Chapter 7: A Chilling Discovery
Haruto looked at the sky. It was almost night, and he decided to head back to the Phantom Reaper school dorm. Before going, he stopped at a family restaurant to pack some food. As he exited the restaurant, he was surprised to see Futaba, who looked gloomy.
Haruto greeted her hesitantly, “F-Futaba-san, is everything alright? You look a bit down.”
Futaba hesitated, her eyes avoiding his. “It’s nothing, really,” she replied softly.
Haruto, sensing something was off, nervously asked, “I-Is it about Ichika-san? Did something happen?”
Futaba looked even more uncomfortable but remained silent. “I… I can’t talk about it,” she finally said, her voice barely audible.
They had a brief chat, with Haruto trying his best to make her feel better. “I-If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here,” he said gently.
Feeling it was getting late, Haruto offered, “H-How about I treat you to a meal before I go?”
Futaba nodded, and Haruto went back inside to buy more food. When he came out, Futaba was gone. He wondered if she had already gone home.
A moment later, Haruto felt goosebumps. He looked at the alley in front of him and saw a pair of shoes. His heart began to race. He approached the shoes and realized they were a girl’s shoes. Haruto wondered if they belonged to Futaba.
The alley was dark, shadows stretching ominously along the narrow path. Haruto took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest, and braved himself to enter, hoping nothing had happened to Futaba. The air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the distant hum of the city. He walked cautiously, his footsteps echoing off the brick walls, until he reached a four-way intersection.
Feeling a bit relieved, he paused to catch his breath. Suddenly, a faint rustling sound came from his left. His heart skipped a beat as he turned to check. The dim light from a flickering streetlamp barely illuminated the scene, but it was enough for him to see Futaba’s lifeless body sprawled on the ground.
Haruto’s eyes widened in horror. He felt a cold chill run down his spine as he approached her, his legs trembling. Futaba lay on her side, her eyes wide open and staring blankly into the void. Her once vibrant face was now pale, and her lips had turned a faint shade of blue. Her pink cheongsam was stained with dirt, and her hair was disheveled, splayed out around her head like a dark halo. There were no visible wounds, but the eerie stillness of her body was enough to send shivers down Haruto’s spine. The sight was surreal, her once lively presence now eerily still. He wondered if she had been attacked by a phantom monster. Trembling, he realized this was the first time he had ever seen a dead body, and the reality of it hit him hard.
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Later, Haruto waited at the spot where he found Futaba’s shoes after calling the police. Two officers emerged from the alley and approached him.
One of the officers asked, “Are you the one who reported a dead girl in this alley?”
Haruto nodded. The other officer looked skeptical. “Are you sure about it?”
Haruto was confused by the question. “Yes, I’m sure. There was a dead girl. I would never lie about something like this.”
The officers exchanged glances. One of them said, “We already checked, but… there is no dead body inside this alley.”
Haruto’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What do you mean? Are you sure you didn’t miss anything?”
The officer replied, “Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?”
Haruto, in disbelief, ran back into the alley where he had found Futaba’s body, ignoring the policemen shouting for him to wait. When he arrived, he was shocked to see no dead body. Haruto wondered what had happened. He was certain he had seen Futaba’s lifeless body.
As he searched frantically, Haruto’s eyes darted around the dark alley, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The shadows seemed to close in on him, amplifying his fear. Suddenly, he spotted a figure in the distance, carrying something over her shoulder. The dim light made it hard to see clearly, but from behind, the girl had the same build as Futaba. Her long, dark hair swayed with each step, and her pink cheongsam shimmered faintly in the low light.
Haruto’s heart leaped with a mix of hope and dread. He shouted, “Futaba!” his voice echoing off the alley walls. The girl stopped abruptly, her posture stiffening. Slowly, she turned to face him, and Haruto’s hope shattered as he realized she was not Futaba. The girl had long, dark hair tied in a high ponytail, and her eyes were a piercing shade of green. She wore a short pink cheongsam similar to Futaba’s, with the Mugenjo symbol on her chest. Her expression was cold and unyielding.
The girl’s eyes narrowed, her piercing green gaze locking onto Haruto with an intensity that made him shiver. “Futaba should not be making any friends,” she said, her voice cold and authoritative. “It will be a problem for the Mugenjo clan.”
Haruto felt a chill run down his spine. He had never heard of the Mugenjo clan before, and the girl’s words were laced with an ominous warning. Her expression was stern, and her posture exuded a sense of unyielding resolve.
She took a step closer, her eyes never leaving his. “Do not be friends with any Mugenjo clan members,” she warned, her tone growing even more severe. “Our clan operates in secrecy, and any outside connections could jeopardize our mission and safety. You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”
Haruto’s heart pounded in his chest. The girl’s presence was overwhelming, and he could feel the gravity of her words pressing down on him. He knew nothing about the Mugenjo clan, but the intensity of her warning made him realize just how dangerous it could be to get involved with them.
Haruto, confused and desperate, asked, “What do you mean? If you know where Futaba is, tell me.”
He looked at what the girl was carrying and felt a strange sense of dread. The object was as big as her. Haruto’s eyes widened in horror when he realized it was a body bag. Trembling, he asked, “What is that? Don’t tell me…”
The girl said, “This is the last time we meet. I hope we don’t meet again.” She turned to leave.
Haruto, trembling but angry, shouted, “Where do you think you are going?” His voice echoed through the dark alley, filled with a mix of fear and determination. He clenched his fists, feeling the familiar surge of energy as he summoned his Shadow Vine. Dark, twisting vines with glowing red eyes erupted from the ground, writhing and coiling around his feet before extending towards the girl.
“Leave Futaba’s body!” Haruto commanded, his voice shaking but resolute. The Shadow Vines moved with a life of their own, their eerie glow casting an ominous light on the scene. The air grew colder, and the vines hissed as they slithered closer to the girl, ready to ensnare her.
The girl stopped and turned around, tears streaming down her face. “You can’t do anything about us,” she said, her voice breaking. Haruto was shocked to see not only her tears but also many other girls emerging one by one behind her. They all had the same build as Ichika and Futaba and wore the same pink cheongsam.
Later, Haruto found himself alone in the alley, wondering what had happened to the Mugenjo clan. The only person he could turn to was Marise Mugenjo, his senpai.