Tomodachi
In Tomodachi, Motosaki Izuna, an 18-year-old American-Japanese military child, transfers to the prestigious Matsugaya High in Japan, eager to reconnect with his roots and finish his final year of high school. Little does he know, his arrival coincides with the onset of a sinister curse—the Tomodachi Curse—an ancient evil that thrives on the bonds of friendship. As Motosaki reunites with his childhood best friend, Aisha Ayami, he quickly forms close ties with Aisha and her four friends: the shy but insightful Rebecca Haruna, the fiery and competitive Emma Chisaka, the serene yet fragile Otsuki Nagagami, and the proud, wealthy Naomi Suzuki.
While the group enjoys their time together, a hidden darkness looms. The Tomodachi, a vengeful yokai spirit, preys on the girls’ relationships, driving them to betray one another in a twisted quest for love. Motosaki soon discovers that he is entangled in a deadly game: to break the curse, he must identify the true Tomodachi before the Matsugaya Festival on December 20th. Each wrong choice results in the brutal erasure of a girl from existence, leaving Motosaki in a cycle of despair as he is repeatedly thrust back in time with no memory of the girls he lost.
As he delves deeper into the mystery, Motosaki confronts the chilling nature of the Tomodachi Curse and the darkness it brings out in his friends. With each iteration, he grows more determined to save them, piecing together clues and forming new bonds while battling the mounting psychological terror. However, as the curse intensifies, the Tomodachi becomes bolder, taunting Motosaki with haunting memories and manipulating his perceptions of friendship and love.
In a desperate bid to save his friends and end the torment once and for all, Motosaki must navigate a treacherous path filled with heartbreak and sacrifice. As the festival approaches, he faces a harrowing choice: risk losing everything by confronting the Tomodachi directly or accept his own tragic fate in an effort to secure a happier ending for those he loves.
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To all who know what my novel Shokyo is, this is a reimagined version of my first horror/thriller story, Shokyo! I hope you enjoy this spooky book for the up coming spooky season!
