Kōki's shoes pounded against the concrete, the sound echoing down the empty street. His breath came in rough bursts, scraping at his throat as the dry air burned on the way in. Wind pushed against his sweat-damp hair, strands sticking to his forehead, but he kept moving without slowing.
"No way… what is this?"
His steps faltered for half a pace, breath hitching as air scraped painfully through his chest. He swallowed hard, jaw tightening.
"Why am I seeing Sayoko's ghost—and some other dead guy?"
The words slipped out unevenly, broken by shallow breaths as he ran on, his voice trembling from exhaustion and shock. His legs screamed in protest, each step heavier than the last, but he forced himself forward. The ache in his calves deepened as his thoughts slipped out of order, confusion tightening its grip with every uneven breath.
Am I hallucinating? Have I completely lost it? Sayoko… she's been gone for years. She can't be standing there.
Kōki's breath hitched, and for a split second, the street around him blurred—not from panic, but from memory.
He was twelve again, walking home from school with two classmates. Their chatter echoed through the neighborhood.
Up ahead, Sayoko stepped out of her family's gate, her uniform sleeves rolled neatly to her elbows, hair tied into a soft ponytail that swayed with each step. She spotted them—spotted him—and her eyes lit up. She lifted a hand and waved, bright and easy.
"Kōki-kun! Welcome back!"
His friends looked at him, surprised. "Whoa, she knows you?"
Kōki's ears burned instantly. He yanked his gaze away, pretending to look at the ground, his steps turning awkward.
"Huh? No—no, she's just saying hi to everyone," he muttered, voice too quick, too small.
Sayoko's smile faltered just a little, her hand lowering slowly. But even without looking, he felt the warmth of her presence linger behind him as he walked past.
Another memory surfaced—quiet and soft.
He was standing near the living-room doorway, a 12-year-old peeking in unnoticed. Ayaka sat at the table, stretching after a long night of study, while Sayoko dropped by to return study material she had borrowed. The two of them chatted over warm tea, the afternoon light drifting through the curtains.
Ayaka laughed. "You're always so polite, Sayoko. I don't know how you put up with my scatterbrained brother."
Sayoko smiled kindly, her expression gentle. "It's nothing like that. Kōki-kun's sweet. He always looks embarrassed when I greet him, though it seems he will never warm up to me, my younger brother is the same as well."
Kōki's heart practically jumped. He ducked behind the doorway again, ears burning. Their soft laughter floated down the hall—warm, distant, harmless… and achingly normal.
There's no way… If she's back, is she here to curse me? B-but...why me?!
The street ahead blurred. His knees buckled, and he stumbled against a lamppost, gripping the cold metal for support. His palm slipped on the smooth surface, slick with sweat. He bent forward, dragging air into his lungs, chest heaving so hard it felt like it might split open.
"This isn't real… it can't be…" he whispered, his voice breaking.
"Kōki-kun, you really can see me… right?"
The soft, familiar tone reached him, stopping him short. His gaze lifted abruptly, breath locking in his chest as his steps came to a halt. Sayoko stood only a few paces away, her faintly translucent form catching the pale light. Her head angled slightly, attention fixed on him, as if waiting to see how he would react.
"Ahhh!" Kōki's throat tore open with a scream.
Instinct took over. He spun on his heel and sprinted down the street, his body moving on raw fear.
"Wait! Kōki-kun! Please, don't run!" Sayoko called, her voice carrying down the empty road.
But he didn't stop.
Behind her, Takuto hovered with his arms folded, gaze following the boy's retreating figure until it vanished down the street. His shoulders dropped as he released a slow breath.
"That kid's unbelievable…" His eyes drifted back to Sayoko. "A girl calls out to him, and his first instinct is to run."
Sayoko folded her arms and huffed, her faint glow shifting slightly with the movement. "Takuto, don't act like this isn't terrifying. Who wouldn't freak out seeing someone they know has been dead?"
Takuto lifted his hands in surrender. "Fair enough. Honestly, I'd probably scream too."
Sayoko's lips pressed into a thin line. Her shoulders stiffened, a trace of irritation running through her otherwise calm face.
Takuto rubbed his chin dramatically as he drifted away slightly to the left, his tone more thoughtful. "Still… that boy might be exactly what we need. He can see and hear us. If we can get him to cooperate, he could be our link to the living world."
Sayoko blinked, the realization settling in as her shoulders stiffened. She drew in a short breath, eyes flicking in the direction Kōki had gone.
"Wait… you're right. But if he keeps running like that, how are we supposed to talk to him much less convince him?"
Takuto's arms loosened as he straightened slightly, his gaze steady on her. "That part," he replied without hesitation, "is something you'll have to figure out."
"Me? Why me?"
"Because you knew him when you were alive." Takuto's gaze stayed on her, steady and unblinking. His arms settled at his sides as his tone remained even. "If anyone can reach him, it's you. If the words come from you, he'll stop and listen."
He paused, eyes lowering briefly before lifting again. "And if he listens… then we might finally be able to trace the person who killed you."
Her expression darkened, her hands clenching into fists. The faint glow around her sharpened like it had grown stronger. "You're right. Then I'll do it. Come on, I know exactly where he's going."
Kōki slammed the front door shut, the impact rattling the walls. He leaned back against the wood, chest rising and falling in sharp, uneven breaths as his body shook. His shirt and blazer clung to him, soaked through with sweat, his lungs burning as he struggled to draw in enough air.
I need protection… I need something to keep them from haunting me.
His feet moved before his thoughts settled. He stumbled into his bedroom and wrenched open the desk drawer, hands fumbling until they closed around a container of salt. His grip wavered as he poured a thick line across the doorway, grains scattering unevenly along the floor.
