"....."

Sasaki felt extremely awkward.

He couldn't help but feel that way.

The childhood friend Nanami and Hagiwara-senpai in the room were at least quite close with Sasaki. Though he had only reconnected with Nanami this year, they could still converse comfortably like before, and after coincidentally meeting and becoming friends with Hagiwara-senpai, they had maintained their conversations through regular encounters.

...Though he wasn't sure if they were close enough to go to the beach together.

Actually, he had initially planned to go on this trip with just Shii.

Somehow, he had mentioned it to his friends before the vacation, and for some reason, Nanami from another class heard about it, and he had no idea how the news spread, but even Hagiwara-senpai found out.

And for whatever reason, both of them had somehow become default participants in the trip.

"Hmm~"

Let's put that aside for now, Sasaki thought.

Shii, either as revenge or because she didn't want to feel awkward herself, said she had invited her friend along.

But even Sasaki didn't know that it would be two people from the same school.

She had said they were Shii's... "friends."

It wasn't that he disliked it.

Yuuki usually kept to herself, staring blankly out the window, and didn't talk much with others. She would disappear somewhere during lunch breaks, but she was quite popular in class because of her looks.

When Yuuki wasn't around, classmates would gossip about her.

The same went for Kurosawa. Despite various rumors, she was also quite popular due to her appearance.

So, going on a trip with these two was enough to make Sasaki, just an ordinary high school boy, let his imagination run wild—

"Woah?"

Sasaki had no idea what was going through the mind of Kurosawa's younger sister, Koko, whom he had just met.

...I'm not sure if this is the right way to put it, but Koko was somewhat...

Yes, let's say innocent.

She had an innocent side to her. That's what Sasaki thought. Of course, other thoughts crossed his mind too, but this expression felt more comfortable.

When they said another person would be joining, he had felt half-resigned. Though it wasn't a big problem since they had reserved two rooms for the girls anyway—

"...She's not coming back~"

Nanami muttered.

She seemed a bit uncomfortable too.

More precisely, she looked like she didn't know how to interact with Koko.

It was Kurosawa who had asked them to call her by her first name, Koko, since she wouldn't understand if addressed by her surname, but honestly, it felt awkward to suddenly call someone you just met by their first name.

Even the reason for this was uncomfortable in its own way.

Koko was a nice girl, but one had to be careful around her.

Her childlike personality combined with the fact that she was the same age made it feel even more awkward.

"...I'll go check on them quickly."

Hagiwara-senpai said as she stood up.

Was it just his imagination, or did her voice sound a bit stiff?

After Hagiwara-senpai briskly left the room, the atmosphere among the three remaining people became even more uncomfortable.

"Ugh."

As Koko played alone under the blanket she had pulled over herself, making various shapes, the three of them remained silent for a while.

After observing Koko playing by herself for a few minutes...

"...."

"...She's not coming back."

Hagiwara-senpai wasn't returning either.

"...What's going on? I'm starting to get a little scared."

"I-I'll contact Kurosawa-senpai."

At Nanami's words, Shii quickly took out her phone.

Instead of sending a message, Shii immediately made a call.

"...."

In the silent room, the conversation could be heard even without putting the phone on speaker.

"...She's not answering."

"What the heck? What's going on! Why does everyone disappear after leaving the room?!"

Plus, they had just been sharing scary stories, and outside, rain was pouring down with thunder and lightning.

It was the perfect setting for an awkward atmosphere.

"M-maybe they just went to the bathroom? Right?"

Nanami said, but no one answered.

"...Should I go check?"

"C-come with me!"

As Sasaki got up, Nanami rose at the same time.

"Ah, wait!"

Seeing Nanami stand up, Shii also jumped up from her seat and shouted.

"...."

"...."

A moment of silence passed between the two.

"Both of you can't leave. After all, Koko is...."

"Ah."

Shii fidgeted anxiously, looking back and forth between Sasaki and Nanami, then shifted her gaze to Koko.

"?"

Koko looked at the two with a question mark floating above her head.

