E: Beasts, Birds, and the Animals in Between

Night has fallen.

It is dark outside.

But here, in the train, there is light.

Rin smiled at me. “You’re a really great singer Evi.”

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I smirked. “Quite the little songbird.”

“?”

“I was saying that you’re good at singing. Like a bird. Also, you’re spreading your wings by trying new stuff.”

“Oh. Thank you.”

“If anything she’s more of a rabbit,” Aki interrupted.

“R-really? Why?” Rin chirped nervously.

“Cute and timid, small. Also, no offense meant,” Aki raised her arms pre-emptively, “you both have a heavy link to the color white.”

“Not to mention,” added Aya, “you do have that keychain on your backpack.”

Rin stopped to think for a moment.

“A-actually, I think Evi is more like a rabbit than I am.”

…That’s unexpected.

“Because of the red eyes?” Aya asked her.

“Um, I don’t know really. I guess that’s part of it.” She held out her keychain, examining it closely. “The long ears are a bit like horns aren’t they?”

I spoke up.

“Rin. When most people see horns they think of horns.”

I glanced at my reflection.

“Sometimes fangs.”

Sometimes monsters.

Shaking off the thought, I continued.

“There are lots of animals out there with horns. Aren't I more like one of them?”

“Maybe, but you don’t remind me of any of those.” She paused. “And I like rabbits.” She patted the keychain then let it drop back to rest.

“...Thanks.”

“So what are we?” asked Aki, bouncing with excitement.

“Hmm. I’m not sure,” Rin adjusted her glasses, as if that would somehow help, “Maybe a puppy for you Kusumoto-san, and then a fox for Fujiwara-san? Or what about a gecko and a butterfly?”

“Oooh!” Aki drummed her hands on the seat.

I pointed at Aya, and then Aki. “Snake. Frog.”

“Seriously,” Aya huffed.

I shrugged.

Aki was still happy though. “Snakes and frogs have some pretty cool mythological associations Yaya-chan!” She started listing them off her fingers, “Protection, wisdom, luck, safe travel—”

“See?” I grinned.

After a quick eye-roll to hide her smile, Aya shook her head and changed the subject, “I still can’t believe we didn’t use the scoring function more during karaoke.”

“You were getting a little intense,” Rin told her.

Aki laughed. “That was nothing! You should see her with videogames. Yaya-chan is the most toxic gamer I know.”

“I am not toxic. I am competitive.”

“She plays MOBAs.”

“Ah.”

“There’s nothing wrong with playing MOBAs, they’re just like any other game. Besides, I never use voice-chat, and I am perfectly civil when I use text-chat.”

“I’ve been in the room with you Yaya-chan. You get loud.”

“Yes. I get... frustrated. But no one that’s playing can hear me so it doesn’t matter. I do not direct trash talk at other people.”

“Sorry. Uh, you still had fun though right?” Rin asked.

“Of course Miyashita-san… I’m merely saying that continuing to compete on score may have also been fun.” She tugged at her hair.

For most of the night we sang whatever we wanted, ordered and ate food, drank drinks. 

Yelled and laughed and danced. It took time for us to reach that point. 

Especially Rin and me.

We never came close to matching Aki’s, or even Aya’s, level of energy.

We remained together, a half step behind.

But I have to admit it was infectious.

There was a section of time though, about half an hour, maybe forty minutes long, where Aya had us all compete on the same song. Her fingers tapped at the touch screen with a deftness that revealed countless hours of experience.

These were our highest scores before we stopped.

Out of 100, Aya got a 93. Rin got an 84. Aki got an 80.

I got a 97.

I was surprised too.

But why would I let go of this opportunity to be smug?

“Oh, right. I think it’s almost time,” Rin reached to get her phone.

I pulled mine out of my pocket, “I’ve got this.”

“Oh yeah, that’s what we were doing!” Aki smacked herself on the forehead. “Right, right!”

“12:12 AM,” Aya looked to Rin, “That’s the time we’re checking for, correct?”

Rin nodded.

...

Suddenly, I’m nervous.

I remember what this trip is.

I remember that night.

No.

No.

I try not to let it show on my face.

This is nothing. Not a big deal. No trouble at all.

I turn on my phone screen and check the time.

12:07 AM.

I hold my phone out so everyone can see.

“We still have some time.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine Rin.”

We sit in silence.

In the blackened windows of the train my reflection stares back at me.

“So. Does anyone have anything they want to talk about? Rin? Aya? Aki?”

No one can seem to think of anything.

My mirror image, it— She has an urgency to her eyes.

Tension in her jaw.

I tap my hand against my leg.

She copies.

I roll my shoulders back.

She follows.

I close my eyes.

So that I don’t have to know.

I breathe.

She never has.

I wait.

She always is.

…

…

…

…

“Evi?”

Rin’s voice.

“It’s time.”

I open my eyes.

12:12 AM.

Now we just wait for it to change.

Just wait for—

No.

Something is wrong.

“Evi, are you okay?”

Behind my reflection.

Movement.

There is something behind her.

“Everybody get down!”

Glass shatters all around us as something comes hurtling through from the outside of the train car. It crashes into my body at devastating speed. Air is ripped from my lungs as we slam against the wall behind us. The pain is immense.

Muscle is torn. Flesh is rended.

Organs rupture.

The impact forces us off the tracks.

It is dark. I hear screaming. Rin shouts my name.

And then there is nothing.

Nothing but the sound of shrieking thunder and screeching metal.

No.

No.

There is also a monster.

A beast.