He turned back to the nightstand, seized the Bible, and pressed it tight against his chest, fingers locking around the cover until his knuckles blanched. In the kitchen, he yanked open a cabinet and shoved a handful of garlic into his back pocket, barely registering how awkward it felt as he moved.
"If the movies are right… this has to work."
The words slipped out under his breath as he stood there, shoulders hunched, the sound breaking apart as it left his throat. He swallowed hard, the doubt clear in the way his breathing refused to steady.
"It has to."
His legs finally buckled, and he dropped onto the edge of the bed. The mattress creaked under his weight as he leaned forward, elbows braced on his thighs. His chest rose and fell too fast, his heartbeat hammering against his ribs while he fought to bring it under control.
"Why me? I never did anything to her. I barely even spoke to Sayoko when she was alive. So why… why is she haunting me now?"
A voice reached him, steady and unmistakably close.
"Kōki-kun… do you really think those things will keep us away?"
His body went rigid. Breath caught halfway in as his gaze snapped toward the wall. Sayoko slipped through it without slowing, her faintly glowing form crossing the room as if the solid surface offered no resistance.
"This isn't a movie, Kōki-kun." She stopped a short distance from him, eyes fixed on his face. "This is real."
"Stay back—stay away from me!"
His voice broke as he jerked the Bible up between them, arms shaking as he swung it blindly through the air. His breathing came sharp and fast, shoulders drawn tight.
"Leave me alone… you don't belong here!"
A low chuckle spread through the room, cutting through his panic. Kōki's eyes lifted on instinct, his movements stopping mid-swing. Takuto drifted down through the ceiling, feet lowering toward the floor as if gravity barely applied to him. His posture stayed loose, expression calm, almost detached.
"Relax." He settled a short distance away, hands lifting slightly in a placating gesture. "We're not here to hurt you. We just want to talk."
Kōki's vision wavered, the room tilting sharply. The Bible slipped from his fingers and struck the floor with a dull thud. His knees gave way, and before another breath could leave him, his body sagged forward as darkness closed in.
Sayoko let out a strained groan, lifting a hand to her forehead as her shoulders slumped. "Great… I didn't even get a chance to explain." Her gaze slid toward Takuto. "Why do you always have to look so intimidating?"
Takuto's mouth curved slightly as he hovered in place, head tipping to one side. "Maybe I can't help it. It just comes naturally."
She turned toward him, eyes narrowing without heat. "You don't even have blood anymore. You're just as dead as I am. Don't forget that."
A quiet breath escaped him, somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. "Fair enough." His attention shifted back to her. "Still annoyed about what I said earlier?"
Sayoko's expression softened, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Of course." A faint smile tugged at her lips.
Time passed in uneasy stretches before Kōki finally stirred. A dull ache throbbed through his head, and the room swayed as he shifted. He let out a low groan, dragging a hand over his eyes as he pushed himself upright.
"…Was that just a dream?"
The words came out slow and hoarse, his voice still heavy with sleep.
"Nope. It was all real."
The voice came from directly overhead. He tilted his head back, eyes widening as they fixed on the space above him. Sayoko hovered just over the bed, her form suspended there as she looked down at him.
A broken sound tore from his throat as he jolted upright, breath collapsing into a sharp gasp. His movements turned frantic all at once. His knee struck the edge of the desk, pain shooting up his leg as he staggered sideways. A chair tipped over with a loud crash, skidding across the floor, and he bolted for the door, shouting words that tangled together as he fled the room.
Across the hall, Ayaka shifted in her bed as a faint buzzing filled the room. Her eyes cracked open, unfocused, and she reached out to silence the alarm with a clumsy swipe. A low groan slipped from her as she dragged her hand down her face, shoulders sagging.
"What is that idiot yelling about this early…"
She threw the blanket aside and marched into the hall, hair left loose, still in her undergarments. Her younger brother was pressed flat against the wall, shoulders quivering, eyes stretched wide as he stared ahead without blinking.
"Kō."
She stopped a few steps from him, arms folding as she leaned her weight onto one hip. Her eyes narrowed, still heavy with sleep. "What's wrong with you?"
She rubbed at the side of her neck, irritation creeping into her posture as she glanced down the hall. "Some of us have work in the morning. I need to sleep."
He turned toward her, face drained of color, hands shaking at his sides. His breath caught as he struggled to get the words out.
"A-Ayaka… there are ghosts." His shoulders hitched as he swallowed. "They were in my room. I'm not lying."
Her gaze sharpened, lids lowering as she looked him over from head to toe. She let the silence hang for a beat. "You woke me up for that?"
Kōki lunged forward and grabbed her shoulders, his fingers digging in as his hands shook. His breath came out in short, uneven pulls, eyes fixed on her face as if afraid she might disappear.
"I'm serious." His grip tightened without him seeming to notice. "It was Sayoko. She was in my room." His voice wavered as he rushed on. "She walked straight through the wall—and there was another guy. He came down through the ceiling."
Ayaka's expression darkened as she knocked his hands away, stepping back to put space between them. Her jaw set, shoulders squaring as she looked him over.
"This isn't like you." She gestured vaguely at him, impatience clear in the sharp movement. "You're usually the tough one around here." Her tone flattened. "Stop acting like this. You probably just had a bad dream." She turned slightly toward the kitchen. "Go drink some water and get back to bed."
"It wasn't a dream!"
Kōki's voice shot up, cracking as it broke free of his chest. His hands curled into fists, arms trembling as he shook his head. "I know what I saw!"
Ayaka dragged a hand up to her temples, eyes closing as she exhaled slowly. Her shoulders sagged, exhaustion overtaking her irritation.
"…Unbelievable."