Chapter 1: Seen of Unseen
"I'm leaving," Haruhiro absentmindedly announced his departure as he laced up his shoes at the entrance and stepped out into the morning light.
"Be careful on the road," his older brother's lazy reply floated from the depths of their home.
Strolling through his quiet neighborhood, the serene morning atmosphere accompanied him. His hands patted his blue-white shirt, ensuring everything was in order. Haruhiro's medium bag, hanging from his shoulder, contained everything he needed. But the routine check of his pockets revealed that he had forgotten his money.
"I must have left it at home," he murmured.
He made a U-turn. It was just a short distance back. He won't mind about it.
During that turn, his gaze inadvertently landed on a nondescript one-story house. He quickly regretted that he did.
"Ehe... he he... he... Let's... play... dare contest."
A monstrous creature, a literal monstrosity, hung from the house's roof, its lower body resembling a caterpillar. Multiple hands and human-like eyeballs adorned its grotesque form. Its sickly green skin, distorted texture, mismatched eyes, elongated tongue, and swollen nailess hands made it clear it was far from human.
'Was it come from the rumors going around?' Haruhiro wondered. He had never seen such creatures around her house before her death.
'But I guess it doesn't matter now,' he reasoned. The house was no longer familiar, and he had no concern for its new occupants.
"Haruhiro!"
A sudden smack on his shoulder jolted him, and he couldn't help but groan.
"Yoshino..." Haruhiro chided mildly, wincing. "Watch it. That hurts."
Yoshino chuckled awkwardly. "My bad, my bad. I'm just too excited. Did you see the new Ash movie? After such a long hiatus, it was mind-blowing!"
"I watched it," Haruhiro replied, releasing Yoshino's hand. "Did you enjoy it that much?"
"You didn't?" Yoshino looked surprised.
"I did."
Haruhiro appreciated the realistic approach of the adaptation to the author's story, despite its consistently grim tone.
'I mean, it's absurdlu bleak most of the time.'
"Leaving that aside," Haruhiro turned to Yoshino, his tone serious. "Is there something wrong with your right eye?"
"What do you mean?" Yoshino's demeanor shifted instantly.
Haruhiro noticed the glimpse of injury peeking from beneath his bangs.
'A wound... or several of wounds. What actually happened?'
"I'm fine!" Yoshino laughed forcefully.
'He's certainly not fine...'
Even so, Haruhiro couldn't simply force Yoshino to open up. He didn't even know how to branch the subject.
"You're concerned about me," Yoshino tried to counter. "but you've never really mentioned what's troubling you, Haruhiro."
'I did long ago,' Haruhiro bitterly thought. 'You just never believed it.'
Yet, he understood Yoshino's skepticism.
Well aware of his tendency to complicate matters, Haruhiro couldn't help but overthink everything.
The story Haruhiro was living through felt unreal, enough to question his sanity. He possessed a certain understanding of these experiences since childhood, a familiarity with controlling, overcoming, restraining, and even assaulting various strange oddities that seemed unique to him. It had given him a semblance of composure, an ability to cope.
"Even before her departure, it seemed like you were losing the will to live each day," Yoshino's words rang true.
Haruhiro's ability to deal with problems was simple.
'I simply run away.'
Avoiding responsibilities ensured he remained unburdened. But even then, the question lingered in his mind.
'Why do they always come to me?'
Observing Yoshino, Haruhiro could sense a change, a negative shift. It emanated from an uncontrolled aura, one he had grown accustomed to recognizing.
From his experience, he deduced that this aura was the accumulation of a person's negative energy. Those he knew with high levels of negativity remained blissfully unaware of their own darkness. But Haruhiro was certain that none of them had a positive influence on either themselves or others.
'And Yoshino is one of them.'
"Let's put our problems aside for now. How about inviting your friends to join our club instead?"
"Why would they join...?" Haruhiro weakly responded.
"Don't they?"
"Shiraishi, maybe. Minoura seems unlikely either. Tsurugi might if it involves food. Isurugi is out of the question. Tachibana probably wouldn't even connect with the conversation. And... well, besides them, I can't think of anyone else."
Yoshino sighed. "Aren't there Kakimiya-san and Shuro-san...? Shuro-san, especially, seems quite interested in you. I wouldn't be surprised if she's already fallen for you."
'What are you grinning at?' Haruhiro thought irritably.
Well, Haruhiro certainly didn't consider his relationship with Kakimiya deep enough to call her a friend. Shuro-san, on the other hand, reminded him too much of someone he had once known intimately, a reminder he didn't appreciate.
—
Gazing out of the classroom window, Haruhiro succumbed to introspection, or rather, self-doubt, amid a lesson.
'What should I do about Yoshino? That's the main question.'
Haruhiro in reality liked to ignore the curse's victims, but that didn't mean he didn't contemplate ways he could assist them, even with his extraordinary abilities.
'Was it bullying again?'
He had encountered numerous victims of such cruelty. Their negative energy levels are often high.
Observing Yoshino at the other end of the class, it was clear he didn't like their class representative teacher, Mr. Fushen.
'Come to think of it, the teachers here tend to overlook such treatment.'
Haruhiro couldn't fathom why. The indifference perplexed him.
'Not that I was the one to say.'
"That's enough for today," Mr. Fushen declared the end of the class.
Just as Haruhiro planned to head to his usual spot, he was halted.
"Iima-kun." A rigid voice called his name.
"Hm?"
Haruhiro glanced at Kakimiya, his seatmate.
She had long navy blue hair that was partially tied to the side. Her pretty face, coupled with her body proportions that were said to be ideal for most women, made her quite popular in class.
"What's up?" Haruhiro inquired.
