[Creeping Darkness]
One night since then, I was told by Yoiyami-san that the training was over.
I said that I want to continue, but Yoiyami-san stubbornly refused my request.
There were two reasons.
The first one is because the wound I suffered in the battle yesterday was unexpectedly deep, and I needed to be treated by Chiyaku-san.
Although it is actually not a life-threatening wound, and I thought it was just some scratches.
Just, I was considerably injured to the extent that it would affect my training. My both hands and chest are wrapped in bandages. And a big gauze is sticked on my cheek.
In the first place, Yoiyami-san had said that he would stop if I received an injury that would affect my training even a little, so this is unavoidable.
The other reason is that the promised one month will soon pass. From the beginning, it was decided that I would practice with Yoiyami-san only during winter vacation.
This can’t be helped either.
However, I have no intention of going to school anymore even if the school starts after the winter vacation.
Therefore, I want to continue to train.
Although I said so, Yoiyami-san didn’t agree.
Yoiyami-san is probably trying to end my training with these two reasons as excuses.
I want to become stronger.
But I’m sure Yoiyami-san feels guilty about making me stronger.
I, who was being on the wrong path, I, who got on the evil path, I wonder how do I look like from the perspective of the current Yoiyami-san.
To the current Yoiyami-san who can’t kill people, how do I, who had killed my own best friend with my own hands, look like?
I wonder how did he think of me.
If Yoiyami-san regrets his own past, though I don’t know anything about Yoiyami-san’s past at all, but he shouldn’t be thinking well of the path that I trodden on.
Therefore, maybe he himself can’t put up with me anymore. Maybe he don’t want to see me anymore.
The things that happened yesterday must have been seen by Yoiyami-san.
“Although it was only for a short time, but thank you.”
I put the one-way transportation cost in my pocket and bowed deeply. I have no luggage.
I was standing in front of Yoiyami-san’s room in the same appearance as when I came.
The time is past 1:00 pm. After this, I will take the bus back to Slaceid.
“Ahh.”
Although we spent only one month together, and although I spent the beginning in captivity, I felt sad saying goodbye to Yoiyami-san.
His casual reply, his words that sounded emotionless, and his hidden, clumsy kindness is similar to Tameiki-san.
No, it should be that Tameiki-san is the one who resembled Yoiyami-san.
“Sorry that I ended it halfway.”
If you think so, isn’t it fine to continue?
I didn’t say that out loud. That would be boorish.
Instead, I joke a bit.
“Yoiyami-san. When I’m gone, you’ll be lonely again, right?”
“…”
“Please say something there.”
“Certainly, I’ll be lonely. It’s been a long time since I had a good time too.”
Yoiyami-san lifted the corner of his mouth a little. Seeing that, I became a little surprised.
“It’s surprising. Wasn’t I a nuisance?”
“Do you think that you’re not a nuisance?”
“Riight.”
“Now go. You’ll be late for the bus.”
“Then, I’m going.”
“Ahh.” Seeing Yoiyami-san nodded, I turned around.
I walked to the front of the stairs just like that.
There, I suddenly stopped my feet and thought about it.
I wonder if Yoiyami-san will live alone again.
I wonder if he will spend every day drinking alcohol.
…I wonder if, he will absolutely never going to return to Anonymous anymore.
I look back.
There I saw Yoiyami-san left his room and saw me off.
“…Yoiyami-san.”
“Ahh. Come again.” He said so expressionlessly.
I kept silent for a while, then replied,
“I will come again.”
I go down the stairs.
When I looked back once again, the apartment was already far away.
――Thus, I finished my training with Yoiyami-san.
ーーー
This is a mansion built in a certain forest.
Many years have passed since the owner of the mansion died, and it was weathered and abandoned.
A room inside of such an abandoned building was now colored deep crimson.
Blood and flesh are smeared on the wall, on the floor, and on the round table.
Groans of several people that had become prey were resounding in the room as BGM.
This is a party venue prepared only for ‘Them’ to gather.
Surrounding the huge round table are people in flashy disguise. They, men and women of all ages, clad in various atmospheres, were covering their faces with gold or silver masks.
Some people have a full mask that covers their entire face. Some have an eye mask that covers only the upper half of their face; from their eyes to their nose.
The metallic luster shines slightly in the dimly lit room.
The large abandoned room had a layout that could accommodate more than a dozen people.
They don’t speak a word.
They were just waiting. For ‘Her’.
*step, step* The sound of someone going down the stairs began to mix with the groaning.
As the footsteps approached, the tension filled with fresh blood increased.
Originally a splendid mansion, this abandoned building has a spiral staircase leading to the central guest room.