"...I'll... stay here."

"Thanks."

Sasaki felt somewhat relieved at Shii's words.

He didn't feel comfortable leaving Koko alone.

"But! Both of you must come back right away!? Just check what's happening and come straight back!?"

"Okay, okay."

Sasaki said as he gently patted Shii's head.

"Hmph."

For some reason, Nanami looked displeased watching this.

Sasaki took a deep breath, feeling nervous, and opened the door.

...The outside looked no different from the morning.

Nothing seemed out of place. There were even a few people walking in the corridor. They all looked a bit bored, probably frustrated that it was raining despite coming all the way to the beach.

"...Hey, Nanami?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you... that scared?"

He asked Nanami, who was clinging to his arm with her upper body pressed against him.

"Hmm...."

Nanami blushed but didn't let go.

"Ha... haha...."

Sasaki laughed awkwardly, then headed toward the room where the others were staying.

There was no need to hesitate. He had been in the room yesterday. He already knew it was well-organized inside.

But—

"...No one's here."

Nanami said.

That's right. There was no one there.

No Kurosawa or Yuuki.

Not even Hagiwara-senpai who had just left.

Nanami checked the bathroom just in case, but no one was there either. The room was just neatly organized.

Wondering if the mischievous Hagiwara-senpai might have gone to Sasaki's room, they headed there too.

As expected, no one was there.

"Where did everyone go?"

By now, they were starting to feel anxious.

As they tilted their heads in confusion and left the room to head back to where they had been—

"Koko-san!?"

They heard a shout from inside the room.

From the room where they had left Shii and Koko alone.

Sasaki and Nanami exchanged glances and quickly ran toward it.

Before they could open the door, it burst open.

"Shii!"

"Onii-chan!"

Shii was so startled that she forgot her usual form of address and shouted toward Sasaki.

"Koko-san, Koko-san...!"

Shii trembled as she shouted.

"Koko-san has... disappeared...!"

Sasaki and Nanami's mouths fell open simultaneously.

*

How should one properly use a lightning rod?

It would be disastrous if I got struck by lightning while holding it.

Lightning actually appears to strike from above, but in reality, it "travels down." First, a path for the current is created, and as the current flows along that path, it becomes "lightning"... or so I understand. I'm not entirely accurate.

Though not precise, one thing was certain.

Before lightning strikes, I feel like something is happening around me. Like my hair standing on end.

Actually, this might not be me sensing an imminent lightning strike, but rather a warning I feel when a yokai uses its ability on me.

Well, what does it matter either way? The important thing is that I can sense it.

I stuck the needle-shaped lightning rod made of blood into the ground.

The floor, which at a glance resembled the concrete of our world, gave way easily when pierced with the needle, as if penetrating flesh.

"Kyao!"

Crack. The Raijuu howled as it saw cracks forming around the insertion point.

Was it upset that its lair was being damaged?

I quickly threw myself aside. Rolling once on the ground to get away from the lightning rod, BOOM, lightning struck and shattered the rod. Watching it turn back into blood and scatter in droplets, I was convinced.

This would work.

I quickly turned to look at Yuuki, who was already circling behind the Raijuu.

I created another lightning rod and stuck it into the ground.

Again, again, again.

"Haa... haa..."

It was getting exhausting. Not just physically, but I had lost too much blood. Besides the needles, I was also maintaining tentacles wrapped around my left arm to defend against potential attacks.

Being able to fully utilize flowing blood was good, but each time it burst apart, it took more blood to regenerate it.

Just looking at my arms, they had turned corpse-pale—I wonder how my face looked.

...Ah, I had wanted to finish this quickly and enjoy the rest of the vacation.

It seems like I'm only creating bad memories for Sasaki and Shii. For Yuuki too.

I wonder what Koko would think if she saw me injured?

"Kyaoo!"

Seeing that my aim wasn't accurate, the Raijuu made an irritated cry and spun once in the air.

Then it leaped straight at me from that height—

Clang!

But just before the weasel's claws could pierce me, a red blade quickly intervened.

