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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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XDL3MhFZZ
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YqtlXHjUM
His house was filled with art. Vases with fresh flowers rested on most surfaces. The wood was polished. His house blended with Kawasaki. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AL1Vm7Z8l
Their grandpa was sitting in the living room. He looks up a bit when Kanzaki and his friends come in. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78ZpnIuWIy
"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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nf5nkxfxw
"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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg64GoO2Z1h
No one heard the last sentence, since his voice was lower than before. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4KQadHnQR
"How do we save her?" Takahiro asks, an awkward smile on his face. Gin's eyes narrow at his question. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocXBas5EgR
"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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuFeSIWQzp
"The forest..." Kanzaki mumbles. "I have no other choice..." he thinks. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡre7sla3SzL
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhoYMbUg5B
"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 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyoucCH5KA
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbezMWt7Sr
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMDMXuafVn
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JO0QuaIht
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6ky5Gx5Hy
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWk3FvCxpQT
As he went downstairs, he was greeted by the familiar scent of Mio's cooking. "Konnichiwa!" he called out, forcing a smile. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadzmkv7FI7
He entered the kitchen. Mio turned to him, a gentle smile on her face as she patted his head. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI7ojMPwOD
"Great to see you in a good mood," she said, her voice steady, even though her hands were trembling. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGR6wThhiH
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWBJBYXsLO
The moment he left, Mio's breath hitched. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMluRZP0ix
Behind her, the Yurei stood in the shadows, a smirk spreading across her face. "Good job..." the Yurei whispered before vanishing into thin air. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAzgxWMtjb
"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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtMnsXoVm3
Minutes later, Kanzaki returned, stepping through the door with a confused look. "Oka-san, is something wrong?" he asked, kicking off his shoes. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQszMq9WFY
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeXRM9TDBt
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg1e3JPpdV
"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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqhZuWafHF
"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." 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GOuGpfn5i
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYS5HIatk2
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.. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShhJrZK1kv
Mio's body trembled, she looked out the window, just to see the dark. Kawasaki was falling into despair. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MLVcF1qnW
It was no longer their peaceful home... It was becoming the devil's village. And with each passing minute, hope slipped further. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdPrZDRVNB
Kanzaki looks at his mother. "Why are you scared...?" he asks, looking into her eyes. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkndvgilOYT
"Nothing, Kanzaki," she answers. Kanzaki decides to not question her and goes upstairs. He puts all his belongings in a backpack and thinks. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9cLAcc2eq
"Do I let it here... Do I bring it with me?" He drags his backpack with him. He looks at Mio... 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRFXOB5dBs
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8bRtffrdg
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. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHt6mNmf8I
Mio falls on her knees. "I'm so sorry... Kamii-sama... Please let him live," she wishes as The Yurei appears behind her again. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpvVEU0Jmc
"I'm disappointed in you... Useless housewife," The Yurei says, 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz82oFGckjU
looking down on her. "Your life will end soon... Be ready..." she whispers as she vanishes again, leaving Mio alone. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0EWJu19mw
She starts crying. "Kanzaki... I can't protect you..." she says in between sobs. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj84QHhhdhN
Kanzaki sees Takahiro at the entrance of the forest... 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemTGI3lO3d
"Takahiro, what are you doing here..." Kanzaki asks, walking closer to him, now in front of him. Kanzaki looks at him but quickly notices. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo3pp3M2aY
Takahiro was staring at the forest, as if he knew Kanzaki would come. He quickly regains his composure. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiL4LQECoy
"Are you ready to go?" Takahiro asks, taking a deep breath. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7OuVC9n7l
Kanzaki was confused but... He still nodded. Takahiro walked into the forest, Kanzaki following him... 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iFVj5XOyq
It was so dark in this forest. The air was cold, carrying an mix of leaves and something metallic... Like blood. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgJfcFHAMo
"It reeks..." Takahiro says, his expression disgusted. Kanzaki nods... But then, he looks up and notices. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefLboiylhu
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...
