The train hummed softly as it glided along the tracks, the rhythmic clattering of the wheels providing a soothing backdrop to the quiet evening. The interior of the train was mostly empty, with a few scattered passengers nodding off, their heads gently bobbing with the movement. The sky outside the window had darkened into a deep navy, punctuated by flickering lights from distant towns and the occasional glow of passing street lamps.
Aisha and I sat side by side in one of the seats near the back of the train, our reflections faintly visible in the window. She was leaning against the headrest, her eyes half-closed, her body relaxed and still as if she were on the verge of sleep. I could still feel the chill from the attic lingering in my bones, a reminder of the eerie discovery we'd just made.
"Hey," Aisha said softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she glanced at me. "You doing okay, Motosaki? You've been quiet since we left the house."
I turned to face her, offering a small smile, though it felt somewhat strained. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… still thinking about everything we found back there. It's a lot to process."
Aisha's eyes softened, and she reached out to give my hand a gentle squeeze. "I get it. But you'll figure it out. And I'll be right there to help you, okay?"
"Thanks, Ai." I squeezed her hand back, grateful for her warmth.
It was nice to have someone to share the burden with, even if I wasn't entirely sure what that burden entailed yet. The train rattled slightly as it began to slow, the lights inside flickering briefly as we neared the next station.
As we pulled into the platform, I noticed the faint buzz of an announcement overhead, barely audible through the glass. A few passengers got up, shuffling toward the exit doors, but Aisha and I remained in our seats. We still had a few stops to go before we reached her neighborhood. Aisha shifted beside me, stretching her arms and letting out a soft yawn.
"I'm probably going to pass out the moment we get back to my place," she said, a playful grin tugging at her lips. "It's been a long day, and I'm beat."
I chuckled softly, nodding. "Yeah, same. I'll probably just head to my room and crash too."
But I knew that wasn't true. My mind was still buzzing with questions, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there were more answers to be found within the pages of the book my dad had left for me. Even as Aisha rested her head against the window, her eyes finally closing, I found myself glancing down at my bag, where the book was tucked away.
The train continued its journey, the occasional jolt making me more alert. The lights outside the window blurred into streaks of color, passing by in a steady rhythm, and I let my thoughts drift back to the attic. The letter. The chest. The chill that had seeped into my skin as I read my father's words. Cursed. It was a word that echoed in my mind, sharp and clear, refusing to fade even as I tried to think of other things.
Before long, the train pulled into Aisha's station. I gently nudged her awake, and she blinked at me, a little groggy but smiling.
"Our stop," I said, nodding toward the doors that were beginning to slide open.
She nodded back, and we both stood up, making our way out onto the platform.
The air outside was cool and crisp, the kind that made you want to wrap your jacket tighter around you. We walked together through the quiet streets, past dimly lit shops and the occasional stray cat slipping into the shadows.
Aisha's house was only a short walk from the station, and soon we arrived at the familiar front gate, the porch light casting a warm glow over the front steps. We stepped inside the house and I closed the door behind us, locking it after.
"Good night, Motosaki," she said, turning to me with a sleepy smile. "Get some rest, okay?"
"Good night, Ai. See you in the morning." I returned the smile, watching as she walked up the stairs, giving me a small wave before disappearing into the darkness ahead.
I stood there for a moment, staring out the window into the night, watching as a few cars drove by through the neighborhood. Then, with a sigh, I turned and made my way up the stairs as well, slipping inside my room, which gave me the privacy I needed right now.
Inside, I flicked on the lamp light and set my bag down on the small desk by the window. The room was quiet, save for the distant hum of traffic and the occasional chirp of a cicada. I pulled the book out of my bag, running my fingers over the worn cover, feeling the texture beneath my fingertips. It was thicker than I had remembered, the leather cover a deep shade of brown, almost black, with a faint gold embossing on the spine. There was no title on the front, just a simple design that seemed familiar yet strange.
I hesitated for a moment, my heart beating a little faster. Was I ready for this? Whatever was inside, it had been hidden away for a reason. And if my father's letter was any indication, this wasn't going to be a simple story or journal. It was something more—something that could change everything.
With a deep breath, I opened the cover, revealing the first page. There was only a single line, written in my father's neat, precise handwriting:
"To my beloved son, Motosaki. If you are reading this, then you are ready to know the truth. But be warned: once you start, there is no going back."
{Chapter 10: Eventful Day Part 1}
I continued to read the book, flipping through each page until I got to the information about the Tomodachi and began scanning through it.
