As class ends, I head my way over to the rendezvous point that Olympia chose. Rendezvous point? Hardly. You already know where she and I always meet—where every version of us first met.
Why aren't we heading together, you may ask?
Well, it's simple:
She doesn't want to be seen anywhere near me at the school.
Just kidding, of course.
She told me that she has business to attend to. And because of this business, Kumiko won't be joining us for lunch today. It would've been all of our first school lunch together as a trio if she could've joined, but there's nothing I can do about it now.
I've finally arrived at the place where it all began. Or is this the place where it all ended? I'm glad no one knows the type of corny monologues I have with myself.
"Yo, Kiyomi! I know what type of corny monologues you have with yourself in private! I also know what other things you do with yourself in private, but I don't think this series will get a contract if I shared those things…"
Kagami Shikocha—my reflection. She shows up whenever I'm down, like a cosmic joke.
I still know little about her, but due to recent events, I've been forced to grow closer to her. But maybe closer isn't the best word to use. Can one even grow closer to their reflection? Doesn't a reflection in a mirror only grow the farther you are from it? Think about it this way—
"Let me cut you off there, Kiyomi. Save that thought for a different chapter. I'm in front of you, so entertain me, not the readers!" she exclaims as she flaps her fists around.
"My bad, Kagami. I'm not too eager to speak with you, full offense."
"None taken. Thanks for your concern. It has been quite a while since we last spoke. How many weeks off did you take to release this chapter and the previous volume's epilogue?"
"Kagami, can we try to break the fourth wall less often? I'm sure whoever's reading has grown bored of that whole stick."
"Kind of like that tree that you abandoned when you were younger? I wonder if we'll ever expand upon that subject."
"..."
Why must she be like this?
"Just kidding, Kiyomi-chan. You know my humor has no limits, just like the sky. But don't worry, I didn't come all this way to have yet another conversation about the sky with you."
"Oh? Then what did you come all this way for? Wait…this place isn't far from the school, so don't act like you went on some treacherous journey to meet me here."
"My bad, my bad. Sorry, I want others to have a better image of me. But anyways. Have you heard the rumor going around?"
Rumors? This is our first day back from break. What rumors could have spread within a day?
"Can I take it that you have no idea what rumors are going around? Of course not, huh? One must have friends to hear rumors from. Luckily, you have me! So let me spill the me.
"Rumor has it that there's a witch who takes the shape of butterflies to influence her prey into committing harmful and self-harming acts. This witch seemingly has no limit to her desire for harm and has put her prey into life-threatening situations.
"One victim was pressured into speeding past 100mph. They crashed into a truck and survived—barely. But the truck wasn't empty. A man napping inside died. It's like the victim wasn't allowed to die…only to kill."
"Another victim was pressured into entering a gang-affiliated area and starting fights with gang members. Luckily, or unluckily, that person was able to survive an incredible beating, but the majority of their bones were broken, and they had spent a long time in the hospital. Had isn't the right word. They're still in the hospital as we speak. But they haven't spoken a word since they were emitted. They experienced severe psychological trauma. One person told me that the gang members may not have just used their fists, feet, or weapons to harm this person, if you know what I mean.
"This is perhaps the worst one I've heard, but one person was pressured into killing their entire family. I didn't hear too much about specifics concerning this case, but yeah, that's the gist of these rumors."
"Wait, Kagami…you introduced these rumors as if they were new, but this couldn't have happened within a day. How old are these rumors?"
"Haha, they're old news. Since I'm new here, it's news to me. You don't have the same excuse as I, and thus, you're lame. But it seems this rumor has been going on for around a year or two. I only heard about them today because a horrible event happened over the weekend."
"Horrible? These rumors have gotten worse?" I ask her.
"Indeed, but maybe I'll share this most recent one another time. The person you're meant to meet here will be arriving soon, and as much as I like her, I'm not in the mood to meet her right now. You do know that Olympia and I aren't acquainted, right? Ah, my bad. We aren't acquainted yet. Well, smell ya later."
She then leaves. She must have the runaway ability. She'd be an awful partner for battles.
That's a lot to take in. But a butterfly witch who controls people? No way. Also, what she shared is so outlandish that if they were true, word would've gotten to me. Sure, I don't talk to many people, but either Olympia or Kumiko must have heard about those rumors and would've brought them up to me once, right?
Well, I shouldn't disregard what Kagami shared with me. Considering what hell I went through, anything is possible.
I'll keep what she told me in the back of my mind.
Just as I was about to rest my eyes (after Kagami's lore-bomb, I'd earned it), a voice called out to me.
"Kiyomi!"