Epi.5-1: The Man and the Doll

That day as well, Sayuri and Shinobu were walking along the second-floor hallway, just as they always did.
Just then, as they reached the railing that overlooked the open space, a creak… echoed—the sound of the entrance door opening.

A man stepped inside.
In his arms, he was holding something small—something that looked like a doll.

He set it down quietly on the floor, and without any warning, he dropped into a dogeza right there.

“…This doesn’t feel like a test of courage at all.”
Sayuri leaned over the railing.

“Yeah… something’s off.”
Shinobu tilted her head slightly as she watched the man.

The man stayed with his head lowered for a while without moving, and then, as if shaking something off, he stood up and left the abandoned house at a quick pace without even looking back.

“…So he just left the doll here?”
Sayuri floated up and drifted gently down to the first floor.

“Wait, Sayuri-chan…!”
Shinobu hurried down the stairs.

“Wow… it’s a doll.”
Sayuri crouched down and peered at the figure standing quietly on the floor.
“It has such a pretty face. But… its eyes look a little sharp.”

“…An Ichimatsu doll… perhaps?”
Shinobu gently leaned in from behind to look—just then—

“Why are you looking at me.”

A low, yet clear voice rang out.

“Oh, it talked.”
Sayuri merely blinked, showing no particular sign of surprise.

But in the next moment—

Thud.

Something fell over behind them.

When she turned around, Shinobu was lying on the floor.

“Wah—Shinobu!”
Sayuri rushed over to her.

“Hey, what did you do!”
She turned around and confronted the doll.

“I didn’t do anything. She just fell over.”
A curt voice answered.

“…Huh? Really? I see… sorry about that.”

After a while, Shinobu slowly opened her eyes.

“Shinobu, are you okay?”
Sayuri peered at her with concern.

“…I’m sorry. I was startled…”
Still on her knees, Shinobu gave the doll a small bow.

“…Why over something like that…”
In the doll’s muttered words, exasperation seeped through unmistakably.

Shinobu hung her head, looking apologetic.

“U-um, I’m Sayuri. And this is Shinobu. And you are…?”

“…Rin.”

“Hm, Rin… huh.”
Sayuri narrowed her eyes as if an idea had come to her, a smile forming on her lips.

“I just came up with something good.”

Her smile overflowed with excitement she couldn’t hide.

The doll let out a snort, looking uninterested.