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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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kdVjwwG9e
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkvrEor3tA
His house was filled with art. Vases with fresh flowers rested on most surfaces. The wood was polished. His house blended with Kawasaki. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqvfmS6iF9
Their grandpa was sitting in the living room. He looks up a bit when Kanzaki and his friends come in. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EQjgORJ3e
"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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0b6E3bsgo
"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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlwoeix4N6
No one heard the last sentence, since his voice was lower than before. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88QliavQjt
"How do we save her?" Takahiro asks, an awkward smile on his face. Gin's eyes narrow at his question. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh9CcP2d7E
"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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jKOYHM5UY
"The forest..." Kanzaki mumbles. "I have no other choice..." he thinks. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUhnPilf2T
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgEo5TeRRX
"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 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkx8p4PgcWh
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwoXqwSr1y
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhQSsGRGPw
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7Sa5JCG5a
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw6k7cP1E0
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1fwfxtWeY
As he went downstairs, he was greeted by the familiar scent of Mio's cooking. "Konnichiwa!" he called out, forcing a smile. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDxrKr7l1v
He entered the kitchen. Mio turned to him, a gentle smile on her face as she patted his head. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8vbZxfBI9
"Great to see you in a good mood," she said, her voice steady, even though her hands were trembling. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesfNrLX4ex
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIGeVLl3zs
The moment he left, Mio's breath hitched. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XGjq5O4Pd
Behind her, the Yurei stood in the shadows, a smirk spreading across her face. "Good job..." the Yurei whispered before vanishing into thin air. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGLdq2N3PQ
"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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksX575JWLD
Minutes later, Kanzaki returned, stepping through the door with a confused look. "Oka-san, is something wrong?" he asked, kicking off his shoes. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDyJUdYDBM
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbx1qwHiieX
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe4ErGEAKI
"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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzHR056vJh
"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." 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGKFm6MD44
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWG8n9uKJ1
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.. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwo4u4vt2cw
Mio's body trembled, she looked out the window, just to see the dark. Kawasaki was falling into despair. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RPGVKLgr1
It was no longer their peaceful home... It was becoming the devil's village. And with each passing minute, hope slipped further. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExprzjjvZs
Kanzaki looks at his mother. "Why are you scared...?" he asks, looking into her eyes. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmKFTU7GH1
"Nothing, Kanzaki," she answers. Kanzaki decides to not question her and goes upstairs. He puts all his belongings in a backpack and thinks. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfnZaTR374
"Do I let it here... Do I bring it with me?" He drags his backpack with him. He looks at Mio... 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkpC3vgB5o
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblSBLEYOCI
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. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogqCrb7XJg
Mio falls on her knees. "I'm so sorry... Kamii-sama... Please let him live," she wishes as The Yurei appears behind her again. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIiMfdrLKH
"I'm disappointed in you... Useless housewife," The Yurei says, 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMG0j8ocCw
looking down on her. "Your life will end soon... Be ready..." she whispers as she vanishes again, leaving Mio alone. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSHyRoQ2Wz
She starts crying. "Kanzaki... I can't protect you..." she says in between sobs. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoafsdkOimu
Kanzaki sees Takahiro at the entrance of the forest... 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2xpOp3RxW
"Takahiro, what are you doing here..." Kanzaki asks, walking closer to him, now in front of him. Kanzaki looks at him but quickly notices. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMwlNPDxkw
Takahiro was staring at the forest, as if he knew Kanzaki would come. He quickly regains his composure. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEowrU92dl0
"Are you ready to go?" Takahiro asks, taking a deep breath. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLn5WiDig6
Kanzaki was confused but... He still nodded. Takahiro walked into the forest, Kanzaki following him... 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr7pXUlZmO
It was so dark in this forest. The air was cold, carrying an mix of leaves and something metallic... Like blood. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8B2piz64l
"It reeks..." Takahiro says, his expression disgusted. Kanzaki nods... But then, he looks up and notices. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM7ISrEtU8
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...
