To be With You, One More Time
Chapter 09 - Yohane
"Oooiii Chika, how long are you going to prepare yourself?! Riko and You have been waiting for you."
"Coming Mito-nee!"
Replying to Mito-nee, I take my school bag and heading down. Once downstairs I quickly eat my breakfast with my family.
"Thanks for the meal. I'll be going Mito-nee, Shima-nee, mom!"
"We're heading out. Yosorooo!"
"We'll be going then."
"Be safe you all."
Mom replies with a small nod while Mito-nee waves her hand and Shima-nee smiles at us. We need to hurry so that we won't miss the bus. But for some reason, Riko and You seems quite relaxed despite the time.
"Come on you two! At this rate we're going to miss the bus!"
The two girls only looks onto each other before giving me a mischievous grin. "Nah, we won't be using the bus today."
Eh? What did You say?
"What are you talking about You-chan?! How can we reach school without the bus?"
"It's simple Chika-chan." The ash-haired girl begin flexing her legs several time before Riko following suit.
"Ara! It seems Chika-chan forget that we haven't give you your training for today."
No, it can't be?!
"Yes Chika-chan… this is our training menu today." Riko cheers. "Prepare yourself to run from here to our school so that we won't be late."
…Huh?
"Wha…. what are you talking Riko-chan? Did you forget that the distance between home and our school? We won't make it if we ran."
"No, we had tested it before Chika-chan. There's enough time if we start now.
Also the bus won't be coming, right You-chan?"
"That's right Chika-chan."
Eh?
The bus won't be coming? What are these two talking about?! There're still a minutes or two more before the bus will arrive.
"Come on you two, there's still enough time to reach the bus. See it's not even 8 yet."
"Sorry Chika-chan… But it's actually a quarter past eight already Chika-chan. The truth is we tamper with the clock in your bedroom a bit so you won't have any choice but to run. See, the bus isn't there although your watch says 7:58. If your clock is showing the right time, then the bus should be there already." Riko points her hands towards the bus station, showing that there's not even a single bus in view.
Ah Riko is right. So they are even willing to go this far to train me. I know I'm the one who asked them for it. But aren't they too serious about it? At this rate I'll be drenched by my own sweat when I reach school.
"You two aren't serious right... We can wait for the next bus... Let's just wait for the next bus okay?"
I tried to make a plea to them, but to no avail they quickly grabbed my arms and drag me.
"Less talk more running Chika-chan. Zensoku zenshin YOSORO!"
"Oh yeah Chika-chan. If you're fast enough you could still rest for some minutes before the first period. Good luck."
Devils… These two are surely devils in disguise, I'm sure of it. Lamenting my fate I began to run following the two girls.
oOo
"Haaahh….. Haaaah….. No more…. Running…."
I hardly gasp for air while flopping down on my seat. They really made me ran all the way until school. I think I fainted for real when I reach the gates. Luckily both You and Riko replenished my stamina a little by transferring some of their aura to my body. Thanks to that, I still have energy to reach our classroom.
"Oi Chika you look really tired."
"Yeah, have you been running or something?"
"Ooh... Yoshimi-chan! Mu-chan!" I greet the two girls who approached my desk. "Actually yeah… You-chan and Riko-chan recommended me to take exercise frequently to build up my stamina."
"You sure are pumped up to catch up with the others, Chika-chan. It must be difficult, especially considering that you just have Mikan on your side recently."
"Yeah Yoshimi-chan, never thought they would make me run that much though."
"That much?" Both girls curiously raise their eyebrows.
"They made me run from the nearest bus stop from my home to this school."
"EEEEEEEEHHHHHHH!"
Both Yoshimi and Mutsu look surprised. Not that I blame them though since the distance between my home and school is pretty far. Also Yoshimi and Mutsu are two of the few classmates who befriended me in this school for quite awhile. Yoshimi has short hair with her right side tied up. Mutsu also has short hair, while unlike Yoshimi, she only wears white headband. We continue our chatter for a while until the bell rings later.
oOo
"Chika-chan, why didn't you talk with us this morning."
"Yeah Chika-chan. Riko-chan and I feel lonely you know."
"You two still bitter about that? I'm just talking with Yoshimi-chan and Mu-chan you know." I said to the two with a teasing manner.
"Yeah but you keep ignoring us when we tried to enter the conversation. Even when You-chan threw that small paper ball at you, you won't look at us. You don't even talk to us when we came here." Riko pouts.
"Oh that, well I'm still angry about this morning. Just think of it as a payback, Riko-chan, hehehe."
"Chika-chan, you meanie."
"Hey who's the meanie here?!"
