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When Aoi heard that she was to join the field trip to Kitakami, she was not excited.
And wasn't that just terrible? Here she was, lucky enough to win the lottery for a trip but she had no desire to leave Paldea. How ungrateful. She had her reasons though! She had just gotten to Paldea what felt like the other day, she barely had any gym badges to her name for crying out loud. She didn't want to leave Nemo behind, not when the older girl seemed so excited to finally have a friend. That Pepper guy seemed like he was troubled, and there was an intriguing air of mystery surrounding Cassiopeia. She didn't want to just leave everything behind her.
But Aoi didn't want to rock the boat and make the director or her homeroom teacher unhappy, and so she found herself gazing out the window of the bus to their final stop longingly. She ignored her schoolmates animatedly chattering amongst themselves and their chaperone, Miss Briar, unblinkingly pored over some difficult looking notes.
She was brought out of her daze and slightly sour reminiscing by a sudden curtain of darkness that blanketed her vision. The noise in the bus dulled for a moment, and for a split second Aoi thought she had slipped into a void.
Of course it was nothing so dramatic, it would seem that just at the outskirts of Mossui village there stood a tunnel for vehicles to pass through. Once the others realized what was going on the chatter picked up once more as they sped through the blackness.
And maybe it was all her imagination. Exhaustion messing with her head due to her discomfort after a long period of travel. She'd been feeling quite lonesome given she wasn't close with the other students. It mixed with her dread and anxiety and played tricks on her mind, because why else would she have any reason to think she was being watched by a pair of phantom eyes?
The feeling dissipated somewhat as they were thrust into the light once again and the bus crept to a halt as they reached Mossui town. But it didn't fade completely. No, Aoi was almost convinced that something bad was going to happen to her here.
Something wasn't right. She didn't want to be here. She wanted to go home. She was going to get off this bus and march back to Paldea if she had to.
...
.....
...........
Eh?
Aoi knows her doom has been heralded by the sound of her feet landing on Kitakami soil. Had she gotten lost in her thoughts somehow? Pushed along her schoolmates til they were all shepherded off the bus? Why hadn't she said or done anything? The feeling of dread pooled in her stomach and sweat dripped down her neck until once again she was pulled from her thoughts.
Miss Briar needed her help, one of her schoolmates fell sick and someone had to ensure the locals knew of their arrival. Once again guilt weighed down on Aoi's shoulders. Selfish selfish selfish, getting caught up in her nerves while somebody was struggling like that. She wasted no time in running to Mossui’s community center as arrangements for medical assistance and their accommodation were made.
Aoi isn't exactly sure how much time passes. Surely she can't even have been here for more than a day but under Kitakami's blazing sun minutes felt like hours. Somehow the light brought little comfort with it, its rays felt heavy on her back almost harsh and unyielding. However many hours, minutes, days, centuries roll along, she finds herself confronted by an older girl named Zeiyu. There isn't any friendliness to be found, unlike in Nemo’s strong stance or cheery demeanor, merely cold hostility as the two find themselves face to face in a battle.
Despite the confrontational nature of the event Aoi feels almost....At ease. It's as if this is her natural element. The sun feels less harsh and more crisp, the wind doesn't howl like a Houndoom signaling to attack. Her senses feel sharp like this, and as Sprigatito bears down on Poltchageist Aoi grins something on the borders of bloodthirsty and victorious.
And it's in this moment she catches a glimpse of a boy who couldn't be much older than her standing just a bit behind Zeiyu. The poor thing looked as if he wasnt trying to melt into her shadow.Their eyes lock and his face flushes a bit as he hides behind the taller girl. They look so similar, he must be her brother or some such. Aoi, cheekily almost, waves at him and his eyes widen in shock and in a flash he dashes away from the scene. So fast Aoi swears he all but vanishes.
Weird kid. He must be shy.
Zeiyu haughtily stomps up towards Aoi and launches into another spiel about how she doesn't appreciate an outsider stomping around like they own the place. Still basking in the glow of a victory and thinking the older girl lacked the bite to back up her bark, Aoi merely passively nodded along and laughed off the exchange.
"Grrr are you even taking this seriously? This had better not just go in through one ear and out the other or you'll regret it! Anyways, since you beat me I'll do you a favor and let you know you shouldn’t be out alone after dark in these parts, especially since you're new here.”
That felt like it came out of nowhere, and Aoi was puzzled over what she was getting at.
"Why not?"
Zeiyu only harshly snapped back.
"Because I said so! Not that I’d care if you got spirited away, your choice over whether or not to listen to me."
