Monika POV

December 23, 2017 – Saturday Morning (Old Hinode)

Already inside Ken's house, Hiromi let me sit on the couch. I still felt as though I had been suddenly pulled out of a nightmare, unable to tell if I was actually awake.

"Wait here a moment, I'll be back with the bandages," Hiromi said as she hurried through the house.

How many times has she been in situations like this? She seemed so calm and certain of what she was doing. I looked at my shoulder and saw that it wasn't a deep wound, but I still didn't have the courage to look at my own face or overall appearance.

But that wasn't the problem. Where are the others? Are they really okay?

When Hiromi returned, I quickly asked:

"Um… Mrs. Hiromi, are Nat and the others okay? They left before I did and…"

"Oh, yes, thank God they're neither spiritually nor physically hurt. I've already taken them to the same hospital Ken is in, but they should only stay for a short while. As for you…"

"What… What happened to me?"

My hand moved instinctively to my heart, waiting for an answer while my mind created thousands of possibilities. Is this a dream? Am I in danger?

Hiromi seemed to carefully choose her words as she looked at me directly.

"I had the same conversation with my son earlier this week. Just like him, you are completely awakened to the spiritual world, with an even stronger connection than he or even me… But your aura is badly wounded, it survived an attack by a Superior Demon, I really don't know how the next days are gonna be for you."

So that was it. From the way she was speaking, I was involved in this madness all the way to the end.

"But I always heard on TV that people awaken as children, or at least that's what they said. I never believed it, so I never paid now that I think about it… And Ken wasn't awakened?"

"It's a very rare condition. He awakened when he came into contact with Hana this Wednesday, and he decided to remain that way to help all of you."

"What do you mean? Is there an option to stop seeing these things?"

"Yes, there is. I should have been stricter with him, but he wanted to stay awakened so he could help others. However, he… is still in a coma."

Was it because of us?

He had the option to disconnect from this spiritual world and live a "normal" life, but he chose the opposite just to prevent that spirit from harming us in any way?

That makes no sense. Who would do that for strangers? He had only met us that same day, except for Sayori, but even so…

"And what about you, Monika?" Hiromi was serious, furrowing her brow. She seemed worried about me, even though we hardly knew each other.

"I feel that I'll only have peace once Hana leaves this world. I don't intend to close my eyes to the problems in front of me anymore."

She smiled at my words, as if relieved. If the situation weren't so serious, I'd almost thought I was "being evaluated by my mother-in-law." She gave a light laugh:

"So it wasn't just talk from my friend. You really do have a brave spirit. Come with me."

Walking through the house, I could see how cozy their home was. But from the lack of photos of her and her son, it was clear they hadn't been very close since this crazy week began. She led me to the back of the house, where there was a kind of mini-garden.

"Wow, does Ken take care of all this by himself?"

"For many years, yes, but he recently stopped doing it. I imagine he didn't even think about this little spot anymore. Since I returned, I've been coming here to keep everything in order."

It was indeed a small space, but it had wonderful flowers, though some seemed to be pleading for water.

"They're beautiful, but I think this one here needs more water. Let me go get some. I saw a water filter on the table."

Hiromi looked at me approvingly and continued on toward the back, where she seemed to be handling some tools.

When I came back with a container of water, I saw that she was holding a large box that looked like a toolbox. I watered the plants as carefully as I could. They were so gorgeous—orchids so unbelievably beautiful to be in such a simple garden.

"Here, Monika. These are my gifts to you. There's a chance my plan might not work, and if I fail, this will be useful to you."

She offered me a white dagger with a green tip. Holding that object, I could feel its energy vibrating. Everything that was happening still felt like a dream; my eyes could no longer adjust to so much craziness in such a short time.

"I can feel its energy. What does that mean?"

