Chapter 10:

Interlude to hell (1)

Sakuragami Syndrome


“What do you mean when you say that you are Manami’s second personality??!! You are a magic being just like Kira??!! And why did you kiss me??!!”

*I’m going to explain everything right now!! Just keep rubbing my feet. I’ll lie down here. If my main personality happens to take control of the body back, you just tell her that she fell asleep because of the massage. She can’t know that I took control over her body!! Okay??*

*Lie down*

“Yes, Manami-sama!!” I knew it!! This is Goddess Manami-sama!! The one who I fell in love with!! The Manami who killed all those people was the same thing as Kira!!

*Sama?? Anyway. I don’t have a lot of time. Soon I’ll lose control over this body. So listen closely, because what I’m about to tell you will save hundreds of lives.*

“Yes!!”

*OMINOUS AURA*

*What we both have is called the Sakuragami Syndrome. As far as I know, we are no magic beings, as you said, but a fragmentation of our personality. My main personality had already told your second personality about it. It is said that people who study at the Sakuragami academy develop second personalities and even multiple ones.*

I see… so that’s what Kira-san is. He told me about it, but I thought he was a magical being or something inside my body. Also, this is the real Manami-sama, whom I adored for years!! I can tell by the way she talks!! I can trust her completely!!!

*This phenomenon happens once every 2-10 years, according to some hidden documents I read in the basement of our high school. It is also written that these personalities are born after a traumatic event or after a stressful situation. I can’t remember how I was exactly born. All I remember is being in a police station. But for you, it could be because you’ve been bullied for a long time.*

“Wait a second!! Why do you know so much about me??”

*I told you to keep quiet and listen, Butagami-kun. Everyone in the school knew that you were being bullied. I fought against bullying for years, but I had no success because of the rules of our educational system. I also do know a lot of things about you from the last week because I share the same body as my main personality, so I can easily access our nervous system while she is in charge of the body. This is how I can know exactly what she does but not what she thinks.*

“Kira does that too… Well, he did. Now he appears to be missing.”

*There is where I wanted to get to, Butagami-kun. My main personality wants to use Kira for her own benefit!!! She’s planning to give him full control of your body by maintaining him in an ivernative state for some days!!*

“That Manami-san wants Kira’s help?? For what??”

*That’s because…*

*WORRIED SAD FACE*

*... the other Manami is planning to massively kill the upper class students from Sakuragami academy.*

“But why??”

*She wants to be the next one who graduates from high school, so she needs to kill them all.*

That sounds just like Manami-san. “Just for that?? And why don’t you stop her??”

*It’s not just that, Butagami-kun. She wants to gain control over my body completely. I’ve been in full charge of this body since I had a memory of myself five years ago. But after Kira killed those 2 students, she started to gain control over my body.*

So that was the reason why Manami-san told me that me and Kira saved her!! “But how?? How could she gain control over your body??”

*Pay attention, Butagami-kun. There’s something called [Trigger-Factor]. To make it simple, it’s the reason why we can swap the control of our bodies. She fed you with your [Trigger-Factor] until putting Kira to sleep. When Kira’s trigger is activated next time, he will gain full control of your body!!*

“And how could Manami-san know about that??”

*It’s my fault, Butagami-kun. The trigger for me to control this body, is the strawberry. Every time I eat, smell, or taste the flavor of strawberry, I gain control over this body.*

I remember it!!! Manami-san said she was allergic to strawberries!! So that’s why she said that, because she would lose control of the body!!

*The trigger for my main personality happens when she sees people die in front of her. The more we get exposed to these events, the more control power we gain from them. But there’s a weak point. I’ve been eating strawberries daily for the last 5 years. This forced my other me to enter a sleeping state, and when I saw that guy dying in front of me… she came with more power than ever. That’s exactly what she wants to do with Kira!!*

“I see… Kira appeared every time I was about to be killed. But the reason for him to have disappeared is that Manami-san is feeding me with my trigger to keep Kira sleeping until she wakes him up to give him control over my body!!”

*Exactly!!! And I did the same just now. She’s been seeing hope disappear from people’s eyes for the last week, so her power has grown strong. She just needs to avoid strawberries to gain control over my body. But a couple of days ago, while she was distracted preparing your bag, she saw a red lollipop hiding behind some furniture in your home. There, I gained control and snuck it into your lab coat, so you could eat it and stop her plan. Sadly, you realized after she killed her classmates.*

So that’s why I had a lollipop in my coat. “But then why didn’t you ate the lollipop instead of giving it to me??”

