A new day, 9 AM in the morning. The weather slightly cloudy as proof of last night's down pour. Tiny puddles could be found around the forest with drops of water diligently falling from the leaves of trees.
- Our story continues at the small inn from last night.
"...ughhhhh, my head~" Inori's consciousness came to be as she opened her eyes.
"Oh, finally awake!"
He said with a loaf of bread in his mouth, it was that handsome fellow from last night.
Inori stared then blinked, her brows furrowed.
"Huh? Wh—why can't I move?!
She searched for the reason, her entire body was tied with rope.
"What the?! What's happening?! Ehmm ma'am? Could you please untie me?" Still mistaking his gender Inori asked to be released, being binded like this made her uncomfortable.
"Oh yeah, totally forgot, I tied you up so you wouldn't do anything lewd to me."
He said dusting the bread crumbs from his hand.
"I would never do such a thing!!"
She yelled with a flustered face.
"That's what they all say"
The boy doubted. He was about to untie her but suddenly stopped...
"For the wages of sin is death!!"
That phrase again! It came from outside the inn.
He went outside and saw a Sinner, but of which Sin?
Inori shuffled to his side like a worm, she also saw the Sinner and yelled;
"That's a Sinner of Addiction!!!"
"God that's loud!"
He covered his ears.
She continued.
"They can easily be noticed by their wheel shaped face, intercepted by their long skinny hands!" Like a scholar Inori identified the Sinner. Just like with that Sinner of Sloth she was quite literate in their designs.
- To give you a mental image, a Sinner of Addiction, as already explained has a wheel shaped face, supposedly representing the constant state of addiction. Its head rolls on the floor over and over again as a testament to its Sin committed. Addiction is a never ending cycle.
"For the wages of sin is death!!!!!!!!!!!"
It shrieked like the beast it was. Its wheel-like head began rotating at a deadly speed.
It scraped the earth beneath it, resembling the tyre of a sports car in motion.
Bash!!
Waiting for no signal, the Sinner missiled at the inn completely smashing the front wall! Debris tossed around and dust slowly settled.
She slowly opened her eyes to find out.
"H—how did you do that?!"
Inori asked in shock. The boy had dodged the attack whilst carrying her like luggage.
"Oh, c'mon! My house! What's a Sinner even doing this deep in the forest?!"
He yelled with annoyance ignoring Inori.
"For the wages of sin is death!!!"
It yelled back at him, proceeding to begin another rotation of its head for a second attack.
The boy dropped Inori on the grass floor with no regard and unsheathed his sword.
'When did she carry a sword?!'
She thought in astonishment, this persons speed was supernatural.
The Sinners head had generated enough speed, now aiming to finish the boy with a single bash.
The stranger squatted, staring at the floor as he exuded killing intent. In a flash, he quickly. launched himself at the Sinner with his speed swaying the blades of grass.
His short katana bearing fangs dug into it's flesh, cutting it's head in half.
Plop.
The Sinners now divided body dropped to the ground, although still twitching as human blood gushed out.
Inori searched for the man in the midst of dust produced. Her body still binded with rope but her eyes astonished.
"A—amazing~ As expected from a Priest" She mentally clapped at such display, the boy had moved as if built to kill, not that she could actually see him.
He dropped his katana then walked towards the Sinners twitching corpse. He squatted down and casually began eating it.
Inori paused from her earlier awe then blinked twice to clean her eyes.
"....AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!???!!?????????!??!!????!???" Inori yelled with an unnatural volume!
He ignored and continued feasting on the Sinners undead corpse, his face making a sour expression showing the distaste he felt."Ugh, Tastes like crap." The boy said in disgust.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!???!!?????????!??!!????!???!!???!!!??!???!??!!??!!??!???!?!" She parroted her words this time even louder!!
'Why did she repeat herself?'
The boy wondered.
He eventually finished devouring the horribly tasting Sinner and stood up. Leaving Inori in fear and confusion.
