The door creaked ominously as Yoshino pushed it open. Nozomi immediately took the lead, stepping over the threshold with her finger poised, ready to unleash its radiant power. The glowing light from her hand cast a stark contrast against the dim entryway, each movement a calculated measure against any hidden dangers that might lurk.
But, unexpectedly, there was nothing. No ambush, no immediate threat—only the familiar setting of an entryway that looked remarkably similar to their own homes. Nozomi's eyes darted around, mistrusting the tranquility of the scene. She knew better than to lower her guard; the lives of her friends depended on her vigilance. A bead of nervous sweat trickled down her temple. "See anything?" she asked, her voice steady despite the tension.
"No, I don't see anything out of the ordinary..." Seiza replied, his nose twitching as he attempted to sniff out any clues. Moments later, his expression grew distressed. Although he could detect the monster's scent, he couldn't determine its exact location within the house. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath to steady himself, but found only silence when he strained to hear beyond Nozomi and Yoshino's breathing. His face contorted in frustration. "...and I don't like it."
Yoshino shook her head, sharing his unease. "Yeah, same..." As she scanned the area, something caught her eye—three pairs of shoes neatly lined up side by side. "Seiza... did you smell more than one monster? If so... how many?" she asked, hoping for clarity as nervous sweat began to form on her brow.
Seiza, puzzled by the line of questioning, shook his head emphatically. "No... I'm sure I only smelled one monster. Why?" He glanced at Nozomi, who had attentively listened while keeping her gaze fixed on the entryway.
Without a word, Yoshino pointed to the shoes. Seiza followed her gesture, his eyes widening in confusion. Realization dawned slowly, and his expression shifted from confusion to anxiety. "No... t-that can't be right! I'm sure I only smelled ONE darkspawn here! This must be a decoy... Y-yes, that must be it!"
As Seiza's panic escalated, it felt like the walls of the once familiar house were closing in on them. His frantic movements and wide-eyed anxiety threatened to tip the delicate balance of their precarious situation. Each sharp breath he took intensified the tension in the air, and Nozomi's eyes darted between Seiza and their surroundings, caught between the urge to soothe him and the necessity of staying vigilant for any lurking danger.
Yoshino could see the internal struggle in Nozomi's eyes—her friend was torn between her protective instincts and the need to remain alert. The room seemed to grow smaller and darker, the silence around them amplifying the sound of Seiza's distress.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Yoshino made a decision. She knelt in front of Seiza, her heart pounding, and gently placed her hand on his head. Her touch was soft and deliberate, meant to transmit a sense of calm and safety. "Hey... come on now... no need to beat yourself up," she murmured, her voice a quiet balm in the tense atmosphere. She could feel her own anxiety simmering underneath the surface, but she pushed it aside, focusing solely on the trembling creature before her. "Everyone makes mistakes."
Seiza looked at her, his eyes wide and glassy. For a moment, Yoshino feared that her words hadn't reached him, that the encroaching darkness of his panic was too deep. But slowly, his frantic breathing began to even out. Her gentle stroking seemed to ground him, and a faint, grateful smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Taking a deeper breath, Seiza nodded. The tension in his small body started to ease, his frame visibly relaxing. His eyes, which had been filled with frantic energy, softened. "Thank you, Yoshino," he whispered, his voice carrying a mix of relief and lingering fear.
Before Yoshino could respond, a faint, barely audible sound emanated from deeper within the house—the sizzling noise of something frying. The unexpected sound startled all three of them, the frying crackle piercing their heightened senses.
They stood frozen in silence, the faint sizzling the only sound among them. After a few heartbeats, Yoshino regained her composure and moved next to Nozomi, snapping her out of her trance. She motioned for her to advance.
Nozomi, now more collected, nodded and cautiously proceeded deeper into the house. Each step was deliberate, each footfall a whisper against the wooden floor. Yoshino and Seiza followed closely behind, matching her cautious pace.
As they approached the source of the sound, it grew clearer. They soon found themselves just outside a door that emitted the scent of cooking. Nozomi noticed the door was slightly ajar, leaving a slim gap.
After a moment's hesitation, she gently pushed the door open wider, allowing her to peer inside. She glimpsed a regular kitchen. A wooden table capable of seating an entire family stood in the center, surrounded by six chairs. On the stove, a frying pan sizzled with unknown contents. Her breath hitched as something blocked her view—a person.
It was a woman, her back to Nozomi. Long black hair fell down her back, and she wore a dark blue house dress and apron. She seemed absorbed in preparing the meal. After tending the frying pan, she moved out of sight and returned moments later to set the table with delicate precision.
Overwhelmed by the strangeness of the situation, Nozomi stepped back from the gap. The entire day had been a surreal blend of fear and confusion, and with her accident earlier, it was shaping up to be one of the most bizarre and stressful days of her life.
A gentle hand on her shoulder startled her. She turned to see Yoshino's concerned expression. Yoshino's eyes silently asked if she was okay. Nozomi took a deep breath, calming herself. She nodded, and Yoshino released her grip.
As Nozomi steeled herself to peek again, the door swung open from the inside. The woman from the kitchen stood before them, equally surprised. A tense pause hung in the air. The woman broke the silence. "Wait…"
Tension crackled through the entryway. Nozomi instinctively hid her glowing finger behind her back, her mind racing. This woman seemed human—no signs of monstrosity at all.