*If I ate it back then, I would have just taken control of my body for an instant. I wouldn’t have been capable of buying more strawberries before losing control of it. My other self moved to your home because there’s no shops nearby where they sell strawberries.*

I see… It all makes sense now. “But what is my trigger?? Manami-san just lived with me and did the house chores… Do you know what my trigger is??”

*I don’t know. Even if I share the same brain as her, we can’t know each other's thoughts and secrets. We only know what we see and hear. That’s why you need to realize what your trigger is if you want to control your body!! Tell me, Butagami-kun. It’s obvious that your body has changed, but do you realize that your brain is capable of processing more information now??*

“Now that you mention. I feel smarter today. I started to think more about everything.”

*Good. That’s a secondary effect of the Sakuragami Syndrome. Kira learned to unlock the full potential of your brain and body. And you, too, can make use of them! It’s like what I did with my body when I was born.*

“You know a lot from this, Manami-sama.”

*I told you. There’s a lot of data gathered in a secret room in our school. But there are books missing. There are around 567 books written with a lot of different types of data. However, 16 of those books are missing. The older ones are way too difficult to read because of the grammar they used 500 years ago. Most of the books are just data from multiple cases of the Sakuragami Syndrome. I’m sure that those missing tomes are certainly something different. It almost looks like someone stole them to hide important information about our syndrome.*

If what Manami-sama said is true, I still have some hope to reach the ideal school life portrayed in the manga!! Hope… hope… Nononononononnononononono!!! If I have too much hope, Manami-san could kill me right away!! I need to maintain my will to live at 0%.

*You did an incredible feat back there. When you tried to free that girl. My other self was about to kill you. But suddenly, your eyes turned into the eyes of someone without the will to live!!!*

“But you said she needs Kira's help to carry out her plan... She can’t kill me… Right??”

*No. She had her leg ready to break your neck after kicking the head of Sato-san. I was there too, seeing and feeling everything as the other me controlled our body. She needs Kira to execute her plan and gain full control of our body. But she can do it in other ways. The massacre is just a fast way to do it.*

“Are you saying that because I accepted death, the hope in my eyes went away and Manami-san didn’t kick my head??”

*Exactly!! I wasn’t expecting you to think of such a great strategy, and less to execute it.*

It wasn’t a strategy… I almost died… sob… sob…

*I’ve been watching you while you lived with my other me, and your reactions to her death threats overflowed with hope!! My other self made a mistake by telling you that she loved to see hope in her victims’ eyes.*

“Well… It was not fake. I really accepted death. It's not like I want to die, but… I can’t change my life as long as you… I mean, Manami-san is with me. I don’t deserve to live in the same world where people around me die because I’m too weak to fight against it.”

*BUTAGAMI!!!*

“YES!!! Manami-sama!!!”

*Don’t give up!!! Life is a cruel interlude between nothingness and the eternal rest!! No one in this world is happy forever. The happiness of someone is the sorrow of others!!! Don’t think about what you couldn’t do, or on what you can’t have!! Think about what you can do for yourself and for the sake of others!! You can save a lot of lives!! Doesn’t that make you happy?? Isn’t that what you want?? To achieve your ideal school-life??!!*

“Yes, but… No one in our school has ever been nice to me. The only one may be Manami-san… I mean the other you, Manami-sama.”

*That’s exactly why you need to do it!! Prove you are better than them!!! Prove that you are not the monster they think you are.*

“And what am I supposed to do??”

*Listen carefully, because I won’t repeat myself…*

*... and be aware that there is a small chance for her to still kill you. So don’t piss her off!!*

“I see… It makes a lot of sense. But won't Kira or Manami-san know about this?? You said that they can hear and see what we do while we control our bodies!!”

*Don’t worry about that. If I’m not mistaken, they are asleep. They can’t access our memory nor our thoughts.*

So they can only know the things we do if they are not sleeping. This is too complicated!!!

*I think I still have some seconds before the other me takes control again. You can ask whatever you want.*

Whatever??? Then… “What are the toys Manami-san has in my parents’ bedroom??”

* They are handcuffs, duck tape, and sleeping pills. Is that all?? Don’t you have any other questions??*

What kind of toys are those…?? “Is the other you a good person??”