"Don't you know ordinary people can never kill a Sin or Sinner?"
He lectured with sass, elegantly cleaning its blood from his mouth with a napkin.
She snapped back to reality from her earlier shock. "Are you not a Priest?!" Inori asked confused. He showed superb skill so how was he an ordinary person.
"Huh? no...." He paused for a while then continued. "My name's Haruki!" He said approaching her. "The Sin of.... I don't know." An embarrassed expression grew on his face.
They both stood there after Haruki's introduction...
".... your a Sin?" Inori asked with an obvious doubting look, Sins look nothing like humans, no matter what Sin they embody. "Your lying."So she came to that conclusion.
He frowned at her unenthusiastic response. "I'm not lying! I'm a Sin!" The boy yelled in protest as if wanting more amazement of fear from Inori.
"And I said your not!" She yelled. "I don't mean to sound inappropriate ma'am, but Your beautiful! If Sins looked this good then everyone would pray to be one!" Inori stated a barrage of compliments.
"Aw, shucks."
He hid his face feeling flustered.
"Sh—shut up!"
Inori yelled also feeling flustered.
"Anyways I'm not lying, and I don't care if you believe me or not" He carried his sword and walked to the inn. Inori trailed behind him hopping. She was still tied.
"Could you please untie me now?" She said referring to the rope binding her body, they were becoming uncomfortable.
"Oh, sorry about that."
He leaned in and released her, Inori bowed in appreciation.
Haruki stared at her from head to toe before asking. "So what's your name?"
A simple question that spelled trouble for our protagonist.
"....uhhhhh~" She froze.
'This is bad, I can't tell her I'm Tabata Inori! Then she'd think I'm the Prime Minister's daughter!
Well she could think that it's just a coincidence in names, but I don't want to take any risks of someone thinking I'm mentally ill again!
I'll just play the safe card and give a fake name, we'll most likely never meet again!' Her brain calculated and came to that decision.
The boy had a face full of worry.
'Is she okay?' Haruki thought to himself, Inori had been looking like an idiot for some time now.
'Okay, now i just need a fake name! Think~ A fake name~!'
Still thinking to herself.
- Inori has never lied before, so it was quite difficult for her first time.
"Uhhhhhhhhhhhh~"
She said out loud to notify Haruki she was still conscious.
"It's okay, take your time." He reassured.
She returned to her train of thoughts.
'Inori, what about Midori, no, that doesn't feel right! Hurry up! She's looking at you weird!!'
After 5 minutes she snapped her fingers with confidence. "My name is Hori! Inori Hori!" She finally formed her Alias.
- Seriously? THAT'S the best you could do?!
"Inori Hori... nice to meet you Hori!" Haruki said with a smile, somehow making him even more attractive. Her mouth gaped in surprise.
'She used my (fake)first name?!
Without any honorifics?!'
Inori, now Hori thought in confusion, they literally just met.
'So...my name is Hori now?'
A sad expression grew for a second, denying her identity didn't feel pleasant at all.
Her heart raced as she stood in front of Haruki, his taller build crouching to observe Hori like some attraction.
'My heart is beating so fast!' She stole a glance at Haruki who seemed to be staring holes into her. Her face immediately turned red.
'Why is my heart racing for another girl?' She panicked, this had never happened to her before. Haruki noticed her sweating and asked what was the issue.
"Huh? Oh nothing, Haruki-san!"
She turned her face.
He looked confused. "San? Hey aren't we the same age? you can drop the honorifics." He shrugged dismissing her formalities.
"Well, I'm only 14, and you look older than me so-
"Wait you're 14?" He cut her off.
"Yes?" Hori answered.
Haruki slowly poked her breasts with a finger. Raising his head back from observing her chest. "Your lying." He came to that conclusion.
"I'm not lying! I'm 14!" Hori argued, ignoring what he just did.
"You're 14?!" He asked again.
