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No one spoke as they made their way to Kanzaki's grandpa. It was silent, everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Aoi didn't come because she was hungry.
Gin, Kanzaki's grandpa, was an 82-year-old man born in Tokyo on August 14th. He had short gray hair, low round glasses that perched on his nose. His grey eyes gave off quiet wisdom, even though his expression was unreadable. He likes fiction.
Despite his quietness, Kanzaki knew his grandfather had answers... Answers Kanzaki desperately needed. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvDOX1jJWP
Kanzaki knocks on the door, waiting for Gin to open it. After a few minutes, the door opens. His grandpa was just standing there at first... Then he slowly walks away, leaving the door open for them. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCO1iNCALM6
His house was filled with art. Vases with fresh flowers rested on most surfaces. The wood was polished. His house blended with Kawasaki. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NOIFExc3D
Their grandpa was sitting in the living room. He looks up a bit when Kanzaki and his friends come in. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWl7St1ftRD
"You have seen her. The Yurei. You experienced it before, didn't you? Tell us about it," he says firmly, expecting his grandpa to tell them. Gin's voice was low, his eyes fixed on a picture on the wall. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3gheaVpMl
"The Yurei was once the leader of this village. She entered the forest to find more land for houses, even though she never came back. She met Astaroth, who cursed her, turning her into a ghost. The full red moon marks her killings. We were friends, back in high school, but after she became The Yurei, the village fell apart. I saw her once, but I couldn't save her. Astaroth took her soul, and she became a monster. She hasn't attacked in over seventy years, but Kawasaki has never been the same. It was peaceful before, but now... it's all just silence. Her real name was Fumiko. I can't do anything now... I'm dead after all," A silence fell, after Gin explained. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqTEGe2GUH
No one heard the last sentence, since his voice was lower than before. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkmnLBN8RE
"How do we save her?" Takahiro asks, an awkward smile on his face. Gin's eyes narrow at his question. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZGHNV8O05
"In the forest. You will find the answer there... I warn you though, if you manage to escape... You'll get cursed forever,'' he answers. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii15ojarEn
"The forest..." Kanzaki mumbles. "I have no other choice..." he thinks. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc5z6gd4AJ
Kanzaki arrives home, Takahiro and Remi went to look around the village for a bit. He goes upstairs and looks at the back of the map again. There was a fingerprint... Out of blood next to the sentence. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVyWfxzOKI
"Aoi... Just watch," he thinks. He takes out a lighter and burns the map, ashes falling on the ground. "When I catch you... You wont see tomorrow," he says out loud 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1qu19WfAq
Every single corner in Kawasaki... Is cursed by her, the people are crying, begging to be left alone... They want to leave her grasp, live a normal life like everyone outside Kawasaki. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWbAC2N0EG
Astaroth... How evil can you possibly be? Taking the soul of someone... Making her kill everyone... Just what are you? Nothing was right. It felt like Kawasaki fell into the void, it can't escape. Nearly no one visits the village, other than the people who live here. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeSB1D3TSb
If no one can stop it... I will. He went to run around the village, looking for hints. He got a flashlight since his phone's battery can run out anytime. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd14QPE2twP
He looks at the news again. The same fingerprint was there. He takes a picture of it and continues running... Stamina is important, who knows whats hidden in that forest. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GnUS5arWH
After hours of running and snapping disturbing photos in Kawasaki, Kanzaki returned home. He felt unease lingering.. He didn't know why. He opened his closet and grabbed the flashlight. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Iq7IsNvbt
As he went downstairs, he was greeted by the familiar scent of Mio's cooking. "Konnichiwa!" he called out, forcing a smile. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGnkV0upSv
He entered the kitchen. Mio turned to him, a gentle smile on her face as she patted his head. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhiImj5UIJ
"Great to see you in a good mood," she said, her voice steady, even though her hands were trembling. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhxBuRvvue
Kanzaki hugged her before slipping on his shoes. "I'll go for a run. See you later, mom!" he shouted as he closed the door behind him. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp14eC0TEZR
The moment he left, Mio's breath hitched. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUsTIg0t0a