Despite her appearance, Kakimiya exhibited an unexpectedly airheaded demeanor. While they didn't particularly connect, it was a pleasant surprise considering Haruhiro's initial expectations.
"I heard you enjoy movies. Is that true?" she asked, sounding somewhat excited. Kakimiya's monotonous tone made it hard to decipher her feelings.
Haruhiro hesitated. "I don't hate them, but I'm not particularly fond of them either. Why do you ask?"
He was fairly certain Yoshino lacked the courage to even start a conversation with her. Even if he did, he did know that Haruhiro isn't really that fond of watching movies.
"I spotted you at the theater recently, during the fourth part of Ash's screening."
"Ah, I see." Haruhiro immediately understood. "Well, it's my favorite novel series. It's natural to be excited about the adaptation, especially when it's of top-tier quality. How many times have you spotted me at the movies, anyway?"
"Only once," she replied quickly.
Haruhiro tilted his head. "And you concluded I like movies based on that?"
"I just thought," Kakimiya recalled, "you seemed surprisingly enjoyed it while watching the movie."
"Surprising, huh..." Haruhiro echoed.
"Yeah," Kakimiya nodded stiffly, a hint of worry in her eyes. "Iima-kun, ever since she left, you seem---"
"I'm fine." Haruhiro stifled a snort.
'Lost the will of life? What a bull.'
"You're certainly not," Kakimiya insisted. "We're friends, right? Why don't you talk to me about your problems?"
'That's because you wouldn't believe me even if I did.'
"I have my reasons." Still, Haruhiro felt grateful for Kakimiya's concern. "You really don't need to worry about me."
Haruhiro managed a faint smile.
Kakimiya still seemed dissatisfied, but she appeared to give up. Or rather, she couldn't do anything but that.
"Merry-chan!"
Tachibana, a girl with braided hair, sprinted toward Kakimiya and practically threw herself at her.
"Eek!"
Kakimiya let out a cute cry, unable to withstand Tachibana's sudden enthusiasm. She might have fallen off her chair if Haruhiro hadn't stepped in, holding her along with Tachibana.
"U-Uh, thanks." Kakimiya blushed bashfully.
"Oh, Haru-kun," Tachibana, on the other hand, remained as straightforward as ever. "Your face is a little red. Do you have a fever or something?"
"...No," Haruhiro replied after a moment. "More importantly, can you step back from Kakimiya? It's hard for me to move otherwise."
"Roger!"
"I-I'll help," Shiraishi, a timid girl with shoulder-length hair, stepped forward to gently pull Tachibana away from Merry's arms.
"Thanks, Shihoru." Tachibana grinned. "And Haru-kun, sorry about that."
"It's fine," Haruhiro said, gently easing Kakimiya back into her seat. "Are you okay?"
Kakimiya nodded, her embarrassment still apparent.
'That's cute.'
Kakimiya, Tachibana, and Shiraishi were quite close friends. They always together even outside of school.
Haruhiro made his way toward the door. The usual spot is likely occupied by now. That's why Haruhiro opted for a location quite distant from his school.
His high school allowed students to come and go during recess, and he utilized that privilege for a brief stroll to a vending machine down a small street. The distance from here to his home was roughly the same. Another minute in one direction led to a convenience store, though Haruhiro avoided it due to the crowds.
Haruhiro purchased a cola to soothe his throat. Since there were no seats available, he sat next to the vending machine. He gazed toward the direction of his house. The girl that he is very famillar of, although not every time, likes to appear and start a conversation here every now and then.
Haruhiro shook his head. 'It's all gone now. I can't let it continue to hunt me.'
He should simply enjoy this peaceful time. There was no need for heavy thoughts to accompany him.
With that decision in mind, Haruhiro quietly savored his drink.
He didn't think of anything specific during these moments. He start doing this kind of activity ever since his elementary school.
That moment didn't last long.
"Apologies for the interruption, the man over there."
"Hm?"
A woman with short hair, dressed in a black uniform, addressed him. She appeared at least a year older.
"And you are...?"
'Something's different about this woman,' Haruhiro realized instantly.
She smiled elegantly. "Mai Zenin. There are a few things I'd like to ask you."
"Uh, sure," Haruhiro stood up, slightly surprised. "If I can answer them, of course."
"Oh, you will," her tone took on an oddly seductive tone. "It's about your childhood friend, after all. Choco, wasn't she called?"
Haruhiro scrutinized her face the moment he heard the name.
'She's not from around here. What's her business?'
"I'd be embarrassed if you looked at me that hard," she teased, resting her right hand on her cheek, a seductive grin on her lips.
"Ah, sorry," Haruhiro quickly apologized.
"You don't need to." Mai waved it off.
Though her smile persisted, her demeanor grew at least more serious.
"Could you escort me to her residence? There's a serious matter that requires my attention, you see."
Cautiously, he accepted her request. "Of course. Escorting you won't be a problem."
Haruhiro had already noticed one thing from the moment he locked eyes with her.
'Her negative energy surpasses any human I've ever seen.'
Leading the way, it seemed like the journey would be far from a silent one.
"Iima-kun. You can see them, can't you?"
Haruhiro was genuinely confused. "See what?"
He glanced around despite himself. There was no one in sight.
"I don't mean those who were humans."
"Huh?"
Haruhiro looked at Mai, his confusion is all the more apparent.
'She's still smiling.'
"I mean those vile, unseen creatures that roam 'haunted' places."
"!"
Haruhiro began to open his mouth to respond, but not a single word escaped.
'What? What is this? Does she mean the monsters I tend to see? Those monsters?'
"Zenin-san can see them too?" Eventually, he managed to utter those words.
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