Shuuen no Shiori - Volume 1 - Chapter 3

“You’re really helpless, A-ya.”

——A memory from my childhood.
I was always with A-ya, who lived nearby.
Even if I said we were always together, our families were friends, so we had no choice but to play together.
Somehow, I was always bad with A-ya, who I could never understand what he was thinking about.

I think that, ever since he was little, he’d never been good at communicating with people.
No, maybe he just seemed that way from my point of view.
“I should say it more like this.”
“I should smile when I say this.”
Since I was a child, I was good at gaining favor with adults and not making enemies, so there was nothing else but to gradually become curious about A-ya’s behaviour.

And at first, I really only began to follow up on A-ya’s behaviour on a bit of a whim.
“A-ya’s bad at showing it, but he’s really happy!”
“A-ya’s just embarrassed, that’s all.”
At the time, I felt that A-ya had no enemies around him, and I as a child had taken the liberty to feel like a hero.

“You’re really helpless, A-ya.”

Without me, A-ya was no good.
The one who saved A-ya, my childhood friend, from the shadows was me.

I felt a strange sense of fulfillment.
Feeling as if I was needed by someone, up until this point, I had never thought that it was a good feeling.
A-ya never directly showed any signs of appreciation, but I at that time had accepted it as one of his bad points, hence always believed that I was needed by him, never doubting it.

The helpless A-ya, and I, the hero.
Unawares, while holding A-ya in contempt like it was my favorite phrase, I would stand by him with a satisfied grin.
To think that, as a result of my own will, going through life was something this simple.
I had it all so easy. Without thinking, my smiles showed through.

——But, I, who was not a perfect, flawless hero, made a mistake somewhere.

In the sixth year of elementary school, several classmates had come over to my house.
Of course, A-ya was also attending the sleepover.

While helping A-ya participate in the conversations like usual, and enjoying games, among other things, I had thought that the sleepover had gone smoothly without any problems.
But, a single student with a bully-like position in the class discovered a single stuffed toy in my room.
A rabbit doll that was like something a girl would own.
That time-worn thing was something my parents had bought for me when I was very young.
The truth was, it was placed beside my bed even now.
Also, to be honest, I still sometimes spoke with it even after all these years, but I no longer went to sleep with it.

Instantly, I thought, “Crap!”
From my point of view, that classmate was still pretty bratty, and I felt a bad premonition coming on.
And my bad premonition was impressively spot on, as he began to pretentiously make a fuss about it.

“Uwah! C-ta! Why do you have such a girly thing? You don’t have any sisters, so this is definitely yours, right?!”

I broke into a cold sweat, and tried to somehow search for something to lie to him with.
Even from just this, the next day at school there would definitely be unwanted rumors about me. That alone, that alone must be avoided.
A blunder! A blunder!! A blunder of a lifetime!!

“……That doll, is mine, so……”

My ears doubted those sudden words that someone said.
Turning in the direction that the voice had come from, A-ya, with his usual expressionless face, was standing there.

“The doll……is mine…so……give it back.”
“Why’s your doll at C-ta’s house?”
“My house is nearby, so……the last time I came over, I forgot it……”
“……Hmmmph.”

Having lost interest, the classmate handed the doll to A-ya.
I heaved a sigh of relief, and at the same time was assaulted by a complex feeling.

——Just what was A-ya thinking?!

It could be that, even normally, A-ya had been looking for an opportunity to take revenge on me.
This was bad. Really bad!
Until now, I had been saving A-ya, and had found my own worth in doing that.
The fact that our roles had reversed was extremely bad!

On that day, because I was so worried about what A-ya would say the next day, I couldn’t sleep.

And on the next day, after our classmates had left, A-ya and I were left by ourselves in my room.
“…………”
I was completely unable to say anything.
When I thought about it, I had never thought of what A-ya was always thinking about.
Just what are you thinking?
What were you thinking, covering for me?!
“……Um……”
“……!”
The one who spoke up first was A-ya.
And what came next was something I’d never expected.

“……Thanks for everything.”
“……!!”

At those sudden words, I think that I probably made a strange face.
The upper half of my face was surprised, while the lower half was twisted with joy, and my expression soon changed to one entirely of delight.

