Several days have passed since that night when Touka and I went out hunting together for the first time.
During this time I've been spending most of my days at the Takagi mansion with Saya. Sometimes Rei also comes to visit us bringing sweets or food she prepared with her mom. She always insists I try her culinary creations. If I could enjoy them I'd certainly be happy.
They've been quite calm and peaceful days.
Scratch that.
Sometimes I experience those disturbing visions of things transforming into grotesque masses of pulsating flesh accompanied by unrecognizable voices whispering in my mind. That always makes my head hurt intensely, to the point where I try to tear open my skull and pull out my brain, but I don't know if I'll survive if I do that.
I've wondered many times why the hell something like this would happen. The most disturbing thing is that it happens even without using my Ghoul Mode. It can occur at any random moment of the day.
What comes to mind is that probably that night when this phenomenon first appeared, I consumed too many supernatural nutrients in too short a time. The parasitic ghoul's kakuhou, its heart, and then Mr. Investigator's Quinque. All of that together awakened this annoying side effect.
But somehow I know that's not the real reason.
There's something else going on that I don't understand yet.
But aside from those occasional visions, it's a calm and normal life.
Saya teaches me about various things that according to her I need to understand for when I attend school. Basic mathematics, Japanese history, natural sciences, literature. But since I've already recovered at least thirty percent of my fragmented memories from my previous life, I honestly don't need these lessons.
I already know most of these things.
However, I pretend to listen to her anyway while my mind is actually elsewhere. Studying is incredibly, extremely boring.
Saya seems happy teaching me so I don't have the heart to tell her I'm pretending.
From time to time I also find moments to slip away and visit Touka at her house. She's alone because she's on school break, so I think she appreciates me keeping her company even if just for a few hours. Even if her mouth constantly spills harsh and sarcastic words.
The days pass in that peaceful way until the last day of the year arrives.
The night of December thirty-first.
This morning Rei came to visit me at the Takagi mansion. She was more excited than usual when she invited me to her house saying her mother wants to meet me.
'Her mother...'
I think as I walk through the streets illuminated with New Year's decorations.
I'm suspicious of her, not gonna lie.
That's why I decided to accept the invitation. I had already planned this, so it's not a problem. It's a pretty good opportunity to confirm my suspicions about her before she goes abroad again.
Rei told me to come early in the afternoon because she's afraid something dangerous might happen to me if I go out too late at night. It's adorable how she worries about me.
At five-thirty in the afternoon I leave the Takagi mansion saying goodbye to Saya. She seemed a bit annoyed that I was going to spend New Year's Eve with Rei instead of with her, but she didn't say anything directly.
'Mm...'
As I walk I feel in my mind some mental beeps that notify me of the approximate location of nearby parasites. It's the parasite GPS I got after consuming those two worms.
There are four parasites scattered around this residential area.
'I should clean them up later when I have time.'
I think as I mentally mark them on my internal map.
'It's a shame I can't just eat them to gain more power.'
Wait...
Maybe if I try to eat them alive without killing them first it's possible it might work?
It's a bit disgusting to think about biting those wriggling things that haven't died yet. But it'll be worth trying if it gives me more abilities or more strength.
When I arrive at my destination I look toward the two-story house behind the tall concrete wall. I see that the first floor lights are all on.
I walk toward the front door.
—Ding dong!
I ring the doorbell and wait patiently.
I hear footsteps approaching from inside the house. The door opens revealing Rei dressed in a pink t-shirt and white skirt. On her cute face is a huge radiant smile seeing me standing there.
"You came! Come in, come in quick. Mom is waiting in the living room."
She approaches and pulls me by the arm.
I enter the house while taking off my shoes at the entrance. I notice there are still Christmas lights blinking on the small decorative trees.
Rei guides me toward the main living room.
Sitting on a dark leather sofa is a beautiful woman who appears to be in her twenties, though she's probably older than that.
She has orange-brown hair cut to her shoulders, with an ahoge that curves backward. One thing I expected are her eyes, which are red like Rei's. Her skin is very white and delicate, and she wears an elegant fitted black dress that hugs her sexy and well-formed body.
When she sees me enter the room her eyes narrow. Her facial expression shows a friendly and warm smile as she gets up from the sofa.
"You must be Arata-kun. Rei always seems so happy when she talks about you."
"Mom!"
Rei yells embarrassed from the side with a red face. But both her mother and I ignore her.
Mrs. Miyamoto approaches me and extends a delicate hand to greet me.
