IN the end, President Mami dragged me to Nakasu. I could hardly complain about a free meal at an upscale restaurant, especially because the drinks flowed until the last train. Yet the president’s friends—a group of middle-aged men—and even the chef seemed to view me as that sort of woman, which was awful. In any case, his friends hailed from Ehime Prefecture. All of them had moved to Fukuoka for various reasons and had banded together to build their lives there.
“Well, we’ve gained a lot of power and influence since then,” said President Mami. “Not even Iyo stands a chance against us now!”
Everyone guffawed at the president’s declaration, Iyo the historical name for Ehime.
Incapable of holding my liquor, I responded to all conversation with vague, sober pleasantries. Eventually I excused myself, citing the fact that I still lived with my parents, and raced to Nakasukawabata Station. Fortunately, I found an empty seat on the subway train. Sliding into it, I hugged my tote bag to my chest and closed my eyes.
I jolted awake after what felt like a mere few seconds when the announcement for Ōhori Park Station sounded from the PA system.
No, this is wrong, the complete opposite direction from home.
I pushed past the drunks loitering near the door, scrambling to exit the train.
“That was a close one,” I mumbled as I watched it speed away. “I nearly wound up in Karatsu.”
I found I hardly cared. Midnight had already passed, and exhaustion crashed over me. Since standing around wouldn’t do me any good, I climbed the platform stairs and began to cross Ōhori Park.
“How should I get home?” I wondered aloud. “A taxi?” Though I really don’t want to have to take one…
Of course, not a single other person remained in the park at such a late hour. During the day, joggers and dog-walkers populated the tranquil area. Pitch-black and deserted, it frightened me somewhat. A reflection of the full moon wavered on the surface of the pond. Somewhere the beat of bird wings rustled against branches and leaves.
I’m scared.
As I walked numbly, the scenery flickered before my eyes like a mirage.
“What the?”
In front of me stood the fortune teller—the man who’d lured me to his booth in front of Fukuoka Tenjin Station the day before.
“Found you,” he growled, his golden eyes gleaming.
Although he appeared human at a glance, cat ears peaked the hood of his robe, and its shredded hem revealed fluffy paws in place of his feet.
Aw, what an adorable little kitty-cat… Sike! You’re not melting my heart anytime soon!
His sharp claws glinted with a dangerous light as he slowly closed the distance between us.
“Um, Mr. Cat, I’m just an office worker,” I tried. “I’m not the least bit tasty!”
“I’ve erected a magical barrier,” responded the nekomata. “No one will interfere while I slice you to ribbons and drink your blood.”
A chill zipped down my spine. Simultaneously, a voice cried out from a place so deep within my heart that I hadn’t known it existed: This is why letting go of being normal scared me! This is why I was so terrified!
I stumbled backward, tremors racking my entire body. “Please don’t kill me. I don’t want to die. I’m begging you…!”
“I don’t want to die either,” the nekomata said. “And I won’t survive much longer unless I kill you.”
Someone, anyone, save me! I retreated another step as the nekomata crept toward me, my eyes darting over our surrounds. Naturally, I saw no one and nothing. Not a single soul would come to my rescue in the dead of night.
Think! I urged myself, gripping the transit card hanging from my bag. Use every ounce of intelligence you have to think!
A furious customer had stormed into our office once, I remembered. The male employees were all out for the day, and Nieshima had run screaming.
Even though her pushy sales tactics were the source of the complaint.
I recalled the terror of facing that red-faced, middle-aged man alone. What had I done back then? Obviously, I’d calmed him down. After all, he wanted nothing more than to live a normal, happy life as well. “If you let your anger take control and cause an incident, your life will go up in smoke,” I’d told him in an even tone.
I need to buy some time.
I inhaled.
“Suppose you do kill me,” I said to the nekomata. “Normal humans may never discover the cause of my death. But won’t other ayakashi or the people who hunt your kind track you down?”
Shinozaki had said as much the previous evening. Ayakashi had their own set of rules, and he’d condemned the nekomata’s illegal activities, acting as a self-cleansing force within their society.
If I don’t stop him, he’ll bring disaster upon himself and every other ayakashi in Fukuoka.
“Either way, I’ll die if I don’t absorb your soul,” the nekomata said. “And I’m not ready to leave this world just yet!”
“Why don’t we talk to Shinozaki?” I suggested. “He was trying to help you.”
“Lies!” the nekomata bellowed, half-deranged. His claws shot toward me, and I instinctively raised my arms to protect myself.
A thwack rang out as his claws bounced off a solid object. Something had shielded me.
“That damn fox,” the nekomata hissed, glaring at my tote bag.
I looked down. “Huh?”
The card case dangling from it was emitting a faint glow. Removing the transit card, I noticed the eyes of the prairie dog mascot sparkling. “Since when have the local train cards been able to do that?” I muttered. I didn’t know how or why, but the card seemed to have become a sort of protective amulet. “Oh, wait, there’s a sticker on his eyes…”
Shinozaki had swiped my tote bag before taking me to Kawazoe’s food stall. He must have placed the sticker then.
“Shinozaki,” I whispered.
He’d given me an amulet out of concern for my safety. And I’d rejected his job offer. I’d immediately turned him down due to fear and timidity.
He’d looked so forlorn watching me rush onto the train. Because humans like me were afraid of him. He and the nekomata lived in a different world. Because humans like me had rejected them for being abnormal.
I didn’t know anything about him or ayakashi. And yet, he’d treated me to a wonderful meal. Most humans would never have the chance to experience Kawazoe’s incredible udon.
Shinozaki and his companions lived in peace, striving to ensure that ayakashi weren’t eradicated from human society. Falling prey to the nekomata would threaten the normal lives of those ayakashi.
And deep down, I thought as I eyed the creature, he wants to be part of this society too.
“Ngh!” the nekomata grunted in frustration, tensing under my gaze.
After another deep breath, I forced myself to smile at him. “Attacking me right now won’t solve any of your problems, Mr. Cat.”
“At the very least, it’ll replenish my spiritual energy. It’ll buy me more time on the Near Shore.”
“But you’ll just get hungry again before long, right? No matter how appetizing my spiritual energy, will it satisfy you for ten years? One?”
The nekomata was silent.
“Don’t throw away your life for such a short period of time,” I implored him.
I don’t know anything about spiritual energy. I don’t understand ayakashi either. I’m scared of anything abnormal.
Even so, I couldn’t ignore someone in trouble.
“In reality, you hate attacking humans, don’t you?” I guessed. “If you actually wanted to hurt me, you wouldn’t have announced your intention like that. You could’ve killed me with a single slash from behind.”
“I…”
“You acted similarly yesterday too. Sure, you tried to force that energy bracelet on me. You even gave me a sales pitch. But you were really just repeating snatches of advertisements you’d heard elsewhere, right?”