That day… for the very first time, my eyes fell upon a woman who somehow managed to steal my attention.
She had a pair of green eyes that reflected the serenity of a forest in spring. Her demeanor was quiet, as if the outside world was nothing more than a faint backdrop to the book she held in her hands. From the way she moved, I could guess—she was an animal lover.
And yet… there was something strange about her.
Strange? In what way?
Well, it's hard to explain… but I felt as though every living creature around her—even the tiniest insects—seemed to be fond of her.
Just look at her now. She was sitting atop a large rock, completely absorbed in the pages of her book. At her feet, tiny insects lined up in neat rows. A pigeon perched on her head, while a squirrel and a rabbit crouched on her right side, and a snake lay coiled comfortably on her left.
Strangely enough… not a single one of them seemed to bother the others.
Good grief… just what is going on with this girl?
"What's wrong, Takumi? Done gathering firewood?"
"Ah… yeah, just about."
Yes, my name is Takumi.
I live in Aomori Prefecture, Japan—specifically, in a small village at the foot of Mount Iwaki. The air here is always fresh, and at night, the chorus of insects is both soothing… and, at times, just enough to send a shiver down your spine.
At the moment, I was gathering firewood for the campfire we planned to have tonight. The temperature in the mountains dropped quickly once the sun vanished behind the peaks, so the fire wouldn't just be for fun… it would be our savior from the cold night.
Just as I reached for the last branch, I felt something… off.
Hisaka Midori—who had been buried in her book until now—lifted her face and looked straight at me with a gaze far too serious.
Without a single word, she shut her book with a sharp thap. Then, without giving me a chance to ask, she suddenly ran toward me.
Her hand—warm yet trembling—clamped tightly around my arm. "Come on… we have to get out of here!" she said, her breath quick and uneven.
"W–what?!" I flinched, instinctively trying to loosen her grip, but she only pulled me harder.
"What's going on, Hisaka?!" I shouted, panic rising, my heartbeat pounding in my chest.
I still had no idea what was happening… but the look in Hisaka's eyes told me one thing for certain—something bad was coming.
…And when I turned around, my eyes went wide.
"What the heck?! Why are all the animals and insects running with us to?!"
Birds swooped low overhead, squirrels and rabbits darted alongside us, and even the snake that had been resting so calmly before now slithered at full speed, as if its very life was in danger.
The sight was absurd… and it sent chills crawling up my spine. Something truly frightening had to be chasing us all.
"It's hard to explain," she said in a flat tone.
Her expression didn't change in the slightest—calm, without even a hint of panic.
Geez… what on earth is going on here?
We kept running, up and down the uneven trail, dodging stones and tree roots that blocked our way. My breathing was getting heavy, but Hisaka never hesitated, pulling me along without letting go.
"Midori, watch out!!"
A man's shout rang out from an unclear direction, as if it came from somewhere deep within the trees.
BANG!
The thunderous crack of a gunshot tore through the air, deafening my ears. The acrid stench of gunpowder hit my nose, mingling with the metallic tang of blood that splattered warm against my skin.
The bullet had pierced through a snake that suddenly lunged—right between our joined hands.
The snake's body slammed to the ground, and in my shock, Hisaka's grip slipped away.
"Hisaka?!" I shouted in panic. But before I could reach for her again, the distance between us widened, swallowed by the sudden chaos erupting all around.
Footsteps, shouts, and the rush of wind against my ears all blended into one. The world tilted.
Hisaka's figure grew smaller, swallowed by the trees, and then… she was gone.
I tried to run after her, but something cold touched the back of my neck—freezing me in place.
In that split second, every hair on my body stood on end.
There was… something behind me.
Before I could turn around, my vision went dark.
And in the final moment before everything vanished, I was certain I heard a low whisper…
one that did not belong to any human.