A-ya really appreciated me after all!
The things I did! Every day!
Because he never really showed his emotions, there were times where I’d thought he hadn’t noticed.
Rather! There were also times when I had become scared that he had thought I was annoying!
——But I was wrong!
A-ya appreciated me! He needed me! As proof of his appreciation, he covered for me!
…….No, that’s not it.
Yesterday’s actions, weren’t for my sake!
Rather, it was for his own sake.
If my position in the class was in danger, who would help him then?
That’s right!
A-ya needed me to be there for him!
From now on, too, I had to keep helping A-ya!

“…………You’re helpless, A-ya.”
I couldn’t take this smile off of my face. I couldn’t keep calm, either.

“……Yeah. I’m sorry about always.”
“It’s fine! Don’t worry about it!”
“Yeah. Ah, that’s right……here.”
As he said that, A-ya held stuffed doll from yesterday out towards me.
“…………I’ll give it to you.”
“……Eh?”
“That doll…I’ll give it to you……A-ya.”
“……”
“Just take it! Okay?”
“…………Okay.”

Having said that, A-ya hugged the doll expressionlessly.
I thought that somehow, that appearance strangely suited him.

And from that day on, as to make sure A-ya would not make any enemies, and so that he’d never have any trouble with human relations, I helped him from behind the scenes.

Time passed, and the two of us entered high school.

During middle school, A-ya had become obsessed with urban legends, ghost stories, and other things that could be classified as the occult, and on top of that, he turned pessimistic.
As for me, I continued to take advantage of my sociability, and all the while without becoming too conspicuous, avoided making any enemies, and continued to maintain an intermediate position in the class.
If you ask me, to do everything too perfectly is, conversely, what will make people become your enemy.
I could have become the number one most popular person if I’d wanted to, but I hadn’t done that.
Though, if I were to be in an inferior position by a certain amount, I’d immediately be looked down upon by those in the higher ranks in the class,
“Going through life” was really nothing other than having a sense of balance.
I, who paid more attention to that than anything else, and while paying careful attention to A-ya’s behaviour, was subtly led on to a certain degree of balance.

Although A-ya had no friends that he was close with besides me, because I was there for him, he was never isolated.
Once or twice a week, we’d go together to an old school building, and while listening to A-ya talk about urban legends and the like, I’d subtly be looking into his behaviour.
While those days continued on, I came to gently watch over A-ya.

——But, one day, that changed.

A-ya had brought the most popular girl who was said to be the number one cutest girl in the school, B-ko, to our classroom in the old school building.
“……Nice to meet you.”
“……Hey, B-ko-chan, nice to meet you.”
“Haa……as I thought, you also know my name too, huh…”
“Hahah, who doesn’t? Ah, my name’s C-ta. A-ya’s childhood friend.”
“……Hmm? Is that so……”
Just what had happened?!
Standing next to such a conspicuous girl, there’s no doubt that strange rumors would begin popping up.
Even though I’d learned how to prevent A-ya from becoming too conspicuous, just how had he come into contact with this kind of person?! If I don’t get this girl away from A-ya quickly, then……!
But, contrary to my expectations, another member joined our old school building group, and though we had no clear purpose, we soon began to have activities like those of a club.

——And then, about a month passed.

*

One day, after school in the old school building.
“……Oh.”
“……Oh my.”
The one who had just come in was D-ne.
Basically, I was bad at talking to girls, but she was better than B-ko.
“Hey, D-ne-chan, you’re early today, aren’t you?”
I spoke with my usual smile.

“Ehh, it’s because I wanted to speak with you.”
She grinned and faced my way.

