Shiro climbed through the dense forest that spread out across the landscape. As he did he came upon a beautiful lake filled with small rocks. Among them, was a single small old shrine that grew vines from its roof. Standing in the water in front of the shrine was Hoshiko who was kneeling in the water while praying.
Shiro tried to take quiet steps forward but suddenly, Hoshiko jumped up in surprise.
"What are you doing here??", she shouted as she prepared to attack.
Shiro raised his hands up as he said, "I was just taking a walk, it is just a coincidence I swear."
Uninterested in his answer, Hoshiko jumped towards him anyway as her nails rapidly sharpened.
She swung her left arm at him, which Shiro easily caught. He then slammed her into the ground causing her to cough up some saliva. Shiro raised his finger towards Hoshiko's forehead as he said,
"If you're gonna play rough, then I don't mind scrapping for a bit."
Despite the playful words that he had said, Hoshiko for some reason only felt sheer horror. From fear, she stayed in place as tears fell from her eyes. She then suddenly began to cry.
"Hey? What's wrong?? I didn't mean like that-", Shiro said apologetically but her crying only increased.
Approximately five minutes later she finally calmed down but she still felt wary of Shiro.
"So what was that about?", Shiro asked.
Hoshiko replied, "My original psychic trait is a kind of Evil eye."
"What are those supposed to be?", Shiro asked cluelessly.
"For a scary guy, you're awfully stupid.", She said. "People with psychic traits that affect their eyes possess extraordinary visual prowess that doesn't drain their own psychic power. People with those abilities possess the Evil eye. Mine allows me to see the true nature of all objects and people."
Shiro asked her curiously, "What do you see when you look at me?"
Hoshiko hesitated but then quickly responded, "A demon. And not just any kind too, but a monster that's just as terrible as the one underneath this mountain."
Shiro made a look of worry, however he dismissed that error as maybe an incorrect interpretation. He then pointed to the shrine and asked, "What is that? I saw you praying to it earlier."
"It's a special shrine from a long time ago. My grandad thinks it's old, but these eyes tell me otherwise. I'm not telling you any more than that."
Hoshiko got up and returned back to then shrine. She got on her knees and the water and said, "If you have nothing else to say, then leave. You're only going to bother me if you keep staying here."
Shiro then walked over to her and sat in front of the shrine too. He clasped his hands and said, "I saw on TV that you pray for god fortune right? I'll pray too."
"You're so bothersome, "Hoshiko said reluctantly.
6:30 pm July 27th, 2018
The light of the sun hid behind the forest, basking the two in a blanket of darkness.
Hoshiko stood up out of the water and slowly walked away leaving behind Shiro who was beginning to doze off. He quickly got up however as he asked,
"Where are you going?"
She quickly responded, "Home of course. I'm done here. If you're worried that I'll get lost, then you must be forgetting about these eyes of mine."
Shiro quickly swept her off her feet and carried her in his arms. This caused Hoshiko to blush before quickly slapping Shiro's face.
"Who said you could touch me!?"
"I just wanted to help get us there faster, give me a second."
Suddenly Shiro's legs exploded, propelling him upward while still carrying Hoshiko.
She screamed from fear, as she gripped onto Shiro tightly but Shiro just laughed a little while looking at her.
As the two soared high above the forest Shiro said softly, "Open your eyes."
She struggled to in the beginning however she quickly grew accustomed to it. Once she opened her eyes she saw the glistening light of the city that sparkled in the distance as the setting sun spread its rays unto the two.
"I'll start heading down now.", Shiro said but then Hoshiko quickly pinched him on the cheek.
She then embarrassingly said, "I want to stay here a little longer..."
9:00 pm July 27th, 2018
Shiro and Arashi lay in a dark room. The two slept in their own futons without making a sound. Then as if breaking the silence Shiro asks,
"You're still wearing that ninja gi aren't you, Arashi?"
"A ninja must always be prepared for battle. You never know when the enemy may attack.", he replied confidently.
"But those Tori gates keep everything away? As long as those are there, then we don't have to worry much about trouble.", Shiro said.
Arashi then said while feeling irritated, "Can you just go to sleep already?"
11:00 am July 27th, 2018
Arashi suddenly got up and out of the room, as he sweated heavily. He made his way through the dark corridors until he made his way towards the temple bathroom.
He quickly and intensely washed his hands while repeating, "Why won't it come off?"
Suddenly Kotsuki joined him in the room, still wearing no shoes.
"Does it bother you that much?", he asked. "Those hands of yours are covered in blood."
Arashi jumped back in shock, "How do you know about that?"
Kotsuki responded, "The look in your eyes, as well as how you act tell me all I need. You suffer from a great trauma, don't you?"
He angrily walked past Kotsuki as he said, "You don't know a damn thing about me!"
11:00 pm July 28th, 2018
Shiro and Hoshiko left the temple in an attempt to get some freeway from the others. However, Hoshiko suddenly challenged Shiro to a game of hide and seek forcing him to retreat to some random place in the city.
he eventually decided to settle down in a park nearby but then he came upon a badly bruised-looking boy who everyone was avoiding.
Shiro approached him while asking, "Are you okay?"
Clearly, he wasn't. He was still drenched in tears and snot that oozed from his face. Shiro then sat down next to him while patting him on the back.
"There, there. Calm down and tell me what happened afterwards," he said.
The boy's face suddenly turned into that of disgust as he asked, "What the hell? Are you trying baby me??"
Shiro laughed sarcastically, "I saw on TV that if someone is upset, then you should pat them on the back while talking to them softly. I guess this was the wrong time for that?"
The depressed boy scoffed while saying, "Are you looking down on me too? Im just pathetic aren't I? I can't even protect my own belongings."
He then pointed to the trashed, bicycle near the lamppost.
"Bullies huh? Just like in those in the TV shows? So what have you done to be rid of them?", Shiro asked him.
The boy suddenly hesitated before he could give a response. Clearly, he struggled to think up an answer before Shiro suddenly began to monologue.
"Once upon a time, I had nothing. Not even a single belonging to my own name, much like you do now. But eventually, I was found and saved by someone I loved. Unfortunately, that person is gone now, and to this day I still miss her. If a loved one found out about your suffering they would also feel hurt. Do you have any loved ones?"
He then responded, "My mom I guess... She will try to fight the whole school if she finds out about this."
Shiro laughed at that thought. "I guess you know what you need to do now, don't you? But even that you may still lack the will to do it. Although it's that bravery that you will have to find for yourself."
From inside the nearby forest, Hoshiko jumped out of nowhere while laughing.
She pointed her fingers at the Shiro while saying, "I found you first, does that mean I won?"
Shiro groaned as he said, "I'm still not gonna do it. Even if you beg me to."
What seemed like tears poured down her face as she cried and wined like a child. She then started to rock on his arm while screaming,
"Do it!!! Shiro please!"
When Shiro sighed, her crocodile tears immediately dried up as Shiro agreed. He let her piggyback ride on him until Shiro then asked,
"What's your name?"
"Akira?"
Shiro then put his fingers against his lips while saying, "Please don't tell anyone about this?"
Both of his legs then exploded, releasing a great amount of blood that propelled him upwards. This repeated until he flew off far into the horizon never to be seen again.
Akira sat next to the pool of blood while looking mortified.
"What the hell?"