These two still ask me about that? It seems that they really hate it when I ignore them. Well I'm still a bit angry about this morning because these two made me to run from our home to school. Now my clothes really smell thanks to the sweat. At least tell me beforehand so I can bring spare clothes and take a bath in the shower room when the rest period comes.
Now we're at the rooftop enjoying our boxed meals. Mom and Shima-nee made these boxed meals for us.
"Chika-chan, want to trade? I'll give you my orange. In exchange, I want your eggroll."
"Sure. Also You-chan do you want some of my meat for your orange?.
"I'll pass, I'm in the mood for mikan today."
"Buuu, no fun!"
It's surely fun enjoying our afternoon like this. Also from some time ago Mikan has been glancing at us after she came out of my mirror when I was trading food with Riko. It seems that she thought she was being called when I mentioned about You's orange back then while actually we just exchanged some of our food. Mikan likes going out when we're having lunch. After she goes out from the mirror she usually just laze around while sunbathing. Sometimes, Mirraji and Akitu accompany her. It's really peaceful. I'll be glad if this could continue forever.
CREEEK
And suddenly we hear the sound of a door slowly opened.
"Is Takami Chika-san here?"
"Ah yes, what is it?"
Me and my hopes. If I remember correctly. She should be one of the student council member, one of Tsushima-san's underling. I don't remember her name though. Is she planning to scold us?
"I'll get straight to the point. Did you go to the principal office yesterday? The president told us she was going to fetch you after the assembly in the hall yesterday."
"Huh? Oh no I don't. I went back straight to the class after that. Although Riko-chan and You-chan brought me back home not long after that. She must have missed me by chance."
"Yeah, Chika-chan and us went home early yesterday because Chika-chan fell unconscious after carelessly eating some snack. Is there any problem?"
Riko-chan collaborated my story, but it looks like that wasn't what the student council member expected.
"Huh, how strange. Then was that really the work of a stray spirit?
"Stray spirit? What are you talking about?"
"They will announce it officially to the students body tomorrow. Please don't tell anyone about this for now. Actually, the principal was attacked. Based on investigation, it's believed that it was the work of a stray spirit but some rumor among the students said that it was intentional work by someone."
!
The principal was attacked? By someone? How could they do this?
"By the looks from your expression, it seems you really didn't know anything at all."
"The principal…. Is she okay?"
"Fortunately, her life isn't in danger but she sustains some heavy injuries and need to be hospitalized for a while. Her hospital location was not made public for safety reason. Well all of this will be announced tomorrow so I ask you once again to not spread unnecessary words to others for now. Good day then."
I can't believe what I just heard. The principal was attacked? She was the daughter of the Ohara family and also one of full fledged summoner in this town. She won't fall that easily.
"Hey, what do you think, Riko-chan, You-chan?" I asked the two girls, but for some reason both Riko and You are deep in their own thought that they doesn't answer my question at all. Suddenly the atmosphere became heavier before I decide that we should return to class right away.
oOo
"Mari, I bring you your drinks."
"Ooh thank you Yoshiko-chan. Just put it on the table."
Opening the door, I carefully bring the tea and put it on the table beside her bed. Inside the white hospital room, on the bed there's Mari smiling weakly at me. Next to her bed, a stack of paper from her principal duty can be seen.
"I can't believe you. You really going to do your work here? I could arrange for someone to take over your work while you rest, Mari."
"Non non! That's a big no Yoshiko-chan. How can I trust other people to handle my precious school?"
"You will never able to recover if you behave like that."
"No problem. You'll be the one who write it after all. If I don't made the decision I won't know what will happen to my dear school and that will be worse for my mental health."
"So I'll be the one who do it in the end."
"Yeah after all my body is like this."
Mari looks at her body sadly. Her body which was damaged by Riri's spell is burnt in various places making her body looks really hideous. Luckily the burn scars only inflicted on her body no higher than her collarbones, but that might be just Riri's intention, even the doctors jaw dropped when they saw Mari's condition. Of course the same goes for Mari. She screamed in shock when her consciousness returned and looked at her own body in the mirror. But still she should be thankful I guess that Riri didn't take Mari's life.
Mari has been out cold for three days in the intensive care unit at least. Riri's spell not only damaged her aura circulation but also her internal organs. The doctor even considered admitting her to intensive care since her condition looked really bad when she first came in. Luckily her condition stabilized as soon as she got her medicine and she was admitted to the normal room after a week. But still, just like what Riri said that time, Mari's aura veins has been damaged beyond repair. Even the doctors said they never saw a case where one's aura veins damaged to this extent before. Because of the destroyed aura veins, Mari's body had been greatly weakened. Even holding a spoon for eating is really difficult for her.