And with that Zeiyu stomped off to who knows where, though Aoi simply assumed she went to grab the boy she was paired up with and go signboard hunting. Before she could pursue the train of thought any further something, no, someone caught her eye once more. Standing not too far off, hiding in the shade of the community center. It was that kid again, and Aoi felt oddly compelled to walk towards him.
The shadow of the community center felt cool on her skin, almost chilly even, the rivulets of sweat dripping down her body felt almost piercing now but Aoi shrugged the uncomfortable feeling off. The boy's face was downcast and his posture betrayed a sense of timidness but he still managed to speak up.
“Wowzers, you really are strong, goin and beatin’ my sister like that.....Sorry she likes kicking up so much fuss....”
“It’s no big deal, but that Zeiyu girl’s your sister huh? Real awful of her to not even stick around and wait for you to join her.”
The boy seemed to bristle a bit at that comment, gold eyes that almost seemed to glimmer in the shadows growing duller.
“Sis and I......don’t talk much. That dummy never listens to me so I just try ‘n stay outta her way.....”
Aoi felt pity well up within her at the sound of his muttering.
(Pity? That was a bit of an unkind word wasn’t it? Nobody likes feeling pitied. No this as something else, surely, sympathy perhaps.)
“I’m sorry she treats you that way. Would you like to come look at the signboards with me? I think everyone else already ran off."
Including that supervisor of theirs, Miss Briar. Despite the well put together appearance she was rather flighty and quick to be called away and distracted from her duties. Though Aoi supposed the extra freedom couldn’t hurt.
Aoi also knew she wasn’t exactly the best at comforting. Keeping up a positive attitude? That she could do however, and it seemed to be enough for the other child to latch onto her extended hand with his clammy one. As she tried to pull the small boy into the open with her that soft grip immediately tightened however.
"I'm Aoi by the way, can I get your name?"
“Mmm, i-it's Suguri.....Actually Aoi, I uh.....I-I hope you don’t mind if we maybe wait til after sundown to go? S-since I think it’ll be bad news if we run into sis again ‘n all....”
Aoi took a moment to register the odd request, going out at sundown somewhere she wasn’t at all familiar with didn’t sound like a particularly good idea. But once glance at the urgent (or was it desperate, she wondered) look in his golden eyes gave her pause. If it’d make him feel more comfortable she could acquiesce, and if Zeiyu was the most threatening trainer the area had to offer she was sure she could manage their safety.
“Okay! I’ll meet you at the edge of town by nightfall!”
The two exchanged soft smiles and goodbyes before Aoi found herself dragged out from frigid darkness back into the burdensome humidity of daylight. It made her a bit queasy, perhaps it was for the best to wait until later to finish her assigned task.
As dark descends on Mossui Aoi makes her way to the outskirts of town and standing just out of reach of the streetlights glow is Suguri. He beckons her to follow along and the two make their way past orchards and breezy fields towards the first sign post.
It's on this walk that he speaks to her of his beloved ogre. Of the legends passed down from generation to generation of the loyal three and how they were brought to their knees by the ogres might as a result of trying to subdue it.
“I wish I could be strong and cool as the ogre...”
His longing sigh is carried through his lips by the wind and it rattles out of his frail frame like a bell chime.
“Awww don’t be like that Suguri, I'm sure you're plenty strong!”
“Ehehe, w-wowzers, ya really think so Aoi?”
Pale skin flushes and he smiles at the compliment.
“I know so, I have an eye for talent!”
Aoi doesn't really know if that's true or not but it feels like the right thing to say at the moment. She frames her eye with her pointer fingers and thumb making a mock gesture of recording with a camera and Suguri giggles again in response.
“Well, seeing as we ended up all the way to the first signboard, do you maybe....W-wanna battle me too? O-only if ya want!”
“Of course!”
“Well then, don't feel like ya need to hold back for me. Here goes!”
He calls out Sentret, literally. The furry critter comes running out from a nearby underbrush and takes its stance. Odd, Aoi never noticed that he just let his pokemon roam around freely but she supposed in the dim lighting they would have been easy to miss.
Suguri is even easier to beat than Zeiyu, and as Aoi makes quick work of his team she sneaks glimpses of his face throughout the fight. He's clearly having fun but there are still these moments that are....off. He'll momentarily glower at her if she lands a particularly lucky strike or causes a pokemon to faint. She doesn't have it in her to hold back during a fight though and as she feels malice fill the air as Yanma drops she looks away. Busying herself with tending to her Sprigatito and avoiding looking at Suguri. She wonders if she might've bit her lip too hard as she nervously chews it slightly, she smells something almost metallic in the air.
“Wowzers.....You really are somethin’ special Aoi. I shoulda known better than to go picking a fight with you.”
He....took that surprisingly well.