She glanced at her companions. Yoshino had a death grip on her school bag, eyes locked on the woman in readiness to defend. Seiza, meanwhile, stood frozen with his mouth agape, rendering Nozomi more anxious—his senses were often sharper than hers.
The woman's voice pulled Nozomi back to the present. "Are you guys Judai's friends?" she asked, her initial surprise transforming into a welcoming smile. She stepped aside. "Come in, come in. Dinner is almost ready." She turned back to the frying pan, leaving the group to process the unexpected invitation.
Yoshino didn't hesitate. She moved past Nozomi and took a seat at the table. When the woman's back was turned, she signaled for Nozomi and Seiza to join her.
Baffled, Seiza looked to Nozomi for answers. What is she doing? he thought, seeking her insight. Please, Nozomi, tell me there's a plan.
Nozomi, equally confused but trusting Yoshino's instincts, followed her to the table. She motioned for Seiza to join them, hoping he wouldn't be too upset later.
Reluctantly, Seiza conceded and climbed onto the chair beside Nozomi. She gently rubbed his back, both to soothe his anxiety and her own. His wagging tail brought both of them a measure of comfort.
Once settled at the table, Yoshino could feel the tension tightening like a vise around her chest. She glanced at the housewife, who busied herself in the kitchen, seemingly unaware of the turmoil brewing within her unexpected guests. Leaning closer to Nozomi and Seiza, Yoshino whispered urgently, "Since we lack information, it's best to play along for now. If they try anything, we will..." She hesitated, the seriousness of their situation starkly visible in her eyes. "Nozomi... I know I may be asking a lot, but... can you deal with them? Even if they look... human?"
Nozomi's heart nearly stopped. The question sliced through her composure like a blade. She had never taken a human life before, and the gravity of such a notion hit her like a tidal wave. She glanced furtively at the woman in the kitchen, her back turned and seemingly innocuous. It would be so easy—one shot, one moment of resolute action. But it wasn't that simple. Could she mentally separate the human appearance from the monster they might be?
Swallowing hard, she took a deep breath to steady herself. Her voice, though trembling, carried a resolve she didn't fully feel. "I... don't know, but... I will keep in mind they only... look like us."
Yoshino's face softened, mirroring the inner conflict that Nozomi felt. She reached out and placed her hand over Nozomi's, a silent gesture of solidarity. "I-I mean, I'll only do it if there's no other choice... h-hopefully it won't come to that," Nozomi quickly added, her voice betraying her fear of the unknown.
The weight of the unspoken hung between them, thickening the air with doubt and trepidation. Nozomi could see the struggle in Yoshino's eyes, the battle between their shared humanity and the harsh reality of their situation. It was a cruel test of their resolve, one they shouldn't have to face but had no choice but to confront.
Before their conversation could continue, an adult man entered the kitchen. He wore worker overalls and gave the housewife a tired yet affectionate smile. "Sorry for the wait. I had to get Judai out of his room…"
He trailed off, noticing the two teenagers. Recovering from his initial surprise, he smiled cheerfully. "Hey... you must be Judai's friends! He told us you'd come. My name is Otoko, Otoko Konchu. Nice to meet you both." He extended his hand.
Yoshino hesitated but then shook his hand. "O-Oh, the pleasure is mine. I'm Yoshino, and this is Nozomi." She motioned to Nozomi, who nodded, trying her best to appear friendly.
Otoko nodded at both girls. "Good to see Judai made friends with such polite young ladies..." He then motioned towards the housewife. "Oh, and this is the most beautiful woman in the world, my wife, Josei."
Josei blushed slightly at his compliment. "Now, now, no need to exaggerate in front of Judai's friends," she said bashfully.
"It's not an exaggeration if it's the truth," Otoko replied with a playful smile.
Their attention was drawn to an irritated voice. "Urgh, can you both tone it down with all this pointless yapping?" The voice belonged to a teenager wearing casual clothes, a black cap, and a face mask. His eyes were hidden by black goggles, and his posture screamed boredom.
"Heh, okay son, we'll stop… for now," Otoko teased, taking a seat opposite Nozomi and motioning for the boy to sit beside him.
The teenager sighed. "Sure, whatever." He sat down, noticing Seiza for the first time. "Can any of you get the dog out of the chair? That place is for someone else."
Yoshino raised an eyebrow. "And for whom, if I may ask?" she inquired while Nozomi petted Seiza, who had moved to her lap.
The teenager tilted his head. "Really? Are you still gonna play dumb? The masked guy, with a cloak, who entered around the same time as you. Who else?"
Nozomi's eyes widened. A masked guy… wait.
Before she could finish her thought, they heard a knocking sound. Turning towards it, they saw a figure in a black cloak and a white mask with two eyeholes. The figure wore magician's gloves and exuded an aura of mystery. "Hello, am I interrupting?" The voice was altered, almost robotic.
Nozomi glanced at Yoshino, whose mind seemed to be racing. This technically wasn't their first encounter, but the masked individual's sudden appearance was unnerving.
Life, the masked figure, couldn't help but smile smugly at the confusion on Yoshino's and Seiza's faces. Heh, I guess I made a good entrance!