The doctors said that Mari will need a lot of time to recover, not to mention the rehabilitations she need to do to help the recovery process faster. Even then, they are not confident how long it will take for her to recover. I can't forget the face Mari made when she heard that. Those blank eyes, her face devoid of all hope like it's the end of everything for her. What I could do is only cheering her up, I can't even reassure her that everything will be alright.
"So it will take a lot of time huh?"
"Seems like it, don't make that face Yoshiko-chan. The rehabilitations already going and I'm making good progress. I can already stand now when just a while ago, sitting up already make me really tired."
"Sorry. If only I was stronger. You wouldn't be hurt like this."
That's my real feeling. If only I noticed when the two barged in earlier, at least I can defend Mari properly.
"No way…. Yoshiko-chan actually worried about me."
"If you didn't want me to worry about you. I could leave you right now."
"NOOO DON'T GO YOSHIKO-CHAN."
I seriously planning to go back. I've had my hand on the doorknob after all. Sighing, I turn back to Mari again.
"Seriously Mari, couldn't you be serious for once?"
"But… but… I don't think you ever worried about me."
"Give me one time I don't worry about you. I worry about your antics everyday to the rate that sometimes I think it's slowly making my hair turns white."
"But, but you always angry at me. Dismiss me every time I asked you to go out with me. Also giving me the cold shoulder when I tried to joke with you."
"Mari-sama, you really should be more aware of your position. Everything I did is according to your father wish. If someone didn't become your brakes, I dread to imagine what your father will do to you."
"So… all this time. All that you did is… For me…?"
Ah crap she begins tearing up. Mari always get emotional too easily. I think my ears and face getting hotter seeing her expression like that.
"...I see, I was an idiot for not noticing it sooner."
"Glad you understand now. So will you hear my words now."
"Huh? What about?"
Now is the right time. I need to make her stop now, before it's too late.
"Stop going after Takami-san."
"Are you serious?"
Mari tone suddenly turns cold. Well that's to be expected. She hates everyone who disturb her school and students. But the two are not different than us, they don't want their precious one to be disturbed. I need to make Mari aware of that.
"I'm serious. First of all, you saw their strength. Even if we fight fairly, the difference in power is too high. Looking at it objectively, I might be able to handle one either You or Riri. Even so I'm not confidence that I can win. At best, I could only hold one of them back. Even with you helping me our winning chance is slim."
"But that's not a reason to…"
"Secondly and this is the decisive problem. They didn't attack our school's students without reason."
"Wha… what are you talking about?"
This is it. I must not fail this.
"The main problem here is because we believed that Riri and You killed the students from our school who bullied Takami a day before they somehow became transfer students. But the evidences reveal the opposite. It seems that the students who bullied Takami that day snatched away Takami's mirror and threw it away to the sea."
"You do remember that Takami always bring that mirror with her everywhere right?!" Mari nods while still listening attentively. "Apparently the mirror acts as stray spirit repellant since without it, a lot of stray spirits will attracted to Takami for unknown reason."
"In short, those students are harvesting what they had sow. They threw away the only mean for Takami to protect herself from the stray spirits that time. As a result, they were killed by stray spirits that attracted to Takami."
"Silly Yoshiko-chan… of course I know that already."
"Even so, Kiyo was killed by Rikocchi and You. That's the fact, they killed our student Yoshiko. You can't let them go like that."
"Of course murder is wrong, but we can't rule out Kiyo Zako own involvement in that problem."
"The truth is, Kiyo Zako often use her own circle to bully Takami because she's different. The day when she was murdered, she along with her circle bullied Takami. It seems like, she was furious that somehow Takami defeated her easily in front of everyone that she couldn't take it very well."
"That time, all this time Takami have been bullied by them, but she never ever retaliate… even once."
"What…. How did you even get this information? I never know about this."
"I did my own investigation. It turns out somebody saw Takami was bullied the same day when Kiyo Zako get killed. The ones who saved Takami was Riri and You. After that I did my own research and found out someone who knows Zako quite well. She confessed to me on the condition that I would never reveal her story to the teachers. She was often ordered to bully Takami it seems. Not only her, most of girls in Zako's circle were ordered the same by her. I don't know about the past, but most of the time when Takami is bullied she never ask for help nor retaliate. She doesn't tell what happened to her to the teacher either. Mari I know that you and I have some bad blood with Takami. But even for me, what they do to Takami is too far."
"What did they do?"
"From Takami neighbours, they only said that most of the time. Takami went home with bruises and blood on her body and uniform. It's a miracle that she haven't suffered a wound mark or permanent injury. Her neighbours often said that the injuries looks quite fatal despite not life threatening according to them."
"But, they said that they only pranked her a little..."