“Oh well, y’know, I can't let myself look lame in front of my new friend, ahaha...”
She musters the nerve to look back at Suguri and he's staring at her, mouth agape, before his look of surprise melts into a delighted smile.
“F-friend? You really mean that? Oh gosh, hehe, I'm feelin’ all tingly inside now.”
Suddenly the tension that's been building in her shoulders disperses. She didn't even realize how tense she's been, and it almost feels as if she's shooken loose some bindings.
“Mhm! My very first friend in Kitakami! Guess that makes you my best friend too.”
“Aw jeez, don't say that I'm starting to get embarrassed.”
The two laugh and realize that the night is still young, so they make the trek to the second signboard. Suguri regales her with more stories about the ogre, but she learns lots of other little details about him.
He likes to be around water, late summer swims were his favorite. He's always loved movies, especially kaiju films. He'd scaled oni mountain 4 times at this point, but last year he had a pretty bad accident so he didn’t like to go up it alone anymore. He felt a little self conscious about his accent. He felt like whistling made walking at night a bit less creepy.
On their trek home from the 2nd signboard Suguri stops in his tracks.
“Aoi, do you know what tomorrow is?”
“Huh, n-no. Is there some kinda occasion?”
Suguri grins and Aoi thinks for a moment there's something knowing and sly in the curl of his lips.
(She is staring at the maw of zoroark poised to pounce as it pretends to be a simple Pawmi.)
Her heart pounds but she reassures herself. Suguri’s a sweet kid, she has absolutely no reason to be so worried.
“Nah, it's nothing big or fancy or anything, but it's a special day to me, so I was really hopin’ you'd come out again tomorrow night so we could get that third signboard and hang out for a while.”
It was such a simple, innocuous request.
How could she refuse?
A pinky promise sealed the deal.
The next day when Aoi leaves the community center she's greeted by the wide eyes of none other than Miss Briar.
“Ah there you are Aoi, I've been meaning to talk with you.”
Aoi gulps nervously, the last thing she needed now was to get on a teacher's nerves.
“Y-yes Miss Briar?”
“I heard from your fellow students that you don't seem to be adjusting all that well to Kitakami. They've noticed you seem to be handling the weather poorly, not to mention you're off on your own most of the time. I've called the director and I hear you’d only just recently moved to Paldea as well. I'm sure these big shifts might be a lot of stress for you to handle, so if you'd like we can make arrangements to end your excursion early. You can go back to your treasure hunt without completing the orienteering if you feel it's all too much.”
Aoi almost trembled with excitement. She could go back early? It almost felt too good to be true. She was about to reply with an ecstatic “yes!” but bit her tongue before she could answer. She wanted to respond but choked on her words as if there were hands wrapped around her neck.
No. It just wouldn't be right to head home. Not when she had promised Suguri that they could hang out again tonight.
“I really would love to take you up on that Miss Briar but uh. I think I will actually complete the orienteering, but I'll have it done by tonight! Then I can go home.”
“That's lovely Aoi, I do love to see you being so resilient. We'll make it so that someone arrives here tonight for you and you'll be free to leave first thing tomorrow.”
With the arrangements made all Aoi had to do was have a pleasant night and figure out how to break the news to poor Suguri she was heading back home so soon. Well, he was sure he could handle it. It wasn't like she was his only friend anyways, he'd be fine.
Aoi was broken out of her reverie by a haughty voice chiming in, as if Zeiyu had waited for the exact moment she left the community center.
“Hey there outsider, take this chance to cherish the fact I'm gracing you with my presence. I've got a couple things to catch you up to speed on.”
“Can you make it snappy?”
“Why you little- ugh, this is why I didn't want your little field trip taking place here. Because I doubt you've taken the time to remotely educate yourself on local traditions-”
Aoi feels an ugly feeling bubble up inside her as the sounds of Zeiyus voice become distorted. She's barely focusing on what the older girl is saying, and her words thud dully against her eardrums almost as if they were being covered by someone's hands.
She can figure what Zeiyu is talking about though, after all, she had seen the first two signboards. If Zeiyu thought she was slacking off on the orienteering so far she was dead wrong. She tries to focus again only after Zeiyus lecture seems to cover new material.
“Anyways I'm sure you've at least heard of what's going on tonight. If you'll agree to accept your place as my lackey for the night I'll kindly invite you to join me at-”
“Pass.”
“WHAT? Oh for the love of- What were you thinking of chickening out before the main event too?”
Aoi merely balked at Zeiyu, not just for the insult but for the fact she eavesdropped on her conversation with Briar.
“I'm the one who should be annoyed, don't you think that attitude is what pushed you and Suguri apart?”
