to keep it together.

Tobi grabbed Baku from where he hung on his desk. If Tobi left him behind, Baku would surely never forgive him. Tobi darted in between the desks, chairs, and other classmates. Masamune noticed him and widened his eyes. Tobi leapt at Masamune. He heard the voice.

(Isn't it weird?) (It’s your fault) (You’re to blame) (It’s you) (You are)

“—Nngah…”

Tobi clutched his head and crouched down. It wasn't just Tobi. Shiratama screamed, “Gyah…!” A voice. It was the voice. Voice? Was this a voice?

(It’s you) (Isn't it weird?) (You are) (You’re the one to blame)

Countless voices, like a jumbled up mixture of solids and liquids—like metal that was heated until it melted into sludge—gushed directly into his head.

(Isn't it weird?) (You are) (You’re weird) (You are) (You are)

“...Tobi! Tobi?!”

Baku shouted for him.

On Masamune’s head, the mouthless tarsier with the bark-like skin—that zingai—even though it had no mouth, the spot where its mouth should have been squirmed and wriggled.

(Weird) (Isn't it weird?) (It’s weird) (You’ve gone weird)

Was it weird? Weird. Wasn't it weird? He felt like he was going weird.

Was it that guy?

That’s right. Masamune’s zingai. That was it. The voice was that zingai.

“Tobi, use me to…!”

Me to? What? Use Baku to- I see. Tobi hurled Baku, aiming at Masamune.

“—Uahh…?!”

Masamune dodged it by a hair's breadth. He avoided it. Masamune cast a contemptuous look at Baku, who’d crashed into the lockers at the back of the classroom, and ran. Was he planning on getting out of the classroom? Tobi picked up Baku and chased after him. As he opened the door Masamune had slammed with all his might and stepped into the hallway, Shiratama’s call stopped him.

“Tobi-kun, wait! I’m coming too…!”

“Shiratama, go report this to Haizaki!”

Tobi said without turning around, and ran down the hallway. What would come of reporting it to Haizaki? He didn't know. He’d just said it in the spur of the moment. It was better if Shiratama didn't come along. It was dangerous.

Baku yelled, enraged.

“Where did he run off to, that bastard!”

“As if I would know!”

Masamune was not that tall, but he was pretty quick on his feet. Even as he closed some of the distance between them on the stairs, it didn't seem like it would be that easy to catch up to him. Masamune was heading towards the shoe rack. Wasn't he going to change his shoes? He charged towards the glass door of the front entrance. He did so with a force like he was planning on ramming his body through it. Masamune pushed open the glass door and ran outside. Tobi, too, chased after him in his indoor shoes.

The rain was strong. Tobi was soaked in an instant. As Masamune ran, he ranted and raved about something. The sound got lost in the rain, so he couldn't hear it well, but it sounded something like, “You’re wrong”, “It wasn't me”, “It wasn't my fault”. That seemed to be what he was saying.

“—For real, this guy is awful! He’s the worst…!”

Baku hurled abuse. It poured as if someone had flipped a bucket over.

Masamune crossed the crosswalk at a red light, and cars honked their horns at him. Masamune started and stopped for a moment, then immediately continued across the road. Tobi had no choice but to slow his pace a bit. Several cars were coming and going on the road. Picking out the gaps between cars coming from both left and right, Tobi got to the other side of the crosswalk as well. He’d gotten away from him again.

He should just leave him be. It was pouring after all. And he was out of breath. To be honest, this was tough. Did he really have to go to these lengths to chase after Masamune?

Zingai. It was because zingai were involved. Tobi had Baku. He could see zingai.

Baku had eaten Kon’s zingai. Because of that, Kon had fallen into heart desolation, or whatever it was called. That was the mess Baku had made, so Tobi was responsible as well. But at the bottom of it all, weren't they just getting what they deserved?

Kon had a complicated, problematic relationship with her mother. Even if that were the cause, if Kon’s zingai hadn't done bad things, this wouldn't have become such a big deal. Takatomo wouldn't have jumped off the roof either.

And then, there was that voice. That was the work of zingai as well. Masaki Shuuji. Masamune’s zingai had gone after Kon and Takatomo and tormented them with that voice. If it hadn't done that, the series of tragedies probably wouldn't have occurred.

If he let them be, Masamune’s zingai would do it again. In fact, it already was. It had made Asamiya hear that voice.

It’s better to just eat it.

Eat that zingai.

Masamune headed towards Asakawa. Was he going to cross the bridge? No. the river bank. Masamune ran down the bank of Asakawa river. What was colloquially known as Asakawa den. On the flood plain of Asakawa river was a tent village. Around where the tent village came to an end, Masamune went down to the river bank. The weeds were overgrown here; just ahead, various trees, taller than a person, grew densely.