[Name: Tomodachi (友達)]
• Type: Evil Yokai Spirit
• Nature: Supernatural entity targeting female friend groups
[Background and Origin]
• Tragic Past: The Tomodachi is a spirit of a woman who died bitter and alone, having never received the love she desired in life. Her unresolved feelings of jealousy and betrayal have turned her into a vengeful spirit.
• Connection to Friendship: The name "Tomodachi" means "friend" in Japanese, symbolizing the spirit's obsession with close-knit relationships. Her focus on female friendships reflects her own unfulfilled desires and the bitterness that led to her demise. She thrives on the bonds of friendship, using them as a catalyst for chaos and destruction.
'This entire section must be only about the Tomodachi...I wonder how much dad was able to get down before the move. Hopefully there are answers in this book as to let me know what happened to you dad and mom,' I thought as I turned to the next page.
[Abilities and Powers]
• Possession: The Tomodachi can possess one of the girls in the group, amplifying their negative traits and turning them against each other. This possession allows her to manipulate emotions, create rifts, and incite jealousy, anger, and betrayal among friends.
• Swapping Targets: The Tomodachi possesses a strategic mind. If you start to suspect the correct girl as the target of the curse, she can switch her focus to another girl after a full day, ensuring that your investigation remains muddled and confusing.
• Emotional Manipulation: The Tomodachi is skilled at exploiting insecurities and past traumas. She knows how to trigger feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, and fear within her host and their friends, turning them against each other without revealing her true nature.
"If you are reading this far, you're already on the path of learning how to stop the Tomodachi. Keep reading on, Motosa..."
The page was ripped as well as the next two pages of the book. It looked as if they were ripped out of the book on purpose, so I didn't know much about her other than her name, background, and abilities. For now, that's all I really needed, but I would've liked to know what the last two pages said.
I flipped through a few more pages, reading about the Tomodachi and her history in the past about how she was also a resident of Kojima Town and was a fairly well known woman in her days. The book read how she, herself, was betrayed and killed by her own friend, making her the way she is now.
Soon, I reached the section of the book named "Yandere Levels" and began to brace myself for what I was preparing to read. With a deep breath, I carefully flipped to the next page.
[Beginning Stages - Harmless Stages]
Level 1: Harmless Yandere
• Characteristics: At this stage, the girl's feelings of love and attachment to you are still relatively harmless. She may blush easily, constantly think about you, or get flustered when you're around, but there's no malicious intent.
Level 2: Obsessive Yandere
• Characteristics: The girl becomes more obsessive, constantly thinking about you, wanting to be near you, and focusing on every detail about your life. She might go out of her way to monitor you more closely.
Level 3: Stalker Yandere
• Characteristics: Now the obsession takes a darker turn. The girl may start secretly following you, keeping track of your every move. She might begin to spy on you, whether in person or through social media, possibly taking pictures of you without your knowledge.
I noticed the other pages about the Yandere Levels were also ripped out, confirming my suspicions that the Tomodachi that was held in the attic had been tampering with the book in secret. All of the most important bits of the book were ripped out to further throw me off.
'That's all I get huh? Just three levels huh? Alright, I suppose I can just work with this for now and keep an eye out...' I thought, flipping through the other pages then reached the last page.
"If you wonder what happened to me and your mother, the scavenger hunt I left for you will explain the story. Find each page in order to get the story, finding those pages will be your ticket in understanding the truth...about your mother..."
As I read the last page, I felt another chill crawl down my back then closed the book. I closed my eyes, letting out a soft sigh, not knowing if I could get any sleep after what I read.
Once I collected my thoughts, I decided to get up and take myself to bed, getting under the covers and staring at the ceiling. I couldn't focus on one thought, my mind racing with multiple questions. Soon, as my eyes grew heavy, I finally closed my eyes and decided to get some sleep for the night.
The next day arrived, my alarm on my phone going off and I groggily woke up from my slumber. I let out a deep sigh and lazily slapped my hand on my phone screen, turning off the alarm then sat up on my bed.
A soft knocking sounded on my door, Aisha gently opening the door and peeking her head inside. "Saki?~ Are you coming to school today?"
"Yeah, let me get ready. I'll be down in like..." I began, looking at my phone screen and noticing the time. "Five, ten minutes. At most fifteen..."
Aisha nodded then glanced at my desk, seeing the book laying on my desk then looked back at me. "Anything interesting in the book?"
"Meh...nothing to take home and gossip about, y'know. It was just a book explaining how my mom and dad met," I lied, keeping the actual truth from Aisha for now.