The blood freezes in Zeiyu’s veins at the words, Aoi understands she's made a grave mistake when there isn't the characteristic explosion of anger and trembling fists. Zeiyu is eerily calm in the way she stalks towards Aoi, pupils narrowed like a lizard’s.
“What did you say?”
Aoi feels the wind knocked out of her as she's suddenly, roughly, shoved into the ground. A skilled pokemon trainer she may be, but Aoi was a complete stranger to real fights, especially against someone bigger and stronger than her.
“Forget I even tried to be nice to you, how dare you bring him up, acting like you know him. You're lucky you made the smart decision to leave otherwise I’d do something far, far worse. Go crack your head open on the cliffside for all I care.”
Zeiyu spat at the ground next to Aoi and marched off. Sure Aoi was aiming for a sore spot but what could have possibly gone on between those siblings for Zeiyu to threaten her like that?
Weirdo.
Aoi got up and brushed herself off, her behind was sure to be sore after that and she thoroughly felt embarrassed after being shown that Zeiyu did in fact have some control over her.
Suddenly she no longer wants to be outside. She grabs a soda from a vending machine and hides from the oppressive sunlight in the coolness of her room at the community centre, curtains drawn so she can shelter in the dim. She kills time watching some tokusatsu or films she knows Suguri likes on her Rotom phone, which only ever seems to work when shes in town, before making to leave at sunset. As the sun dips below the horizon there she spots him again waiting for her.
He's not exactly animated, in fact if anything he looks kind of.....Moody. But she's got no clue what could be wrong.
“Something bothering you Suguri, was it Zeiyu again?”
“Nah it wasn't sis.....Hey Aoi, you're gonna stay a while right?”
Aoi freezes. The honest answer was that she was going to hightail it home. Tonight if possible even.
But certainly a little white lie couldn't hurt?
“Yeah, for suresies! I don't wanna leave you behind all of a sudden.”
She locks onto his arm with hers to sell it.
It wasn't that she wanted to deceive him, it WAS a shame she was going to leave. But the guilt of disappointing him was too much for her to bear right now. And their budding friendship simply wasn’t enough to outweigh the fact that this place made something uneasy crawl under her skin.
Kitakami was a beautiful land where the sun felt cold on your back, the shadows reached out for you, and apparently some dangerous ogre roamed the wilds. She just couldn't shake the fact that it felt like she wasn't supposed to be here.
“O-oh wowzers Aoi....I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that.''
He's not looking at her as he says that but she still watches the grin creep up his face. It makes her think that maybe things are better this way.
When they reach the summit of Oni mountain and the third and final signboard it's the late evening. Aoi thinks to herself that the town hall seems awfully well lit but chalks it up to how dark the surroundings are by comparison. The sounds of Suguri’s words bring her back to reality as he narrates the third passage.
For some reason, it gets to Aoi somehow, the ominous warnings of shadowy figures on the mountainside and how those unprepared will suffer the consequences. She suddenly became conscious of the fact she had no mask to hide herself behind, and it's nauseating to think that her soul is being offered on a platter to the likes of some monster because of it. Her friend Suguri, however, seems to have a completely different train of thought.
“....Poor ogre being treated like an outcast. I know what it feels like to not be appreciated like that. I just know if I'd gotten to meet em we would be the perfect team.”
“Guess you'll just hafta settle for your ol buddy Aoi!”
“Hehehe....Yeah, I think I will.”
Aoi's got a spring in her step the entire trek down the mountain, but as they near town Suguri’s grip on her wrist slows her pace.
“Uhhh Aoi. I’m real sorry 'bout this but do you think we could maybe stop by one other place before we head back to Mossui?”
“Oh, sure thing, if it isn't far. It's awfully late, I think most people are already in bed by now.”
“No worries! It's not too far from Mossui, the walk ain’t bad at all.”
“Let's go then!”
The walk there is quiet, Aoi feels like she can usually get Suguri to prattle on about himself or something he likes but all her attempts to strike up a conversation fall a bit flat. The pair treads alongside the damp fields of the Mossfell confluence until they happen upon a shack of sorts. Aoi’s not quite sure what to make of it til she watches Suguri run up to it and return with a pair of syrup covered apples.
“I used the last of my allowance on these. I think you'll like them a lot! They're my favorite.”
Under the starless sky the two ate the apples, true to his word Aoi did find the taste of the apples rather pleasant, if a little overbearingly sweet.
“...Nd I hope you’ll accept this as an apology, though I guess it’s more like we’re gettin’ even.”
Aoi was confused and shot Suguri a puzzled look. Apology? Get even for what?
“What....Are you talking about?”