"About that, I asked some students to tell me the truth with my influence, it turned out that her bag or desk is usually vandalized. Her book is torn off so often that she needs to buy new book every sometimes."
"I'm also at fault here because I never directly check the extent of what they did to Takami since I also hate her. But the way they bullied Takami. It even makes me sick."
This is the truth. We trusted those girls too much we didn't really check what they did. Even the teacher never said or did anything so we never really knew what they've done to Takami. We should never trust those girls completely, even though we're so busy. I hope she could understand this, but because it's Mari I don't think I can convince her with this.
"So what Yoshiko-chan? What Chikacchi did, what she did could never be compared to simple pranks. She killed people Yoshiko-chan. Dead people could never be brought back, I thought you know that, so why are you trying to stop me?"
"Mari, please… I know that some of our students died because of the three, but it doesn't mean that we're innocent either. I said it before right?! We can also be blamed since we've ignored what our girls did to Takami!"
"Please, what have been done is done, we can't do anything to undo it. Can't we just forget it like what Riri wanted? She was your junior along with You and Takami back then in the 'Institute'! At least leave them alone like what they asked since they used to be our fr-"
"YOSHIKO!" Mari's roar is so loud that it catch me off guard, causing me to unable to finish my sentence.
"Don't you dare mentioning about our time at 'Solaris' anymore!"
"For me those old good days is no more than a fake dreams. Rikocchi, no… The Riko I know from that time had long dead along with You."
"Mari… I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…"
"It's alright Yoshiko…"
"I know that you did everything to stop me because you care about me… But I won't! I've made my resolve."
"So please Yoshiko… Please don't stop me…"
As expected, I have to bring 'that' out. Seeing Mari's angered expression fueled by hatred, there's no way I myself can stop her. I sigh while silently pulling a letter from my pocket before putting it on her lap. Mari looks at me confused, but I only urge her to read it. Noticing what I asked her to do, she starts to open and read the letter. Her face quickly changed to a pure rage after she read it.
...to the representative of Ohara clan, Ohara Mari who responsible to keep spiritual activities on Uchiura under control… the headquarter orders you to halt any activity related to Takami Chika immediately until further order...
"No… What is the meaning of this?"
"It's just as the letter says, the top brass are telling you to stay away from Takami. Just see the signature, it's clearly a letter from the headquarters."
Mari could only stares at the letter in silence. Five familiar signatures, completed with a clan's insignia for each were stamped onto it. Among them are Sakurauchi clan's along with Watanabe's. But there's this one that takes her attention the most.
It's her father's signature, along with Ohara's clan insignia next to it.
"Yoshiko… You did this didn't you?!" Mari's hands trembling while her eyes shoot back at me with anger.
"I did what?!"
"How could you telling my father, even the higher ups from Sakurauchi and Watanabe clans about what happened?! Now the two clans know that their supposedly dead heirs are actually well and breathing, they'll surely intervene!"
"No, Mari.. You are wr-"
"Shut up! There's no one other than us who know about the two and have connection to the higher ups at the same time. You can't fool me Yoshiko!"
"But I never told anyone like what you've asked, Mari!"
Mari grits her teeth. She doesn't have any choice but to comply if it's the order from headquarter.
She's about to get angry again to me, but before she could do so, a knock can be heard from the door before it slowly opened from outside.
"Hello Mari, we came to visit…"
"Excuse us zura."
"You two…." I move myself right in front of Kanan and Hanamaru. Mari still can't believe what has just transpired, she looks blankly at Kanan and Hanamaru.
"Ah! I see, so you've received the letter…" Kanan blinks when she sees the paper on Mari's hand.
"Get out! Mari didn't need to see you two ever again."
In attempt to dissuade them, I raise my right hand to bring out a black fireball. But before I could do so, Kanan swiftly grabbed my hand and hold me up.
"Oh no, we can't have you kick us out before we have a talk with Mari, so will you let us a moment?"
She puts her hand on my neck just as she said that. This woman she tried to threaten to kill me if I don't comply. But even so.
"Absolutely not." However, before the ponytail-haired girl's hand could hold a grip on my neck, my body fades into dark mist before reappearing behind her.
"Don't move!" Before Kanan can reacts, I already hold her up by putting my hands right behind her head. A tinge of tiny pitch-black fireball can be seen hovering between my palm and Kanan's hair, ready to grow bigger and burn her head anytime I want. If she make any move, I'll shoot this black flame at her. Looking at her back, kanan only smiles while her hand clench. Is she serious? Did she think I'm all talk. If she thinks so, then I won't hold back. But then,
"Stop it, zura. You two back down this instant." Said Hanamaru.