Without stopping, Masamune turned his head.

Right now, Masamune didn't have Masaki Shuuji’s face. Two oversized eyes. Round ears that looked like they had sharp hearing. His nose was protruded, and he had no mouth. It was a tarsier. Was Masamune wearing a mask of a tarsier with tree bark-like skin? There was no way that was it. And crucially, the zingai sat atop his head was gone.

“Did he fuse with the zingai…?!”

It was probably as Baku said. Only Masamune’s head had become identical to the zingai’s. From the neck down, he was still Masamune.

“Masaki…!”

Even though it was useless, Tobi tried shouting Masamune’s name. Masamune was trying to push his way into the thicket. He was probably going to keep going like that. Something unexpected happened. Masamune turned back around.

(What’s with you?) (What is it with you?) (What are you?) (What?) (What are you?)

“—Aah…”

Without thinking, Tobi covered his ears. That action meant nothing. Masamune did not have a mouth. The spot where his mouth should have been squirmed and wriggled. It was like there were hundreds, thousands of maggots gushing forth. But it was decidedly not a mouth. This voice was not a sound.

(What are you?) (Who are you?) (You’re) (Who are you?) (What?)

His brain. Tobi’s brain was shaking. The voice vibrated minutely, shaking his brain.

(You don't even know) (You don't even know anything) (I’m not at fault) (It wasn't my fault)

(Isn't it weird?) (It’s weird) (You are) (Yours) (It’s you)

(Not me) (You) (Weird) (It’s weird) (You’re the one who’s weird)

“—...Tobi! Tobi! Oi, Tobi?! Tobiii…!”

Baku kept yelling Tobi’s name. He cowered in the thick, wet grass.

Masamune turned and vanished into the undergrowth. Tobi’s brain was still shaking. Was that even possible? At any rate, it felt very unpleasant. But he had to eat him.

Tobi stood up. He pushed his way through the drenched leaves and branches of the jungle-like thicket, searching for Masamune. He seemed to be facing the riverbank. That, he understood, somehow. Where was he? He couldn't see him, but he was there. Just ahead.

Brushing past the whip-like branches, there was a river beach up ahead. Though he called it a beach, it wasn't made of sand or pebbles. It was mud. Looking downstream, he saw a railroad bridge. Right beside that was a pedestrian bridge. Asakawa river was murky, and flowing as quickly as usual.

Masamune was submerged up to his knees in the Asakawa river. His back was facing towards Tobi.

Tobi stepped into the muddy ground. It was terribly slushy. He was going to eat him.

Eat?

Eat him.

But why?

“...I’m hungry,” Baku moaned.

“I’m just…so hungry, I can't bear it. It’s the same for you, isn't it, Tobi…?”

His cells, all the cells in his body were completely hollow. They were empty. He had to fill them somehow. If he didn't, he couldn't keep on living. If he didn't eat, he would die. It was for the sake of survival. To keep on living, he would eat. That thing, that zingai, he had to eat it.

Baku was starving. The one who was starving was Baku, but Tobi could feel that hunger so starkly he could almost hold it in his hands. Tobi was not starving. He had absolutely no desire to eat that thing. Could he really say that with certainty? No one could go on living without eating, could they?

What was so bad about eating to survive?

So he had eaten Kon Chiami’s zingai. Was he going to eat again?

If he ate that zingai, what would happen?

Will he still eat that zingai, which has fused itself to a human’s head?

What would become of Masaki Shuuji?

“What are you doing over there, Masaki?”

Tobi stopped at the edge of the water.

He couldn't let him eat him.

He could not allow Baku to eat that zingai.

“You should come back. It’s raining, so it’s dangerous.”

(—abandoned)

The voice. It reverberated not in his eardrums, but in his brain. That voice,

(You abandoned him. That day… your brother…)

(He wasn't like you, was he? Slender, and smart, and athletic. Good at games, and drawing, and everything else. Nii-chan was a kind person, huh? And you?)

(You..always doing things that got you scolded by your parents, and nii-chan always covering your back. A hopeless, lousy little brother. Well, you were still his brother after all.)

(Always sticking to him and crying, nii-chan, nii-chan, nii-chan; he must have found you annoying, huh? Sometimes nii-chan would be cold to you, and you’d whine and cry and make a fuss, and your parents would get mad and say, that’s enough—)

What?

What was this—whose story was this?