“……Sorry, don’t you mean……with B-ko?”
“Oh? Of course I would love to talk with B-ko-chan, but I would also like to speak together with you.”
“……I see. What is it?”
I’d thought so since before, but she’s really a person whose thoughts I can’t guess.
D-ne had become a member of our old school building group because of B-ko’s coming as well. Her main characteristic was her long, black hair, and no matter how you looked at it, she seemed to have a pessimistic personality. She didn’t stand out too much in the class, either, and she gave the impression that she didn’t have any especially good friends, either.
However, in this classroom in the old school building, she took an attitude of seeming to mock people.
It could be that she naturally had more of a prank-loving personality.
She spoke with a tricky smile on her face.
“……I, I think that you and I are quite alike.”
“Hm? What do you mean? No matter how I look it, I think that you and A-ya are really like each other?”
“That’s just on the surface, isn’t it?”
“……?”
D-ne raised her chin, and continued while shuffling her feet.
“……There’s someone we can’t live without.”
“……What are you saying……?”
“In truth, you know what I mean. That you yourself are an empty existence. If you don’t find your own reason for existing inside of someone, you wouldn’t even be able to live. In truth, you’re meaninglessly, powerlessly…”
“D-ne-chan? What are you saying——!”
“It’s only been a short period of time, but when I look at you, I am annoyed. It’s as if…you are a mirror to me. Although the orientation appears to be completely different. After all, you have noticed it, right? If, one day, the other party has no more need for you. No, it’s possible that they may no longer have any need for you, it’s just that you don’t have the courage to confirm it. And your own——”
“——Shut up.”
I said in a low voice that surprised even myself.
“… Ufufu, it’s a joke. I think that, despite this, I would like to become friends with you, C-ta-san. You may not have the same intention, but considering the mutual benefits for each other, it’s not something you can’t understand, right?”

……This person.
For a while, I glared at D-ne with a stare of unmasked hostility, when I heard a sound from behind my back.
“……Huh? C-ta.”
“Ah, D-ne. You’re early, aren’t you? What are you doing?”
There, A-ya and B-ko stood together.
“B-ko-chan!  Ufufu, I was just having idle conversation with C-ta.”
“Is that so?”
“Right? C-ta-san.”
D-ne said as she smiled, facing this way.
“……C-ta?”
“…………Ahh, yeah, just small talk.”
I replied, and returned to my usual smile.

*

After that, several days passed.

It was when I had been heading to the old school building together with A-ya.
D-ne had thought that I was dependent on A-ya. That’s wrong! Totally wrong! A-ya’s the one who depends on me. That’s how it is, right? I was the one who saved A-ya. If I didn’t help him, right now, A-ya would surely be……. Surely be……what? If I weren’t here, what would become of A-ya? Would he be alone in the class? Would nothing change from now? In the first place, was A-ya interested in that sort of thing? No, that’s wrong. At that time, he said “Thank you” to me, didn’t he! A-ya should appreciate me!! That’s right, there’s no mistake in that.

“——……ta? C-ta?”
“……h! Ahh sorry.”
“……Are you alright? Are you sick?”
“No, I was just spacing out a little, I’m totally fine?”
“……Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
A-ya examined me for a bit.

Although he retained his usual, expressionless face, I soon understood.
A-ya had once again gotten his hands on a new rumor. In the depths of his eyes, his swirling excitement was overflowing.
“……By the way, what happened today?”
The corners of A-ya’s mouth turned up a little, and he began to talk.
“That’s right……! Hey, C-ta, you know about the inexplicable chain of murders that happened in this old school building, right?  The truth is, yesterday, I coincidentally found a diary in the old school building that seems to be an important clue! Though, I still haven’t looked at the contents——……”

See. A-ya’s been like this since long ago. Whenever he found anything, he’d come report it to me first.
He didn’t really have any expression, but I knew the face he’d make whenever he wanted to say something.
I’d listen to his stories and express my own opinions.
And then, I’d say, “That’s really cool! A-ya!”
Though he was always quiet, when he talked about these kinds of things he begin to talk quickly, and the volume of his voice would increase slightly.

That sort of A-ya was the same as usual.
Nothing will change.
Nothing has changed.

“Hehh, that’s pretty cool!”
“Right? I also talked about it to B-ko, but she didn’t really seem to show any interest. Well then, today, we’ll all investigate this together——”

——What was that?

……He also talked about it to B-ko?

Up until now, even though you’d always come talk to me first, even about the most trivial things?

Wait a second. This way, doesn’t it mean I’m unable to check A-ya to make sure he doesn’t say things he shouldn’t? Why had you done such a selfish thing without my permission? Even moreso, why to B-ko? No, have you still not gotten close to her? In the first place, why do I care? Isn’t this just like what D-ne had said? I……depend on A-ya? It couldn’t be, it’s not like that. It’s not like that……!

I didn’t really remember anything after that. No, I actually did remember, but it was like I was looking objectively at a world that had nothing to do with me. While keeping calm on the surface, I kept thinking of other things. Only my feelings felt completely out of place.

——It was as if, I was reading a novel.

