Fragment 21. Back to Reality

“My name is Akira. And you?”

I was left dumbfounded by her self-introduction. It seemed that I still couldn’t accept the fact that she had forgotten me. Deep down, I was still hoping that she recognized me, or at the very least, remembered my name. That was why I never expected her to introduce herself like this.

So that’s how it is. We have to start everything from the beginning.

I didn’t know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing. The good side was that she didn’t remember the incident from ten years ago. The bad side was that she didn’t remember me—or even all of us.

If she didn’t remember ever having sisters, then there was a high chance she wasn’t aware that she herself was a spirit residing in someone else’s body. In other words, I couldn’t ask her about her true identity.

Chinatsu said that memories of their lives before entering this body didn’t come along with them. But how much truth was there in her words? It might have been the case for Chinatsu. But what about the others? Did they experience the same thing?

I didn’t get the chance to ask Fuyuki, so I couldn’t confirm the validity of that claim. And now, after finding out that Akira had no memories of her past, I had lost my chance to ask her as well.

While I was busy with my thoughts, I unknowingly left Akira’s hand hanging. I hurriedly shook her hand and introduced myself.

“My name is Haruno.”

“Haruno, huh? Nice to meet you.”

Akira shook my hand up and down. She looked genuinely happy to meet me. Come to think of it, this was her realm. Other than her sisters, no one could enter this place. If she didn’t remember me, Fuyuki, or Chinatsu, then she had no one else she knew.

Could it be that she had been feeling lonely all this time? That might be why she was so happy to meet another human besides herself in this desolate world.

As I was introducing myself to Akira, I heard voices calling out to me inside my head.

…uno…runo…Haruno!

“Eh?”

My vision spun as my consciousness began to fade. It was the same sensation I felt when I was forcibly pulled into my subconscious.

Within my narrowing field of vision, I could see Akira’s beaming face tense up. I was sure she must be confused as to why I suddenly collapsed. Not that I understood it myself either.

Akira’s lips moved as if she was saying something. But nothing reached my ears. Her hand lightly patted my cheek, yet I couldn’t feel that either.

Mustering every strength left in my body, I left her with one last message.

“I’m sorry. I’ll visit you again next time.”

After saying that, my consciousness vanished completely.

When I woke up, I could see my parents’ faces.

“Dad? Mom? Why are you here? Didn’t you say you will leave me for a week?”

“What are you talking about?! It’s been a whole week since then.”

I couldn’t understand what my father was saying. It felt like I had only been gone for a short while. So why were they saying that a whole week had passed?

“The flow of time in your subconscious realm is not the same as the flow of time in this world.”

I only realized Hakusha was there after he spoke.

“So that’s how it is. A week has already passed, huh?”

Strangely enough, my mind felt calm—like someone who had just woken up from a coma. But then, I suddenly remembered something.

“Whoa! What’s going on? Why did you suddenly wake up?”

Ignoring my father, I looked toward Hakusha.

“Send me back to my subconscious realm right now.”

“What are you saying, Haruno? We have to go back to Tokyo.”

“That girl—Akira—she was so happy when she finally got her first friend. But I disappeared just moments after meeting her. So please. Bring me back to my subconscious.”

I lowered my head toward Hakusha. I pleaded with him sincerely. My posture even resembled someone doing a dogeza. However, Hakusha coldly rejected my request.

“I was only given time one week by your father. I can’t bring you back there.”

“Please. That girl must be panicking right now.”

“Did you at least get the chance to say goodbye to her?”

“As for that… I did,” I answered softly.

“Then there’s no problem.”

I bit my lip, irritated by Hakusha’s heartless decision.

“Return for now. We’ll continue your training another time.”

“But I haven’t gained anything yet! I don’t even know what my power is.”

“Didn’t I already tell you that your power is controlling the spirits within your body?”

“But I can’t control them yet! If I go back now, won’t I just become food for the people targeting me?”

Hakusha let out a tired sigh. Perhaps in his eyes, I looked like a child throwing a tantrum because she couldn’t get the toy she wanted. But what I said was the truth. If I returned without mastering my power, wouldn’t that be no different from suicide?

Perhaps realizing that my argument made sense, Hakusha reached into his sleeve. From there, he took out an amulet and handed it to me.

“What is this? Are you expecting this thing to keep me safe?” I asked, almost laughing.

If all he could do was pray, then that wouldn’t help at all!

“‘You possess an immense power.’ Are you familiar with those words?”