(You went camping a lot with your family. That day was the last time you went camping, huh? A river. There was a river. A river, near the campsite. It was nii-chan who suggested it, huh? Shuu, let’s go swimming. Shuu! Shuu, for Shuuji. You’re the second son, so Shuuji¹, huh? But you were scared, so nii-chan went off swimming on his own. You sat on the riverbank, stacking rocks—)

Nii-chan? Brother?

(Having swam away from the shore, nii-chan suddenly yelled, ‘Shuu, help me!’—)

Whose brother? Masaki Shuuji’s?

(And you… you didn't go to help him, did you?)

(I mean, it’s scary! You couldn't swim that well anyway! There was no way you could’ve saved him!)

(That’s right! That’s right, that’s why you… you looked on silently, did you?)

(Nii-chan…he was drowning… bobbing in and out of the water… it was a river after all; it had a current, and it swept him along… as the river water went down his throat, he screamed again and again, “Shuu, help me!” and—)

(—you just watched, didn't you? You just listened, while your brother’s voice begged you to save him.)

(If I don't help him now, nii-chan will die!)

(You thought that, didn't you? Even though you understood that… you didn't do anything, did you?)

(Nii-chan was thoroughly swept away, you couldn't see him anymore—)

(And what did you do after that? That’s right! Right after that, you went to your parents)

(Crying, telling your parents, “he disappeared”, “Nii-chan, he disappeared…”)

(Am I wrong? Huh? That can't be it, right? That wasn't it, was it? That couldn't have been it, could it?)

(Nii-chan screamed again and again, “Shuu, help me!”... He begged for your help—)

(Despite that, you ignored him, didn't you? And on top of that, you lied)

(Nii-chan… you abandoned him)

(That’s right. You, you abandoned your brother) (You watched him die before your eyes) (You let him die)

“...‘You’—”

Tobi wiped his face with his hand. The rain was still coming down strong. Somewhere off, thunder rumbled.

(It was me)

The voice spoke.

(I) (Me) (I did) (I) (I did) (It was me) (I) (I) (I) (I—)

(I abandoned my brother, and watched him die. To be able to do such a thing, I—)

(Aren't I weird?)

(No) (...Wrong) (It wasn't m-) (No) (It wasn't me) (I’m not at fault) (I’m)

(It wasn't my fault!) (Who is it?) (Saying it’s my fault, that I was at fault, who’s blaming me?)

(Someone is blaming me) (I can hear it) (That voice, blaming me) (—it’s just my imagination)

(But my parents think so) (I know) (Why wasn't it you?)

(If only you died instead of your brother) (—that must be what they’re thinking)

(I’m not smart like nii-chan. And I’m bad at drawing, and can't seem to grow taller…)

(I don't do as I'm told) (I'm a liar) (I abandoned my brother) (I let him die) (I killed him)

(Even though nii-chan said, “Shuu, help me”) (—I didn't do anything in the end)

(If I just get our parents right away) (They wouldn't have made it in time anyway!) (Isn't this guy terrible?)

(Nii-chan was drowning) (It looked painful…) (I pretended not to see) (This guy is just unbelievable)

“That’s enough…!”

He didn't want to hear any more. He didn't want to know this.

“It wasn't on purpose, was it! Masaki, it wasn't your f—”

(Not me) (It wasn't my fault) (I’m not to blame) (I’m not crazy) (I’m)

(I remember it well) (At nii-chan’s memorial service, I cried, and cried, and cried—)

(Everyone laughed, saying my face looked terrible!) (Even my parents laughed!)

(Nii-chan said that a lot too!) (“Shuu is so funny”) (I made him laugh all the time)

(Am I funny?) (Hey, nii-chan?) (Am I funny?) (You’re funny) (I’m funny)

(Laugh) (Please laugh) (I’m funny, aren't I?) (Laugh) (Because I’m funny)

(Aren't I funny?) (Let me make you laugh) (I’ll make you laugh) (So, laugh!)

Masamune. Masamune was changing. No, he’d already changed. Masamune’s head was already that of a mouthless tarsier with tree bark-like skin. In other words, it had been turned into zingai. But until just now, it had just been his neck and above. Now it wasn't just his head.

(This is me) (Someone wrote that on SNS) (“Look for your true self!”) (“Search for yourself!”) (“Try to find your own self!”) (I’ve found myself!)

(The me who is funny) (The one that makes everyone laugh) (The me who abandoned my brother) (Isn't it weird?) (I’m) (I did) (I) (I’m) (I) (I) (I) (I) (I) (I—)

The tree bark-like skin spread, down Masamune’s shoulders, even his chest. The entirety of that skin pulsed and squirmed.

