"What's wrong Sakura?"
Currently, I am eating with my brother at home for dinner.
Brother seems curious as to why I am quiet.
"Nothing much. Just thinking about things."
The meal is chicken curry.
One of my favorites.
But right now, my mind is a mess.
(Mirror... I wonder why they say I have the mirror. Based on Nina's ability, the cursed note, which is modified form of cursed diary, a well known folklore. I wonder what is the mirror to me.)
Mirror.
It is said that people yearn to see how they look outward.
They carefully act in public to avoid tarnishing their name and image.
Image defines who are we from the other's point of view.
(If I have mirror, what kind if ability is it?)
"Thanks for the food."
I offer my gratitude to brother for cooking such delicious meal and grab some strawberry milk to bring in my room.
After changing into my pajamas, I checked the time.
8:26 pm.
"Still too early. But I'm curious about the devil's hour."
I can still remember what Shiomi said about the devil's hour earlier.
"Every 3 pm, the unlucky ones are dragged in the devil's playground. It doesn't matter if anyone is willing and unwilling. Unfortunately for you, the area where you live are starting to gather their attention. I'm not sure why but be careful. You might get dragged again. And when that happens, always keep calm and understand the logic behind each mystery. Only you can help you. Always keep that in mind. Last time you got lucky since the "Scenario" is a weak one. Jin's fate dissector can forcefully enter. But we don't know if you will get lucky next time."
Shiomi stares at my eyes and grin.
"Besides, if push comes to shove, just let it out."
Remembering what she said, I feel confused.
(What did she mean by letting it out?)
I look at my face in the mirror.
As always it's the same face, same hair, sane eyes.
But
Mirrors reflect what we are according to other's point of view.
If you smile at the mirror,
Others see you smile as well.
However, there are instances where people are afraid of mirrors.
Or to be precise the reflection in the mirror if you stare too long.
As if it's telling us that the more you understand, you stare, and you learn, the more it scares you.
"I'll sleep early. Maybe I'll wake up again later."
So I tried to sleep.
I did.
But.
"Damn it... I can't sleep."
I checked the time on my phone.
2:58 am
"It's almost time anyways. Let's see if anything changes."
In this 2 minute duration...
Time moves slowly.
The only sound I hear are the beating of my heart and the sound of my breathing.
And once the time hits 3 am.
"Eh."
Cracks.
(Wait what?)
The vision.
The image in front of me.
Looks like a mirror cracked.
Then it shattered.
The image of my dark room, purple bed sheets, different colored books in my bookshelf, everything just shattered replaced by the empty classroom.
Judging by the light coming from the windows, it's around 5 pm.
The time I usually leave then head to the clubroom.
I look around and notice it's exactly our classroom.
Not only that, I am now wearing uniform as well.
The only difference is that, in my desk, a flower pot with white flower is there.
I tried to touch the flower.
But when I did, the flower pot became a candle with fire.
I hold the candle and peak outside the window.
There I saw a creature.
It doesn't have a head.
It's body is made of smoke.
But I know.
My body know.
Whatever is that black smoke above its neck is the head.
and that head, is currently looking at my way.
Despite not having a face, I can see it's sinister grin reflected by the black fire thing above it's neck then it disappear.
(Shit shit shit shit shit)
I rushed out the classroom.
(I know this story.)
(It's about the monster chasing you to blow the fire at the candle.)
(Fucking hell... I didn't think about this.)
I sprinted up.
to the 3rd floor.
I tried going to the clubroom.
But right before I am about to touch the doorknob, beside me, the monster appears.
I felt the time slow down as I look beside me.
It's face or the black flame leaning to my candle about to blow.
Then the black flame suddenly disappear.
I kick it on the stomach before I enter the club room.
Inside, I see Shiomi sitting on her couch.
When she saw me, she grins before speaking.
"Oh. You got dragged here as well."
(As well? I thought she is a ghost.)
I hurried behind her right next to the window trying to get far away as possible from the door incase the monster appears again.
"You seemed surprised. Did you think I am a ghost or something?"
Shiomi asked tilting her head.
"Err..m yes."
She look at me then giggle.
"I should have told you. The correct answer is I am someone who got spirited away. And thanks to my deal with a certain fairy, I can walk to this plane again while my body remains in the sacred mountain."
Spirited away is a term used for a certain people who suddenly lost without any explanation.
Usually it's either they got kidnapped, killed in secret or brought to another place due to paranormal or mysterious means.
"So that's why your body looks transparent if I focus enough."
Shiomi nods.
"But what happened earlier? Why did the monster's head suddenly disappear?"
"Oh that? It's because the fairy is stronger than that monster. When it tried to enter my domain, it almost died right away."
(Is this something like hierarchy among monsters? So that means the one who gave Shiomi her body is stronger than that one.)
"Oh be careful. If you let your candle's fire out within 1 hour, you will get trapped here you know?"
I snapped back to reality as I notice I am about to hit my candle in the couch.
"So it's that game right?"
I asked Shiomi to clarify the rules.
"Yep. Good thing you are knowledgeable about this stuff. If you didn't arrive in this space quickly, you might have lost by now."
As I sit on the couch next to her, Shiomi spoke again.
"Oh I forgot to mention earlier. But the scenarios always happen somewhere but all the places it simulates are always something you know already. So if you became the target again, the advantage you have is it's somewhere you're already familiar of. That said, the devil's hour always drags one or many targets at once. This time it was you, me and another one. I'm not sure where but I can sense their energy from here."
(So there is one more one here. I wonder who else got dragged in.)
As I settle here quietly, I notice Shiomi looking at me.
"Umm.. what is it?"
I asked her.
"Nothing. Just thinking when are you going to let it out."
(Huh?)
"Let out what?"
I look at her and notice Shiomi grins.
She points her finger to my face then answer.
"You."
(Huh?)
(Me?)
"I'm confused... What do you mean by-"
Right as I was about to ask, I hear a noise outside.
I stood up and peak at the window behind the couch and notice a big man running away.
"Hey that's the teacher!"
I said to Shiomi pointing at the figure of the "Fat old man" teaching in my class.
"So what are you planning to do?"
Shiomi asked me.
"I mean... won't you help him?"
"Why? I see no reason to help him."
(Shiomi... are you serious right now?)
I look at her face and see no changes.
"Are you serious?"
I asked her one more time.
Shiomi simply grab her teacup and sip.
I look back at him still running now about to enter the gymnasium.
"You can go help him if you want."
"Huh?"
I looked at her confused.
"How? I can't fight..."
Shiomi placed her teacup back to the saucer and stood.
Taking something out of her desk and place it on the table infront of me.
"This is a blessed knives with holy engravings gifted to me by the fairy. I have a bunch of this at home and I don't use short weapons so it doesn't fit me."
I look at the silver knife placed on the table.
I'm not sure but this pair of knives seems to be calling me or atleast drawing me in.
I touched the knife and the moment I held both in my hands, I felt like I know how to use them immediately.
"Using this can harm those kinds of target. Now what do you want to do?"
Shiomi asked me again. This time she is not grinning or smiling. But a serious look on her face.
"I..."
I look back to the window and the old man already disappear inside the gym.
"I'm going back."
I said as I took the knife, leave the candle inside this room and head out.
The moment I leave the room, Shiomi is left alone inside.
"She left."
Shiomi walked towards the candle and carefully hold it.
"I could just blow this and keep her here with me. But it would be unfair if the fairy decided to bring me back. But well, she probably doesn't realize it yet."
Shiomi placed the candle down and look at the mirror on the cabinet.
"She is smiling beautifully the moment she grabbed those knives..."