Thinking back to my memories that had lost all feeling, after that, A-ya and I had joined with everyone in the classroom, and began to read the diary. In it, written there were rumors that we’d never heard about until then, and information about the “Bookmark of Demise”, and everyone, not just A-ya, became excited.

And, after some more time had passed.
Probably, although I was supposed to go home together with A-ya after we had split up for the day, I don’t really remember anything.
Before I realized it, I was inside of my house.
And, while, thinking of that doll for some reason, fell asleep without realizing it——.

About a week after that.
I had, once again today, come to this classroom.
While toying around with my cell phone, I spent a while just silently thinking about things, until I heard the sound of the door opening.
There, B-ko and D-ne were standing.
B-ko confirmed that it was me, and glared this way.
“Oh? You seem awfully angry today.”
I replied with my usual, idiotic grin.
The state of my mind was even calmer than usual.
“…Can’t you do something about that childhood friend of yours?”
B-ko and D-ne put down their bags, and sat down in their usual seats.
“Ahh, that rumor? Isn’t it a masterpiece? As usual, it’s the best.”
“……Why, you……”
Just as B-ko moved closer towards me, the sound of the classroom’s door opening was heard.
“……Hey.”
——It was A-ya.
“It’s not just “Hey”……I don’t really care about your bad tastes, but would you stop using people as topics for your stories?”
“……What’re you talking about?”
“……Don’t act like you don’t know!” 
B-ko approached A-ya while glaring at him.

“Look, don’t call smoke where there’s no fire. I only meant it as a little prank.”
“……Why, you……”
“If someone happened to see you right now, won’t they think you’re an impostor?”
“I’m serious, if you don’t stop now……”
“——But, I think it’s wonderful that B-ko-chan has that dual nature.”
Just as B-ko was about to grab A-ya by the collar, D-ne’s disarrayed words came directed at B-ko.
“Dual nature……You’re saying it like I have a split personality.”
“Well, to be honest, it’s at a level where it really seems you might?”
With a smile that seemed like it was only decorative, D-ne said those absurd words.
Since the incident the other day, I’d begun to think that there was an ulterior motive behind this person’s behavior. 
Having thought that, I had been, without thinking about it, laughing inside at how much this person called D-ne pretended to be a kind person on the exterior.
“Pfft, as usual, B-ko has a soft spot for D-ne, huh?”
“Oh, shut up.”

I continued to talk to B-ko as if mocking her.
“It’s not like A-ya meant to tell a pointless lie, right?”
“That’s right, and it matches our activities so perfectly, too.”
“Club activities … Can we really even call it that?” 

——Certainly, it wasn’t anything big.
But, in the wake of A-ya’s discovery of the diary, our activities suddenly became lively.
Before this, we’d only get together about once a week, sometimes not even meeting at all, but lately, we’d been getting together almost every single day as if someone were gathering us together in the old school building.
Even a few days ago, the truth is, we tried Kokkuri-san according to the rules written in the diary.
At that time, only A-ya, B-ko and I were there, and though it felt like we were just “trying it out”, as soon as we started we were hit by a sensation as if a cold bar had been stuck up our spines, and amidst our fear, we ended it halfway.

Today, all the members in the old school building were gathered.
“……By the way, there’s something that I’ve been thinking about recently.” 
A-ya suddenly spoke up.

“It might just be my imagination, though, but it might actually be a supernatural phenomenon.”
“……Supernatural phenomenon?”
B-ko stood up, and adjusted her chair so that she was sitting facing towards A-ya.
“That’s right……Lately, when I wake up in the morning, I’m certain that I can feel someone’s gaze on me.”
“Are you sure……it’s not just your family?”
“Yeah, my parents leave early in the morning, so it can’t be them.”
“Then, is it like someone’s watching from outside or something?”
“That’s not it……How should I put it, I feel like someone’s watching me from behind. But when I turn around, there’s no one there. This kind of thing’s been happening often.”
……Hmm…” 
“Maybe it’s something like a ‘zashiki-warashi’……”
“If it was ‘Mearry-san’, you’d be getting phone calls, right?”
“The Mearry-san of late seems to use even text messaging.”
“Yeah……”
After A-ya took a single breath, he continued.
“There’s something else that’s also been on my mind.”
“What is it?”
“The other day, we did Kokkuri-san, didn’t we? The three of us, B-ko, C-ta, and I …”
“Yeah……”
“——The following day, I started to feel someone’s gaze on me……That’s why, perhaps this has something to do with the “Bookmark of Demise, is what I’ve been thinking……”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“……”

