Chapter 6 - The cursed girl

“...”

An old boys’ school. Next door stands a girls’ school from the same educational group, but between them rises a wall so tall it might as well be a prison. The boys’ reputation for wanting to get close to the girls there is, unsurprisingly, pretty terrible.

This was the high school division of that boys’ academy. During class, seated by the window, Fukami Akino looked up at the sky as if sensing something.

The Fukami family has long served others. Parents, siblings — all have worked as secretaries for politicians or large companies, and in the distant past, served as butlers and stewards to nobles and aristocrats.

Relatives are scattered worldwide now, so much so that it’s unclear which branch is the main family. Yet they keep in close contact. His sister even serves as a lady-in-waiting for a certain royal family abroad.

Because of this, the family has ties to politics and intellectual circles. Even after retiring from active duty, Akino’s grandfather remained busy as an advisor. Then, three years ago, he suddenly brought home a new “younger sister.”

A girl who had lost both her name and memories — Tsubaki.

She never smiled or showed joy, only occasionally staring into the distance with a pained expression.

But for Akino, the youngest sibling, caring for this mysterious little sister was strangely refreshing.

At first, he thought it was practice for someday serving someone herself and took great care of Tsubaki. Gradually, Tsubaki began showing emotions, and when teased, would shyly react — this made Akino look forward to their conversations.

When Tsubaki moved into grandfather’s house to attend the girls’ academy and live alone, Akino moved in too.

Yesterday, Tsubaki came home with a strange girl. Perhaps “brought home” is the right phrase — the usually indifferent Tsubaki clung tightly to her, surprising everyone. After the girl woke up, even their grandfather was speechless at her excitement.

Could this be Tsubaki’s true self?

Her hair, which she once said she hated for being like iron, now shimmered like silver. Her already refined features revealed a new beauty Akino hadn’t realized before.

Though it was a bit disappointing that Akino wasn’t the one who brought out that radiance, she was more grateful to God that such a smile had appeared at all.

Today, Tsubaki skipped school to go shopping with that girl, who introduced herself as Nanohana.

Nanohana was a mysterious girl. Although she looked younger than Tsubaki, her manners and ways of thinking were mature. She was optimistic but also strong-willed.

Since she would be staying for a while, they were out shopping today — when suddenly, Akino felt the sunlight dim.

The temperature dropped slightly, unnoticed by most, but the more sensitive people rubbed their arms in confusion.

Squinting, Akino stared into the distance, then abruptly stood and greeted the teacher with a bright smile.

“I’m feeling unwell, so I’ll be leaving early.”

***

Grabbing my hand, Nanohana-san—no, Hana-chan—suddenly took off running.

“Tsubaki, hurry!”

“O-okay!”

It was so abrupt I was startled, but I quickly understood why. Three people who had been standing at the entrance of the park were now chasing us.

I mean, I could kind of understand wanting to chase after someone as cute as Hana-chan, but… those people were definitely strange.

I’m not great at running, but Hana-chan, who had collapsed just yesterday, seemed even slower than me.

“Hana-chan, this way!”

“Okay!”

When I tugged her hand and pointed out a direction, she instantly understood and followed with graceful ease.

If we could get to the shopping district, there would be adults around. There was even a police box. And if it came down to it, we could run into a store. That’s what all the teachers kept drilling into us—over and over

I didn’t know what those people wanted—but one thing I did know. I never wanted to lose something like this again

Lose what?

For a moment, my head hurt as if I was about to remember something.

“Tsubaki, hold on. Just a little more.”

“...Yeah.”

Gripping her hand tightly, I stepped forward with renewed strength, determined not to let this warmth disappear. The ribbon Hana-chan had tied for me softly rustled as we ran.

By the time we were gasping for breath, we finally reached the shopping district. The sight of a crowd of passersby gave me a sense of relief.

“We made it…”

Thud.

“Hana-chan!”

A stranger’s hand suddenly shoved Hana-chan into the street from within the crowd. Just as she was about to stumble into a passing car, I grabbed her and yanked her back.

