The moon hung low over Yanaka Cemetery, casting a pale light over rows of gravestones. The wind hissed through the sakura trees, their bare branches scratching against one another like restless ghosts.
Issac stood near the grave marker engraved with "Nagamoto Elena", his breath visible in the cold night.
"This is it…" he whispered. "Her grave."
Shin stretched, shovel in hand. "You sure we won't get arrested for this? Grave-digging at midnight screams 'local news headline.'"
Cupp, already wearing Issac's headlamp like a crown, puffed his chest.
"Fear not, mortals! A god is present! If cops come, I'll simply… vanish. You two are on your own though."
Issac glared. "You're so helpful, Cupp."
Elena hovered beside her tombstone, her usually bright expression dimmed.
"I didn't even know they made me a grave," she murmured. "It feels weird… like visiting my own funeral."
The group fell silent for a moment—until Cupp sneezed so loudly a crow flew off a nearby tree.
"Nice atmosphere ruined, thanks," Shin grumbled.
Cupp shrugged. "I'm allergic to death energy. Totally normal for gods of love."
They started digging. The earth was cold and damp, and the deeper they went, the heavier the air felt. Shadows seemed to twist, and a low, strange humming filled the air—like someone whispering just beyond hearing range.
Issac froze mid-dig. "Did… anyone else hear that?"
Shin blinked. "Hear what?"
Before anyone could answer, Cupp's shovel hit something solid.
"…Oi, I found it!" Cupp shouted triumphantly. "See, this is why gods should be paid in ramen cups—efficient labor!"
They brushed away the dirt. Inside the coffin wasn't a body—just a beautifully carved wooden figure, shaped like Elena. Her expression serene, almost too real. A faint, sakura scent lingered in the air.
Elena's ghost knelt beside it, trembling.
"T-That's… me. Mom carved this…"
Issac's flashlight flickered. The wood figure's eyes seemed to shimmer—almost wet.
Then the temperature dropped.
Whispers slithered through the air—soft, fragmented voices overlapping.
Cupp stepped back, unease spreading across his face. "Oh, this is bad. Like 'cursed forest in a visual novel' bad."
Shin glanced around nervously. "Don't tell me… it's haunted by her?"
Cupp shook his head slowly. "No. This… isn't Elena. This is something else pretending to be her."
Before anyone could react, the wooden statue's mouth twitched—forming a faint, uncanny smile.
Elena screamed, "That's not me!"
The ground trembled. Roots burst from the soil like writhing arms, wrapping around the coffin, pulling it deeper into the earth.
Issac grabbed Elena's hand. "We're leaving. NOW!"
Cupp's eyes glowed faintly, summoning a faint pink barrier as they stumbled back.
"Okay, yeah, plot twist: it's not just a corpse hunt anymore. It's a full-blown ghost exorcism quest!"
The wind howled through the cemetery, carrying faint whispers—
"Find… the one… who carved me…"
And just like that, the earth fell still again.
Issac panted, clutching Elena's trembling hand.
"Looks like your mom's not the only one carving memories, huh…"
Cupp sighed, brushing dirt off his hoodie.
"Great. Haunted dolls. My least favorite DLC."
"Thanks for reading chapter 8"