They’re coming—
Dyed with the setting sun, their already red-tinged stares are suffused in pure crimson.
The center of that red world is where I stand. I see myself reflected, within the wet, bewitching blood-red of Nozomi-chan’s eyes.
Even as I am surrounded by all these warm colors, a frigid cold freezes my body to its core—
No doubt my blood will be sucked dry, and this cold will become as real as it feels.
No!
If that happens—
—: I won’t allow that!
A cool voice sounds, and a cold-colored wind passes through.
That wind… ever so slightly melts away at me.
Kei: Ah…… Yumei-oneechan……
A voice escapes, like cool sherbet.
Seeing that I’m safe for now, Yumei-oneechan turns a warm gaze my way, then, changing the mood of her eyes lividly…
Yumei: Step away from Kei-chan!
Bearing a burning light as she sends one, two shining butterflies aflutter, she speaks with a severe tone.
Nozomi: Fufufufufu!…
Even in the face of her strong words, Nozomi-chan faces her off with a sadistic giggle of submission.
Nozomi: Very well…
Thus she gives a positive answer, but doubtlessly has no intent to obey.
Leaving my body in Mikage-chan’s care, she calmly steps forward.
Surely, that is the extent of her “stepping away.”
Glancing at Onee-chan’s sullen face, she smiles gleefully.
Nozomi: Fufu! A joke in poor taste.
It really is.
She’s probably feeling confident, having taken me as a hostage.
Right now, I’m nothing but a stone around her neck. No doubt Onee-chan will wind up in danger because of me.
What should I do? I have to think.
She’s exhausting herself because of me.
What’ll I do… what’ll I do…?
What can I do to get us out of this mess…?
In the corner of my vision blinks a red light.
Neither Nozomi-chan or Mikage-chan’s eyes, but something larger and round.
That object is…
The mirror whose seal I had broken.
The old mirror carried inside by Tsudzura-chan, who is likely being manipulated by a jashi suggestion. (TN: Jashi – evil gaze / evil eye)
Kei: Onee-chan, the mirror……
Yumei: Mirror?
Kei: Destroy the mirror! The mirror I found in the shed… it’s where they came from!
Yumei: Mirror…
Yumei: I see… So you’re spectres with that mirror as your focus!
The sleeves of her kimono flutter as she waves her arm, her fingertip pointing in the mirror’s direction.
The butterflies surrounding her flap their wings. A blue wind rages.
My suspicions are proven when the oni twins struggle to release me from their grasp.
That mirror really is their weak point…
So I recklessly grab a hold, restricting Nozomi-chan’s movement.
Nozomi: —Get off!!
She glares at me, but I’m not afraid.
The swarm of butterflies forms into one mass of light, and strikes the mirror.