"Right… You were thrown into the spiritual world without any context or explanation. I'm amazed you're still sane. Anyway, I'll give you a more detailed lesson another time. For now, you only need to know that this box contains everything you'll need if I fail my plan. Once you touch what's inside, the information on how to use it will come to you right away."

"This is all still really bizarre. But after seeing so many things that seemed straight out of fiction… I'll do what you say. So, Mrs. Hiromi, what should I do? I want to help, but I don't know how…" I clenched my fists and looked away.

I took the box from Hiromi, holding it under my arm. That blade seemed to be speaking to me in a language I couldn't understand yet.

"I'll explain on the way. We're going to the hospital to take care of your physical body now. The dagger I gave you destroys most curses in contact, it can even heals spiritual wounds too, it's a double-edged dagger. Anyway, come on, we have a lot to discuss."

I simply nodded and followed Hiromi to the garage of their house. I never imagined Ken or his mother would own a car, but it seems surprises are common around here.

Before getting into the car, I asked,

"Sorry, but you mentioned the dagger would be useful if your plan fails… Don't tell me… What exactly will happen if it doesn't work on Monday?"

She didn't answer. She only indicated that I should get in the vehicle.

I had the feeling that it was something serious. From the little I'd observed of the spiritual world, it seems to operate under the law of exchange.

Already on the way to the hospital, I stared out the window, unsure how to start any conversation. The streets were calm and the weather was good, no fog, and the first rays of sunshine were appearing on the horizon.

"Did people in the city notice what happened? Isn't there a risk someone might walk near the school and see what's going on?" I asked, fiddling with my hair.

"The barrier distorts space and time. For anyone passing near the school, they'll see the building as normal. And since today is not a school day and the government had already requested the school be closed this weekend, we shouldn't have any problems. As for the people in the city, they won't remember anything that happened, because the city only partially sank into the spiritual world…"

"I see…"

After a few more streets, we arrived at the hospital.

Stepping out of the car, I breathed in the outside air. It had been a while since I'd seen the city so calm and well. There was no sign of us being in some hellish place. I wondered if that face of the city was its true form.

I let Hiromi walk ahead of me, and she indicated we were visitors. Thankfully, they allowed visits at that time. The nurse thought I needed medical attention, but I told her I could wait a bit longer.

Taking the elevator up, we reached the seventh floor, where Ken's room was located, and on the other side of the ward were my friends.

Hiromi noticed my hesitation and, with a firm look, motioned toward Ken's room. Without needing to say a word, her expression made it clear: "Go. See for yourself."

Could I help him wake up? That's what I thought as I entered the room. The lantern Yuri and the others had brought was on the chair beside his bed.

"This lantern… Can we help him somehow?"

"Wait… Something's happening," Hiromi replied, going toward the flashlight and touching it, as if analyzing its aura.

The flashlight shone intensely for a moment, then burst with a dull pop. The shards spread like fragments of glass through the air… but none of them touched Hiromi. And then Ken moved. First a tremor in his fingers, then a ragged breath. Finally, his eyes opened.

"W-What? Where am I? What's going on…?"

I approached him without thinking and hugged him as tightly as I could. I can't explain why; I just acted on instinct.

"You finally came back to us, Ken… I'm sorry it took so long."

"Oh… Monika. Thank you. If it weren't for you, I'd still be trapped in that hell. I don't even know how to repay—"

"Hey, I helped you too!" Hiromi said, laughing with relief.

"Sorry, Mom. I let my guard down and was careless. It's a miracle I'm still alive after what she did to me… The only thing that kept me from breaking was knowing you were all trying everything to get me out of that nightmare."

I stepped aside. I could see that moment no longer involved me, and his mother looked close to breaking down. For the first time, I saw her emotional, tears in her eyes.

"Uh… I'll go check on the girls. I'll be right back!" I said, waving goodbye with a smile as I headed out the door.

I left the room and headed for the end of the corridor. I already knew their room number, so it should've been an easy walk. But as I stood in front of their door, a voice sounded in my mind:

"Have you ever wondered why you managed to survive?"