Suguri smiles again and turns away from her.
“I know you lied to me.”
Her heart stops. Nervous sweat collects on her brow. Is she shaking? When did it become cold?
“But it’s okay, I lied to you too.”
“W-What are you...”
“Today is a special occasion, actually. The first night of the festival of masks. I didn’t want you trying to hide from me or anythin’ so I made sure you wouldn’t hang around in town long enough for anyone to let you know.”
Suddenly there are words ringing out in Aoi's head, but they’re only words, they barely form a coherent sentence. Despite her mind running at what feels like a million miles a second she can’t control her panic enough to do anything other than stop and stare dumbly at Suguri’s back. Her hyperventilating only gets worse as Suguri twists and bends.
And then breaks.
There’s the audible cracking of bones, an arm snapping out of place, a rib piercing and jutting out through his side. He turns around to face her again but she wishes he didn’t. One of his eyes has rolled backwards revealing far too much white for Aoi’s comfort and blood begins to roll down the left side of Suguri’s face.
Ghost. Spirit. Monster. No.
Demon.
“I feel kinda bad about it though so I’ll make ya a deal. We’ll play tag, you can go home if you make it back to the station before I catch you.”
Aoi has never run so fast in her life. The building dread and terror in her has exploded into this feeling of raw animal fear. The horrible sense that she’s somehow already crossed some invisible boundary into a place where she, nor any human, should simply not be. Where the Mossfell confluence might have Ekans and Sewaddle scurrying out of her way as she tore through the fields, there was nothing but the sound of her harsh breaths and desperate footfalls.