Yuuki, who had slid in impressively, created a crescent with the tip of her blade and sliced the weasel's front paw.

For a moment, a red crescent seemed to form around Yuuki.

And—

"Kak!?"

The Raijuu's cry didn't seem to be just from the pain of being cut by the blade.

While it was raining in the real world, here in this dimension between the real world and the yokai realm, in this lair, no such rain fell. The weather couldn't be called dry, but—

—it wasn't humid enough for all the thinly dispersed liquid in the air to settle.

My blood.

The blood I had used as lightning rods shattered and scattered like spray when struck by the Raijuu's lightning, and some probably vaporized from the high temperature.

The blood that rose up didn't settle immediately. After all, I had made quite a few lightning rods.

It was just a momentary gap, but for Yuuki, that moment was enough.

The difference between hunter and prey was whether one could spot that gap or not.

Thud.

"Kek...!?"

The blade made from my blood that Yuuki held pierced the Raijuu's neck.

And smoothly, it sliced through the flesh beside it.

Slash.

"Yuuki...!"

"Yes!"

As soon as Yuuki heard me, she rushed over, grabbed me by the collar, and jumped backward.

Couldn't she have... at least grabbed my arm?

But seeing sparks explode around the Raijuu, I abandoned that thought.

As if unable to control its power—no, more like having a final convulsion—lightning struck the Raijuu several times.

"Kyaoo!"

"Kurosawa!?"

As I staggered to my feet watching the howling Raijuu, Yuuki tried to stop me, but I took the blade from her hand.

Yuuki didn't resist much.

Then, I had the tentacle on my left arm hold the blade.

Hmm...

How far had the story of On* P**ce progressed at this time?

It would be way before the 20-year mark.

Well, it doesn't matter. What I'm trying to do isn't really related to that story anyway.

"Gomu Gomu no Pistol" should do, right?

I don't plan to shout the technique. I'm not that childish.

I'm just imitating a bit.

"...!"

Yuuki's eyes followed my hand.

More precisely, they were fixed on the tentacle extending forward, on the blade at its front.

The tentacle was a bit short, but the blade's aim was accurate considering how much blood I had lost.

Thud.

The blade precisely pierced the forehead of the Raijuu, which seemed about to go berserk one last time.

"...."

The Raijuu stared at us with its mouth wide open, then turned its eyes toward the sky.

Thump.

And it collapsed sideways.

"...Kurosawa..."

As I staggered, Yuuki quickly grabbed my shoulder to steady me.

Plop. Plop. The tentacles on my arm fell to the ground as if they had died. A pool of blood formed beneath me.

Great, another outfit ruined.

I should have brought a raincoat or swimsuit after all.

As the wound on my wrist began to heal, the environment around us slowly changed. The somewhat desaturated colors of the surroundings gradually returned, and water began to fall from the sky. The sound of pouring rain could be heard.

And what entered my vision was—

—not a village in disarray with fallen utility poles, police controlling the area, citizens coming out with umbrellas to watch—

—but the expression of a girl kneeling on the ground, staring blankly.

Sasaki was sitting beside her.

The two were staring blankly at us, who had suddenly appeared out of thin air.

...

Huh?

*

Sasaki, Shii, and Nanami immediately searched the hotel, but Koko was nowhere to be found. They tried to check other rooms, but it wasn't easy. Naturally, people who opened their doors in response to knocks looked at the three strangely. Some offered sympathetic words, but it wasn't helpful.

"What should we do? What do we do... it's all my fault..."

Shii said she had only taken her eyes off Koko for a moment. She was just rummaging through her bag, and during that time, she didn't hear the door open or any sounds of distress.

Sasaki believed her. Nanami seemed to believe her too.

Shii was almost paralyzed with fear.

"No, Shii. It's okay. We'll find her."

"That's right. We've called the police—"

As Nanami said, the police arrived quickly at the hotel.

Shii spoke, and Sasaki added explanations beside her. Since the frightened Shii was barely coherent, the police couldn't easily understand from just her words.

