Chapter Forty-One: Courage

Manami Mizuhara left the school grounds and, following the directions on her phone’s smart map, hurried toward the abandoned factory called “NAKAYA.” The pendant at her chest felt like an external organ of energy, endlessly supplying her body with strength. Even though she usually would be out of breath after just one lap, this time, she found herself running all the way to where she could see the deserted factory in the distance, yet she felt no discomfort at all.

Peering through the thicket, Manami saw the factory’s gates wide open, looming like a pitch-black cavern, mysterious and intimidating. At the entrance, a few delinquent girls with brightly colored hair loitered, smoking and taking their break.

“So that’s where Miu-senpai is being held...” Manami gazed at the dark entrance and the gang girls guarding it, fear creeping into her heart, and, quite naturally, the urge to turn back arose.

…After all, they had only met by chance just the night before, never having spoken or even seen each other before that. Why should she go to such lengths for someone she barely knew?

…She could just call the police from here. The response might be slow, and by the time the police arrived, Miu Ito might already have been taken away by Maya Mineyama, but that wouldn’t be her responsibility. She would have done her duty; no one could blame her.

Such timid, or rather, pragmatic thoughts tumbled through her mind.

After all, Manami Mizuhara was just an ordinary high school girl. She might love the occult and the supernatural, and know more about ancient myths and legends than the street names in her own city, but until yesterday, she had never imagined she could become anyone’s hero.

A hero...

Suddenly, Miu Ito’s face floated into her mind—a face that, even when smiling, seemed devoid of any true emotion. She remembered the lonely look in Miu’s eyes as she turned to gaze at the night sky—

“…There’s no moon tonight.”

At that moment, Miu’s soft, melancholy voice echoed in Manami’s ears. For some reason, a feeling of suffocating heaviness settled in her chest, a stifling sense of frustration.

“I never wanted to be a hero...” Manami took a deep breath and rose from behind the shrubbery.

“…But at the very least, I hope that Miu-senpai doesn’t have to end up lying battered and bleeding beside a trash bin, gazing in loneliness at a moonless night sky.”

Manami clenched her teeth and began to creep quietly toward the abandoned factory’s main entrance.

…

Miu Ito lay calmly on the cold ground, listening to the drip of stagnant water echoing through the factory, surrounded by a deathly silence.

After being dragged here just over an hour ago, Maya Mineyama had soon left her in the hands of her underlings. They had tormented her for a while, but then the brightly-haired delinquents wandered off, laughing.

Her toes, her leg bones, and the muscles in her legs throbbed with a numb ache; her fingers and arms radiated a piercing pain. After sustaining repeated blows, her mind was hazy, her head heavy, and the back of her skull throbbed where it touched the hard concrete floor.

But there was no escaping this predicament. She couldn’t even adjust her head for a bit of comfort.

Her hands were tied tightly behind her back with rope, her legs bound together, even her mouth sealed with tape so she couldn’t call out.

Fortunately, the strange pendant was still firmly tied to her chest; Maya Mineyama hadn’t taken it while bullying her. Because of that, Miu felt she hadn’t quite reached her breaking point yet.

“…”

When had the world around her become like this?

Miu tried to recall, but the memory eluded her. Perhaps it had always been so. Like luggage stowed away and forgotten since the very beginning, by now, it was impossible to retrieve it.

“…Heh.” Suddenly, Miu smiled, a hollow, bitter laugh echoing through her heart.

Was she mocking herself? Or mocking something else? She didn’t know—the emptiness inside her was all-consuming.

The only thing she could remember was the figure of her father standing tall before her in childhood.

And then…

Suddenly, faint footsteps interrupted her thoughts, pulling her back from her memories. Oddly, the footsteps didn’t sound like Maya Mineyama or any of her delinquent followers, but they were strangely familiar. That was—

“Miu-senpai… are you there…”

The girl’s voice, deliberately kept low, drifted to Miu’s ears.

“Miu-senpai…”

That voice instantly transported Miu back to the night before—the girl who had stepped forward to defend her from Maya Mineyama, who had taken her to the bookstore for help.

