But, for some inexplicable motive, it appeared completely regular. Unable to bear the twisted sight any longer, I spoke up.

“Who’s she? You stated that when you die, she’s going to die as effectively. Does she have a say in that?”

I spotted how ridiculous my query was.

Mukai remained silent for a number of seconds, after which breathed out a stream of smoke. It was pungent.

“You’re one unusual man,” Mukai stated.

“Don’t thoughts him,” Mayuzumi stated. “He’s a bit particular. He might sound loopy to you, however simply let it slide.”

She was most likely referring to what occurred with Shizuka. After bearing her youngster, I had no alternative however to keep away from constructing relationships with others. However now that the kid was steady and the fetters had been gone, I couldn’t assist however become involved with others greater than vital. It was a nasty behavior of mine, as rightfully identified by the fox.

The girl raised her head, a twisted smile on her lips. The expression on her face petrified me. My earlier ideas returned.

It didn’t matter if she had a will or not.

I swallowed.

Moments later, Mukai broke the silence. “So, about my request. After my demise, I would like you to offer my physique to her.”

Crack.

Chocolate snapped.

Mayuzumi had produced a golden package deal from someplace. A candy aroma mingled with the pungent odor.

Mayuzumi swallowed the confection. “I refuse,” she stated dispassionately.

“You may’t refuse. By way of worth, it’s even. You might be a child, however I gained’t tolerate any spoiled conduct.”

I used to be shocked. I had by no means seen anybody speak to her like this earlier than.

Mayuzumi shook her head. “I do know. I simply wished to say it. If the scales are balanced, I’ve no complaints. Though, that is relatively absurd, contemplating it’s not even my very own debt.”

“It might as effectively be. Mayuzumi Azaka. We each need to be nothing however dots, however finally we’re certain in a line that’s our lineage. Whether or not we’re handled as gods above the road or reviled beneath it, we’re trapped all the identical. Ah, how troublesome. Your clan owes me, and I anticipate you to return the favor in full.”

Mukai cackled. His laughter belied the gravity of his phrases. He appeared to simply be making gentle of the present state of affairs. Mayuzumi silently bit into a bit of chocolate.

Abruptly, Mukai coughed, and with it got here the sound of phlegm. For the primary time, he appeared like an previous individual. Hacking repeatedly, he spat out one thing thick on the tatami.

One thing pink and yellow.

“I would like you to remain right here till I die,” Mukai stated. “It gained’t be lengthy. Make yourselves at house.”

“If I keep too lengthy, I shall be paying additional for my debt. When are you dying precisely?”

The pair continued their dialog like nothing.

Mukai blew out smoke. White slowly vanished.

“Quickly,” he replied.

The girl rose from Mukai’s lap. Crawling on all fours, she handed us by and slithered into the hallway. Mayuzumi circled to comply with her, her pale hand taking maintain of mine. I squeezed her tender palm tight.

Mukai and Mayuzumi’s dialog had ended, it appeared. I trailed after Mayuzumi as she adopted the lady forward of us. The girl’s spherical buttocks bounced rhythmically. She stopped midway down the hallway and checked out us.

“Thanks,” Mayuzumi stated. “You might go now.”

The girl nodded. Mayuzumi touched what gave the impression to be a white wall, and a door creaked open. She took a number of steps ahead and sat down. I adopted go well with, kneeling down beside her. The damp wooden creaked beneath us. The person’s home gave the impression to be dilapidated general. I couldn’t inform what it was product of precisely.

Snap.

Mayuzumi sat down on a cushion and began nibbling on chocolate. I surveyed the room. It was exhausting to see via the darkness, however there gave the impression to be no furnishings inside. It was an area constructed without any consideration for human consolation. Like a storage room, or a cell.

“There’s completely nothing to do,” Mayuzumi stated. “I hope he dies quickly. Judging by the scale of the debt, it could solely take a number of days. For now, we simply have to attend.” She heaved a sigh.

I frowned. You don’t simply want demise on somebody prefer it was no huge deal. However for these folks, it appeared like a pure factor.

For the person and Mayuzumi, the previous’s demise was all however sure, and whether or not it got here ultimately was of little consequence. His destiny was sealed.

“What kind of debt do you owe this man?” I requested with a contact of curiosity.

It was uncommon for Mayuzumi to be indebted to anybody. With a twist of her pink lips, she casually raised her delicate wrist, bringing a candy delicacy to her mouth.

Crack.

“He’s a cleaner, hailing from a clan of espers,” Mayuzumi went on matter-of-factly. “He’s dealt with a number of physique disposals for the Mayuzumi clan that couldn’t be delivered to gentle. That’s the nature of the debt. His clan has been contracted for corpse disposal in varied areas for generations, however it would most likely finish with him.”

She set free a heavy sigh and leaned her pink parasol towards the wall. I might see the vivid coloration slanting within the dimness.

“What do you imply by ‘it would finish with him’?”

“There isn’t a inheritor. Not like the Minase clan, their clan’s supernatural skill solely manifests in those that have the aptitude. Those that specific the will to turn out to be heirs are adopted and turn out to be the successor. His clan despises espers, although. Regardless of doing the soiled work, they’re not allowed to make use of the household identify. However, there have been those that expressed their curiosity within the job. Till now, that’s.”

“So nobody needs to take over?”

It was exhausting to fathom on this fashionable age that there have been individuals who willingly engaged in corpse disposal. Nobody would take the job, figuring out the unfair therapy that they’d obtain. Not less than that’s what I assumed.

“Not precisely.” Mayuzumi shook her head. “There was somebody who wished to take over. However Mukai’s adopted youngster ran away, not as a result of they detested the job. They couldn’t abdomen the truth that they’d by no means surpass him.

Crunch.

A black fragment shattered between her tooth. The damaged piece fell and dissolved into the darkness, vanishing from sight.

“Mukai is a rare esper, a hedonist, and a madman. The second the kid thought of surpassing him, they already misplaced. Mukai doesn’t care about any of that. He simply lives and dies for his personal pleasure. In that sense, he’s much like me. Not that it issues. I don’t wish to turn out to be associates with myself.”

Mayuzumi stretched her limbs. She positioned a cushion on her head and laid down. Her arms had been clasped within the darkness. Her physique, wrapped in a black gown, have to be beneath.

“I’ll relaxation for a bit, Odagiri-kun. Why don’t you fall asleep? I feel your eyes are exhausted.”

The world shook. Mayuzumi’s legs and arms scattered within the darkness. White melted away, swallowed by the shadows. My imaginative and prescient returned to finish darkness once more. It felt like I used to be beneath a curse. I pressed my throbbing head. On my brow was a scar from the latest incident.

“Mayu-san, my eyes…”

“Ah, I knew it. You stated you noticed a lady. Your eyes will need to have been beneath numerous pressure. Don’t overwork them or your imaginative and prescient would possibly stay like that. Your eyesight is irregular, don’t overlook that.”

I closed my eyes and collapsed on the spot. I heard the rustling of garments. Mushy fingers brushed my cheek. Mayuzumi stroked my face as if petting a cat, then pulled her hand. Onerous nails grazed my eyelids.

Mayuzumi pushed on my eyeballs somewhat. “A girl, huh? That’s why his personal youngster hated him. To espers, Mukai is an object of envy and hatred. Others will discover it exhausting to know.” She pulled her fingers away.

Excessive drowsiness got here. The headache appeared to return from eyestrain. I regularly drifted into sleep, however my imaginative and prescient remained unchanged, nonetheless darkish.

“Does it look lovely to you?”

Mayuzumi’s voice rang like a bell within the distance.

Her rhetorical query dissolved into the darkness.