Aoi practically flies past the entrance to what should be Mossui, she'd have mistaken it for such if it weren’t for the fact that there are no signs of life. The land remains barren, almost as if there never stood anything there at all. Despair churns her gut. What if this was merely another lie? What if there was no station for her to safely return to?
The sounds of bells and drums from behind her push her forwards towards her goals anyways. She didn't have time to think about anything but the fact that whatever lay behind her was certain death. It felt like she was escaping her own funeral parade.
Get away. Follow the paved road. Get to the station. Take the train home.
Get away. Follow the paved road. Get to the station. Take the train home.
Get away. Follow the paved road. Get to the station. Take the train home.
Get away. Follow the paved road. Get to the station. Take the train home.
G̶e̸t̸ ̸a̵w̷a̵y̴.̸ ̶F̴o̶l̵l̸o̴w̶ ̸t̷h̷e̵ ̵p̸a̷v̷e̷d̴ ̶r̶o̵a̴d̸.̴ ̵G̷e̵t̸ ̸t̸o̷ ̷t̶h̸e̸ ̵s̴t̸a̸t̷i̸o̴n̷.̵ ̷T̷a̸k̴e̸ ̷t̷h̶e̸ ̵t̴r̷a̷i̸n̴ ̷h̷o̵m̶e̷.̵
Ǵ̶̡̈e̷͚̰͌t̷̞̝̑͒ ̴̱̈́ạ̴̛̅w̸͙͊ͅa̸͍̽͘ẏ̴̯̤̔.̶̹̗̑ ̴͉͛̄F̴͎̾͝ò̴̹̚ͅl̵̮̩̽́l̸͈̋̇o̶̝̐͌w̷̡̼̋ ̶̥̒̽ṭ̴̊̾h̴̥̑e̶̙̿̓ ̴̩͔̽͝p̸̛͉̈́ḁ̷͈̾̽v̴̙̘͐͋e̸̥̔d̴͓̙̕ ̴͔͂͜r̷̩͆ô̵̫͋a̷͔̐d̷͙̰͛.̷̧͙͑́ ̷̠̂Ǧ̴͈̋ḛ̴̭̄͒t̵̮͠ ̷̢̙̾t̵̂͒͜o̶̘͇͠ ̷̫̯̓t̵͙̹̑h̶̨̺̀̄e̷̞̯͗͊ ̵̹̙̂̔ś̴͓̤t̴̮͍̽̾ȃ̸̢t̶̜̋i̸̜̤̎ò̵̢̱n̸̺͖͑̚.̶̲̚ ̵̌͜T̷͎̎̊a̷̡͎̔̇k̷͓̀e̷̯̽̈ͅ ̶͈̮̈́t̴̤͎̐h̸̗͝é̷̺͒ ̷̢̄t̷̘͒r̵̡̘̀́a̵̢͝į̵̫̀̈n̸̖̅ ̶͍͑͊͜h̵͚͛͝o̷͎͋m̸̛͓͘ḙ̶͈̋.̷̛̰