We both look at her. On her hands, two balls of glowing aura are aimed at us. Realizing the situation, I back off and move back to Mari's side again. Seeing what I do, Hanamaru sighs then tries to reason with me.
"Stop it Yoshiko-chan, we just want to talk with Mari-chan for a minute or two. Antagonizing us won't help you at all zura."
"Shut up! Because of you two Mari is in this state. We don't want to talk to you, leave."
"Now, being unreasonable, aren't you? We only told you two the truth. Aren't you being rude by rejecting our presence before letting us talk to her zura?"
"So? At least I know the only thing you two bring to Mari is danger. Get out before I force you."
"Stop it Yoshiko-chan. Let me talk to them."
"Mari, you don't understand. These two are dangerous. Because of them you got into this state, we can't believe what they're saying."
"I perfectly understand what I'm getting into Yoshiko-chan and I want to talk to them. Please Yoshiko-chan, just believe in me."
"... fine."
Looking at her eyes, I can see that she's serious. Begrudgingly, I step back. I never able to refuse her when she make that eyes and she knows it. Mari then begin to talk with Hanamaru.
"First thank you for coming to see me Hanamaru-chan, Kanan. I'm really happy, but how did you know which hospital where I was at."
"Don't mind it, also of course we'll know. Since you didn't came back to us, something have happened so we just tracked you down with the help of our spirit friends zura."
"I see…" a small smile on Mari's face. But it doesn't long until it turns into an anger.
"So it was you two who told the higher ups?!"
"We're sorry for doing this without asking your permission first Mari-chan. But we don't have any choice zura. It was thanks to Sakurauchi clan and with the help of Watanabe clan that we two can remains in this world despite our current condition."
"..." Mari keeps her mouth shut while glaring at Kanan and Hanamaru. It seems that she's trying to determine whether the two girls telling lie or not.
"If you say so… I guess it can't be helped then." her voice softens after several moment. "But next time please tell me first. You realized that by doing this you two also hinder your own objective!"
"We are sorry Mari…"
"It's fine… What have done is done, Kanan…"
"..."
"So, it was Sakurauchi and Watanabe clan who saved you two back then?"
"Yes… it was thanks to them zura."
"So, I assume that now you two are here in Uchiura because you are under their order?"
"Since we don't have any physical body anymore, and maintaining this spiritual body is quite difficult, we can't return to our respective clan. We can't tell you the details about the deal we've made with Sakurauchi and Watanabe, but we are ordered to investigate whether this Takami Chika and the incident that happened twelve years ago has any relation or not."
"I see…"
"So… How about Chika?" Kanan asks. "It seems that you lost, Mari... Will you give up on her?"
"Kanan, you?!"
"I said stop it Yoshiko-chan. So it seems, now I'm paying the price since I lost. I can't even feel my aura coursing through my veins anymore."
I can't bear to watch Mari like this. Though it seems both Kanan and Hanamaru seems enjoying this situation. With a grin Kanan take a familiar vial from her pocket.
"That's sad to hear, but we can help you with that. If you took this vial then you would recover completely in an instant… Though it seems our Yoshiko here is against the idea."
So she noticed. I already prepare to destroy that bottle the moment Mari accept her offer which she would most likely do. Unexpectedly though, Mari gives her an exact opposite reply.
"Sorry but I can't take it. You probably already know about this letter content. but I have been ordered to stay away from Chikacchi by the headquarter."
"Also, I'm not an idiot, Kanan. Judging from Yoshiko's reaction I know that she's familiar with the thing inside that vial pretty well. So I can't accept that, even if it's from you Kanan… I'm sorry."
"Hoo… I see, well it's doesn't really matter anyway. Let's go Hanamaru, we don't have business here anymore for now."
"Wait, Kanan! Before you leave, will you answer my last question?"
"Hmmm? It depends Mari."
"It was you two who encouraged me to avenge the dead girls and avenging you…"
"Yet, at the same time you seems doesn't really mind it at all by easily revealing Rikocchi and You to the higher ups, their own clans."
"What are you actually after, Kanan?!"
The ponytail-haired girl staggers for several miliseconds, but she quickly giving the blonde a smile to hide her surprise.
"Well we have no choice but to work under Sakurauchi clan since we two owe them…" Kanan contemplated. "But like you said Mari, We would be a walking contrary if we want you to avenge us while at the same time telling them that their supposedly dead heirs are still out there protecting someone who's potentially the same girl who caused the great disaster twelve years ago."
Disaster twelve years ago? Did she means the truth that secretly hidden to the public by the higher ups?