"Yes! Why is that so hard to believe?!"
"You're lying!!!"
"What is wrong with you?!" She yelled, now annoyed. "I'm 14! I'm confident in knowing my own age Haruki-san!"
"And I said your not! I don't mean to sound inappropriate, but your boobs are huge! Especially for your age! Their bigger than most of my ex's!!!"
Haruki stated a barrage of...compliments?
"Aw, shucks."
She hid her face feeling flustered.
"And why are you taking that as a compliment?!"
"You're right! Father said that's 'Harassment' so your harassing me!" They kept arguing like idiots for some time before Inori, now "Hori" decided to leave.
"Good bye, Haruki-san."
She said with a red face hiding her chest.
Before she left Haruki spoke some relief. "I'm glad you're colds gone." He said removing some rubble from the damaged inn. Her eyes widened upon hearing correctly.
"...huh?" She turned. "Yeah, yesterday, you were burning up, it was raining but I rushed to a store and got some medicine."
"I also tried wiping some of your body since it looked like you hadn't showered, and don't worry I closed my eyes."
He casually answered heading to his now damaged house.
'... so it wasn't a dream...'
She thought to herself, Hori had dreamt of an angel tending to her worries, it cleaned her up and gave her medication, earlier dismissing it as a hallucination caused by her cold, but it was no dream.
"Th—thank you so much! Haruki-san!" Her knees fell to the ground and her head bent, she appreciated Haruki's care. "Please is there any way I can repay you?!" She asked raising her head.
"Don't worry about it, I wanna go somewhere so you should be on your way now." Haruki unenthusiastically said, he didn't look like the type to be owed a favor.
Hori paused then said.
"Ah... well... good bye, Thank you again!" Hori said messing with the locks of her hair.
"Till we meet again, '14 year old' girl" Haruki waved her good bye.
She finally leaves the forest to God knows where.
Haruki did some morning stretches after clearing the debris from his house. Tapping his chin as he slowly paced about. "I guess I'll leave the massacre till tomorrow?" He spoke to himself before leaving the forest as well.
-------------------------------
15 minutes later, we see Haruki walking down a slightly crowded road. The time - 9:30 AM in the morning.
He occasionally waved whichever girl gave him a glance, knocking them dead with a friendly smile. Quite the popular one here, a given due to his unrealistic looks.
After some time walking,he
turned then spoke. "...why are you following me?" He asked Hori who crept behind vending machine.
She gasped before hiding further away. "Th—that's not true Madame! There's no one following you!" She spoke behind the vending machine, in a husky English voice for some reason.
"Okay first of all, why the fuck did you speak English?" Haruki asked confused, and her English sounded perfect.
"J...just keep walking young lady!" The vending machine spoke again but this time Japanese.
Haruki squatted, now facing the bi-lingual vending machine, he could obviously see Hori's bare feet.
".... Mr vending machine... don't you have parents?" He asked with a soft voice. As much as he'd love to ignore this strange girl, she obviously needed some help.
The vending machine went quiet.
Haruki as well remained in silence, he might have asked a hurtful question.
He awkwardly cleared his throat and changed the subject. "....okay how about this! I'm going to a hot springs close by, wanna tag along? You can freshen up there!" He said with a welcoming smile.
Hori's eyes glimmered, she could finally take a bath after 7 days straight! She immediately came out from the side of the vending machine.
Gasp!
"Hori it was you?!"Haruki said with obvious sarcasm.
Hori held her hem then bowed with appreciation for his invitation. The two walked for 10 minutes now, their destination a local hot springs.
Hori being quiet for a while finally spoke. "I hope I'm not being a nuisance..." She said feeling bad having to tag along.
"It's okay, I don't mind." He answered, facing forward with both hands in his pockets.
He stared at Hori's hair with interest. "....you dyed it your yourself?" Haruki asked, seeing it was dark blue.
