In short, I became another person.
All night long, I gathered useful information within the room, but the information was limited. I could only deduce from the navigation map on the body owner's phone that I was in a place called Fuyuki City in Japan, specifically at the Matou residence located in the mountainous area of the city.
The contacts on the phone included only the Matou family home and a few classmates' numbers. Judging by the names, most were female, suggesting this guy had a decent rapport with women, but that was of no use to me.
As I tried to find more information, my body could no longer hold up, and I fell asleep at the desk in the early morning. I was soon gently awakened by someone, and in the morning sunlight streaming in, I saw a girl who looked completely different from the one I had seen last night.
Wearing a beautifully tailored yellow and white top that accentuated her ample chest, her slender waist flowed down into a flowing black skirt that reached her knees. Her straight, rounded calves were wrapped in white cotton socks, lightly stepping on the wooden floor—this was a picture of a model of femininity.
Beneath her bright long hair tied with a red ribbon, her smooth face appeared even more radiant in the morning light. If last night she was a sexy little wildcat, then now she was the very definition of pure and adorable.
"Brother, brother."
Matou Sakura's soft voice completely roused me. I was astonished at how much one person could change in such a short time. I mumbled a couple of responses, and it was now basically confirmed that she was my sister. I pondered how to address her without raising suspicion.
"L-Little Sakura, is there something you need?"
When Matou Sakura heard me call her so gently, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but then her gaze returned to calm. She brushed her long hair aside and respectfully said, "Brother, grandfather wants to see you."
Grandfather! This guy actually has a grandfather? The word gave me an inexplicable discomfort; perhaps this "grandfather" was very strict with the body's owner. This might be an instinctive reaction.
After Sakura spoke, she led the way, and I followed closely, aware that I needed to keep up; being left behind would be troublesome.
"Little Sakura, um... what does grandfather want to see me about?"
"Probably about the summoning ritual."
Summoning? My attempt to probe for more information resulted in an even more puzzling answer, and Sakura's attitude towards me became very cautious, a stark contrast to her openness last night, as if she were somewhat afraid of me. This subtle change made me wary of revealing too much, and only the sound of our footsteps echoed on the wooden floor.
We encountered no one else on the way; it seemed that in the entire Matou residence, it was just me, Matou Sakura, and the grandfather I was about to meet. Sakura led me into the largest Western-style house in the complex. As we crossed a dim corridor on the first floor, I began to hear a strange chirping sound in the air. Finally, when Sakura pushed open a stone door to a cellar, the chirping reached its peak.
As a civilized modern person, I found it hard to describe what lay before me, for all I could see were strange, bizarre insects crawling on the ground. The floor was covered with shiny trails left by the insects, and their sheer number was nauseating. The entire dark space was filled with a repulsive, twisted atmosphere.
I leaned against the doorframe, suppressing my nausea, but noticed that Sakura seemed to be used to it. Her expression was numb, and her unnaturally calm demeanor was somewhat frightening; her originally beautiful pupils had become hollow.
"Shinji, Sakura, come here."
A dry, hoarse voice suddenly rang out, and I noticed an old man standing in the dim cellar, leaning on a cane. He was quite aged, with sharp eyes that exuded an oppressive presence disproportionate to his frail, short stature.
The area around the old man seemed to be a no-go zone, as the insects kept their distance, not daring to approach.
What I was witnessing far exceeded my understanding. Am I still in the civilized world?
"Yes, grandfather."
Sakura respectfully called out, stepping into the cellar. I could only force myself to follow closely, carefully avoiding the dirty insects, and the closer I got to the old man, the more intense the feeling of oppression became, reminding me of those eerie old zombies from movies.
As I stood before this ominous old man, his sharp gaze swept over me and Sakura, then focused intently on Sakura's face before suddenly turning to me, scolding in a stern tone, "Shinji, didn't I tell you to help Sakura with..."
"Grandfather, last night Shinji brother was too tired, so I took the liberty of leaving."
Sakura interrupted the old man, seemingly defending me, but I was left confused, my brain starting to short-circuit.
"Hmph," the old man suddenly looked at Sakura with a strange expression, saying in an odd tone, "The summoning ritual is imminent, and I cannot allow any mistakes. But since you can endure it, that's for the best."
After saying this, the old man let out a peculiar cackling laugh. As a man, I understood the implications of that laughter all too well; this old man was definitely thinking of something inappropriate!
"But just to be safe, it would be best if my dear grandson puts in some effort this time."
After a pause, the old man added this line. I wasn't sure if I was seeing things, but at that moment, I noticed a distinct bulge flash across Sakura's smooth cheek, only to quickly return to its usual flatness.