"Rest assured, we never told them that the ones who protect Chika are Riko and You. It seems that Sakurauchi clan immediately intervene with your action after they demanded us to tell them the two girls' characteristics when we told them that she's guarded by two strong guardians. They must feel suspicious since the information we were forced to gave match their supposedly dead heirs even though we pretending to not know anything about the two while trying to be less subtle as possible."
"Still, that didn't answer my question Kanan! What are you two after?!"
"Sheeesh… Impatient aren't you Mari?" Kanan laughs. "For now, let's just say that aside from what both Sakurauchi and Watanabe clan want, we have our own agenda…" Kanan said before once again turning her back.
"We'll be on our way then zura! Rest well, Mari-chan! See you later, yoshiko-chan."
Both of them turn their back to leave. I'm about to relax when Kanan muttered something.
"Well today's a failure but if you need us you just need to call us. We'll be back some other time."
Leaving those words, they both leave. I can finally relax though I'm quite surprised Mari reject her offer. I thought she would instantly accept it.
"I'm surprised you didn't accept their offer."
"No, from my experience a suspicious power like that will have serious side effect. That's why I rejected it, also the doctor said I could recover if I do my best so that's what I gonna do."
"Anyway Yoshiko-chan, I'm hungry, bring me some hamburger."
"Okay… okay Mari."
It seems I don't really need to worry about her too much.
oOo
Time flies fast as some weeks quickly passed. Now half of the autumn had been passed. Mari has been dismissed from the hospital but she still cannot move freely like before. Her aura vein also haven't been recovered properly so she still diligently following her rehabilitation. Sadly the result is minimal, it seems the damage is too severe for her body to properly heal. Normally most people would have give up already, but she still believe that she will recover eventually. She's still unable to go to school, even moving around the house greatly takes her energy away. So with permission from the teacher, Mari decide to hire a private teacher to homeschool her at her mansion so when she will come back to school she could catch up. Her principal works are also brought to her home and for now I'm going to her house to drop her paperworks and help her.
"Aaah Yoshiko-chan. Thanks as always, so is there anything new?"
"Nah not really just the usual stuff."
"Eeehhh? That's boring, tell me your story at school then."
"Well then…."
We then proceed to our small talk about school, after that we proceeds to do our works. When we almost finished, it's almost night.
"It's 6PM, I'll be preparing your food then Mari."
"Thanks as always Yoshiko-chan. Can you make me a hamburger for today?"
"Nope, I'll be making what the doctors told me to, don't think I will be pampering you forever."
"Eeehhh, Yoshiko-chan you bully."
Smiling I proceed to the kitchen. Just as I was about to finish the dishes, suddenly the intercom rings.
"Coming."
Wondering who it is, I proceed to outside and open the gate.
"Tsushima-san. Is the principal okay?"
"We've been very worried"
"We brought fruits! Oh and there's letter from everyone who couldn't come too."
"Tanaka-san? Hoshino-san? Ran-san? Everyone... How did you know Mari-sama is back from hospital?"
"Well one of my parents work at the hospital the principal was in, Yoshiko-san. They told me she was discharged. After preparing the gift, we came here." Tanaka explains.
They are the girls from our school. They are all Mari's faithful followers who share the same sentiment like her. It seems they knew Mari was discharged. I then proceed to bring them to Mari. Mari, not expecting the surprise is in tears.
"Everyone? You all actually came..."
"Of course we did Principal… Ah, I guess we should call you Mari-sama now since we are currently not in school area." Tanaka smiles sheepishly.
"We missed you so much, Mari-sama." Hoshino adds.
Leaving them helping to prepare food they bring along, I go back to the kitchen to prepare additional snacks for the girls. I put them in the tray before bringing them to Mari's room and join them. The talks went on for about 2 hours. When it's almost 8 I then remind them.
"Oh look at the time you girls, it's almost 8 shouldn't you all go home?"
"Ah right, we'll be coming again Mari-sama, Yoshiko-san!"
"Yeah, we'll bring more gift next time."
"You all… I'll be expecting expensive stuff then."
"Don't make the hurdle too high Mari-sama, please spare our wallet…"
"Ahahaha, it's joke! It's joke! Please don't take it seriously everyone."
With those words they all then go back home. After I accompany them to the gates, I went back to Mari's room when suddenly I a sniffing voice. Surprised, I quickly opened the door. In there, Mari was crying.
"Oh Yoshiko-chan..."
"Mari… what's wrong?"
"Yoshiko-chan… It's just… everyone went to visit me… But I can't do anything… Even with the extensive rehabilitation, my body is still a mess… I can't even call Ophis anymore… if this goes on, what use will I be to our school… To them…"
"Mari… It's going to be okay. The doctors said you'll be better right? If you just follow the rehabilitation then…"
"BUT HOW LONG WOULD THAT TAKE?"