"No, I just woke up and saw it that way." She answered quietly, her face looking dejected, remembering her first day of being missing. Haruki didn't understand her reply, your hair doesn't change color overnight, but he paid it no mind.
"So.... you an orphan?" Haruki asked again. Trying to get some information or to at least start a conversation.
Hori shook her head, facing the floor as they walked.
"That means you ran away?" He leaned in, curious. "I'd never run away from my home!" She answered gripping her robe, slight tears escaping her eyes.
".... I'm sorry, I'll stop prying."
And with that, they walked silently to the hot springs.
----------------------------------
A total of 15 minutes. They finally arrived at the hot springs which stood as the biggest construct in the street.
"We're here!" Haruki yelled with fists raised to the sky.
"Matsumoto springs." Hori read the sign out loud. The Onsen appeared to be nothing unfamiliar, a little wider than usual tho, seeing as it was for the locals.
The two head inside after opening the front door. They walk towards the attendant sitting adjacent the entrance on a chair, paying no mind to his surroundings as the 18 year old looking boy chatted on his phone.
He had a name tag on the casual clothes he wore, 'Matsumoto Amane' Hori read the tag and acknowledged that his family owned this place.
Immediately dropping his phone seeing as they had customers. "Hello there, what option will you be trying out today?" He spoke politely looking at Hori.
"Amane! How's it going?!!" Haruki yelled, staggering like a delinquent.
'She used his first name, they must be close....or perhaps she's like that with everyone?'
Hori thought to herself, this Haruki of a character seemed to have no respect for typical naming convention.
Amane paused before continuing. " ...how can I help you young lady?" He asked Hori again, completely ignoring Haruki.
"Oh, please attend to Haruki-san first." Hori insisted.
"Yeah, didn't you hear her-
"Shut up!! Shut the fuck up!! You haven't even paid your last fee for the sauna treatment!! How the hell do you think I'm gonna answer you, ya fucking debtor?!"
The once quiet attendant bursted with anger! Towards Haruki of course.
'That was harsh!!' Hori was shocked.
Haruki cleaned his ears, still reeling from his friends volume.
"C'mon~ your gonna embarrass me like that?" Haruki said.
Hori suddenly felt bad. 'Haruki-san seems to be owing some money... In that case...'
She cleared her throat and tapped him. " ...ehm Haruki-san, if it's troubling you for the fee I best be on my way." Hori said respectfully before giving a bow.
"What a polite girl! What the heck are you doing with this low wrench?" Amane said with watery eyes. "Anyways, you look pretty rough, how about I throw in a free trial for you?" He offered, Hori did look in need of a shower.
"Oh, no need for such a thing, it would be unfair if I got special treatment and Haruki-san didn't." Hori tried refusing.
"Awwwn, such a sweet little thing. But I don't care about him, just get going." Amane said shooing Hori.
She stopped then glanced at Haruki. "....him?" Her lips muttered.
"Huh? You mean Haruki?" He asked cleaning the register.
Hori blinked, then quickly ran towards Haruki and examined his face. Her eyes widened after noticing certain features.
"Your a male?!" She was shocked.
"Oh c'mon he's not that pretty."
Amane hissed feeling both annoyance and jealousy.
Haruki scratched his neck at Hori's reaction. "Oh yeah, I noticed you calling me ma'am, I thought you were doing it on purpose or something." He said.
"How are you a boy?! Your so pretty!!" Hori squealed, not feeling the slightest bit of embarrassment, Haruki was truly beautiful.
"W—well...th... thanks?"
He said, playing with his bangs.
'He can get embarrassed?!'
Amane thought to himself seeing Haruki's reaction, a usual devil may care kind of guy suddenly getting flustered by some hobo looking girl.
"You're definitely the prettiest boy I've met!!" Hori's compliments didn't waver.
She kept staring at Haruki as if seeing an alien.
Haruki covered his face to hide his embarrassment.
Matsumoto let out a happy sigh.