(Takatomo) (I thought you understood me) (She—) (That girl)

(I talked to her about it) (About my brother) (She comforted me) (She liked me, didn't she?) (Even so—!) (“I’m not going to go out with you, Masamune”) (She turned me down with a laugh!)

(Takatomo) (Even so, I was worried about her, wasn't I?) (Because she became strange) (But—)

(She) (“Hah? What?”) (What is with her!) (—Isn't it weird?)

(It’s weird) (It’s her fault isn't it?) (If she’d gone out with me)

(She’s the one to blame) (Takatomo) (Eat shit) (Man, that feels good) (She got what she deserved!)

Masamune was undergoing transfiguration quickly. If this continued, the transformation would cover Masamune’s whole body. Masamune would become a zingai.

(But I couldn't have imagined she’d jump, could I?) (That Kon) (That’s right) (It’s her fault, isn't it?)

(Asamiya) (What’re you so pissed about) (Laugh) (Laugh!) (I’ll make you laugh)

(Even though I’d gone to all the trouble of reading the room and making everyone laugh) (Laugh) (—Laugh already!)

It was no longer just a voice that shook his brain. That voice reverberated in Tobi’s brain all the same, but at the same time, another voice rang out.

(I’m) “I’m” (I’m trying to make you laugh!) “Laugh!” (You happy-go-lucky idiots!)

At this point, Masamune’s body had zingai-fied, from his head to his feet and hands. That strangely plump belly was pimply and bubbly, quivering and squirming, finally ripping apart. From there, it spread.

“Laugh!” (Laugh!) “Idiots” (Laugh!) “Laugh!” (“Laugh for the rest of your lives!”)

Was that a mouth? It was lined with tiny teeth. It was unmistakably a mouth.

“(“Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”)”

The mouth, the mouth that opened on Masamune’s stomach like a gaping wound, laughed. It laughed hard.

“...Stop it!”

Tobi wanted to sit down. Baku was saying something. Keep it together, Tobi. or something like that. Keep it together? How was he supposed to do that? He didn't know. Masamune—the zingai—advanced towards him, splashing through the river water. Tobi couldn't understand anything anymore.

“Tobiiiiii…!”

Baku flopped around on Tobi’s back like a big fish that had just been reeled in. forced by Baku to jump to the side, Tobi ended up rolling in the mud. He was covered in mud, but thanks to that, they managed to dodge the charging zingai by a hair’s breadth.

“Eat, Tobi! We’re eating him!”

Baku forced him to his feet violently, forcefully.

“(“Uahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”)”

Masamune—the zingai— opened that large, horrifying mouth on his stomach, and with a laugh that shook Tobi’s brain, the air, even the rain, prepared to charge again. Tobi’s head trembled.

“But if you eat that…!”

“If we don’t eat it, we’re gonna get eaten…!”

Was Baku insistent on eating that zingai no matter what? That meant eating Masaki Shuuji, who’d gone into this state due to losing his brother, along with it. Tobi gripped Baku’s strap tightly with both hands.

“No, you can’t…!”

Tobi tried to run. It was hard to find a good foothold on the muddy ground, but that didn't matter. Even if he couldn't run like he wanted to, he just had to run. More important than escaping, he had to get away from here, away from Masamune. Baku wanted to eat. Tobi could understand that feeling as well. He felt it so deeply it hurt. But if he let Baku eat, Tobi would definitely regret it. Masamune chased after him.

(Don’t) “Don’t” (Don't) “Ignore me!” (Otogiri!) “Otogiri Tobiiiiiii…!”

His foot caught in the mud. Tobi plunged　into the muddy ground head first. He couldn't see because of the mud, but Masamune seemed to have leapt at him. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Baku tried to sink his teeth into Masamune. Masamune jumped away briefly. Just as he thought that was what he was doing, he grabbed onto Tobi’s right ankle.

“Fuoh—”

Tobi was thrown. He flew in the air, through the rain. It was the river. He was falling into the river.

Right after landing in the water, something became entangled with Tobi. Was it Masamune? They were in the water, in the middle of the river. What was going on? Tobi flailed furiously. Baku, too, was fighting back. Somehow, they shook off Masamune, but even though he was heading towards the river bank, he wasn't moving forward at all. The water level was around Tobi’s chest. He could touch the ground with his feet, but decided to swim. It was no use. They were getting swept downstream. Ultimately, Masamune’s hand closed around his ankle once more.

“Ugua—...”

At one point Tobi was pulled to the bottom of the river. He gulped down lots of water; frankly he had no idea how he didn't end up drowning.

When he came to, he was in a spot where the water was less than knee deep. Had he gotten here on his own? Or had he been swept here? It was under the railroad bridge. Right at this moment, a train was passing through. He could see the pedestrian bridge. Someone was on the pedestrian bridge. They leaned against the railing, looking this way. It wasn't just one person. There were two.