——He can feel a gaze……huh.
Certainly, in A-ya’s family, his parents left early for work, so he was alone whenever he woke up.
But, that was——……

“……Anyway, the last attempt at ‘Kokkuri-san’ failed.”
A-ya suddenly let those words out.
“Failed……?”
“We weren’t able to obtain the “Book of Demise” or the “Bookmark of Demise,” right?”
“……It’s true that we didn’t do as it said in the rules……but……”
The classroom was wrapped in silence.
Although I anticipated his next words, all I thought was, “It’s quite like A-ya.”

“……Let’s do it one more time.”

*

Thus, we began the ritual of “Kokkuri-san” in order to obtain the “Bookmark of Demise”, as was written in the diary.
“Next, everyone will ask each other questions in turn. To start off, someone try asking me something.”
“……Okay then, was A-ya’s dinner last night made of meat?”
“……What’s up with that?”
“… It’s the only thing I could think of on the spot.”
“Ah, it’s started moving.”
“……It says “yes”……What did you eat?”
“It was hamburger steak……”
“Hamburger, huh~ the hamburger steaks at A-ya’s place are really great, I want to eat them again…”
I whispered while thinking of my childhood.
We continued to proceed with Kokkuri-san in that manner, until we finally approached the final stage.
Next was my turn to answer a question.
“Next is……C-ta, huh. Hmm, I wonder what kind of question would be good?”
“Um, how about this?”
I said while looking at A-ya.
“……The doll that was in my home long ago, was a penguin.”
“Eh?”
“What do you mean?”
“……Ah, it moved.”
Kokkuri-san moved to “No”.
“C-ta, what is the meaning of……?”
“Whether Kokkuri-san was really correct or not, we didn’t know, right? That’s why, I thought I’d ask a question that A-ya knew the answer to as well. A-ya, what that doll that was in my house long ago was……you know, right?”
“…………”
A-ya thought for a bit, then replied,
“…….It was a rabbit.”
…………!
“……Right?”
——…………”Right”?

Wait a second, A-ya. It’s a very important doll to you, right?
So why do you sound so unsure? “Right?”?
A-ya couldn’t have, he couldn’t have, before I noticed…….

——BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!!!!

””“”——”“”“

Suddenly, the old cathode-ray tube television that was set up in the old school building began to light up while spouting noise.

“What?”
“Kyaaaaaa!”
“……It couldn’t be…!”
“…………”
「——A game with a single traitor, a “fox”, has begun.」

The robotic voice resounded inside the room.
It was as if unpleasant noise had been poured directly into my brain.

『If you wish to escape, pay attention to the following conditions, and seek the end.
—Now, the beginning of a fun Demise Game will begin.』

・To reach the end of the game, the “fox” must be killed.
・If the “fox” cannot be found, everyone else will die.
・While searching for the “fox”, Kokkuri-san’s demands must be met.
・Kokkuri-san’s demands will be sent via letter.
・You will be given one week to fulfill Kokkuri-san’s demands.
・If the demands are ignored, you will die.
・If the demands are shown to someone outside of the game, that person will die.
・Until the end of the game is reached, you absolutely cannot escape.

The indifferently said words whose meaning I didn’t really understand began to agitate my brain.
——Kill? KILL? Die? DIE?
Game? Traitor? Fox?
Just what was that being said earlier……?

I wanted to just laugh it off as a poor joke, but this absolute fear told me, told everyone, that it was no trivial matter.

“…………h”

——BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!!!!

When the voice finally faded out, the intense noise came again.
The man’s face that was displayed on the screen was twisted as if it were something not of this world, and switched between a laughing, troubled, crying and angry expression.

——And then, incoming silence.

“……What was that……j-just now……?”
“……I don’t know.”
“……”Fox?” A “traitor”……?”
” It’s just a really bad joke, right……?
“…………”

We all fell silent at the same time, and looked at each other.
In the dim room, I think that everyone’s faces had gone pale.
After that, for quite a long time……though in reality, it might not even have been one minute……the silence continued on. And prompted by someone’s suggestion of “……Anyway, let’s go home for today……”, we left the school.

Eventually, I went home together with A-ya, but neither of us said a word.
Reaching my own home, I entered my room, and switched on the PC.
Soon, the same old familiar screen came up.