"Haru, I'll forget the debt for now only because of that homeless girl."
"Thanks buddy!"
"You're still paying your debt!"
Amane snared.
"Welp, I guess I'll go to the male sauna." Haruki winked at Hori causing her to blush.
Hori approached the clerk.
"Excuse me, Matsumoto-san, is there a shower here? I would love to have one before entering the sauna."
"Yes, there's one on the left, the sauna and bathroom are lined together."
She hurriedly made her way to where he pointed, she spotted the two rooms. One a bathroom and one the actual Onsen. Luckily the bathroom was unoccupied allowing Hori to have it all to her self.
The smell of detergent finally entered her nose. At last she took a shower, the soothing feel of soap lathered on her skin, her long dark blue hair finally greeted shampoo after a while.
To close, she poured warm water on her features, letting out a satisfying moan.
Hori grabbed a towel and wrapped her developed figure as she headed to the female sauna.
"Haaaah~ This is nice~"
She exclaimed, as she greeted the room. Feeling the pleasant warmth these rooms are known for.
"I'll have to thank Haruki-san for bringing me here, I knew it was worth stalking...him..." She smiled dipping he feet into the tub.
"How is Haruki-san a boy?!"
Hori was still in doubt.
- To be honest, Hori was quite lucky, not every one invites a total stranger to a hot spring.
"I guess that's true..."
Hori casually replied to the voice that commented.
- .... okay, this obviously isn't possible but....you can't hear me, can you?
"Well... Now I can hear you loud and clear. Previously, it's been like some lady speaking in my head every now and then."
She faced up, conversing with.... whoever that was.
- Your lying.
"I would never tell a lie! I mean I lied to Haruki-san but I don't intend on doing so again!" Hori pouted.
- So you can hear me?!
"Yes.... so, who are you exactly?"
Hori's face turned worried. She had occasionally been hearing some comments every now and then, but now speaking one on one with it felt odd.
- But you're not meant to hear me! That's my purpose! I'm a Narrator!
Hori cheered.
"Ahhh, nice to meet you Narrator!"
Narrator - H—how is this possible?! Wait, why is there a "Narrator" tag now?!
"Is there a problem with me hearing you?"
Hori asked Narrator.
Narrator - No way! Why is the story now referring to me as a character?! You freaking MC! What did you just do?!
"I—I think you should calm down ma'am" Her hands guarded her face in fear.
As soon as Hori had given this 4th wall entity a name
"Narrator" she automatically joined the story.
Narrator, is now simply a voice in our protagonists head.
Upon hearing this, she got furious.
Narrator - Kid! I'm gonna kick your-
"Yo, Hori!"
A voice echoed from behind the wall. Cutting Narrator off.
"Huh? Haruki-san?!"
Hori yelled, instinctively covering her chest. She postponed her and this new voices conversation till further notice.
"Yeah, I'm at this side of the wall!!" Why was he yelling?
"Oh goodness, you startled me!" Hori sighed in relief, thankfully they weren't in the same room.
Haruki asked how the sauna felt.
Hori replied cheerful.
"It feels very relaxing, Thank you for bringing me here."
She appreciated. Bowing her head, despite not seeing him.
Haruki smiled and told her to take as long as she wanted to.
A warmth grazed Hori's being, and it wasn't the steam from the sauna, Hori was genuinely happy.
She hadn't received any kindness from another human being since her sudden disappearance.
Her smile slowly faded as she said. "Haruki-san... can I tell you something?" What was it?! Is Hori about to open up?!
"Yeah, what is it?"
He said, so Hori proceeded.
She breathed in then out, arranging her confession in her mind. "The truth is... this may sound stupid but... you see, I suddenly woke up in some abandoned warehouse and I found out that I've been announced dead for some reason, so now I...I don't know what to do."
She gently wiped her tears.
Hori fully explained everything that had happened so far. From her favorite time a year turning into a living nightmare. From meeting Haruki till coming here, she spared no details.