A chill ran down my spine at the voice that seemed to echo along with the calm breeze flowing through the hospital. Even though everything seemed normal, I shouldn't forget…

This was nowhere near over.

Ken POV

December 23, 2017 – Saturday Morning (Hospital, 7th floor)

Even though I tried to seem fine in front of Monika, my mother could see a truth I couldn't hide. The grotesque images wouldn't leave my mind. But just seeing my mother suffer made me shut off that weak side completely. I wiped my tears and shifted to more important matters than my feelings.

"Mom, I managed to get some good information about Hana, but I'm not sure where she is now… I can't sense her presence clearly, and…"

"I sealed her at the school. It'll hold for a short period, but it gives us a little time to breath…"

Her words sounded broken, as though she was trying hard to contain her sobs.

"Ah… But, Mom, you don't seem happy about that."

She sat on my hospital bed beside me and hugged me again, unable to speak. It was obvious some very bad news was about to come. I knew that look well.

"After the seal breaks, there will be only one solution to deal with Hana. Maybe I didn't explain well, but she's become a planetary threat. Extreme measures will have to be taken, and I've been chosen for doing so."

"And… What does being chosen mean?"

"Sacrifice."

That dry, definitive word fit so tragically with my mother's expression. She was holding back her feelings with all her strength. Even so, I had to know more.

"Mom… No, why? You don't… I don't understand. You're not the only medium in the world, and if this is a planetary threat, why isn't anyone coming to help you? Help us?"

"Oh, son, I really wish you were right. Normally, in cases like this, the Government would come to help. But all they want is to observe our end… They're interested in watching, and I imagine they just want to use Hana's power for themselves…"

Silence.

How should I react to that?

I barely got my mother back, and now she has to sacrifice herself to stop this dammed spirit, while I can do nothing to help?

Nothing at all?

There was no point arguing with her right then. She was completely decided, and as an experienced person, she must have her reasons for believing that sacrificing her life was the only way to stop this threat.

"Can we go home? Staying here will just make things worse for me, and I need some time to think."

"Of course, son. But don't you want to visit your other friends? They're here, too. Don't worry, they're fine. None of the three was injured."

"All right, then. But I don't think I can stand up by myself."

She helped me up. My legs were still weak, and I felt a bit dizzy, but soon I could walk on my own. I still felt so out of place, as if I was caught between a nightmare and reality.

Something that lifted my spirits was crossing the corridor and seeing the girls talking around Yuri's bed. She was more injured than anyone else, with cuts on her face and arms.

What a mess.

All of this is completely wrong. They all had those sad looks because of me.

"Uh… Hi, everyone…"

Even so, they all looked at me, and I saw their sad expressions turn into relieved smiles.

"Oh, he woke up! That's... Eh... Awesome!" Yuri exclaimed after looking for the right words.

Before any of them could come over, I walked to them, pulled up a chair, and sat among them.

"I was so worried. I'm so glad you're back with us!" Sayori was clearly the one most openly expressing her happiness.

"Don't ever do something like that again, okay? I… We were so preoccupied." Natsuki seemed to be speaking sincerely from the heart for the first time.

I wanted to vanish. Bury my head and pretend none of this happened. I, the Club's "medium", should have been the most prepared to deal with Hana… but in the end, they were the ones who saved me.

Now, learning how to handle spirits is more than just my duty.

"Yeah… I'm sorry for causing you all so much trouble. And I'm glad we're all alive. But before everyone's discharged, I need to share the information I got while I was in that hell."

After I caught their attention, they leaned closer to listen, including my mother, who stopped by to hear it.

"I won't waste time on details. What matters is: Hana isn't fighting alone."

Silence fell over the room. My mother looked especially uneasy, as if she were reviewing her own memories for something she might have overlooked.

"What do you mean, son?"