*I don’t know. You must decide that for yourself.*

“I see… Then, Manami-sama!! I swear to God that I will stop Manami-san!! I won’t surrender!! I will persevere!!! And after you take control of your body again, I'll treat you to a strawberry cake!!

*Is that so?? Thank you, Bu… Aaaaghgh!!!!*

“Manami-sama!! Are you okay??”

*CRAP!!! I forgot to ask you something!!! Aaaaagghg!! My head hurts!! The other me will take control soon…!!!*

“What is it, Manami-sama!!! What did you forget???”

*Aaaarrggh… Just answer me yes or no… Aaaagghgh!!!!... Do you…*

Do I what????

*…like… me???*

“YES!!! Manami-sama!! YES!!”

“Mmmmhh??? Sama?? Butagami <3 Are you in love with me or what??”

*SMUG FACE*

Shit!! Manami-san took control over the body!!! “S-s-so… Y-y-you fell asleep as I gave you the foot massage and started to speak in dreams, I guess… he… hehe… he…”

“Aaaaahhh <3 Your massage was so good that I fell asleep?? Now that you say that, I feel them much better!! You really used a lot of strength, Butagami <3”

“Y-yeah!!!” So it is true!! Manami-sama said that I could use my brain the same way Kira does!! I can surpass the human limits thanks to the Sakuragami Syndrome!!

“Then, Butagami <3 Let’s go back to our love room <3”

“Y-yeah…”

*Stand Up. Step, step, crunch, step.”

“You go first, Butagami <3 I’ll block the entrance with this huge rock <3 This way, if they inspect the tunnel, they will reach a dead end <3”

“I see… That’s really clever, Manami-san.”

“Thank you <3”

*Beautiful Smile*

Aaaaahh… She’s so pretty… If it was her other personality… I need to stop her plan!! I can do it!! I have hope in me!!! Wait… Hope??

*Slow head turn*

*SADISTIC SMILE*

I don’t have hope!!! I don’t need it!!!

And so, I got into the tunnel while Manami-sama blocked the exit with that massive rock somehow after she got in after me. We reached the hostel faster than when we left.

“Manami-san, there’s something I don’t understand yet.”

“What is it, Butagami <3??”

“Someone had to kill Sato-san and Imai-san. You did this to cover us and dissipate the police suspicions. But who are you charging the murders to??”

“Oooooh!! You started to use your brain again, Butagami <3 You didn’t see it??”

“See what??”

“The homeless man drugged inside the party building <3”

“There was someone else inside??”

“Of course <3 I drugged him the same way I did with Sato and Imai. After telling the professor that they felt sick and left to their room sooner, I broke the glass and simulated that the homeless man kidnapped them <3 I drugged him, so he will be sleeping there until tomorrow. I do also leave traces for the police to find him quickly <3”

“So you took an innocent to carry with our sins??” Man… Why the hell is the main personality of Manami-sama such a sociopath?? She’s just like an evil genius or something.

“Innocent?? Don’t feel sorry for him, Butagami <3 He’s the scourge of society. He’s a homeless man who wanders near our high school. I gave him money for his trip and promised my body as payment. I’m sure he will be happy to take the responsibility for us <3”

*Wink*

Keep calm, Butagami… Don’t let your emotions show on your face… Act like you always do!!!

“Well!! It’s time to wash our faces and hands from all the dirt from the tunnel. Open your bag, Butagami <3 There’s an identical change of clothing inside with some wet wipes <3”

*Strip*

“M-MANAMI-SAN!!!” She pretends to change here??!! I can’t look at Manami-sama’s body without her permission!!!

*Turn around!!!*

“What happens, Butagami?? You have my permission to see me in my underwear <3”

It’s not your permission that I need!!! It's Manami-sama's!! “I-I’m a man… s-s-so I’ll respect your intimacy, Manami-san!!!”

“Eeeehh?? How boring you are. V-I-R-G-I-N <3”

*Wink*

Sigh… I won’t fail you, Manami-sama!! Your final question gave me back my will to live!!!

****

At Butagami’s house, both detectives kept up with their investigation. They didn’t find anything relevant for the case. Until…

“Matsuteko!!! Come here quickly!!”

Inspector… Has he found something in Butgami’s parents’ bedroom??!!

*Run*

*STEP, STEP, STEP, STEP*

“What’s it?? Yamazaki-san!! Have you found evidence about Butagami being the murderer??”