Haruki went silent.
"You... probably don't believe me-
"Are your parents still alive?" He cut Hori off.
"Yes, but only my Father."
She answered timidly.
"Then why don't you just go meet him?" He said as if it were simple as that.
"Well... how will I put this....my father is a high ranking Priest in Tokyo, and I don't know how to get to him, and... like I said, I've been announced dead.... God, just thinking about it makes me sad..."
Hori tried her best to explain without revealing that she was the Prime Minister's daughter.
Haruki pondered her situation.
"..... I'm still kinda confused but I think I get the gist, if your father is a high ranking Priest in Tokyo and this is Fukui-
"This is Fukui?!" Hori asked out loud.
"Yeah, Fukui prefecture, damn I guess you really were kidnapped."
"Anyways, if your father is a high ranking Priest, if possible even a Bishop, getting to Tokyo won't be enough to meet with him."
"Why not? And what's a Bishop?"
Hori asked.
Haruki paused at her question. What kind of citizen of any country didn't know what a Bishop was.
He continued anyway. "The Bishops are basically the strongest group of Priests in the entire country."
"Wooow~"
"Wow indeed, their so prominent that speaking to one in a lifetime is considered 'lucky'...buncha high horsed assholes. Since their So special, your safest bet would be a 'meeting' Hori."
"A meeting?" She frowned.
"You'll likely need to have significant achievements as a Priest, like kill a strong Sin or something to converse with a Bishop, depending on their ranking."
He continued. "Once you manage to get a meeting of congratulations of some sorts with a Bishop; your Father, you'll be able to explain that your his daughter."
Haruki stated a simple full proof plan after calculating for mere seconds.
Hori scratched her hair. "So I need to prove myself to speak with my father?" She spoke with a sad voice, something as simple as morning greetings would now require such a challenging process.
"But why don't you just go to the police?" Haruki suggested, that was the fastest solution to all this. Hori explained that she wasn't on... good terms with the police stationed at Katsuyama, Haruki didn't dig too much into it.
"... I'm really sorry for your kidnapping.... how about this! I'll help you!" Haruki said, Hori's eyes glimmered from his words but slowly returned to normal. Her brows furrowed in suspicion.
"I've noticed this Haruki-san and I seriously appreciate it but... why are you so kind to me?"
She asked folding her hands, her question made sense.
"First you took me in last night, treated my cold, and took me to this hot springs, now your lending me a hand in speaking with my Father...I am extremely grateful for your kindness... but....why?" She faced the wall seeking answers.
Haruki went silent at her question, he looked at the ceiling of the Onsen with an unreadable expression. ".... let's just say I'm stalling." A simple answer, Haruki's hospitality towards Hori was for the purpose of delaying.
Haruki cleared his throat.
"Man~ We gotta get out of here."
He dismissed the awkward atmosphere and stood up.
Hori decided to drop the topic and stood up as well.
"Agreed, it feels as if I am melting." She was about leaving the tub but froze.
'Wait. If I leave here, I'll be homeless again!' She glanced at the wall and asked.
"Forgive me Haruki-san but, would it be possible to work for you?" Asking for a job was common sense.
Haruki asked her to be specific.
"I....can be your maid and do chores, I grew up with a lot of them at home so I'm confident in my house skills." Hori said.l with desperation, she never wanted to be homeless ever again.
"So how much are we talking?"
"Oh you don't need to pay me! Simply providing shelter and feeding is more than enough!"
".....so your chill with living with me? Even though I'm a Sin?
Haruki asked. To which Hori honestly answered.
"When it comes to viewing people, I judge them based on their actions, and I haven't witnessed you do anything immoral Haruki-san."
"So, sin or not... you've shown me kindness... and I am truly grateful for that." Hori bowed at the female section of the sauna.
Haruki stood there in silence with a closed mouth. "Okay, let's get out of here, Hori."
"Understood!"