“…Yes. They’re words my grandfather often said to warn me about the danger of evil people targeting the power within me. What about them?”

“Did you ever ask your grandfather what kind of immense power you actually possess?”

“N-No.”

I stuttered as Hakusha turned the tables on me, shifting me from the one attacking to the one being attacked. But Hakusha wasn’t “attacking” me, he was pointing out what my true power was.

“Have you ever heard of yin and yang? Or of a world that moves according to energy?”

“At least I’ve heard of them.”

“In the concept of energy in Chinese philosophy, yin and yang cannot be separated. Yin always contains an element of yang, and yang always contains an element of yin. Let’s say you are Yang—then you need Yin to keep you balanced. In this case, the spirits inhabiting your body came to complete you.”

“In other words?”

“In other words, you have your own power, without having to rely on the spirits within you.”

“Wait. Isn’t that contradictory to what you said before? Didn’t you say my power was controlling my other personalities?”

“Yes. You need them to channel your power. Where do you think those spirits get their power from? They don’t possess power themselves. They’re merely intermediaries who control a small fraction of your power.”

When Hakusha said that, an answer to the question that had been troubling me this whole time surfaced in my mind.

Don’t tell me the reason they always lose control whenever they take over this body isn’t because they can’t adjust their power to this body—but because they can’t keep the output under control from a source that’s simply too big?

If we liken this body to a massive dam, then sticking a small faucet into its wall isn’t the right way to draw out just a portion of what it holds. The water would flow too violently, and the faucet would eventually break. In other words, I needed to think of a safer solution if I wanted to properly control my power.

While I was deep in thought, I remembered the amulet Hakusha had given me.

“Then what does this have to do with it?”

“That amulet functions as a tool to channel your power without going through the spirits in your body.”

“So I can release my power without relying on them?”

“To put it simple, yes.”

“But I still don’t understand what my power is! Can you at least teach me how to use this thing?”

“You’ll know once you try it,” Hakusha concluded with a smile.

As always, I didn’t like the smile that man showed. But because my father urged me on, I lost the chance to keep pressing Hakusha for answers.

“Haruno, hurry up. The next bus is leaving soon.”

Since the bus to this place only operated a few times a day, missing one would mess up the entire travel schedule. As a result, I had no choice but to leave without getting a clear answer.

As we were about to depart, Hakusha called out to us—or rather, to me.

“Wait a moment. Please take Tanuki and Kitsuru with you. I’m sure they’ll be useful. Tanuki, Kitsuru, would you help me by accompanying our Young Miss?”

“Aye, Sir!”

“With pleasure!”

A raccoon and a small yellow fox jumped onto each of my shoulders.

“Please take good care of me.”

“Ah. Uhn. Likewise, I’ll be counting on you.”

With that, my training in my hometown came to an end. Honestly, I still couldn’t believe that a whole week had passed. But since everyone said so, let’s just accept it.

Throughout the journey, Tanuki and Kitsuru couldn’t stop shouting. Maybe it was their first time leaving the village, which was why they were so excited. But since no one could see or hear them, no one felt disturbed. Well—no one except me.

But because I was already too tired, I ignored the two of them. My eyes kept looking out the window—on the bus, the train, and even the shinkansen.

My mind was blank throughout the trip. I ignored most of what my parents said or replied briefly without thinking. My thoughts began to function again when we were nearing Tokyo.

From afar, I saw Tokyo shrouded in dark clouds. It didn’t stop there—lightning could occasionally be seen raging within those dark masses of vapor.

When I asked my parents whether Tokyo was experiencing a storm, both of them said the weather forecast claimed Tokyo should be clear all day. Even when they looked out the window themselves, there was no sign that they saw what I did.

However, when I glanced at Kitsuru and Tanuki, they were clinging to each other in fear. Their fur stood on end as if they’d been shocked by static electricity. They even cried, whining and saying things like, “We're done for!” or “Why did we go to a place full of negative energy like that?”

Seeing the two of them, I finally realized that the dark clouds covering Tokyo weren’t rain clouds—but black fog that invited calamity.

Knowing that I was about to enter a dangerous area once again, instead of feeling afraid, I smiled.

I didn’t know why I was smiling myself. Maybe I’d gone crazy? I couldn’t deny that.

The smile on my face slowly faded, replaced by a strange sense of calm.

I was tired of running away. If someone came to take something from within me, I would make them pay dearly for what they desired.

As I imagined what awaited me ahead, I couldn’t stop feeling excited.

With emotions overflowing, I said,

“I’m back, Tokyo.”