"Are you sure you don't want him to find out?"
"Yes, I am, you dumbass. If he finds out I like him, he'll think I'm a crazy woman who's just after his looks."
"But isn't that what you really are after?"
"No, I am not!"
"Yes, you are."
"Ahh, just shut up!"
Narration: So, you're probably wondering who I am. That girl sitting next to me is my friend, Nana Karisu. We've been friends since grade school. And me? I'm Shiro Haruki. This story is about how my peaceful—no, our peaceful—life took a complete 180-degree turn.
It all began when a boy walked into class with his head down, staring at the floor.
"Look at that guy," Nana said. "Whenever I see him, he always makes my day kinda gloomy."
"Does he really?" I asked. "Isn't he... I think he's kinda good-looking."
Nana's face twisted in disbelief. "Huh? What are you saying? Everyone in the class avoids him because he's always looking at some weird book about mythology and urban legends. Isn't that kinda... nerdish?"
"Yeah, yeah," I replied. "We're gals. Of course, we find otaku kinda gross. But he doesn't seem like a bad guy."
The teacher entered the class and started the lesson. I glanced out of the window, distracted.
Wow, what's that? A cyclone? And why does it have a red color?
The school day ended, and everyone began to leave.
"Hey, Nana! You leaving already? Please wait for me!"
"Ahh," she replied. "But don't you have to go for counseling for beating up that kid yesterday?"
"Um… ah… yes, I guess I did hit some guy."
Nana smirked. "You didn't just hit him—you beat the crap outta him. If it weren't for the teacher, you might've killed him."
"No, I wouldn't!"
"Ya, sure. I'm going home. Just take your sweet time."
"Yeah, go home safe. The weather's not great today."
As Nana walked away, she muttered to herself, "The weather's not great? The sky is clear as crystal. Has she gone insane?"
"Shiro, do you know what you've done? You just beat a guy to death! If I hadn't stopped it, you might've killed him!"
"It's not my fault, sir," I replied. "He said some mean things about my friend. And why do boys always get away with saying this crap? I just couldn't stand it, so I beat him."
The teacher sighed. "Look, Shiro, it's not about whether you find it annoying or intolerable. What if you had gotten hurt? You know violence isn't always the answer. I know you're a considerate girl—that's a good thing about you—but there are times when you have to resolve things with words, not actions."
That day, I understood something: our teacher was really a nice guy.
"Ah, do I have to be the only one left?" I muttered, glancing out of the window. The weather still hasn't changed. What the hell is wrong today?
I noticed someone still inside the classroom. It was the gloomy guy, picking up his things, all beat up and drenched in cold water. I approached him and helped him gather his belongings.
"Hey, are you the only one left?"
He nodded silently.
"What happened to you? Getting bullied or something?"
"Yes," he replied but didn't look at me.
"Aw, I don't understand why you don't fight back. It makes my blood boil seeing those bullies get so full of themselves."
"It's not like I want this to happen," he said softly. "But what can I do? If I rebel against them, they'll just increase the bullying. And I don't have time for that. I have to take care of my little sister. If they go after my close ones just because of me... I can't accept that. Isn't it better to just take some beatings?"
He said the last words with a forced smile, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Let me help you with your things."
"Nah, you don't have to."
"Just shut up and let me help."
"Okay, if you say so."
We walked out of the school together.
"Today's weather is really bad, isn't it?" he said.
"Yeah, it sure is."
He still looked downcast.
"Hey, cheer up, man! Let's go. I'll take you to some nice place."
I grabbed his hand and started running.
"Where are we even going?" the gloomy boy asked, trudging behind me as I dragged him by the wrist.
"You'll see," I replied, a grin spreading across my face. "Trust me, you're gonna love it."
We were heading toward an old shrine nestled in the mountains of Kyoto. It was a long walk, the air crisp and cool as the sun began to dip behind the trees.
"I didn't know you were into shrines," he muttered, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"I'm not, really," I admitted, hopping over a rock in the path. "But this one's different. It's old and kinda mysterious. Besides, it's quiet. You look like you need quiet."
"I need quiet? What about you? You're the one who punched a guy into next week," he shot back, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Hey, he deserved it!" I exclaimed, throwing him a look. "You should try it sometime. Punching someone feels surprisingly good."
"I'll pass. My fists are reserved for self-defense."
"Well, aren't you noble," I teased, rolling my eyes.
As we climbed higher, the dense forest opened up to reveal a clearing. The shrine stood there, ancient and weathered, its wooden beams covered in moss and vines.
"Whoa," he murmured, stopping in his tracks.
"See? Told you it's cool," I said, placing my hands on my hips.
We explored the grounds, laughing as the chilly mountain air nipped at our noses. I found an old rope swing hanging from a tree, and we took turns pushing each other. For a moment, everything felt light, like the weight of the day had been lifted.
"Let's check out the inside!" I declared, pointing at the shrine's slightly ajar doors.
"Uh, I don't think that's a good idea," he said quickly. "It looks… fragile."
"Come on, where's your sense of adventure?" I grabbed his arm, ignoring his protests as I pulled him toward the entrance.
"Shiro, seriously, this place is—"
"Relax. What's the worst that could happen?" I pushed the creaky door open and stepped inside. Dust motes danced in the dim light filtering through cracks in the wooden walls. The air was heavy, almost oppressive.
"See? Nothing to worry about," I said, flashing him a grin.
He sighed. "I've got a bad feeling about this."
As we moved deeper into the shrine, something caught my eye—a large, ornate vase sitting on a pedestal in the center of the room. It was covered in intricate carvings of strange creatures and symbols I didn't recognize.
"What's this?" I asked, stepping closer.
"Shiro, don't touch it," he warned, his voice tense.
