Chapter 1: The rescue.

Aokigahara Forest, Yamanashi Prefecture, May 9, 1.47pm

The sun was shining on the infamous forest, one of the most notorious places in Japan, where people have gone to commit suicide since time immemorial. Every year in that immense green labyrinth (3000 hectares) dozens of people kill themselves, by hanging or overdose of medicines. The local authorities, in addition to recovering the bodies, had placed signs in the forest with writings that aimed to dissuade would-be suicides but did not always work. Despite its sinister reputation, Aokigahara was also a tourist destination, partly due to its macabre reputation and partly due to its lush natural environment. One of the main attractions was Lake Suijin (the name derived from the god of water in the Shinto religion), a 2 kilometer wide body of water teeming with fish fauna (eels, various fish). On its surface heated by the sun's rays a motorboat moved with a white and light blue logo on the right side.

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Two girls were on board: one with auburn hair and turquoise eyes, the other with long dark brown hair and eyes of the same color. Both wore the same uniform: olive green, with cap; under the jacket they wore a black tie, over a white shirt. On their right arm they had the aforementioned logo.

"So, Megumi…Does this place suit you?" She asked the first.

The girl named Megumi nodded.

"Hai, Azumi-chan. We are far enough from the shore."

The two girls exchanged a look of understanding, then got rid of their uniforms, under which they hid bikinis (blue for Azumi, red for Megumi).

"One of us will have to stay on board, or the boat will drift." The brunette stated.

Azumi nodded.

"We'll take turns. You dive in first." She said.

Megumi nodded in return, but instead of jumping into the water she put her hand on a pair of binoculars placed on the floor, with which she began to carefully scan the shores of the lake.

"Don't tell me you're afraid of voyeurs!" Azumi teased.

"They're everywhere, those…" Megumi replied.

"But we are in the middle of a forest!"

Megumi paid her no mind, continuing to look at her sides. She first noticed a couple of deer, intent on quenching their thirst, and then...

Hmm?

On the shore there was a girl, definitely a student, with short brown hair and eyes of the same color. She was kneeling and had her right hand immersed in the water.

"Don't tell me you actually saw one!" Azumi said, noticing how intently she was looking.

Megumi handed her the binoculars, pointing to the spot she was looking at.

"See for yourself."

Azumi did as she was told. She also noticed the student, who had now stood up and was staring at the surface of the lake with a distraught expression.

"A would-be suicidal…" She commented, with concern.

"What makes you believe that?" Her friend asked.

"Her expression… It's not at all that of a tourist admiring the landscape."

Meanwhile the girl had shed her clothes and, remaining in her underwear, she dove in.

She want...

Azumi thought.

"Hold this!" She said, handing the binoculars to Megumi.

"What intentions do you have?" Her friend asked.

She looked at her determinedly.

"That girl wants to drown herself… I have to save her!"

"But she… She is far from here! I don't know if you'll make it in time!" Megumi objected.

Azumi's gaze hardened.

"It doesn't matter… I have to try! I will not stand by and watch as she dies!"

And with that she dived into the water, swimming towards the spot where she had seen her dive.

Kuso… I can't leave the boat unattended, or I would have jumped too!

Megumi thought, frustrated.


Azumi swam as hard as she could, with vigorous strokes.

I came here to take a swim... And now I have to carry out a rescue!

She thought, as a growing sense of anxiety gripped her.

Azumi didn't know what tragedy had struck that girl to the point of pushing her to commit suicide, and at that moment she wasn't interested. She would have plenty of time to investigate afterwards. Now there was a drowning human being, and she had to save her at all costs. At a certain point she stopped and looked around.

I don't see her on the surface... she must have dived!

The auburn-haired girl took a deep breath and went into apnea, descending downwards.

I don't have much time, I'll have to go back to the surface soon... Where is she?

Azumi looked around until she saw her. The girl was about 3 meters away from her, her eyes was closed.

Kami-sama... Make sure she's still alive!

Bracing herself she reached her, she grabbed her arm and resurfaced with her.

"Are you OK?" Azumi asked her, instinctively.

The brunette didn't answer, she was still unconscious.

Don't tell me she's dead...

She thought, anguished.

At that moment Azumi saw the speedboat with Megumi on board heading in her direction, stopping near her.

"How is she?" Her friend asked.

"Unconscious… Let's hope she's just passed out! Get her up, quick!" She ordered her.

Despite some difficulty, the two girls managed to load the stranger on board, placing her on the floor of the boat.

"Quick, give her chest compressions!"

Megumi obeyed and, after a couple of attempts, a stream of water came out of the brunette's mouth. Having done this, her rescuer placed her ear to her chest. After a few seconds she took on a relieved expression.

"She is alive!" The dark-brown girl exclaimed, getting back on her feet.

"But what do we do now?" She asked.

"It seems obvious… We'll take her to our camp." Azumi answered her.

Megumi looked at her perplexed.

"But… What will we tell the others?"

Her friend glared at her.

"The truth, of course! Now get this tub started, the sooner we get back the better she is!"

Megumi nodded, then got into the driver's seat, thinking:

Let's hope we don't have any trouble with this matter...