Suddenly Mari roared at me, surprised I could not utter anymore words. Then she proceeds to shout at me, pouring her feelings all this time to me.
"I'VE DONE EVERYTHING. I FOLLOWED EVERY INSTRUCTION. BUT WHAT DO I GET? I COULDN'T EVEN GO TO SCHOOL. I COULDN'T EVEN FEEL THE AURA RUNNING COURSE INSIDE MY BODY. I COULDN'T EVEN SUMMON OPHIS ANYMORE. WHAT USE DO I HAVE NOW!? THE DOCTOR'S EVEN SAID THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER I WILL RECOVER OR NOT! IF SO THEN HOW MANY TIMES I SHOULD REPEAT THIS REHABILITATION?! A YEAR? TEN YEAR? OR MAYBE UNTIL I GET OLD…?!"
Sniff… Sniff…
"Mari… I… I..."
"Yoshiko-chan…I'm sorry. I'm just a little… Tired... I wanna rest…"
The figure of Mari who said that… looks so small and fragile… I couldn't speak any consolation to her. Mari then cover her body with her blanket. She then says this to me.
"Please leave Yoshiko-chan… just… Leave me alone for now…"
Without a word, I go outside, leaving Mari alone. All this years I have never felt so powerless. Maybe I should walk around in order to cool my head off. Without a direction, I proceed to walk along the beach. I can feel the sea breeze slowly caressing my raven hair while the waves voice echoing in my ears.
"It feel nice… I guess I'll head back soon." I said to myself after staying there for several minutes. But before I could do so, I notice that the girls who just visited Mari not to far away.
"Huh? What are they doing here? They should have return to their home." I wonder before realizing that they are currently talking with two other girls.
And the two girls are no other than Kanan and Hanamaru.
I got a bad feeling so I hurried myself to approach them but it seems like their talk is over. Kanan gives them some vials with abyss miasma inside, the very same vial that she offered to Mari back then before they walk off.
Miasma is an unknown substance that in normal condition should never exist neither in this world nor spirit realm. They were believed to originally leaks to the spirit realm and our world from Yomi, the land of death where Izanami resides. Naturally, it's able to corrode anything that stands in its way.
However, there's another more rare miasma other than the usual one. It's called abyss miasma and it's very rarely leaks into this world. This abyss miasma is believed to be purposely produced by Izanami herself to corrode stronger spirits such as those that belong in the Juunishi, the Twelve Zodiac spirits or Divine spirits whose power defy even humanity's logic.
Unlike the normal miasma, instead of instantly corroding everything on its way, abyss miasma enhances and boosts the spiritual power of living thing that comes into contact with it, making the creatures become stronger than before. This had caused people in the past looking for this miasma as a shortcut to make them stronger.
However, abyss miasma is still a miasma. It still has a nasty effect on living things.
In exchange of the power it gives, it would corrode the mind of living thing that comes into prolonged contact with it, slowly turning them into mindless beast in the process. Some reports even show some cases where the abyss miasma not only affect human who comes into contact with them, but also their guardian spirit to the rate that the corroded guardian spirit can force an ' Assimilation ' with its summoner, the second and much harder method to fight against stray spirit other than ' Soul Release '. However, since the corroded spirit would heavily affects the summoner's mind and soul, resulting in a mindless chimera instead of the normal ' Assimilation '. Some expert from the headquarter coined this state of forced assimilation as Encroachment.
I have no idea how Kanan and Hanamaru got their hands on such dangerous thing. But realizing what they have done, I ran approaching Tanaka and Hoshino's circle hoping to stop them from doing stupid things. But before I could reach them, a blur image of a Kanan appears in front of my eyes a moment before I feel that my body falling hard onto the beach sand.
"Move it, don't you dare stop me."
"Why are you so against it Yoshiko-chan? Don't you realize you're the same like them? The same like us zura?"
"DON'T YOU DARE. I'M NOT LIKE YOU TWO, NOT EVEN CLOSE."
"Really? But I don't see the difference between 'you' and I zura! It's useless, even though you hide in the deepest part of your inner self, I still can see 'you'!"
"W-what are you talking about, Zuramaru?! You're not making any sense!"
"Shhhh… be quite Yoshiko-chan. I'm not talking to you right now."
Eh?
"Yes, I'm talking to 'you', Yohane."
"Wha…"
How… How did she know?!"
Suddenly I felt something rising from inside. It's coming…. She is coming….
"Aaaaack!"
"How dare you calling me, foolish spirit?! Do you dare to incur the wrath of this fallen angel?"
"Same as always Yohane-chan. It's just that your friend Yoshiko-chan didn't agree with us, isn't she mean zura?"
