Epi.1-2: Within the Silence

The two of them advanced deeper into the abandoned house and opened a door.

Beyond it was a courtyard. The rain had stopped. Though the sky was still cloudy, rays of sunlight broke through here and there.

The stone pavement lay in ruins; rainwater still pooled in places, and at the far end, something like a moss-covered well stood alone. The sky was visible, yet the space, surrounded on all sides by the building, felt somehow shut away from the outside.

“Wow… this place has quite an atmosphere. When the light comes in, it actually looks bright.”

Sayuri twirled about, stepping lightly to avoid the puddles. At her innocent behavior, Shinobu hesitated for a moment—yet still took a single step inside.

“…It feels… a little quiet today.”

As she murmured in a small voice, ripples spread across the water at her feet. For just an instant, it seemed as though the tension left her shoulders—yet—

“…!”

Something came into view at the edge of her sight. From the rim of the well, a gray face slowly rose and peered out. Only its eyes turned, glaring straight at her.

Shinobu froze in place, pressing her hand tightly to her chest.

Beside her own reflection in the puddle, a stranger’s face overlapped— it grinned faintly, then vanished in an instant.

Shinobu lowered her gaze and stepped back. But right behind her, she felt a presence— something was watching her.

“…As I thought… I’m scared… I’m scared…”

Muttering under her breath, lips trembling, Shinobu stood frozen in place. From behind, Sayuri came up to her innocently—

“Boo!!”

“Kyahhhhhhh!?”

Shinobu’s scream rang out across the courtyard. She dropped to her knees—and in the next moment, her consciousness slipped away.

“Eh—eh—whaaa!? No way, seriously!? She fainted!? Oh no oh no oh no!!”

Panicking, Sayuri crouched beside Shinobu, shaking her shoulders and calling out to her again and again.

“I’m sorry, okay!? It was just a joke! I only meant to surprise you a little, not… like this…”

There was no reply. With her eyes closed, Shinobu’s face looked calm now— yet far, far too still.

Sayuri bit her lip for a while, then gently rested Shinobu’s head upon her own lap.

“She’s gonna be mad… yeah… she’s definitely gonna be mad at me…”

A breeze blew through, carrying cold air into the courtyard from between the gaps in the building. Even so, Sayuri didn’t move. As she held Shinobu’s head on her lap, she absentmindedly kept brushing away the strands of hair that had fallen across her cheek.

I went too far— I know that. But I only meant to surprise her a little, just a little…

“…You were scared, weren’t you…”

The words, meant for no one in particular, drifted softly away into the air. Sayuri gently brushed aside the hair that had fallen over Shinobu’s cheek once more.

She’d been frightened. From the very first time they met—always. Her trembling hands, her quivering voice—Sayuri should have noticed them all.

“…I really wasn’t looking, was I…”

That small voice sank quietly into herself. As she stroked Shinobu’s hair, Sayuri lowered her eyes and waited in silence.

“…She probably hates me now.”

It was a whisper. Yet within it lay a quiet resolve. Being blamed was only natural—she knew she couldn’t be forgiven.

That was exactly why—

“…nh… mm…”

The air was so still it seemed one could even hear the faint sound of her eyelids trembling.

“…Shinobu?”

When Sayuri called softly to her, Shinobu slowly opened her eyes. With still-dazed eyes, she looked up at Sayuri’s face.

“Sayuri… -san…?”

“…Thank goodness… really… thank goodness…”

Sayuri couldn’t help but smile faintly—yet she soon lowered her eyes.

“…I’m sorry for scaring you. Really… I’m so sorry.”

Shinobu, looking a little bewildered, seemed to notice the position she was in and tried to sit up— but having no strength, she sank back onto Sayuri’s lap once more.

“…I’m fine. …It just startled me a little…”

At those words, Sayuri gave a small smile.

“…Hey.”

“…?”

“…You hate me now, don’t you.”

Sayuri’s voice was utterly quiet. Even she could tell—it sounded completely different from her usual one.

After lowering her gaze for a moment, Shinobu gave a gentle smile.

“It’s all right… I understand.”

There was no tone of blame in her words, nor any hint of denial. It was a calm acceptance—one that only someone who had truly seen Sayuri for who she was could express.

For an instant, Sayuri started to speak, but swallowed her words instead. And then, what she had been holding back quietly spilled over.

“…Thank you, Shinobu… thank you…”

Her voice was hoarse, and warmth gathered at the corners of her eyes. Before she even realized it, a single tear traced down her cheek.

Sayuri gently took Shinobu’s hand in hers. The faint warmth there—like a small trace of body heat—was, for now, simply something to be grateful for.

Though the sky was still overcast, a gentle light streamed into the courtyard of the abandoned house— a light meant only for the two of them.