G̸̛̼͙̐̾̒̋̍̅̉̒̚͘͠é̶̛̳͈̩̫̤̣̦̝̮̤̼̫̀̓̑̔͌͋́̈́̄͐͗̔̄̉̏͊̅̅͂̔́̏̍͑̔͋͘͠͝͝ẗ̴̡̡̰̦͎̦͓̤̯̞̥͍̺̬͙̬̠͎̆̊͘ͅ ̵̫̄͛͗̐̇̾͆̒͐̄͘ả̷̧̦̜̬͙̲̤̠̻̤͔͎̘̞̟͉̖̟̩͔̫̳͌̎͛̒̓͛̇̔͌̇͋̍͐̿̍̈̈͘̕͝w̴̡̳̝͈̬̪͚̹̣̟͍̫͖̲̯̥͖͇̦͚͚̯̬̮̞̙̣̳͓̾̎̏͌̋͋̈́̿͛͑̔̏̓̑͆̓͒͋̏͊̋̃̚͘͠͠ą̴̨̢̡̞̙̩͔̳̗͔͈̦̭̝̫͈̘͎̠͛͊̀̍͝y̷͓̗̦̲͇̘̻̤̯̠̥̻͔̿.̸̧̢̫͓̦̻̲̱͓̤͔̭̯̪̺̰̦͙̻̠̝̼͉̰̗̬͖̘̼̺̏̐̎̿͗̐̈́͒̅̽́͋͜ ̷̢̡̡̱̘͎͚̮̲͔̯͔͇̣̞̱͔̠͚͎̠̑͆̋̑̂͊̽̀̔̔̑́̽̔̉̆̓̏͘͜͝F̴̘͇̻̟̐̏̀̓̕͘ơ̵̢̛̮͕͔̗̱̔̑͑͒͊̌̔̀͌͌̋͐̌͋̈́̄̐̌̅͛̈́͗͊͜͝͝ļ̵̛͕̝̯̤̯͙̲̮͕́̋̋̏̀̑̿̓͋̉̀̾̈́̅́͒̚͝ͅl̶͇̙͇̫̬͕͚͇͇̗̯̜͙͖̟͖͑̒́͆̏̈́̆̉͜͜ơ̴̧̛̦͓̯̰̲̮͚̹͔̬̯̲̗͔̦͍̙̜͐̎̈́͌̄̈͗̂̈́̏́̕͝w̸̧̛̛͉̭̦̩̟̬̪̬̬̋̎̌̓̓̀͒̈́̇̍͗̌͗̈͌̏̌́̽͒͘͜͝ ̷̨̨̛̭̞̹̺̗͔̣̼̙̖͂̓͒̌̄̌̌͂̌̄̈́̅̉̚͝͠͝ṭ̵̡̡̧̠̼͍͔͚͙̹͈̯̫̭̮̗͍͕̫͓̻̣͈̫̘̩͚̮̦̜̺͓̓̑̂̿̉́̋̏͆̽͊̋͆͊̌́̀͂͋̀̈́̃̂̏̕̕͘͠͝h̷̢̛̞̟͈̠̝̰̓̔̍̃̐͊̉͘ͅê̸̢̡͇̜͓̦͌́̎̊́̓̃̾̊̀̒̆̓̓́͑̀̇̚͘ ̸̛̛̬͇̼̘̬̮͕͕̘͈͉̻͓͈͊̆̽̋̄̆́͌̂͒̑͌̽͊̏̉͌̍̎̽̌̽̕͘͜͜͝͝͠p̷̢̛̠͓̩̲̫̜͚̮̰͓͚͓͚͔̤͔̜̘̹̹̤͛͊̈́̐̏̂̏̉̎̃͑̑̎̏͗̐̂̔̎̕͜͠͠a̴̡̭̭̤̳̖͑̑̌͐̔͌̋̔̈́̄͒́̅͋̚͜v̵̰͇̬̻̠͍̜̜̬͙̻̞̞͔̰͖̠̞͓̥̣̓̊̈́̓̈́̋̂̑̂̚̚ͅȅ̶̗̤͔͌̀̔̑̓͛̇̀̓̽̓̉̌̾́̅̿̂̊͛̓͌͐̅͊́͌̍̍̕͝d̴̢̡̘̯̜̮̹̮̳͉͇̳̞̄͂̾́̔̈́́̾͗́͆͆̈́̑̐̄́̓̇͊͐͗͘̕͜͝ ̶̛̪̟̦͕͓͖̹͖̤̐̀̔͂̒̏̏̑̐̇͗̐̍͌̆̽̀͒̍̒̋̀̈́͛̑͛̕̕̕̕͝͝ȓ̶̫͊͒͛̿̒̆̈̃͂͐͛͌͂͐̆̅̀̾̇́̍̿͂̚̕͝͝ȯ̵̧̧̨̤̰̙̳͎̥̯̖̺͕͎̥̞̝̩̙͖͖̊͋̈́̔̈͊͊̉́̅̓͗̒͊̓͆̆̈́̒͑͋̏̉̚̕̕̕͜͝a̸̡̢̛̺͉͍̭̩̦̗̼̮̻̘̦͎͖͎̭̠̘̬͛͋̆̄̂͐́͘̚͝ͅd̸̲̘͎̜̻͎͉͎̰̮̿̋̌̃̉͂͗̑͑͂́̍͂͜.̴̨̡̲̹̤̲̥̩̗͕̪̞̹̮̟̹̫͉͍̥̥̩̝̥̱̲̳̜̗͍̟͂͗͑̂̄̈́͒͜͜͠͠͠ͅ ̷̨̨̤̜͔̟̬͕͔̙̫̮͚͉̭̲͖̥͔͖̫͚̰̻̊̆̅͌̑̐̐̓͗̀̒̎̀̊͑̊̍̄̅̉̊̾̊́̕͠͝͝G̴̡̫̥͕̗̓̊̀̄̌̇̄̾͗͛̾̆̄̃̉̚͜ḛ̷̡̡̨͉͕̻͍̠̺͔̳̈́͂͑͆̒̉̇̽̀̓͊̀̕͝͠t̵͈̭͚̜͍̹͇̬̫̪͚͓̝̋͛́̉̋̌͋̆̏̑̍͑͑̀͂̃̐͝ ̶̨̢̧̡͓̜͍̱̳̲̤̳͖̝͍̣̞̜̲̟͖̩̝̲̗̜͓̰̫̹̣̖̮͍̒͌̌͂̆̿͌̍̑̅̀̽̾̾̋͛́͗̚͠t̶̲̀̐̔͒̔̄͝͝ợ̷̀̔̔̎͗̎͆̀̄̏̃̉́͐̀̈́̆͌͗̈͘͘͘̕̚͠͠͝͝ ̴̥̄͒͌͆̌̍̄̾͒͒̏̒̐̓̽̀͘̚ṫ̵̛̛̛̖̦̙̘̔͌̆̈̐̿̈̉́̒̿͊̍̔̃̾̋̍̀̿̂̋̚͘h̷̩́̾͒̓̌̈́̈̔̉̑̏͂̈́̐͂̈́̈̏̃̾͑̍̑̋͑͒͘͘͜͜͝͝͠͠͝ͅe̵̛̛̛̦̣͖̣̘̟̺̙͖̮̖̟͔̞͇̝̝͊͐͐͛̔̈̇̔̒͋̇́́̓͐̓̎͂̀̓͋͒́̐̕̕͘͠͝ͅ ̴̼̹͉̖͙̤̳̹̹̠͇̭̬̰̀̉̍̕s̷̝̙̣̮̼̻̲̭̼͋͆̎͆͛̒̂͗̚͜͠t̸̢̛̬̰̖̤̜͇̖̳̲͚͕̼̣̞̰͕̳̥̩̹̻̦̬̟̪̓́̄̾̎̋͌̐̌̅̽̅́́́̽͑̽̂͛͋͂̉̒̃͐͛͘̕͘̕͜͝͝ȁ̸̢̨̡̧̢̛̙͈̫̫̻̯̪̖̗̱̼̞͖̲̝̠͈̰̤̹̝͍͎͇͉̮̝̋̇̾̈̈͒̈́́͝t̷͈̥̼͖̖̹͓̏̒͒͑͐̉̑̿̓̓̇̐̆͌̑͐͌̋͌̑͊̔͊̐͂̏̚͝͝͠ḯ̷̧̟͉̰̳͔̣̗̪̯͓͓̫̯̱̝̒̉̃͗̕ͅo̴̡̨̻̲̺̫͍̠͕͓̳͍͔͚͈͈̻̗͋͒̂̾̈́̀͂́͒̂̀͛͂͗̊̃́̽ͅn̷̘͇͓̣̱͍̯̗̯̱͕̲̱͍͙͍͔̳̰̙͋̋͛̾̔̍̈̾̉̓̈́̋̐́͋̈́̎̇͌̑̒̎̿͗̌̾̉͛̔̆̿͘͜͠.