——On it, the figure of A-ya, who I had just split up with, was displayed.

At first, it had half been intended as a joke.
It started when I had, in the depths of a pocket inside of A-ya’s bag, placed a tiny microphone that was so small no one would notice.
This so-called interest of examining people’s lifestyles had persisted for A-ya’s sake, and had escalated from there.
Originally, because our families were close, I also knew where the spare key was hidden.
Among the things I had discovered in his house, there was nothing suspicious.
That’s exactly right! It’s because I’m A-ya’s one and only best friend!

With that kind of feeling in mind, I prepared my hidden camera and recording device, and began to monitor A-ya.
“Can feel a gaze……huh.”

When A-ya returned to his room, he sat beside his bed in a fetal position, hugging his knees, and crept into the futon while shivering. But no matter how many times he came out of the futon to check his surroundings, he repeatedly turned the TV on and off.
To be honest, I had been shaking since just earlier, and wasn’t able to stop.
While watching A-ya do those things, I whispered to myself, and somehow managed to remain calm.

“You’re really just……so helpless, A-ya.”
“If you wanted to do it, you’d say so, right?”
“It couldn’t be, there’s no way it really……”

That’s right, if I thought calmly about it, there should be no way this would really happen.
Dying and killing…… Could those things be done? Besides, even if, by some chance, it was true, as long as the Book and Bookmark of Demise didn’t appear, there shouldn’t be any problem! That’s how it is, right? Besides that, if we found even the traitor, there should be no reason for us to die…….
I have to do this right, because I’m the only one who can save A-ya.

……Although, my mental fatigue seemed to be reaching its peak.
I turned off my PC’s power, and deciding to get in my bed, stood up from my chair.

——When I turned around——…

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”

On top of my bed was an object I’d never seen.
An old-looking book with a bookmark inserted into it.
The goosebumps on my skin told me:
——This was, the real thing.
What do you mean by this?! What do you mean by this?!!
More importantly, it came to me first?!
That that kind of thing existed, that kind of thing……!
It’s scary! Scary! What should I do! What should I do?! What am I supposed to do?!

My heart’s beating increased in tempo.
Leaning on my heavily trembling feet, I grabbed the book so its pages would not flip open.
Firstly, I have to get rid of this…….
In the meantime, I stowed it away in my bag, and just like A-ya had done earlier, tucked myself under the futon and closed my eyes while hugging my knees. I noticed an incoming call on my cell phone, but I ignored it and fell asleep.

*

And on the next day, after I had confirmed that A-ya had left his house, I headed off for school again today.
I want to get rid of this book and bookmark somewhere as quickly as I can…….
Besides, I didn’t know whether or not I’d really die after receiving the book.
As expected, I wasn’t brave enough to ask the other members about the Book of Demise, but I wonder if I would be able to ask about how I should act in response to it, is what I thought.

I(1) passed through the school gates, and when I drew near where the shoe lockers were located, A-ya was there, being talked to by a classmate.

“He~y, A-ya!”
“……What is it? I’m not feeling that well today, so……”
“——Hm? What’s that?”
A letter fell out of A-ya’s shoe locker.
I immediately knew that it was “that letter”.
A letter was sent to A-ya’s location……?! What should I……!
The classmate picked up that letter and spoke.
“Ooh! Could this be a love letter!?”
“……Ah, oi.”
“Hey, who’s it from?”
“Cut it out……”
“Aw, come on, just let me take a little peek, okay? Please?”

……Wait, A-ya, it can’t……it can’t be.
A-ya certainly had a subservient personality, but in reality, he was timid to the point where he couldn’t kill even a bug, not to mention he was kind; if he so much as hurt someone, he would hurt himself…that was the sort of personality he had…….

So it couldn’t be, you wouldn’t say those kinds of things, right?
“……I guess it can’t be helped……Don’t tell anyone else, okay?”

——A-yaa!!

I suppressed my voice which nearly came out without thinking, and I hid myself in the shadows of the shoe lockers.
What would become of him, who had seen the letter? If, if that was somehow real——!!

“………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………What is this?” 
“——Ah!”

That classmate handed the letter to A-ya, and while mumbling incoherently, staggered down the hall, as if all his will to live had been lost.
“……H-hey……”

——And then, that incident occurred during lunch break.