From the end of the spiral staircase, ‘She’ soon appeared.
‘She’ also covered her face with a golden mask.
The white of ‘Her’ dress got wet with blood in some parts, complemented the gold of ‘Her’ mask.
‘She’ slowly came down the spiral staircase, sat down on the chair that had been prepared, and snap ‘Her’ fingers once.
“Ahaha. You don’t have to be so reserved anymore. Relax.”
When ‘She’ said so, the tension in the room was released in an instant.
Those who take a breath, those who start talking immediately. Each one sits on a chair, and the beautiful circle that surrounds the round table collapses.
“First of all, it’s been a long time. Everyone.
There are many things I want to talk about, but I will talk about the main subject first.”
Nursery Rhymes, an organization that repeats bizarre murders.
The members nodded to ‘Her’ words respectively.
“I got you to gather today, see. Is because the preparations are ready.”
The room becomes noisy.
“What do you mean by ‘the preparations are ready’? Leader.”
“She” turned her eyes to one of the members who spoke.
“We can finally take the first great step towards our ambition – is what I meant. Sorry that I’ve made you all wait for so long.”
‘She’ scooped the blood sticking to the railing of the chair with ‘Her’ finger and stared at it.
Then ‘She’ continues her words,
“But the reason I haven’t been able to move everyone properly is that I was cautious. I’m also sorry that some people were used like sacrificial pawns.”
I’m sorry.
Although ‘She’ said that, her voice was so monotonous that you can’t feel any shred of reflection from it.
However, the members do not care about it.
They are all ready to be sacrificial pawns for ‘Her’ cause.
“You mean, that you didn’t get us to gather today for the usual ‘instuctions’?”
“Uun. This time, unlike usual, the instruction is just a little stimulating y’know.”
“I see. Then, for whom are the instruction?”
The mouth of ‘Her’ was warped.
Expecting eyes are concentrated on ‘Her’. Everyone hoped to be nominated.
“I’ll tell you all where Anonymous’s hideout is. Let’s all go together this time.”
Although usually, only a few people are called here, it was different today.
Let’s all go together. ‘She’ said so.
A crazy cheer erupted in the abandoned building.
‘She’ conveys this instruction to everyone.
And in the end, she said,
“Let’s kill a lot together, okay? Everyone.”
[Creeping Darkness]
One night since then, I was told by Yoiyami-san that the training was over.
I said that I want to continue, but Yoiyami-san stubbornly refused my request.
There were two reasons.
The first one is because the wound I suffered in the battle yesterday was unexpectedly deep, and I needed to be treated by Chiyaku-san.
Although it is actually not a life-threatening wound, and I thought it was just some scratches.
Just, I was considerably injured to the extent that it would affect my training. My both hands and chest are wrapped in bandages. And a big gauze is sticked on my cheek.
In the first place, Yoiyami-san had said that he would stop if I received an injury that would affect my training even a little, so this is unavoidable.
The other reason is that the promised one month will soon pass. From the beginning, it was decided that I would practice with Yoiyami-san only during winter vacation.
This can’t be helped either.
However, I have no intention of going to school anymore even if the school starts after the winter vacation.
Therefore, I want to continue to train.
Although I said so, Yoiyami-san didn’t agree.
Yoiyami-san is probably trying to end my training with these two reasons as excuses.
I want to become stronger.
But I’m sure Yoiyami-san feels guilty about making me stronger.
I, who was being on the wrong path, I, who got on the evil path, I wonder how do I look like from the perspective of the current Yoiyami-san.
To the current Yoiyami-san who can’t kill people, how do I, who had killed my own best friend with my own hands, look like?
I wonder how did he think of me.
If Yoiyami-san regrets his own past, though I don’t know anything about Yoiyami-san’s past at all, but he shouldn’t be thinking well of the path that I trodden on.
Therefore, maybe he himself can’t put up with me anymore. Maybe he don’t want to see me anymore.
The things that happened yesterday must have been seen by Yoiyami-san.
“Although it was only for a short time, but thank you.”
I put the one-way transportation cost in my pocket and bowed deeply. I have no luggage.
I was standing in front of Yoiyami-san’s room in the same appearance as when I came.
The time is past 1:00 pm. After this, I will take the bus back to Slaceid.
“Ahh.”
Although we spent only one month together, and although I spent the beginning in captivity, I felt sad saying goodbye to Yoiyami-san.
His casual reply, his words that sounded emotionless, and his hidden, clumsy kindness is similar to Tameiki-san.
No, it should be that Tameiki-san is the one who resembled Yoiyami-san.