"Well… Hana used to have a pet cat named Petty, which was killed by her classmates. She showed me all of this in first person. We've seen this animal walking with Hana a few times, but observing those scenes, I noticed it isn't an animal spirit."

Hiromi understood right away what I was implying:

"My God… Maybe the well of energy beneath the school is using that cat's form to interact with Hana, it could even be the source of her powers. I see… The Seal was focused only on the girl. I need to find that cat as soon as possible."

Monika was looking away and asked me in a louder voice:

"… They killed her pet… What kind of people do that? I can't understand where that level of cruelty comes from. All I know about Hana is that people simply made her life a living hell, school, friends, everyone. It just doesn't make sense in my head; it doesn't add up."

"The bullying Hana suffered wasn't what I'd call 'genuine,' if that makes sense. They killed the cat for money, someone paid them to do it. One of the killers said as much, word for word."

"My God, that matches what I read in the school basement… This is... That school is insane. In those documents, I even found out that the school's winter festival was originally a date to celebrate her death," Monika said, tears forming in her eyes.

The other girls didn't feel they had much to add, but Yuri, who usually didn't speak much, said:

"The festival is on Monday, on Christmas Holiday. Being remembered won't make her stronger? So even if she's sealed for now, something terrible could happen on Christmas, right?"

Natsuki and Sayori looked at each other then, as if they shared a secret plan and had made a decision. Then they looked at me and quickly averted their eyes.

My mother grew even more uneasy. It seemed that no good news would come from this conversation.

"Everyone, I'm going to need your help. Please, if you filmed anything, took any pictures, or have any documents about what you saw in the spiritual world, could you gather them for me? I need to organize my ideas and come up with a strategy, alone."

We all looked at each other, but knowing Hiromi was one of the greatest mediums in the world, that request sounded more like a command for us to stay out of it. I understood how it worked, but I couldn't help protesting, not after being involved for so long.

"But Mom… Alone? Can't we beat this together?"

"Son… I'm sorry, but this is beyond you all. Please, just focus on recovering and leave this to me. For you to understand the gravity: there has never been such a dangerous spirit in the recent history of humanity. So please, give me everything you've gathered and live your normal lives, at least for today, I know it's too much too ask."

Even if we wanted to argue, it was pointless. We were all so tired from so much suffering that letting my mother handle everything alone seemed like the best option for everyone.

Hiromi will figure it out; she's the most qualified person for this after all.

So, we did as she told us. Each of us handed over what we had: dozens of photos of documents, paintings, the layout of the alternate school. We could practically draw a complete map of all those cursed places.

The story of Princess Monika, the attack at Sayori's house, the basement, the school's involvement.

After a few hours, we were all discharged. I would soon go home, and Monika went to her house as well. She seemed shaken, but all I recall is her smiling at me, saying she'd talk to me later.

The other girls said they were also heading out, as they'd been "out" all night.

I hope they don't get into trouble because of it.

When I was in my room, gathering my things to leave, I saw Natsuki, Yuri, and Sayori talking to my mother in the hallway.

For some reason, it looked serious. I couldn't resist watching them discreetly from the other end of the corridor.

"Er… Mrs. Hiromi?"

"Yes? Is something wrong? Don't worry, I'll explain to your parents about the time you spent out of the house."

"That's not it." Natsuki glanced in my direction, but I hid before they could see me. "We want to ask you a favor."

"Oh… Sure. But as I said, I don't need help in this matter. It's too big for you girls and—"

"That's exactly the point," Sayori spoke so softly I could barely hear her from where I stood.

"Sayori, no need to be shy. I've held you in my arms when you were just a baby. Speak up; I'll help however I can."

Sayori shook her head, and Natsuki seemed too embarrassed to say anything as well.

Surprisingly, Yuri took the lead:

"If there's a way to close the door to the spiritual world and stop seeing these things… we want to lock it forever. We've reached our limit, please... We just want to have a chance of peace..."