Volume 1 - CH 5.14

As soon as my body could move, I rolled off the bed. My legs trembled, but my muscles had not gone weak. It was a strange phenomenon. Feeling relieved, I dragged my heavy body and walked the seemingly endless distance. When I made it to the front door, I opened it and slipped outside. It had been a while since I’d felt the warmth of the air outside. With fear in my heart, I headed for the elevator. I pressed the button, and the number on the panel switched.

As the door opened, my eyes met hers.

“…Tsutomu-san?” Shizuka mumbled.

Fear gripped my body.

I pushed her away and ran towards the stairs. I headed for the lower stairs, but in my panic my legs got tangled, and I tumbled. I had grabbed the handrail to the upper floor. Footsteps were coming from behind. I couldn’t change directions now. A cold sweat ran down my spine as I started climbing. She would catch up soon.

I heard a yelp of pain. Apparently, Shizuka hurt her leg when I pushed her away. It gave me the courage to move my feet. I reached the top floor, but the elevator remained stopped below. Not knowing what to do, I looked around and noticed an iron staircase in an inconspicuous spot. It seemed to lead to the rooftop.

The door should be locked in that case.

I climbed the stairs, grabbed the rusty door and pulled it. It creaked open easily. Finding it odd, I stumbled out.

A clear blue sky stretched out in front of me. As if to mock my current situation, the season was wrapped in a calm and gentle light. For a moment, the footsteps from behind sounded lost. I wished she would just leave, but eventually she found the stairs and followed me up.

Shizuka was coming.

A white figure appeared in the black entrance. Fear crawled up my spine.

But there was something wrong.

Huh?

For some reason, she was crying.

“Tsutomu-san…”

Hands outstretched, Shizuka called my name. She was crying like a child left behind by her mother.

“Why did you wake up? Why?”

I almost reached out as well. But then memory stirred. The pain from the syringe ran down my neck. Memories of the days I was asleep, turned into a puppet, flashed before my eyes. Asato whispered in my ear.

“If you’re scared, then run away. And if you decide to look the other way, then don’t ever come close.”

No matter how pitiful she was, if I cared for my own being…

“Stay away… Don’t come any closer. Stay awaaaay!”

A scream ripped from my throat. Shizuka jerked and stopped. She crumpled on the spot, eyes wide open. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

A wind blew, tousling her long, black hair.

Her hair had grown. She had it cut short before, but now it was long enough to cover her shoulders.

“…Tsutomu-san.”

“Stay away… Stay away, Shizuka.”

Shizuka raised her tearful eyes. I saw my face in them, contorted in fear.

“Why… Why am I like this?” she mumbled. Tears rolling down her cheeks, she whispered, as if asking herself. Her voice sounded indifferent. “Why did this happen? You won’t forgive me, will you? I won’t be forgiven. Why am I like this? I wanted to be a bride. I just wanted to be your wife. I wanted to make a happy home. I wanted to prove that I was different from my mom and dad. I wanted a proper family. I wanted to be a mom and hug my kids. I wanted to be happy. That’s all I really wanted.”

Her tears seeped into the rooftop. Slowly, Shizuka closed her eyes.

“That’s all I wanted…”

It felt as if time had stopped. Everything seemed washed out, like a dream. In the days I spent with her, it often rained. So I couldn’t believe that the sky was clear now. Everything was like a beautiful nightmare.

“Shizuka.”

She opened her eyes. Her pleading gaze seemed to blame me for everything.

Or perhaps she was begging for help.

My whole body trembled. Looking into her eyes, I couldn’t speak properly. But I had to tell her.

No matter how cruel it was.

I had to, if I didn’t want to go back to being a puppet.

“I don’t love you.”

So I said it.

Shizuka gave a serene smile. A calm expression filled her face, like a holy saint. She rose to her feet and started walking. I rolled away from her. But she didn’t look at me; she just stopped in the middle of the rooftop.

Either they removed it after wearing out, or there wasn’t any from the beginning.

The roof had no fence.

If you moved closer to the edge, you could probably see the cherry blossoms.

“I wish I had a child,” Shizuka said. “I wanted to have a child with you. I wanted to hold him. But it was impossible. You were asleep the whole time. It couldn’t be done.”

Shizuka looked at me. Eyes swollen from tears, she gave a clear, bright smile. A bad feeling filled my gut.

“If we had a child, you would never forget me. You would always remember me. I’m the mom and you’re the dad. I’m still scared. Scared that no one will want me, that people will forget that I exist. Even after all this time…”

She would be forgotten. No one would remember her.

Why would she say that?

Why did she talk as if she wasn’t around anymore?

“Ah—”

“Stop it, Shizuka!”

She started running. Like the approach to a long jump, she dashed without hesitation. Her black hair fluttered. She crossed the rooftop, straight forward.

“I wish you gave me a child.”

With no hesitation, Shizuka stepped into the open.

Her figure floated in the blue azure. She stopped there, as if she was trying to fly. Her white dress fluttered. She turned her face to look at me.

Time seemed to stretch on forever.

My hand caught nothing but air.

Tears falling, Shizuka smiled.

Then time resumed at a furious pace. Shizuka disappeared. I heard something soft being crushed. Strength left my body, and I slumped down on the spot. I peered down from the rooftop. I could see red splattered like a pomegranate, and a dark-blue parasol looming over it. Before I could make sense of it, I shrank back. My body trembled, and tears welled up in my eyes. Shizuka, Shizuka, Shizuka. I kept calling her name. I didn’t even know if I should feel sad or frustrated or what.

There was no one on the rooftop now.

I heard a creak, and someone emerged from the entrance.

“I was right to leave the door unlocked.”

I saw a dark blue parasol. A man wearing a fox mask appeared.

“I’ve always wanted to see someone jump to their death.”

“Asato…”

I grit my teeth. Anger burned in my guts and my vision boiled red. The fox, meanwhile, was smiling nonchalantly.

“Asatooo!” Screaming, I got up my feet.

“I granted her last wish,” he said.

Fists clenched, I charged straight ahead. My arm aimed for the face of the monster whom I thought was my friend. But before I could hit him, his parasol flew into the air.

There was a wet sound. My stomach burned. My fist stopped just before it reached Asato’s face.

My stomach hurt. So bad.

“…Ah.”

Asato’s right hand was buried in my belly. On his left was a fresh uterus. His right hand forced my belly open. Blood poured out. Asato pushed the uterus through the opening. The reddish-black organ slowly entered my body. As if fusing together, the uterus settled in with my bowels. My whole body trembled with frightening pain. My breath came in labored gasps.

“An interesting wish, I must say. I can do anything. But I can only give shape to people’s wishes. There are restrictions. Without a source, I wouldn’t be able to do this. That’s why I’m having so much fun right now. I’m glad to be your friend.”

Asato pulled his left hand out, and the wound began closing.

The uterus was nowhere to be found.

My vision darkened. I couldn’t see anything.

A fox mask was the last thing I saw.

“I can’t wait to see your child,” he said with an innocent smile.

Thus, I let Shizuka die—and conceived a demon.