"Hoh… That's none of my business. This me don't have any business with your stupidity you foolish yet cunning monkey!"
"To the darkness then I'll return."
"...Uh… What happened?" my consciousness slowly return.
"Ah wait, don't you…"
I grabbed Hanamaru arm before throwing her body back. Due to Yohane returning back to my subconscious, I can take control of this body back. Kanan then steps between us to protect Hanamaru. I don't have the time for this stupidity.
"Yoshiko, are you trying to anger us."
"GET OUT… YOU TWO ALREADY ANGER ME ENOUGH! WHY CAN'T YOU TWO JUST LEAVE US IN PEACE!? GO AWAY!"
"Kanan-chan, it's no use zura. Let's just go back."
"Well if you say so, Hanamaru..."
Without wasting any time, both girls turn back before they begin to walk away. But after a while Hanamaru stopped and say this.
"But just remember this Yoshiko-chan, if you try to stop them we will stop you. They accepted the abyss miasma out of their own volition. We didn't seduce them or anything, they accept it because of their own will to help you and Mari. But then… You used to be not so different than them... Aren't you Yoshiko-chan?"
I throw a black fireball at them to shut them up. Before it can hit though they disappeared, leaving two echoing laughs in the air.
Left alone, I find myself walking a bit further to the sea, ignoring the small waves that wetting my school uniform as the seawater getting deeper the further I walk.
Unexpectedly, 'she' appears right in front of me through the water reflection. Even though her appearance a bit blurry thanks to the waves, I know that she is staring back at me. She looks more logical, more sinister, more ruthless. She looks exactly the same as me if not for her bloody red eyes which represent her ruthlessness and her cruelty.
"Why thou doesn't do anything? Those girl would willingly head to ruins because thou did not stopped them."
"I wanted to but I can't. If I stopped them, I'll be denying their feelings."
"Dost thou concern yourself your feeling more than thou friend. This weakness will gnaw you in the end foolish mortal."
"SHUT UP YOHANE. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ME!?"
"This me know everything about you. Your every fiber being is also mine to begin with. You should know better than to argue with this fallen angel."
"Then oh so great angel-sama. What do you propose me do?"
"Nothing, since it will have no meaning."
"Are you mocking me?"
"I'm only another soul which resides in your being. Even if this me tells you what to do. You won't accept it because such is the human nature. If you decide on it yourself then that's what you should do."
"I'M ASKING YOU SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"
"This me will never repeat the same words twice, but let me alleviate you of one thing foolish mortal. If you don't decide soon, your treasured master would be consumed by the darkness… Forever."
"If that's a joke then that's not funny."
"This Yohane is always serious, since she was born. If you don't decide fast then all she'll be left is just memories."
"SHUT UP!"
In rage, I punch my own reflection on the water before I fall down on my knees crying my heart out. Someone… Someone just… Tell me…
"Tell me… Yohane… What should I do?"
"That's… Not for me to decide Yoshiko…"
The voice echoes in the air before slowly fading. I could only cry harder, causing the black colored contact lenses slipped from my eyes thanks to the overflowing tears, revealing a red colored irises beneath it.
It's almost like my irises are stained by blood. A sign that one had long corroded by abyss miasma.
The very same eyes color possessed by Takami Chika.
It's the eyes of one who brings misfortune.
A/N: For those who doesn't realize it yet, the name 'Solaris' is actually taken from one of the names proposed for Uranohoshi's school idol group's name along with 'Aqours' in the voting back then in 2015. Himizu-san and I use the name 'Solaris' intentionally.
In this fic Yoshiko and Yohane are a complete different personalities in a single body instead of Yohane being Yoshiko's alter ego like in the series. and finally this chapter might answer your question why in the previous chapter Yoshiko's eyes color were black instead of the original red.
Some of you might realized already that the letter received by Mari in this chapter is only signed by five families with Sakurauchi, Watanabe and Ohara among them. some might be confused as why there're only five instead of six or seven. I believe that the two remaining families can be easily guessed since they have been mentioned specifically in some previous chapters before.
And yeah, I'd like to address one more thing since both Himizu-san and I got several questions regarding the Kurosawa sisters in this fic. Yes, it's true that we never specifically mentioned about Ruby nor Dia in this fic before, and it seems it made some of you wondering whether we're planning to put them into this fic or not. So, where are they? Unfortunately, the only thing I can say right now is that we'll leave it to the reader's imagination for now... Although if you're keen enough, some of you may realize that both Himizu-san and I had actually drop a single hint somewhere among the ten previous chapters since the beginning.
well, I think that's everything for now... What do you think? Please leave your Kudos and comment so that we can improve! Thank you for your support!