They both head to their respective changing rooms.
"Thank goodness, I might eat good food today!" She squealed at the thought of having a decent meal. Hori had forgotten about the 'Narrator' she conversed with a while ago, letting her happiness lead the way.
She stumbled upon seeing the locker she kept her clothes, Hori's robe was gone.
"Oh no!! We're are my clothes!? Haruki-san is waiting for me!"
She ran back to the wall and tried talking to Haruki on the other side.
"Haruki-san! there seems to be a problem!" No response.
"Haruki-san? Oh no, he must have left the sauna already!"
She thought in a panic, she couldn't walk outside with a towel, Hori was far too shy for such a feat.
"Hori?" A familiar voice spoke.
"Haruki-san you're here!"
She ran back to the wall.
He asked what the problem was, and Hori embarrassingly confessed about her missen clothes.
"Oh, you mean that robe. A female staff must have taken them to the laundry, it looked really dirty. Don't worry, I'll go get some spares!"
"Thank you very much!"
Hori sat down and thought in a haste. 'That robe is the last thing I have of father, it is my main proof that I am his daughter!' slightly annoyed staff took her clothes without permission, but understood since they looked too dirty to wear after a refreshing bath.
The door finally knocked after waiting for 5 minutes. "That must be Haruki-san!" She rushed to the door still wearing her towel.
She carefully creaked the door open, making sure he couldn't see her exposed body.
Haruki passed only his hand with a bag through.
"I bought some clothes." He said from the other side.
"Bought?! I thought you said you were getting spares?" Haruki assured it was alright and gestured for her to take them.
"oh ...I can't do that-
"Just take it already!" He snapped, she was making a big deal of things. She slowly stretched her hand and collected the clothes, feeling odd receiving gifts from a boy.
"Thank you very much..." She said whilst bowing.
"You're welcome!" Haruki removed his hand from the room. Hori asked for some privacy while she changed. Haruki apologized and excused himself.
She quickly wore the new clothes.It was a simple white T shirt with borne-shorts and tights, she also wore a pair of black boots from the bag. Casual clothes.
Hori walked steadily out of the changing room and spotted Haruki paying for the hot springs fee, he had felt bad for Matsumoto giving a free trial and also decided to pay his debt.
"Ooooh~ looking good!!"
He complimented Hori with a smirk.
She blushed and played with her hair. "Thank you again for the clothes Haruki-san." Hori awkwardly said seeing Amane stare at her, now refreshed and clean, she was a natural beauty.
'She's really appreciative'
Haruki and Amane thought to themselves. Seeing Hori appreciate for the billionth time now.
Haruki smiled and replied.
"You're welco-
Booooooom!!
The hot spring's tranquil surface shattered! A deadly wave of steam erupted into the air as the springs quickly evaporated from heat.
The explosion's force hurled rocks in all directions. A shockwave rippled through the local streets, causing trees to sway violently and birds to take flight.
In the aftermath, the area around the hot spring was transformed. Rocks littered the ground. The air was filled with the scent of damp earth and obvious explosives.
The scene was terrifying. A black silhouette laid on the floor, it was Hori. She painfully rose her head, trying to tolerate the pain she felt.
Tiiiiiiiiiing~
'...my ears are ringing....' Hori thought on the floor, her left eye bleeding as it had been pierced by a shard. She coughed up blood and fluids trying to speak out loud. "Haruki-san?! Matsumoto-san?!!" She called out, dust obstructing her vision.
Hori tried to stand but failed.
She bent down and saw the horror.
Her stomach was gouged out.
Out of shock she fell back to the ground.
blurgh~!!!
She threw up a significant amount of blood. Coughing seriously as she inhaled dust and smoke.
"I have... to find Haruki-san!"
She began to crawl on the floor, her arms desperately dragged her bleeding body.
Hori spotted figures in black running around, her vision was almost completely gone so she couldn't see properly.
