I stood beside him in silence, still trying to steady my breath. Seeing everything is over Mikazuki slowly made her way toward me. I lifted my gaze to meet hers and said, "Looks like that cowardly uncle of yours tucked his tail and ran."
"Don't worry about him. As long as he remains in this city, we'll track him down sooner or later," she said, her voice calm. Then she paused, her expression hardening with suspicion. "What matters more is you—calling yourself our benefactor? I'm not buying it. What is it you really want from us? I'm guessing you're the one who fed Tsukuyo that intel."
She didn't know who I truly was—not yet. But with Tsukuyo involved, it was only a matter of time. Still, I wasn't concerned. As long as no outsiders learned what I did here, it didn't matter.
"Yeah, that was me. But don't overthink it—I only helped you for my own selfish reasons. I'm not expecting anything in return," I said, lowering myself slowly to the ground. My legs had given up on me; I could barely stand. Right now, all I wanted was to go home and collapse into bed.
But there was still one thing left to deal with.
"What are you planning to do with Issai?"
"Why? Kill him, of course," she replied coldly. "He's our enemy, and I won't allow any potential threat near my family."
Her reasoning wasn't wrong. In fact, it was the most logical course of action in their line of work. But I didn't want it to end like that.
"Can I ask you to spare him?" I asked. "I know you can't forgive him—neither can I. But I don't want you staining your hands with more blood. You don't like that either, do you?"
I took a breath before continuing, "Instead, negotiate with them. Make it clear they're never to interfere with you or your family again. If they refuse, then do what you must. But if they agree... I'll take full responsibility. I'll make sure they never pose a threat to your family from this point on."
This was a small chance—a chance for Issai to choose a different path, and for Mikazuki to step away from the darkness. No matter the reason, taking a life could never truly be justified. Revenge, once set in motion, becomes a never-ending cycle—one that only breeds more pain, more loss. If no one chooses to stop it, it will never end.
She stared at me for a brief moment, probably questioning why I was defending him at all. Then, with a quiet sigh, she relented.
"Fine. I'll do as you say," she murmured. "We owe you our lives, after all."
Great, now I can finally—
My thoughts were cut short as my body gave out, and I collapsed to the ground.
-----
"Hey, kid. Why are you crying?"
An older girl's voice reached me as I sat there, trembling and wiping my tears behind the old temple.
"T-They were making fun of me... because I said my dream was to become a hero," I stammered, barely able to get the words out between sobs.
I didn't know who she was. I hadn't even noticed when she showed up behind me. But I answered her anyway, tears streaming down my face. Maybe it was just the innocence of being a child—wanting to share the weight of my sadness with someone, anyone.
Back then, I didn't even stop to wonder what a girl was doing behind an abandoned temple. Had she come because she heard me crying? Did she live nearby?
Or... could she have been a ghost?
None of those thoughts crossed my mind at the time.
"Aww, that's a wonderful dream," she said, crouching down to meet my eyes. "But do you know how much pain a hero has to endure? A hero must never give up, no matter how much they suffer."
She spoke with a mischievous smile, like she was trying to spook me a little—but also to push me forward.
I wiped my tears with my tiny hands, the sadness in my chest slowly replaced by a flicker of resolve.
"I won't cry anymore," I said, my voice trembling but firm. "I'll become strong."
"Great!" she said, clapping her hands together with a grin. "By the way, why do you want to become a hero?" she asked, her tone light with curiosity.
I looked up at her, eyes sparkling, and gave her the brightest smile I could muster.
"Because I want to help others!"
----
"S-Stay away from me!"
A girl had fallen to the ground, her eyes wide and voice trembling with fear.
Why?
Why are you scared of me?
I just helped you… didn't I? I stopped those guys who were harassing you. I stood up for you. So why… why did you recoil when I stepped closer to ask if you were okay?
"No! Someone save me!"
She turned and ran, screaming—fleeing from the very person who had protected her.
From me.
"Hey, did you hear? That girl from Class 1-B transferred out after seeing how violent that guy was."
"I totally get it. If I saw something like that, I'd be traumatized too."
"He even looks like a delinquent... don't tell me he's got ties to the Yakuza."
"That's terrifying. We should probably keep our distance from him."
Their whispers echoed through the hallway—quiet enough to seem subtle, but loud enough to cut deep.
Why?
Why is this happening to me?
I just wanted to help. Was it wrong for me to step in? Why can't anyone understand what I was trying to do?