The girl’s voice drifted here and there; she was searching for her. But with all the sandbags and abandoned machinery cluttering the factory, it would be hard to spot where Miu was lying.

How Manami Mizuhara had learned of her predicament was a mystery to Miu.

But now, it was imperative to let her know where she was.

Without hesitation, Miu rolled onto her side, twisting her only free part—her neck—to slam her head hard against a nearby metal barrel—

Bang!

Agony shot through her skull, but a clear, ringing clang echoed through the factory.

Hurried footsteps followed, coming closer and closer, until Manami Mizuhara finally saw her.

“Sen… senpai…”

Manami immediately knelt down and ripped the tape from Miu’s mouth.

“Senpai, are you okay?!”

She held Miu in her arms, frantically untying the ropes that bound her arms and legs.

“…”

Miu didn’t speak, only shook her head to signal she was all right. The sharp pain in her temple from striking the barrel wasn’t something Manami needed to worry about.

While Manami held her, untying the ropes, Miu gazed at her profile, her tone peculiar:

“Why… why are you here, Manami?”

“I found out that Maya Mineyama brought you here, so I came as fast as I could.”

The knots Maya’s followers had tied were tight and troublesome, making Manami sweat as she worked. But as one knot loosened, she grew more adept, and soon the ropes binding Miu’s legs were off.

She turned to the ropes on Miu’s wrists, but these knots were even tighter and, without anything sharp to cut them, there was no time to search the factory.

After a moment’s thought, she gritted her teeth.

“Senpai, can you stand?”

Miu nodded. Her legs hurt, but this kind of pain was nothing new to her. And this time, for some reason, she felt as if, even if her legs were truly broken, she would still be able to stand.

There was no rational explanation, but Miu was certain of it.

Assured, Manami helped her to her feet and hurriedly explained, “When I arrived, I saw someone standing watch at the gate. I waited until they left before sneaking in, but they’ll probably be back soon. We have to use this chance to escape.”

As she spoke, they reached the entrance—but the moment they did, Manami’s face went pale.

In clear view, the delinquent girls, led by a blonde, were already heading back toward the factory—Maya Mineyama’s gang.

If they tried to run now, they’d be caught for sure!

What should she do?

What should she do??

What should she do???

Manami felt her breath falter.

But then, turning and seeing Miu standing behind her, a surge of courage welled up inside her.

—I can’t let them take Senpai!

—Not after all this, not when Senpai has already endured so much!

As her gaze swept the area, she noticed a copse of trees beside the factory. If Miu could get in there, maybe she wouldn’t be seen. Unfortunately, it was over ten meters away—she’d be caught before she got there.

So…

Manami drew a deep breath.

There was no time for explanations—just a few seconds to act.

She spoke quickly to Miu: “Senpai, I’ll rush out to distract Maya and her gang. When I confront them, use that moment to slip into the woods. Go find the bookstore owner—I believe he can help!”

She pictured the mysterious face of Shiguya, the bookstore’s proprietor. She still didn’t know who he truly was, but all hope rested with him.

Without looking back at Miu’s expression, Manami took another deep breath.

The next moment, she strode boldly out the factory gate, straight toward Maya Mineyama and her girls.

“Hey, you—”

“As long as I’m here, you won’t lay a finger on Miu-senpai!”

The delinquents froze in shock as Manami appeared, all except Maya, who narrowed her eyes, fixing Manami with a piercing gaze.

Then, their expressions hardened, and they charged at her.

No matter how bravely she resisted, Manami was outnumbered and quickly overpowered.

Outside the factory, on the open ground, the girls set upon her, kicking and punching. Her consciousness began to blur; the last thing she saw was Maya standing apart, arms crossed, regarding her coldly.

And, in the corner of her eye, the fleeting silhouette of someone slipping quietly into the woods.

“…We did it…”

A surge of joy rose in Manami’s heart.

But the next moment, darkness claimed her, and she lost consciousness.