The moment they stepped out of the office, it was clear something was wrong. The streetlights had all gone out. Even Trabzon, the Turkish restaurant across the street, which usually lit up the night through the week, had fallen dark. There was just one tiny light in the darkness—Toshihiko Katayama.
The night was cloudy, so there wasn’t any moonlight to see by. But even in the dark, Toshihiko’s face was still dazzlingly beautiful. Aoyama tried to run to him but felt something hold him back. Rumi had grabbed his sleeve and was firmly pulling him away.
“You can’t.”
Even if she hadn’t spoken, he would have realized what she meant. It wasn’t that Toshihiko was shining. A large, mist-like shadow was wrapping around his body, trying to envelop him completely. Contrasted next to that darker-than-dark mist, Toshihiko’s pale skin seemed to glimmer like a gemstone.
“Get away from him!” Rumi yelled.
“Sasaki…”
Though they weren’t very far away from each other, Toshihiko’s voice sounded like it was coming from a long way off.
“I ◼◼s just ◼◼◼◼◼◼ ◼◼ see you. ◼…I ◼◼◼◼◼ ◼◼◼ some thing◼.”
When Toshihiko spoke, the black mist seemed to writhe and sway. Somehow, it seemed both as opaque and black as ink, but also like a woman’s face.
Krsh, krsh, krsh…
The sound of grinding teeth echoed throughout the street, drowning out whatever it was Toshihiko was trying to say.
“What a coincidence. I was looking for you, too. I’ve also learned some important facts.”
Rumi’s voice was still perfectly clear. The grinding noise and the black shadow weren’t interfering with her.
“Die.”
A low voice emanated from the mist. A cracked, hoarse voice, cursing them.
“This ◼◼ ◼◼ ◼◼worker Sa◼◼◼◼. ◼◼ happened to be ◼◼ ◼◼◼ ◼◼◼ home ◼◼◼◼ ◼◼◼ ◼◼◼◼◼◼◼ and—”
“‘Just so happened’ to be here, huh?” Rumi interrupted. “How very convenient.”
“◼◼◼◼ ◼◼, Sasaki, ◼◼◼◼ ◼◼ back ◼ little. If ◼◼ ◼◼◼◼’◼ ◼◼◼ ◼◼yama—”
“If it wasn’t for Sayama, you wouldn’t have had to suffer the way you have over the past few weeks.”
Rumi’s lips formed into a thin smile as she began to spout forth in her usual eloquent manner. The shadow seemed to shrink at the sound of her voice but then spread out again. Rumi kicked at the ground. The next moment, Toshihiko was crouched at Rumi’s and Aoyama’s feet. It had all happened in an instant. Somehow, Rumi had pulled him away from the black mist and brought him back to them. Toshihiko was about to speak, but Rumi clamped a hand over his mouth.
“If you speak, she’ll find us.”
The mist was still going through its cycle of expanding and contracting, gradually forming into the shape of a person.
“No, that’s all in your head.”
Rumi seemed to be holding a conversation with someone Aoyama couldn’t see.
“You said it yourself, didn’t you? ‘I’m a boy.’”
He felt a sudden intense pain. It was only then that he realized his shoulders had hit the ground. His vision began to blur. His hands were touching the tiled street, but he couldn’t feel anything other than the ground beneath him.
“Rumi…”
She wasn’t there anymore.
“Toshihiko?”
Before his eyes, Toshihiko was being swallowed by the darkness.
Krsh, krsh, krsh…
The ghastly grinding noise came from every direction.