“—Tobii!”

Baku called to him, and Tobi turned around.

It was no longer a voice. A roar that drowned out even the noise of the train passing overhead pierced his ears, and instantly Tobi’s brain felt like it was boiling. More than half of Masamune’s body had become his mouth. That was how widely the mouth on his abdomen opened. Masamune leapt on him. He was trying to eat Tobi and Baku. Did he want to eat that badly? He wanted to eat. He wanted to eat so badly, he just couldn't help it.

Because if you didn't eat, life couldn't continue existing.

You sustained this life, through eating.

Eat. If you didn't eat, you would just be eaten.

Unfortunately, Tobi found himself struggling as he choked on the water he had swallowed. His head felt fuzzy, rendering him unfit to eat in his current state. If things continued like this, he would be consumed before he had a chance to consume anything.

"Apologies for my tardiness...!"

From beside him, someone rushed over, preventing Masamune from devouring them both.

It was Haizaki, the janitor, dressed in his work clothes, who landed in front of Tobi.

Haizaki had been one of the people on the bridge moments ago. The fact that he had covered such a distance in mere seconds seemed almost superhuman. Was it truly possible?

Additionally, something peculiar caught Tobi's attention about Haizaki's right foot.

Haizaki's right foot appeared dark, covered tightly with leather or fur, contrasting with his left foot that was in regular work attire.

"Tobi-kun...!"

Shiratama's voice reached Tobi's ears. Haizaki had not been alone on the pedestrian bridge; Shiratama had been there as well. Running down the riverbank between the pedestrian bridge and the railroad bridge, she appeared unsteady, on the verge of stumbling. Tobi couldn't bear to witness it, yet now was not the time to worry about Shiratama engaging in dangerous actions. A sound, or rather a shriek devoid of its original voice, an ear-piercing noise, descended upon them.

"Ughh..."

Tobi struggled to maintain consciousness, while Haizaki, despite his apparent discomfort, remained resilient.

The zingai that had once been Masamune was no longer recognizable as such. It had transformed into a mouthless tarsier with bubbling skin, or rather, a zingai with an enormous mouth on its abdomen. It emitted relentless screams, blaming those near it, the people surrounding it, and above all, itself. Words no longer formed, only raw animosity, a fusion of hatred, fear, and resentment. And deep within, a swirling vortex of guilt. Haizaki's voice echoed as if he were being crushed.

"Where is the zingai's master...?!"

"He's inside it!" Baku responded.

Haizaki's question abruptly halted.

"Did the zingai seize control of its master and go on a rampage? Or did it consume its master...?"

The zingai, formerly Masamune, continued emanating a sorrowful fear veiled in hostility. Tobi silently implored it to stop, to cease its actions. Shiratama crouched halfway down the riverbank, her movements restricted. Tobi urged her not to approach, not to come any closer. She should stay there. She mustn't come over here. Tobi firmly grasped Haizaki's shoulder.

"What should we do?!"

"Well..." Haizaki shook his head slightly. His narrowed eyes resembled thin threads, and his trembling jaw conveyed his inner turmoil. Tobi understood it all. It was too late to save Masamune. Haizaki's eyes widened suddenly, brushing away Tobi's hand.

"You step back. I'll handle this."

The use of "I," or rather, "ore," instead of "watashi," indicated Haizaki's resolve. Tobi comprehended. Haizaki intended to deal with the zingai alongside Masaki Shuuji. Could he accomplish it? Through what means? Tobi had no way of knowing. If Haizaki stated he would handle it, Tobi had no choice but to entrust the task to him. Was Tobi truly at peace with that decision?

Restlessness overcame Baku, causing him to act wildly on Tobi's back. It was an unusual display.

Tobi immediately grabbed hold of Baku's strap in an attempt to restrain him. However, his efforts proved futile, forcing him to release the strap. He had no alternative but to let go. What would have occurred had he held on? Tobi pondered, unable to even fathom the possibilities.

Baku detached himself from Tobi's back and pushed Haizaki aside. Tobi didn't question whether it was truly Baku. Regardless of his form, Baku remained Baku. That didn't mean Tobi wasn't taken aback. To claim otherwise would be a blatant lie.

Baku turned his back to Tobi and Haizaki, standing upright on two legs. He possessed two arms, with large hands consisting of four fingers. Adorned in a long cloak-like garment, similar to the material of Baku's backpack, it was unclear if they were actual clothes or mere appearance. Baku's head took on a cylindrical shape, revealing nothing but a mouth.

"I'll be the one to do it...!"