̸̛̫̓̓̄̆͆̓͐́̇̑̀̊̽̄͐͊̀̈́͑̀̾̂̽̑͊̑͝͝ ̶͍̺͖͖̽̇̒̍̓̍̉̎ͅT̴͚̼̙̹̙̥̲̀̈̔̔̊͐́͌̑̑͋̀̕̚͝ą̷̛͎̗̫̜̳̜͕̘̘͇̫̭͖̼̠̲̘̼̹̤̒̊̔̆̈̃̀̓̽̍͋̐̾͗̅̽̀̆̑̆̌̎̕͝͝k̴̤̾̏̈͒͒͊̈́̀̀̍̑̈́̈́̈́̈́̾̉́̿̈͘͜͝͝͝͠͠͝e̶̙̗̖͎̝̟͕͎͇̩̲͙̘̗̬̪̙̠̹̭̱͗̒̒̿͛͑̋̆̄̇́̊̋̇͑̄͒͌̇̓͋̃͒̈́͗͐͆̕̕̕̚͠͝͝ ̶̡̡̢̡̡̧͕͔͙͕̪̤͔̹̠͙̜̞̜̤͔͍̺̪̞̰̥̜̒͑́̿̉̏͗͌͆̀̄̚͜͠t̶̛̛͓̠̬͎̝̼̣̭̗̟̭̟͚̱͎͚̹̙͙̼̭̬͎̞͆͂̑́͆͌̍̎̑̍͛͂̀̋̽͋͒̿̇̈́̿͆̽̓̾͑̚͠͠͝h̵̢̢̘̲̳͕̘̘̻̙̪͕̜̬̘̯͈̜̪̩̗̤̹͉͛̊͘͜ę̷̨̡̹̘͉̝̥̭̺̱̘̝̺͈̖̜͎̮̗̜̪̗̣̗̭͎̠̻̰̇̽̃̽̈́͗͊̑̆̊͊̏̽͑͛̄̿̈́͛̚̚͘̚͠ͅͅͅ ̸̡̢̨͇̗̟͈͍̺̰͙͚̦͚̩̭̰̤̦̻̼̰̪͆͆͊̑̀͛̇͒̉͆͐̽͗̓͂͑̿̊͗̔͌̽͐̒͋̚̚͜͝͝͝͝͝͠͠ţ̵̢̫̥̯̠͚͉̇͐̑̿̽̈́̂͑̾̇̅̑̓̉̍̎͌̚͘͝͝r̸̡̨̯̙̱̪͙̩̠͛̽̓͂͐̌̃̓̓̐͗̈́̑̀͐͐͑͐̽́̚͝ą̶̧̨͕̫̩̬͍̬̙̖̳̤̮͎͍̖͈̲̻̂̋͋̓̌̓̉̊́̅̄̍̈́̅̑̀͘̚͘͝͝ͅį̶̨̡̧̡̨̱͔̣̞̠͓̹̟̙̻͎͉͙̪̓̈́̊̿́̌̈̚n̶͈͉̻̝̺͕͉̥͔͕̺̲̠̼̙͇̲͛̋̊͐̉̑̅̍̀̌͐͆̑͒̎̔̀̿̏̓́͐̀͒̔̍̋̈́̈́̕̚͜͜ ̶̡̡̧̡̪͈̮̜͈͕̥̰͇͙̮̘̟͓̙̹̯͈̠͇̠̪͉̤͚͈͐̇̅̊̐̈̎͊̇̔́́̇̇̑͌̑̋̽̊̀͘̚̕͜͝͝ḩ̴̝̱̗̦̲̘͈̮̖͎̳͖̘̰̩̋́͑̈́͜͜ờ̵̛̺̼̫̖̖̺̙͈̟̻̙̀̃͗͛͌͌̓̓́͊̀͋̈́̓͘͘͝͠͝͠͠ṁ̵̛̙̘̭̤̦̩̭̙̫͍̓͒͗̾̈̎͂̀̀͂̾́̃͊̌͛͆̓̏̂̍́̀̈͘̕͝͠ͅe̸̛̞̩̠̘̖͔̩̩̖̹̖̗̳̝̓̈́̓̅͐͂̒͗̔̇͗͆̌̾͗̀́͊̂̓͋̽̕͘͝ͅ.̶̧̡̻͎̰͚͕̯͓̤̤̝̜͈͍̲̹̖̞͇̦̱̗̗̪̮̹̱͉̔͒̔̉͑̏̄̇̎̆̅̔̈́̐͠͝
These thoughts jumbled her mind, it didn’t matter if there was no Mossui, it didn’t matter if there was no longer any bus stop, she knew that the station was through the tunnel up ahead. She just had to keep running, no matter how much her lungs burned or her legs ached. She just had to be faster than Suguri. She had to follow the paved road.
“Aoiiiii. It’s dangerous to play on the road like that, you know.”
And when a bright flash of light hits her face along with a deafening noise filling the tunnel, Aoi realizes she was allowed home early.