“I found something more interesting!! Check this out, Matsukito!!”

*SFX: GUAU!!!!*

“Butagami’s mom is a real tigress in bed!! Look at these mature panties…”

*Nose bleed*

DIRTY OLD MAN!!!!!! STOP PLAYING AROUND!!!!!! “Sir, I think you shouldn’t be wasting your time with Butgami’s mom’s underwear again…”

“Again?? Oh yeah!! Look at this too.”

*Clank*

“A set of handcuffs?? And… are they real?? What’s this doing in Butagami’s parents’ bedroom?? It may be a clu…”

“A sex toy.”

STOP PLAYING WITH ME, YOU SENILE PERVERTED OLD FART!!! “So they are for roleplaying… I thought they were real for a moment.”

“Yeah… Did you find anything in Butagami’s room??”

“No, sir. I’m afraid that he’s just a regular teen. He doesn’t even have any pornographic magazines. He’s just like an angel. If he’s an assassin, he’s hiding it very well.”

“Then… We should leave this house. We can’t gather the evidence we need to arrest him.”

“But didn’t you say that Butagami was the assassin?? You also stated that Ai Manami was his accomplice!! That’s why we are here!! To end their murders!!”

“Matsugoto!!! You saw it just as I did!! There’s nothing to incriminate them in this house. We need to be patient. I’m sure that they will slip soon.”

What happened to Yamazaki-san?? After he licked that brown lollipop, he began to act like a professional… kind off. He’s more serious than usual, at least. “Then, how are we going to catch them??”

“We will receive a call tomorrow morning. That’s when we will get what we need.”

A call?? I don’t quite understand him. But his personality changed completely after sucking that sweet. He’s acting like a real detective at least. I will buy him a lot of Dr. Pipper lollipops.

“Come on, Matsuto!! Let’s get out of here. Your idea to break in here was a waste of time!!”

HE DIDN’T CHANGE AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

****

The next morning, professor Yamanaka opened the door of our room. Everyone saw and believed that Manami-san and I didn’t leave the hostel all night. Moments later, they realized that Sato-san and Imai-san were missing. After calling the police from the town, they easily found the old building where Manami-san killed her classmates. After that, and after answering a couple of questions from the police of that town, we came back to Sakurashi city. Everything went as Manami-san planned. And so, we came back to live together at my home.

*YAWN!!!*

“Manami-san… I’m too tired from the trip. I’ll go straight to bed.”

*Step, step, step…*

“Eeeh?? Don’t you want to take a bath and eat something before??”

“Not today!! Sorry!!”

*Close door*

Aaaaaaah… This trip destroyed me… I haven't slept a wink all night being locked in that room with Manami-san. When I prepared myself to die, someone decided that it wasn’t my time yet… Now I have to help Manami-sama to stop Manami-san, while at the same time regain control of my body while Kira controls it… Aaaaahh!!!! This is too complicated!!! I’m still not used to being so smart!!! I’ll just rest for today. I’ll deal with this tomorrow.

*Lie down*

*SLEEP*


Hahahaha <3 Not there, Manami-sama!! Our daughter will see us!!! 

"... miii..."

Mmmmhhh… A distant voice... My ankles and wrists feel weird… 

"... tagamiii..."

Mmmmhhhh… Who's calling me…?? !!!

“Butagamiiiiiiiii <3 Wake up!!”

*SUDDEN WIDE EYES OPENING*

I opened my eyes at an astonishing speed!! Manami-san was sitting on top of me, holding a knife. My wrists and ankles were bound to the bed with metal handcuffs. It was not a nightmare!!! It was real life!!!

“Eh??? What is this??!! Why am I restrained to the bed!!??” Manami-san is on top of me!! She will notice my… Wait… My thing… is not reacting??!!”

“I decided that I don’t need you anymore. You are not fun to play with <3 I feel sorry for Kira-kun for having such a pathetic guest <3 Farewell, Butagami.”

Nononononono!!! She needs Kira to help her!!! Manami-sama told me!!! She said to not anger her and… Oh no… “Manami-san… Why are you doing this?”

“I’m angry because you didn’t have dinner with me <3”

Eh?

“Now die, Bu-ta-ga-mi <3”

*Wink*

Just when I recovered my will to live… Farewell, mom, dad, Goddess Manami-sama… farewell world. All I wanted was a peaceful school-life. I guess I was asking for too much. Maybe in my next life I could…

*STAB!!*