"Go, Baku."

Tobi spoke those words, giving his approval. Baku didn't respond in kind.

The zingai that had once been Masamune charged forward. Instead of intercepting the attack, Baku took the initiative. With tremendous force, he leaped and suddenly seized the zingai's head. In that moment, Tobi noticed something peculiar. Baku's cylindrical head lacked any features except for a mouth, but on the backs of his massive hands, there were eyeballs.

"I'll tear it off...!"

Baku planted both feet on the shoulders of the zingai, formerly Masamune. Was he attempting to forcibly remove it, as one would a costume? It resembled ripping off a mask. But was such a method even feasible?

"NnununununununununununuuuuuuuaaaaaAAAAAAaa...!"

The zingai refused to remain passive. It thrashed its body violently, flailing its hands in an attempt to shake off Baku. A colossal splash followed. Together with Baku, the zingai plunged into the river.

(Not at fault!) (I am!) (You are!) (It's not my fault!) (It's yours!)

That voice reverberated within Tobi's mind. Haizaki glanced at Tobi, then refocused his attention on the zingai.

"Otogiri-kun, what's happening?!"

Tobi remained silent. Baku was Baku. That was the only certainty he could utter.

“Baku…!”

Shiratama had finally reached the shore. She was soaked, and maybe because she’d fallen, she was muddy all over. Chinu clung to her right shoulder.

“Do your best, Baku…!”

Shiratama understood that that was Baku. This was incredibly reassuring to him. Tobi spoke to Baku in his heart. For you too right, Baku?

Ever since his brother had disappeared, Tobi had been with Baku. They’d had nothing but each other.

There were people who’d reached out a hand to Tobi. But Baku’s voice hadn't reached their ears. Even though Baku was Tobi’s precious partner. Baku was not a mere backpack. Even if he tried to explain that, it would've been no use. There was no way they would understand.

Shiratama was different. She understood that Tobi and Baku were inseparably bonded together. Because, just like how Tobi had Baku, Shiratama had Chinu.

Baku and the zingai grappled in the middle of the muddy stream. Unlike Shiratama, Tobi did not shout his support for Baku. There was no need for that. Because Tobi was fighting as well. This was no figure of speech. Both Tobi and Baku were battling with their lives on the line. In the event that Baku was defeated, what would happen? Whether it was heart desolation or whatever, Tobi and Baku would perish right here.

Haizaki yelled.

“Aaah!”

Baku gripped the zingai’s head tightly with those eyeballed hands, not letting go. His right foot was on the zingai’s left shoulder, his left foot pressing against its chest. Right under that was the zingai’s mouth. The zingai’s abdominal mouth was snapping at Baku. Tear that zingai off Masamune before you get eaten. Just a bit. Just a tiny bit more. The zingai was considerably stretched. Thanks to that, it didn't look like a tarsier anymore. Its round eyes had become tall ovals. This was the limit. It couldn't stretch any more.

“URUuAAAAaAAAAAAaAAAaAAaAAAAAAAaaaa…!”

Baku raised a battle cry.

All at once, he tore it off.

After all that effort, tearing it off only took one moment.

The zingai had been reduced to a state resembling a lifeless, overstretched costume.

“Hahha! How’s that, Tobii…! Uhii—”

Holding the stretched zingai in his hands, Baku energetically dove into the Asakawa river. Was Masamune alright in the middle of the zingai? Something other than Baku and the zingai was flowing out. Was it a human? It was Masamune, wasn't it?

“We have to help him…!”

Trying to get to the river, Shiratama was stopped by Haizaki with a “Leave it to me!” Haizaki leapt into the air. With no run up; what incredible jump power. Was it because of that right foot? Haizaki reached Masamune’s side in a single jump and caught him in his arms.

Perhaps relieved, Shiratama let out a “Hya…”, and sank to the floor right there.

Holding the costume-like zingai, Baku splashed his way through the river.

“Wasn't that great, Tobi?!”

Tobi had Baku. Shiratama Ryuuko had Chinu. And Masaki Shuuji had that zingai.

“Yeah.”

As Tobi responded, Baku raised the costume-like zingai like he was going to throw it. His cylindrical head seemed to split open sideways; his mouth opened, wider and wider.

Baku did not eat the costume-like zingai whole, he chewed many times. But he almost ate it whole. Baku had eaten Masamune’s zingai.

Tobi saw it through, from start to finish. He didn't look away, or even blink. As Baku ate the zingai, Tobi felt his stomach swell as well. They’d eaten it. They’d gone and eaten it.

“Baku.”

When Tobi signaled with his left hand Baku went back to being a backpack. Tobi gripped the strap and hung it on his left shoulder, carrying Baku on his back.