Why am I the bad guy here?
I jolted awake, breath uneven.
"Not that same dream again..." I muttered, rubbing my eyes.
It always took me back to that moment—my first year of high school, when I'd just enrolled. I thought I was doing the right thing by stepping in to help a girl. But instead of gratitude, all I got was fear and misunderstanding.
That one incident... it was the spark that lit the fire.
The beginning of my so-called "notorious reputation."
I didn't want to go to school today.
It was always the same— The same cold stares, the same suffocating silence, the same eyes filled with worry… and fear.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, letting out a sigh.
But I didn't have a choice. I had to go anyway.
Sure, transferring schools was an option. But why should I? It's not like I did anything wrong.
While yawning, I stepped out of my room, only to find my younger sister doing the same from across the hall.
She could be annoying at times, sure—but our relationship was solid, just like any normal siblings.
"Good morning," I greeted casually, raising a hand in a lazy wave.
But instead of the usual reply, she froze for a split second... then screamed.
"Mom! Dad! A stranger just came out of brother's room!"
Before I could say anything, she bolted down the stairs, leaving me standing there alone—completely dumbfounded.
Stranger? What did she mean by that?
Was she seriously messing with me first thing in the morning?
No… her reaction—it was too genuine.
A cold feeling crept over me as I rushed back into my room and stood in front of the mirror.
And then I froze.
This… isn't me.
Black hair. Red eyes. A face I didn't recognize.
Who is this?
Who am I?
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of something— A shadow in the mirror, standing silently behind me.
It had a humanoid shape, but no features. Just a swirling mass of black mist, like darkness given form.
My heart pounded. Terror rooted me in place.
Was it… a ghost?
I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.
Then, slowly—deliberately— It slid one hand along my cheek from behind, gentle and cold. The other pressed against my chest… directly over my heart.
And then, in a voice that sent a chill down my spine, it whispered into my ear: "You are you, and I love you."
(AN: Here, the shadow said "Aishiteru", the Japanese word for "I love you" in its deepest, most profound form. Unlike casual expressions of affection, "aishiteru" is rarely used—even among couples—unless the feeling is truly absolute. It's a confession that comes from the soul.)
------
I woke up with a sharp gasp—this time, for real.
My chest rose and fell rapidly as I clutched it, struggling to calm my breath.
I swear I'd just had a dream. No—a nightmare. There was someone there... someone terrifying.
But no matter how hard I tried to remember, the details slipped through my fingers like smoke.
Who was it? Why can't I remember?
I remember something like this happening before...
Is it really just a coincidence? Or are these dreams—these fragments—connected to the many unanswered questions I've?
My thoughts came to a halt when I heard a familiar voice.
"You're awake?"
I turned my head toward the door.
It was Mikazuki.
Judging by the room's interior I was still inside the Tanaka residence.
I touched my face—the mask was gone.
"You look much better without that mask," she remarked casually.
I never imagined she'd be capable of making a comment like that.
In the anime, she barely had any screen time. She only appeared during Senior Tanaka's arc, and died protecting her at the end.
That's why I don't know much about her. My first impression of her was that of a cold, ruthless leader.
But after knowing that was just a mask she wore, I've always been curious to see what her true personality beneath that is?
"Did Senior Tanaka return?" I asked in response.
Mikazuki quietly took a seat on the tatami mat, right beside the futon I had been lying on.
"She'll be back tomorrow morning," she said calmly. Then her gaze sharpened ever so lightly.
"Tell me… how do you know so much about us? What's your true identity? You even know things about me that I've been trying to hide."
There was no hostility in her voice, no tension in her posture. I guess she is just curious about me.
But how am I supposed to explain something like this? I guess I don't have much of a choice… I'll go with "that".
Letting out a quiet sigh, I began.
"Believe it or not, this is my true identity. I learned some martial arts as a kid—wanted to fight bad guys, y'know? Turned out I was what people call a prodigy at it."
I paused, bracing myself for the storm I was about to bring upon myself.
"Years ago, I stumbled upon that incident involving Issai's brother. Going to the police… felt too dangerous at the time. So I decided to investigate you all on my own, like using drones and such. And the more I learned about you, the more intrigued I became. And before I realized it…"
I looked away, voice lowering to a mumble.
"…I kinda turned into you sisters'… professional s-stalker."
Goddamn it. That's the best I could come up with? I can already feel the waves of regret washing over me.