But curiosity got the better of me. I reached out to examine the vase, and as my fingers brushed against it, the pedestal trembled.
"Shiro, stop!" he shouted, lunging forward.
Too late. The vase toppled and shattered on the ground.
A deafening roar shook the shrine as a powerful wind burst from the broken vase. The sky outside darkened, swirling with ominous red clouds. The ground beneath us trembled, cracks snaking through the wooden floor.
"What did you do?!" he yelled over the howling wind.
"I—I didn't mean to!" I stammered, panic setting in.
Before we could react, a figure in a flowing white robe materialized before us. His eyes glowed with fury as he raised a hand toward me.
"You dare disturb the seal of the yokai?!" he bellowed, his voice echoing like thunder.
The boy pushed me aside just as a bolt of energy shot toward me. It hit him instead, and he collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain.
"No!" I screamed, crawling to his side.
The storm outside intensified, tearing through the mountains with relentless fury. Suddenly, a young woman in a maiden's outfit appeared, her expression grim.
"You fools!" she exclaimed. "Do you have any idea what you've done? That vase contained the most powerful yokai's ever sealed—a force of unimaginable destruction!"
"What yokai?" I demanded, tears streaming down my face as I held the boy's hand.
The Gashadokuro loomed over us, its skeletal frame towering into the stormy sky. Its hollow eye sockets glowed with a menacing red light, and its bony fingers cracked ominously as it reached toward the shrine.
"Get up, girl!" the maiden yelled, pulling me to my feet. "We don't have time to waste!"
"But how do we fight that?!" I screamed, staring at the colossal monster.
The maiden tossed me a talisman. "This is no ordinary monster. Gashadokuro is born from the rage of those who died of starvation. It cannot be destroyed, only subdued. Use this to weaken its energy while I distract it!"
Before I could argue, the maiden charged forward, her movements fluid and precise. She leaped into the air, striking the monster with a flurry of glowing charms that momentarily staggered it.
"Girl! Now!" she shouted.
Heart pounding, I pressed the talisman to the ground, chanting the words she had taught me. A faint blue light emerged from the earth, creating a barrier that held the monster in place for a moment.
But it wasn't enough. The Gashadokuro roared, shattering the barrier with a single swing of its massive arm.
"We're not strong enough!" I cried, stumbling back.
"Keep going!" the maiden urged. "We cannot let it reach the village below!"
As the battle raged on, I felt an unfamiliar heat spreading through my chest, like fire coursing through my veins. My vision blurred, and a strange voice echoed in my mind—a calm, ancient tone speaking words I couldn't understand.
"What… is happening to me?" I whispered, clutching my head.
The maiden turned toward me, her eyes widening. "No… It can't be!"
Before I could respond, my body felt weightless, as though it no longer belonged to me. My school uniform transformed, the fabric turning a radiant white, flowing like silk in the wind. My eyes burned with an intense light, and when I opened them, I saw the world differently. The storm clouds above glowed faintly, revealing shadowy shapes moving within them.
"What is this…?" I murmured, staring at my hands, now shimmering with a soft, blue light.
The Gashadokuro paused its attack, its hollow gaze fixed on me. It let out an ear-piercing screech and lunged forward, its massive hand aimed directly at me.
"No!" the maiden cried, stepping in front of me. She raised her own talisman, deflecting the attack just inches from my face. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, but she stood firm, her expression fierce.
"Shiro, listen to me!" she shouted. "You've awakened the power of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun! That's why it's reacting to you!"
"Amaterasu?" I echoed, the name unfamiliar yet strangely comforting.
The maiden nodded. "Her essence must have been sealed in the shrine, hidden within that vase. You've become her vessel!"
I barely had time to process her words before the monster roared again. Without thinking, I raised my hand, palm outstretched. A wave of light erupted from it, blinding the Gashadokuro. It staggered back, covering its face with its skeletal hands, and then—without warning—it dissolved into the shadows, disappearing entirely.
The storm above began to calm, the red-tinted clouds fading into the night sky.
Silence fell over the mountains, broken only by the sound of my ragged breathing. I looked at my trembling hands, still faintly glowing with blue light.
"What just happened?" I whispered.
The maiden approached, her expression somber. "The Gashadokuro has retreated for now, but it is not gone. It will hide in the shadows, waiting for its chance to return."
"Why… why did it run?"
"It feared you," she said simply. "Amaterasu's power is the essence of light, the one thing the Gashadokuro cannot withstand. But that power is not fully yours yet. It is dangerous and unpredictable."
As she spoke, the light around me began to fade, and my clothes returned to normal. I felt an overwhelming exhaustion wash over me, and my knees buckled.
The boy, who had remained unconscious throughout the fight, stirred and opened his eyes. "What… what happened?" he murmured, his voice weak.
I knelt beside him, relief flooding through me. "You're okay," I said, tears blurring my vision.
The maiden sighed. "He doesn't remember," she muttered, almost to herself.
"Remember what?" I asked.
She shook her head. "Nothing. For now, it's better this way. But you both must be careful. The yokai that escaped from the vase are not gone. Some of them may have already found hosts."
I glanced at the boy, who seemed confused but otherwise unharmed. A sinking feeling settled in my chest, but I nodded. "We'll be careful," I promised.
The maiden looked at me with a mixture of pity and determination. "Your journey is just beginning, Shiro. Amaterasu's power chose you for a reason. Protect him. Protect yourselves. And be ready for what's to come."
As she vanished into the night, I sat beside him, the weight of her words heavy on my shoulders.
"Shiro?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you… for saving me."
I smiled faintly, though my heart was far from calm. "You'd do the same for me, wouldn't you?"
He didn't answer, but I saw the faintest smile on his lips as the moonlight bathed us in its quiet glow.