I take it in a handshake.
I've completely recovered my sense of touch, so the moment I touch her skin, I notice that her fingers and palms are very, very cold to the touch.
"Oh..."
She says with surprise in her voice as her eyes open slightly.
"Your skin is also quite cold. That makes us very similar, doesn't it?"
I read her emotional frequency as she speaks. She seems to know why my skin is so cold. Despite showing surprise on her face, it's not a surprise to her at all.
'Well, so my suspicions turned out to be correct after all, huh...'
I think while keeping my external expression neutral and friendly at the same time as I put a polite smile on my face.
"It's a real pleasure to meet you, Mrs..."
"Miyamoto Kiriko. But please you can call me Kiriko. There's no need for so much formality with family."
Then she releases my hand while her red eyes examine me from top to bottom with curiosity. Does she want to figure out what I am?
To be honest, I also want to know what she is. Unfortunately I can't use Ghoul Vision, since I need to enter my Ghoul Mode. This reinforces my idea of finding a way to use that vision without transforming. Maybe with training I'll achieve it.
My sense of smell doesn't help me either, since my senses encompass the entire residential area. The smell of blood, flesh, perfumes, and everything that produces odor. They all mix together if I try to focus on using my sense of smell.
Shortly after, Tadashi Miyamoto arrives from the kitchen, Rei's father and Mrs. Kiriko's husband. He's a middle-aged man with dark hair. He has a kind and smiling face.
"Ah, welcome Arata! It's been a long time since you've visited us."
He says enthusiastically while patting my shoulder.
"Please, make yourself at home."
Then we all sit together and talk about various things. Mrs. Kiriko asks how Rei and I met, though she probably already knows since Rei may have already told her in the past. She asks me about studying, and I had to dodge the question a bit by saying that next year I'll attend the same school as her daughter.
There were many more topics until dinner time arrives.
Mrs. Kiriko prepared roast chicken, rice with vegetables, hot soup, and fresh salads. Mm... it smells delicious.
Of course I can't enjoy any of it but I pretend to eat while praising the food.
I notice that Mrs. Kiriko, the moment she puts food in her mouth, swallows it before pretending to chew.
"..."
Rei and Mr. Tadashi don't notice our performance because their vision senses can't pick up minute details.
After dinner we move back to the living room to wait for midnight.
Finally the moment arrives and the clock strikes twelve.
It's January first.
Mr. Tadashi gives us congratulations for the new year.
One thing I've observed so far is that Mr. Tadashi seems a bit uncomfortable while looking at Mrs. Kiriko. Is it possible their married life isn't going well?
I wonder why.
Maybe because they don't see each other for a long time, or maybe because Mr. Tadashi knows what his wife is.
Leaving that aside, Rei is embarrassed looking at me sideways. I can see an internal debate in her expression. But she seems to finally reach an internal conclusion while she suddenly approaches and hugs me.
She always hugged me before without problems. But this time she's embarrassed to do it in front of her parents watching.
"Happy New Year, Arata! I hope you have a good year, hehe."
She says in a soft voice against my shoulder.
"Happy New Year to you too, Rei."
After staying for another half hour chatting...
"Thanks for everything. It's been quite a pleasant evening. Unfortunately I have to return."
"Come back whenever you want, Arata-kun."
Says Tadashi as he accompanies me to the door.
"Wait!"
Rei stops us. In her eyes I can see concern.
"Mom, Dad, why don't we take him home? It's dangerous to go alone at night!"
"That's true. We should do that—"
Mr. Tadashi agrees with his daughter, but suddenly, both their eyes glowed red for a few seconds before the glow dissolves and they're left with eyes devoid of brightness.
Mrs. Kiriko laughs softly and says.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen to him. After all, we live in a quiet place."
Rei and Mr. Tadashi nod with flat expressions.
Witnessing all of that, I feel anger burning in my chest. My fingers close and form a trembling fist.
I want to break Mrs. Kiriko's face.
How dare she manipulate my friend?
Closing my eyes, I let out a long sigh to calm myself.
I leave the Miyamoto house and start walking back toward the Takagi mansion. The streets are empty since most people are celebrating in their homes or at parties.
Walking through several streets, I reach a less populated area.
And I stop in the middle of the empty sidewalk.
Then I speak aloud.
"Mrs. Kiriko, I wonder why you're following me. Why don't you come out of the shadows so we can talk face to face like civilized people? That was your intention from the beginning, wasn't it?"