Haizaki carried Masamune in his arms bridal style and climbed up from the river. Both his right leg and left leg were clad in work clothes. Twined around Haizaki’s neck was a weasel-like creature. Was that him? Haizaki’s zingai. It had probably been merged with Haizaki’s right foot until just now. Haizaki too, was the same as Tobi and Shiratama.

“Ryuuko.”

Tobi no longer felt any hesitation calling Shiratama like this.

Shiratama turned her face towards Tobi.

She looked like she was crying.

Or was it because of this unending rain?

“You’ll catch a cold.”

As Tobi said that, she nodded slightly. Then, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and the sides of her lips pulled upwards somewhat.

“No, Tobi-kun… Tobi’s the one who will.”

A while back, Tobi had once asked his brother a question.

"Hey, Onii-chan. Why does the rain stop?"

Tobi clung to the window, peering outside at the scenery. It had been raining since morning, and the window was slightly ajar. His brother stood next to the window, smoking a cigarette.

"Because nothing lasts forever," his brother replied.

"Will everything come to an end?"

"Anything that has a form will eventually perish. There's nothing on this earth that doesn't have a form. Everything and anything will reach its end someday."

"Even me and Onii-chan?"

His brother looked down at him and gently stroked his head.

Tobi recalled the smell of his brother's cigarette smoke.

The next morning, the intense rain had completely ceased. When Tobi went to school with Baku as usual, Shiratama was waiting for him at the shoebox. Asamiya was in the classroom, appearing unwell. However, when Tobi and Shiratama greeted him, he curtly returned the greeting. According to their homeroom teacher, Harimoto, Masamune, also known as Masaki Shuuji, was not feeling well and would be absent for a while. It was uncertain if he would ever be able to return to school.

Takatomo Miyuki. Kon Chiami. Masaki Shuuji. Class 3 of the second year had gained three empty seats within a short period of time. Despite this, their classmates remained composed, and the teachers carried on with their classes as usual. During class, Baku hummed a tune off-key, and Shiratama looked down, her shoulders trembling. Tobi lightly nudged Baku, who was hanging on his desk.

During the lunch break, Tobi visited the janitor's room along with Ryuuko. Haizaki appeared worn-out, his work clothes in disarray.

"Hey, you two. I'm glad to see you both looking well. As for Masaki-kun, you can leave that to me, okay?"

"But you don't look okay," Tobi spoke his mind straightforwardly.

Haizaki let out a dry laugh and shook his head. "For some reason or another, I ended up staying up all night. I used to be able to go for two or three days without sleep, but age catches up with you, you know? Basically, I'm just sleep-deprived, so I'm really fine."

"Sleep is important," Shiratama said simply. Haizaki exaggeratedly scrunched up his tired face.

"Even though I should be the one worrying about you two. It's all turned around."

Then, Haizaki called out, "Olver."

A small weasel-like creature emerged from under the large work table and swiftly climbed up Haizaki's body.

"I don't think this is your first time seeing him, but this is my zingai, Olver."

Olver stood on Haizaki's left shoulder, twitching its nose. Baku stretched up from Tobi's back and let out a sound of appraisal. Ryuuko politely bowed her head.

"Hello, Olver."

Haizaki nodded slightly, and Olver scampered back under the work table.

"As for me, I want you to spend your school life without worrying about unnecessary things as much as possible. To achieve that, I'll do everything within my power. I won't ask you to trust me, but that's what I intend to do. If you feel like it, please rely on me."

After school, as Tobi carried Baku and prepared to leave the classroom, Ryuuko's voice stopped him.

"Shall we walk home together?"

It was a strange, tingling sensation. Tobi had no reason to refuse, so he nodded.

The two of them walked along the bank of the Asakawa River. As they approached the bridge spanning the river, Tobi felt an urge to climb onto the railing.

"Aren't you going to climb up?" Ryuuko said, touching the railing.

Tobi lightly climbed up the railing.

"Good grief," Baku grumbled.

Ryuuko laughed and took Chinu out from her pouch, letting her perch on her right shoulder.

Further downstream, they could see the railroad bridge. Tobi momentarily recalled what had happened the day before.

They continued leisurely, with Tobi on top of the railing and Ryuuko on the footpath.

"Anything and everything—"

Why he said such a thing, Tobi himself didn't know.

"—will end someday, huh?"

Ryuuko stopped and looked up at Tobi. Tobi also halted.

"I think about it too, from time to time."

Ryuuko placed her hands on her chest.

"For instance, about the moment this life ends. It becomes quite painful, and I can't bear it. If only it would never end, forever and ever."