Behind her, the Yurei stood in the shadows, a smirk spreading across her face. "Good job..." the Yurei whispered before vanishing into thin air. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlIcJ3IotG
"Please stay safe, Kanzaki..." Mio mumbled, tears streaming down her face. She opened up her phone, typing a quick message. "Come back before it's too late." She hesitated before sending it, her hands shaking. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJoNLqwEGt
Minutes later, Kanzaki returned, stepping through the door with a confused look. "Oka-san, is something wrong?" he asked, kicking off his shoes. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUPxyiUVfO
Mio glanced at him. "Dinner first, or the food will get cold," she said, her voice soft. Her hands trembled slightly as she sat down. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGe3i5ss5d
Before Kanzaki came home, the atmosphere in the house shifted... Mio was in the kitchen, humming as she prepared dinner. She turned around, startled to see a woman with long black hair and a blood-stained white dress. "Who are you?" Mio asked, clutching the counter. The Yurei's pale lips curled into a smirk. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPsEW4Ixy8
"The one who rules this village," she said, her voice echoing. "Be nice and do what I say, or else... you will die before you know it. After your son comes home, you'll act kind and let him go back outside. If you don't..." The Yurei leaned in closer, her breath on Mio's neck. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSL3L0bwrnC
"I'll kill you. He's my food. Don't you dare get in my way, useless maid. I can't fail... Astaroth will be so pleased." 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcAWzuhXWd
Mio's heartbeat quickened. Mio could feel her presence. The Yurei had been in their house the whole time, silently watching both Kanzaki and Mio, like a predator studying its prey. She knew the Yurei could kill her in an instant. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9suAeMxJhb
Kanzaki sacrificed everything to protect Akira... Just if he knew what it would take, he wouldn't have done it. The Yurei was hunting down everyone.. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpH0Nl4eAFV
Mio's body trembled, she looked out the window, just to see the dark. Kawasaki was falling into despair. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAbMWSU1zu
It was no longer their peaceful home... It was becoming the devil's village. And with each passing minute, hope slipped further. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbne6T1htO
Kanzaki looks at his mother. "Why are you scared...?" he asks, looking into her eyes. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmItfb78X3t
"Nothing, Kanzaki," she answers. Kanzaki decides to not question her and goes upstairs. He puts all his belongings in a backpack and thinks. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MMyVgrpXj
"Do I let it here... Do I bring it with me?" He drags his backpack with him. He looks at Mio... 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46uJwqElaS
She saw it. The Yurei threatened her... Aoi or Fumiko, whatever you are, I won't let you escape. Not after you tried to kill Akira and now my mother. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPKitmDrs1
He puts his shoes on. "It's alright, oka-san. I'll be fine!" he says. He hugs his mother before he goes. "Sayonara," he says, turning back one more time before closing the door. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ36luQxRNQ
Mio falls on her knees. "I'm so sorry... Kamii-sama... Please let him live," she wishes as The Yurei appears behind her again. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspVOPDrHyo
"I'm disappointed in you... Useless housewife," The Yurei says, 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWgBVTDJXw
looking down on her. "Your life will end soon... Be ready..." she whispers as she vanishes again, leaving Mio alone. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz73614Z6ym
She starts crying. "Kanzaki... I can't protect you..." she says in between sobs. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBc55wvo7H
Kanzaki sees Takahiro at the entrance of the forest... 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyPD8xzEGo
"Takahiro, what are you doing here..." Kanzaki asks, walking closer to him, now in front of him. Kanzaki looks at him but quickly notices. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9YEGFus5F
Takahiro was staring at the forest, as if he knew Kanzaki would come. He quickly regains his composure. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdBSliS5wI
"Are you ready to go?" Takahiro asks, taking a deep breath. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzhRrrL0Ih
Kanzaki was confused but... He still nodded. Takahiro walked into the forest, Kanzaki following him... 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VYv5t8DHi
It was so dark in this forest. The air was cold, carrying an mix of leaves and something metallic... Like blood. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh05FbqkJ1x
"It reeks..." Takahiro says, his expression disgusted. Kanzaki nods... But then, he looks up and notices. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLz8DqqAWDa
People were hanging on branches, a tie around their neck... They were all dead, those were... The villagers of Kawasaki The Yurei killed... They were here all this time...
