Rei could hear the cries of Isamu's parents, friends and....Saya.
The air at the funeral home smelled like incense. At the front of the room, Isamu's portrait was framed and people came by placing white chrysanthemums near h
Ezio knelt before his photograph, placing the bouquet down quietly. Rei could tell that his usual confident demeanor was dulled, his face looked unreadable.
Even Alyssa who was the most cheerful person rei knew, stood with her arms crossed, her face was pale and looked distant. He could see her fingers fidgeting at the edge of her coat sleeve.
"We should go," Ezio said, his voice was quieter than usual. He didn't look back.
As Rei followed him toward the exit, he paused to look at Saya one more time.
Saya was kneeling, her small frame was hunching beneath her black coat. Her head was bowed, dark hair was hiding most of her face, but he could see the deep redness in her eyes, she had been crying for hours. Rika stood behind her, she was gently rubbing her back. Nene also knelt beside her, holding out a tissue with trembling hands.
Rei saw as saya bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. It slid down her chin unnoticed.
Rei's softened his eyes and his fingers curled into fists.
he whispered to himself. "If I had just done something…"
The room was dark, exept for the dim blue light of the TV screen which flashed against the curtains. Kana sat on her bed, knees were near her chest.
On the screen, she saw a news anchor's voice who spoke with solemn cadence:
"A tragic incident involving a high school student, possibly linked an urban legend activity"
Kana wrapped her arms around herself.
Tears came at her cheeks. She was already crying.
"It's my fault…" she choked. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't—"
The lights in the room stared to flicker.
And then a voice whispered into her ears,
"Let it go, Kana… It's not your fault."
"They deserved what they got."
"You'll feel better once I take care of everything for you. Just lend me your body."
A faint but a broken smile curved across her face.
"…Yes," she whispered. "If you do it… everything will be okay…"
The screen flickered one last time. The image was distorted.
And in the reflection of the darkened TV, Kana wasn't alone. A girl's ghosg in her school uniform— Mikko yamada was behind her.
The water from the tap dripped slowly into the white sink of say's washroom
She was hunching over the sink, Her cheeks were still bloated from hours of crying. She turned the tap on and splashed water on her face.
When she reached for the towel, the light above her flickered once.
Then again.
She froze. She felt something at the back of her neck, a feeling of breath that wasn't hers.
She slowly raised her head to the mirror.
Behind her stood Mikko
Her face had wide eyes and a scary grin.
A whisper snaked into her ears.
"It's your turn now, Saya…"
Saya stepped backwards, her hands trembling but when she looked again, there was nothing. Just her pale reflection.
"How the hell could we let this happen." Ezio grunted in frustration. Rei noticed he was practically laying on his couch with a handkerchief covering his eyes.
"We should've tried to contact it sooner." Said Alyssa as she looked outside the window from their hotel room.
Rei was sitting on the floor crosslegged with his back on his bed.
He finally spoke, although his voice was barely above a whisper.
"HQ said this thing… it targets bystanders. People who watch others suffer."
"maybe we need to investigate some kind of bullying at the school."
Ezio removed handkerchief from his eyes and gave a look at Rei. "Yes, that ghost might be linked to someone."
" Ghosts feed on fear, mentallyunstable people are their primary targets." He added
Just then there was a knock at the door.
As Alyssa hurried to check it, Rei gave a peek.
"She's the victims girlfriend...said she had something to discuss." Hamura stood outside the door, beside her was Saya. Her eyes were still teary but filled with courage.
"We should sit and talk." Alyssa gave a smile.
Everyone was now either standing or seated. There gaze fixated on Saya as she finally spoke,
"Before Isamu… before it happened… we were going to speak out. About Kana. What Kataragi and Sujime were doing to her. We couldn't watch anymore." her words trembling.
"So this kana girl should be the door to find Mikko huh?" Ezio continued, "keiko and Isamu payed the price for what these kataragi and sujime did...I'll be dealing with them personally." Ezio cracked his knuckles.
Saya started crying,
"Now I keep hearing them too. The same whispers Isamu told me about . The ones that got louder the more he ignored them."
Alyssa and Ezio shared glances at each other.
They knew who the next victim of Mikko was.
Alyssa crossed the room and gently placed a hand on Saya's shoulder. "you're brave Saya we got you."
Ezio stood up from his couch and streched out his shoulders
"You're lucky, Mikko's attack pattern consists of haunting to accumulate fear and get stronger, then after a day she manifests."
Rei looked up. His voice was quiet but steady.
"Where's Kana now?"
Saya glanced down. "She's been absent for three days. No one's seen her."
Rei clenched his fists.
"Then we go to her."
The next day they entred an empty classroom,
" I don't know how you charmed that principal but thanks to it we got access to use this place." Teased Rei.
"That weirdo had his eyes all over me since day one." Alyssa sighed. "This was easy."
"Are we sure she will come." Rei saw Ezio standing at the corner of the class.
"We called her yesterday, asked her to report for some questioning." Hamura was with Saya, they were concealed with a curtain.
"She said she will." Answered Saya. "should be any moment here now."
Just then the EMF devices statted to beep.
Rei saw everyone's glances on the device.
"Mikko!?" Rei shouted.
"Be Ready!" Ezio had removed his dagger from it's sheath.
A figure entered the classroom.
Kana stood before them but Rei could sense something was off, she looked pale...almost unhuman.
Rei felt the air suddenly turn cold.
" Hey Ezio..." Alyssa muttered
"Yeah i know." He shot back, " She's possed."
Rei noticed that her uniform was wrinkled, Her hair stuck to her cheeks , and her eyes — they didn't seem to focus. like someone trying to remember how to be human.
"So shall we get stared now?" Mikko laughed,not kana. Rei could see a wicked smile form on her lips.
"Hand me over Saya." She said in an unhumane voice.
Ezio stepped forward and smirked slightly.
"You haunted the wrong people this time, ghost girl."