Tobi turned his body to face the road and sat down on the railing. Ryuuko rested both hands on the railing.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.

Didn't his brother know? Didn't he foresee their separation? Nothing without form lasts, and anything with form eventually perishes. The time they spent living together as brothers would also be lost. His brother had prepared himself for that, hadn't he?

If he ever gained something precious, it would disappear, just like his brother.

He only had Baku.

As long as Tobi didn't let go, he could be with Baku. That's how it should have been.

He was mistaken.

Someday, Baku could also get eaten. Just like how Baku had eaten Kon and Masamune's zingai, someone else's zingai could devour Baku.

That was fine. Well, not really fine. Whenever the time came, it would come. If Baku were to be eaten, Tobi wouldn't remain unharmed.

Something important must have broken inside Takatomo. She was pushed to the edge and threw herself from that rooftop. And then, Takatomo's parents would lose their daughter. He wished that wouldn't happen. Tobi could do nothing but pray for Takatomo's recovery.

Kon Chiami and Masaki Shuuji had their zingai eaten by Baku. It seemed like neither of them had been aware of their zingai. Nevertheless, their zingai had always been close to them. They were an irreplaceable part of the two. A part of them had caused harm and hurt others.

So, there was no other choice.

Tobi had to do what he had done.

"Tobi."

"Yes?"

"If Tobi..."

"If I?"

"If, even just a little bit, you regret what you've done..."

Regret.

Tobi echoed those words in his heart.

Regret.

I regret it.

"Please share that regret with me."

Her gaze was fixed on a distant place.

A strong gust of wind blew.

Her black hair danced in the wind, revealing her bare face.

"If you feel sadness or loneliness thinking about the end of things, I want you to confide in me."

"That kind of thing..."

Tobi lowered his head.

"To tell you, and then what?"

"I don't know."

She clenched her lip tightly. Tobi stole a sideways glance at that expression.

"I just want you to tell me."

He didn't have any regrets.

That wasn't the issue. He felt a slight pang of guilt for not having regrets.

He wasn't sad, nor was he lonely.

What was he supposed to talk to her about, he wondered.

Did he have something he wanted to discuss or not?

At the moment, he didn't even know the answer to that.

"I've thought about it before, but..."

Tobi gazed up at the sky.

"Ryuuko, you're an unusual person, aren't you?"

"You're really just saying that now?" Baku mocked with a hint of malice. He could hear her laughter. Tobi sighed, observing the pale sky. Then, he chuckled softly.

To be continued.

Bonus Chapter - Shiratama Ryuuko: Before He Flies Away

Otogiri Tobi always finished his lunch quickly and left the classroom in a flash.

Shiratama Ryuuko thought it was kind of awesome since no other students did that.

She had a valid reason to be curious about him, but even if she didn't, Ryuuko would have still taken notice of Otogiri Tobi.

It was evident that Otogiri Tobi didn't care about Ryuuko. They had never even made eye contact.

It wasn't just Ryuuko; Otogiri Tobi seemed indifferent to everyone.

While everyone seemed rooted in the classroom, getting along well, Otogiri Tobi was different. Just like his namesake, he seemed as if he could be carried away by the slightest breeze.

And then, he would disappear like a dandelion seed, never to be seen again. If she lost sight of him, there was a possibility they would never cross paths again.

Even without a proper reason, Ryuuko found herself unconsciously keeping track of Otogiri Tobi.

However, eventually, they would end up in different classes, graduate from school, and she would lose sight of him. If that happened, chances are they would never meet again.

It made her feel a little melancholic.

She should try talking to him. Even without a valid reason, had Ryuuko resolved to do so?

Regardless, capturing Otogiri Tobi was quite challenging. He would be present in class, but outside of that, he was sometimes there and sometimes not. When he was in his seat, it was as if he built an invisible barrier around him, as though finding everything bothersome; he was difficult to approach.

She had attempted to follow him after leaving the classroom, but he vanished in an instant. It wasn't that he deliberately evaded her. He was just remarkably swift. Once she lost sight of him, she had no idea where he could be. And before she knew it, he would be back in the classroom.

Otogiri Tobi appeared and disappeared like a ghost.

She needed to devise a strategy.

Chasing after him was futile. Instead, she had to lay in wait for him. However, as soon as school ended, he would go straight home. Even during cleaning duty, he completed the tasks swiftly, and like a magic trick, he vanished in a blink.

On one particular day, their homeroom teacher, Harimoto-sensei, called for Otogiri Tobi. After class, he went to the staff room. Ryuuko strengthened her resolve.

This was the perfect opportunity.

She couldn't let him escape this time-

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