“Sorry that I ended it halfway.”
If you think so, isn’t it fine to continue?
I didn’t say that out loud. That would be boorish.
Instead, I joke a bit.
“Yoiyami-san. When I’m gone, you’ll be lonely again, right?”
“…”
“Please say something there.”
“Certainly, I’ll be lonely. It’s been a long time since I had a good time too.”
Yoiyami-san lifted the corner of his mouth a little. Seeing that, I became a little surprised.
“It’s surprising. Wasn’t I a nuisance?”
“Do you think that you’re not a nuisance?”
“Riight.”
“Now go. You’ll be late for the bus.”
“Then, I’m going.”
“Ahh.” Seeing Yoiyami-san nodded, I turned around.
I walked to the front of the stairs just like that.
There, I suddenly stopped my feet and thought about it.
I wonder if Yoiyami-san will live alone again.
I wonder if he will spend every day drinking alcohol.
…I wonder if, he will absolutely never going to return to Anonymous anymore.
I look back.
There I saw Yoiyami-san left his room and saw me off.
“…Yoiyami-san.”
“Ahh. Come again.” He said so expressionlessly.
I kept silent for a while, then replied,
“I will come again.”
I go down the stairs.
When I looked back once again, the apartment was already far away.
――Thus, I finished my training with Yoiyami-san.
ーーー
This is a mansion built in a certain forest.
Many years have passed since the owner of the mansion died, and it was weathered and abandoned.
A room inside of such an abandoned building was now colored deep crimson.
Blood and flesh are smeared on the wall, on the floor, and on the round table.
Groans of several people that had become prey were resounding in the room as BGM.
This is a party venue prepared only for ‘Them’ to gather.
Surrounding the huge round table are people in flashy disguise. They, men and women of all ages, clad in various atmospheres, were covering their faces with gold or silver masks.
Some people have a full mask that covers their entire face. Some have an eye mask that covers only the upper half of their face; from their eyes to their nose.
The metallic luster shines slightly in the dimly lit room.
The large abandoned room had a layout that could accommodate more than a dozen people.
They don’t speak a word.
They were just waiting. For ‘Her’.
*step, step* The sound of someone going down the stairs began to mix with the groaning.
As the footsteps approached, the tension filled with fresh blood increased.
Originally a splendid mansion, this abandoned building has a spiral staircase leading to the central guest room.
From the end of the spiral staircase, ‘She’ soon appeared.
‘She’ also covered her face with a golden mask.
The white of ‘Her’ dress got wet with blood in some parts, complemented the gold of ‘Her’ mask.
‘She’ slowly came down the spiral staircase, sat down on the chair that had been prepared, and snap ‘Her’ fingers once.
“Ahaha. You don’t have to be so reserved anymore. Relax.”
When ‘She’ said so, the tension in the room was released in an instant.
Those who take a breath, those who start talking immediately. Each one sits on a chair, and the beautiful circle that surrounds the round table collapses.
“First of all, it’s been a long time. Everyone.
There are many things I want to talk about, but I will talk about the main subject first.”
Nursery Rhymes, an organization that repeats bizarre murders.
The members nodded to ‘Her’ words respectively.
“I got you to gather today, see. Is because the preparations are ready.”
The room becomes noisy.
“What do you mean by ‘the preparations are ready’? Leader.”
“She” turned her eyes to one of the members who spoke.
“We can finally take the first great step towards our ambition – is what I meant. Sorry that I’ve made you all wait for so long.”
‘She’ scooped the blood sticking to the railing of the chair with ‘Her’ finger and stared at it.
Then ‘She’ continues her words,
“But the reason I haven’t been able to move everyone properly is that I was cautious. I’m also sorry that some people were used like sacrificial pawns.”
I’m sorry.
Although ‘She’ said that, her voice was so monotonous that you can’t feel any shred of reflection from it.
However, the members do not care about it.
They are all ready to be sacrificial pawns for ‘Her’ cause.
“You mean, that you didn’t get us to gather today for the usual ‘instuctions’?”
“Uun. This time, unlike usual, the instruction is just a little stimulating y’know.”
“I see. Then, for whom are the instruction?”
The mouth of ‘Her’ was warped.
Expecting eyes are concentrated on ‘Her’. Everyone hoped to be nominated.
“I’ll tell you all where Anonymous’s hideout is. Let’s all go together this time.”
Although usually, only a few people are called here, it was different today.
Let’s all go together. ‘She’ said so.
A crazy cheer erupted in the abandoned building.
‘She’ conveys this instruction to everyone.
And in the end, she said,
“Let’s kill a lot together, okay? Everyone.”