“Are you okay!?”

“Y-yeah… thank you…”

Even Hana-chan looked pale as she scanned her surroundings. Who had pushed her? Why did no one react when a girl had just been thrown into the street?

“E-excuse me!”

I called out to a random adult, but they briskly walked away, ignoring me. We tried to find a shop to duck into, but there were too many people crowded at the entrances to get inside.

“Hana-chan, where's the police box!?”

“Uh… that way!”

I relied on hazy memories to lead the way. We had run around so much I almost lost track of where we were, but we finally spotted the police box.

No one was there.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

“Hana-chan!”

“Eh—”

Hearing the faint sound of something cutting through the air, I shoved Hana-chan aside just in time. Something like a tile crashed down between us, shattering on the asphalt.

“…!”

We both froze, faces pale. If that had hit us, we might’ve died. Had it fallen from a building wall? Now, of all times? Coincidence?

MMy heart… was racing. Something deep inside me was trying to tell me something.

“Tsubaki!”

Snapping out of my momentary daze, I realized that at some point, a group of what looked like junior high students on a school trip had flooded in between me and Hana-chan, completely cutting us off from each other.

“Hana-chan, this way—!”

“No…”

Though they smiled and chatted with one another like any normal group of students, they didn’t allow us to pass through. It was eerie, like watching a parade of dolls—so coordinated, so unnatural.

Forward or back? I scanned the area, trying to find a way to slip out of the flow—when both of us noticed them at the same time. Those three college-aged men were coming toward us at a run.

“Tsubaki, take that alley and head home first!”

“What about you, Hana-chan!?”

“I’ll take a taxi after moving along with them, so it’s okay.”

“B-but.”

“Go! They’re coming!”

“…O-okay.”

To be honest, I didn’t want to leave her.What if we were separated and I couldn’t see her again? There was a sharp pain in my chest at the thought.

But Hana-chan was already moving toward the pedestrian bridge on the roadside. She turned back just briefly and motioned for me to hurry. Tears stung the back of my eyes as I turned and ran down the alley.

Being alone made me feel so small. Just yesterday, I had been fine…

Even though we’d only just met, Hana-chan had filled something something empty inside me.

Grandfather and Akino-nii-san had also warmed my heart, but that hollowness… that aching absence deep inside had never truly gone away.

Now, with that warmth gone from my hand, I felt that same gaping loss returning again.

No… I can’t. I can’t leave Hana-chan behind. I stopped mid-stride and turned to run back just as I spotted one of those three men coming from the direction I’d just come from.

Run? But that would only take me further from Hana-chan.

Frozen by indecision, I stood there until the man caught up to me. When I saw his face up close, I had to cover my mouth to suppress a scream.

“Heehee…”

A fat man with a crooked grin. His eyes weren’t right—but worse than that, those black bugs—those crawling black things—were clinging to his ears and collar in swarms.

Why…? Why are those things here?

“Ah…”

Startled, I stepped back and tripped, falling hard on my rear.

I looked around for someone—anyone—but in this alley tucked behind the shopping district, all I could see were the back entrances of the buildings.

If I could make it to one of those, maybe I could get away… but what if the doors were locked?

“Heeheehee…”

His bubbling, grotesque laugh made my body freeze. The man reached toward me—his hand stretching closer—

CRACK!

“…Huh?”

The man suddenly collapsed, blood pooling beneath him where his head struck the ground.

“…Are you okay?”

A calm voice called out. When I looked up, I saw a young man with light-colored hair gazing down at me. His quiet eyes—so still, so deeply, achingly blue—held mine. I couldn’t even speak.

Then the young man’s expression twisted just slightly in pain.

“Don’t get involved with that.”

“…What?”

What did he mean…? I was still so shaken I hadn’t even thanked him yet. He gave a small shake of his head, then spoke clearly:

“Stay away from that girl. She’s the one who betrayed the gods—the girl cursed by the world itself.”