After listening to the three, the police officers looked at each other.

"Black hair tied with a black hair tie? Is she about this tall, looking about a year younger than you?"

The police officer asked Sasaki.

"Have you seen her!?"

"Yes, I saw her. She was heading that way earlier, and we told her to go back—but she hasn't returned yet."

The expression of the middle-aged police officer hardened. Sasaki thought he might have a daughter around the same age.

Perhaps because of this, the police officers looked at each other and nodded.

"You kids stay here. We'll go back and check."

"With the utility pole down, it's dangerous over there. I wonder why she went that way... and the other child with her—"

"What!?"

Shii almost screamed.

"Anyway, wait here for now. The typhoon is severe outside. It could be dangerous if you're not careful."

Shii's body trembled at the word "dangerous."

Even after the police left, Shii sat in the hotel lobby, shivering, then suddenly stood up.

"...I'm going to look for her."

"Shii."

Sasaki spoke, but Shii shook her head.

"It's all my fault that Kurosawa-senpai came here, and that Koko-san followed. I was the one who suggested coming here first..."

"No, Shii."

Nanami grabbed Shii's arm and said.

"You couldn't have predicted this. Besides, we still don't know where the others went. If we go out too and something happens—"

"But still...!"

"...."

Sasaki looked at Shii and pondered.

After biting his lip for a while, Sasaki suddenly stood up.

"...Alright, I understand."

"Sota!?"

Nanami shouted in surprise at Sasaki's words.

"Are you crazy!?"

"But we can't just sit here doing nothing. We have to do something. ...And Shii."

"...."

Seeing the restless Shii, Nanami placed her hand on her forehead and let out a big sigh.

Then, after sitting still with her head bowed for a while—

"Fine, let's go."

As she said this and stood up, Sasaki tried to stop her.

"No, we'll just check the area right in front—"

"...Don't I know your personality? We may not have seen each other for a while, but you haven't changed at all, have you?"

Nanami tossed those words at Sasaki and headed toward the hotel room.

"Let's at least buy raincoats before going out. They should have them at the hotel convenience store. If we go out as we are, we'll be soaked."

Sasaki and Shii had to agree with that.

"...Sorry."

As Sasaki followed her, apologizing quietly, Nanami, who was walking briskly down the corridor without giving him a glance, said,

"...Really, you're exactly the same as back then. That's why—"

The rest of her words were too soft for even Sasaki, who was right beside her, to hear.

*

The three found Koko almost by chance.

They followed the direction the police had pointed out and indeed came across a broken utility pole.

Thinking it might be dangerous, the three went around the pole widely and headed toward the area.

As they were checking the path between houses—

"...Ah, Koko-san!"

Shii shouted.

Indeed, Koko was standing between houses.

She was wearing the same clothes as before, just completely soaked from the rain.

Koko was looking at the empty air, tilting her head.

The three didn't find this suspicious.

Because Koko was...

"Hey, Koko!"

Nanami shouted in a slightly angry voice as she stepped forward.

Koko turned toward Nanami.

"How could you leave without saying anything! We were worried—"

Just as Nanami was saying this while grabbing Koko's hand—

Screech!

Suddenly, a large black van skidded to a stop behind Koko.

Slam.

The door opened.

From inside, two burly men grabbed Koko by the shoulders.

"...Ah!"

Nanami shouted as if trying to hold onto Koko and pulled back—

But the van simply grabbed Nanami too, pulled her inside, and drove off.

"Wait...!"

Sasaki ran after it, but it was useless. The van just sped away as if Sasaki was of no concern.

What happened next is hard to remember.

He seemed to have urgently called the police. The police came quickly.

They looked at the skid marks on the ground, drew lines over them with chalk.

They talked with Shii, who couldn't get up from the ground, people came out to see what was happening—

And in the midst of it all, somehow Kurosawa and Yuuki were there.

Both were completely soaked, even under their clothes, from whatever they had been doing.

"...."

"...."

For a while, the two groups just blinked at each other, not knowing why the other was standing there.