*

——As I thought, as I thought, that “letter” and this “book” and even this bookmarkk!
It was true……it was really true!!

Except for a group of students who had been selected for questioning, all students in the school were ordered to return home, but, just like yesterday, my legs carried me to the old school building.

In the usual classroom, the same faces from yesterday had gathered.
And B-ko, who was slightly late, started it.
“——Hey, who told him? ——Who’s the traitor?!”
……Traitor, huh. Is A-ya the traitor?
No, if it were so, a letter shouldn’t have been sent to A-ya…….
But, what if the fact that he still received one was what made him the traitor?
What if it was an act to convince all of us to believe that the Bookmark of Demise was real?!

I don’t get it, A-ya! I don’t get it!!
Inside of my head, A-ya’s words kept repeating.
“I heard that recently, B-ko’s impostor seemed to have appeared.”
What if, that wasn’t about B-ko?
What if, A-ya had already become an impostor?
I have to make sure I have to make sure I have to make sure!

……Eventually, we realized again that we were unable to do anything about our present situation, and we were led to the conclusion that, for today, we should return home at once.
After drawing close to the classroom for a bit, I separated from A-ya.
There were two reasons.
I wanted to get rid of this book somewhere as soon as I could.
And, as well, I was scared of being together with A-ya.

I returned to the actual school building.
As expected, it appeared as if there was not a single student left.
From outside, the voices of people having to do with the police, and those of reporters, could be heard.

Walking up the stairs at a brisk pace, I headed to my own class.
But there, I sensed a feeling of unease.

——I realized that my bag felt light.

The massive feeling from just now had suddenly disappeared somewhere.
In the corner of the hallway, I gingerly opened my bag, and what should have been there was gone, and something that shouldn’t have been there was now present.

——The book had disappeared, and in its place, a single “letter” was there.

“……Ah!!”

Without thinking, I dropped my bag.
……It couldn’t be?! Even though it should’ve been with A-ya?!
A second copy?! No, could it be that…….
……So, after all, A-ya was——!!

[T/N:(1) In the novel, this sentence is written in third person perspective, but it might only have been a typo, so I changed it to first person…]

From that day on, I began to monitor A-ya.
As well as my usual eavesdropping and recording,  I also went near A-ya’s house to directly inspect his tendencies.
For 24 hours, without even sleeping, just earnestly monitoring A-ya.
I didn’t even look at my texts or any social networking sites which I normally would check diligently, only plainly…….
But, even after a day had passed, even after two days had passed, A-ya made no moves.
It reached a point where I went to A-ya’s house, because he remained so spaced out and unmoving in his room that I’d thought that the video had malfunctioned.

……Is A-ya the traitor?
……Had A-ya already turned into an imposter?

Because I still couldn’t find the answer, I felt myself growing more and more edgy with each passing day.
And, several days passed since I received the letter.
Innocently continuing to stare at the display, just as I thought it distorted slightly, suddenly, noise could be heard.

“Good evening. This is a special broadcast. We will be announcing the victims thus far.”

“The person who looked at his phone as he walked today.”
“The person who kept a rabbit in his Japanese-style room because his life was too lonely.”
“The person who felt accomplished after walking 10,000 steps.”
“The person who peeked into another person’s letter.”

“Moving on, we will be listing tomorrow’s victims.”
“The person who spoke to someone directly about something they’ve always been curious about.”
“The person who ignored the demands made.”
“The person who skipped school and played all alone.”

“——The person who is turning pale at this very moment.”

“Tomorrow’s victims are these people. We pray for your happiness in the next world. ……Good night.”

The announcer’s monotone voice echoed around the small room.
That day, the one we heard in that classroom, it’s that voice……!!
I felt myself grow cold, as if my spine had been frozen.
As if my heart was being ground at, my chest began to hurt.
——We’ll be killed in the end……!!
No no no no no no no no no no no no noooo!!

“To reach the end of the game, the “fox” must be killed.”

I remembered the announcer’s voice that I’d heard in the old school building.
……I have to make sure.
Whether A-ya is the traitor, or whether I was wrong, I just have to confirm that.
If A-ya had already been replaced by an impostor, then it could be that he’d been locked up somewhere.
I’m the only one who can save A-ya.
I have to kill the “fox”…….
I have to kill the “fox”, and save A-ya……!!