Aisha smiled at me, nodding her head then looked at her watch. "Well, you'd better hurry and get ready~ I can already hear Emma now talking about how you're already slacking off."
"Ugh, don't even remind me. Plus she's gonna be talking about how we met Baylee yesterday all day, it's gonna be an eventful day," I said as I pushed myself out of bed, letting out a tired sigh.
Aisha giggled softly. "Yeah, so unless you wanna deal with both at once, I suggest you to get your butt ready!~"
"Yeah, yeah..." I said, stretching and letting out a yawn then walked toward my closet.
Aisha smiled at me then closed the door to let me get ready for the day. I began to pick out my clothes for the day, lost in my own thoughts at the moment as I picked out something casual to wear.
'She seemed normal...but Dad did say the Tomodachi won't make it obvious at first. I guess I should just relax for now...I don't want to end up becoming paranoid over this. I need a clear head on my shoulders,' I thought, getting ready for the day and let out a calming breath.
After getting ready and dressed, I grabbed my school bag and began packing the important things inside. I looked at the book on my desk, deciding whether or not to take it with me. I decided to leave the book for now, slinging my bag over my shoulder and leaving my room.
I began making my way downstairs and met up with Aisha, the two of us leaving her house to walk to Matsugaya High together. Unlike yesterday's walk to school, I was more calm and chill today since I already got accustomed to everyone.
"So..~" Aisha began, glancing up at me with a sweet smile. "Are you going to participate in the Creative Arts Festival happening at the end of the month?"
"Probably since I do have that art project I'm working on with Emma. I do know that I have other extracurriculars to be doing like Music, Literature, Culinary and Drama Class, so I'll probably just take all of them and choose my favorite one," I shrugged, watching a few cars drove by as I walked beside Aisha.
"You do have a knack for cooking and music so I'm sure you'll fit in more since Art really isn't your forte," Aisha giggled, gently wrapping her arm around mine as we walked side by side.
I chuckled softly at Aisha, looking down at her with a warm smile. "Hey, I can draw...not to the extent of Emma and Otsuki, but at least my pictures are more than stick figure doodles~"
Aisha let out a soft laugh, feigning a hurt expression. "Hey, my stick figures have tons of personality!"
"Right," I replied, a soft laugh escaping my lips.
The rest of the walk to school was full of laughter and warm conversations between Aisha and I. As we neared the school, we could see a sea of students starting to enter the campus as well, the two of us following behind and making our way into the courtyard where the other girls were waiting for us.
"Ugh, where the heck are those two? Don't tell me that they are gonna be late! It's literally Motosaki's second day here," Emma huffed, checking her phone to look at the time.
"Don't worry, Em. They will show up. I doubt Motosaki and Aisha would just not show up today," Rebecca assured, a soft smile playing on her face.
Naomi chuckled softly and checked her nails, filing them and hummed. "I sure hope now. I've still gotta make sure he gets the memo~"
Otsuki sat elegantly with the other girls, looking at the large clock on the top of the school building. "They still have some time before classes start. I'm sure they just got held up by something."
Before Emma could respond, Aisha called out to the four, gaining their attention as she hurried toward the table they were sitting at. Emma and the others looked at us, watching as we approached them.
"There you two are!~ For a moment, I thought you wouldn't have shown up. Good to know you're not a slacker, Motosaki," Emma teased, a smug grin playing on her face.
I rolled my eyes at Emma, softly chuckling and sat down with everyone, taking my spot between Otsuki and Aisha. "Whatever you say, Em..."
"Whoa~ Now you look like someone who didn't get enough sleep last night. Don't tell me that our trip to Kojima Town kept you up all last night," Naomi teased, pointing her nail filer at me. "If so, you will not be able to survive a single outing or date with us while we are in Shibuya."
"Somehow, I can believe that when it comes to you. Gonna have me filing for bankruptcy if I ever find myself going on a date with you," I said, chuckling softly and shaking my head slightly.
Naomi rolled her eyes at my comment, but couldn't help but to smile at my joke. "Whatever..~ You just be ready to fall in line today. Today, and every Tuesday and Thursday, Mr. Hoshido teaches the Varsity Basketball Team so we will be in the Gym today for his class."
"Hm...that's neat. Lemme guess, since we will be at the gym, you're gonna have me running your errands huh?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Precisely! Now, let's all get ready for the day!" Naomi said, getting up from her seat.
Just as we got up, the bell rang, signalling for everyone to go to their first class. I began to follow the girls toward the Gym Building across the campus and mentally prepared myself for the hours we will spend inside and outside.