"Who is that....?" She asked in a haze, she was about to pass out.
"There's an injured over here!!"
One yelled.
"Understood! We're on our way!!" Mysterious men wandered around in uniform, collectively rescuing injured with swift movements.
One ran past Hori but suddenly caught on fire.
His body was engulfed in flames and he quickly burned to nothing. Hori's eyes widened.
"Go! Go! Go!! Carry the injured and await help from a Priest!!"
One ordered and the rest followed.
"What's happening?!... Narrator?!" Hori asked the voice she spoke to not long ago, crying for help like a missen child.
Her wails were silenced by an ominous rhythm.
Footsteps could be heard, resembling glass threading the ground.
Hori saw a dark ball headed her way.
Thud.
It landed next to her and slowly rolled, leaking blood as it approached her, that was no ball.
"Oh my God..."
Amane's decapitated head rested besides Hori, it was close enough to confirm the face, that was the hot springs attendant.
"Matsumoto-san!!"
She cried in fear and disbelief, refusing to accept a person she just spoke to was dead.
"That voice! Narrator?! What on earth is going on?! Narrator?! Narrator??!" Short of breath she yelled one last time.
Hori's shouting stopped as she felt EVIL.
She turned and saw a glowing light on top an empty bottle.
Squinting her eyes to make sense of all this.
"Ahaahahhahhahhahhahh!!!!!!!!"
A devilish cackle ordered a massacre, multiple bodies running around burnt to steaming gore.
"Bow down as I set your flesh ablaze!!!" The source of the commentary, a skinny physique with dark green glass skin.
The creature had a lit Molotov as a head, it burned calmly despite all the commotion, no eyes nor ears but a mouth with sharp yellow teeths, it's only purpose. BURN.
"Isn't Sir Scott here already?!!"
A man yelled carrying an injured to the exit of the now blemished hot springs. "Why are they no Priests in all of Katsuyama?!" He said with annoyance.
Hori quickly carried Matsumoto's decapitated head.
"Is that a Sin?!" She asked with fear, her crawling pace automatically increased.
She squirmed towards a small hole, to hide from all the chaos.
The being spoke with confidence, still stepping forward.
"C'mon isn't there a.... whatchuma call it? Ah yes, a Priest!! Ordinary humans are boring!!" The creature complained, unsatisfied with mundane massacre.
"Matsumoto-san, May your soul rest in peace." Amidst all the chaos, She covered his eyes and said a quick prayer.
"Please....let Haruki-san be okay
She said as she abandoned her hiding spot, she simply buried Matsumoto's head there and continued to search for Haruki.
A shadow loomed over her, with a bright light at its top.
'Oh no.'
She thought to herself, her hands trembled, she dared not to look back.
It crouched and spoke to Hori
"Hey girlie?! You a Priest ?!"
The monster said with a hunched back.
Hori immediately stopped crawling, staying perfectly still, as if to play dead.
Her face turned grim as she slowly closed her eyes, praying it will go away. It didn't
Her mind thought after being certain.
'So this is a Sin....' She swallowed hard. Was this it? To avoid death for this long, only to die at the hands of this monster.
Hori tried to remain calm but saw tears rolling down her eyes, her body had already given up.
'It's so much more different from Haruki-san...' Of course it was, this creature didn't even look human, except from his two legged build.
It tapped Hori's scalp, seeing as she had frozen. "Hey... I'm talking to you!!" It kicked her stomach and launched her out of the hot springs through the roof.
30 meters into the sky! Approximately 10 stories!
She exhaled slowly as her eyes saw birds.
The plain blue sky reflected the wide waters Fukui owned.
'...huh..... I'm flying?' Hori was breathtaken by the scenery. The landscape of Fukui prefecture could be seen, with notable landmarks appearing ever so closely.
'.... I'm.... going.... to die...'
She slowly closed her eyes as the sun beamed on her face.
After losing all hope, a man carried Hori whilst in the air.