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Chapter 27: New Neighbors and Strange Auras
A few minutes later, Sayuri arrived back at the apartment building. She dragged a chair out of her room, sliced a watermelon in half, and sat by the entrance, eating it with a spoon while keeping a watchful eye on the street.
"When will Ryusei-kun be back?" she wondered aloud.
Suddenly, she heard a strange, rhythmic sound.
"Po-po-po-po…"
It sounded like someone pressing their lips tightly together and releasing them with a sudden, sharp pop. Sayuri looked up. Two women were walking toward the building.
The woman in the lead had a graceful figure, striking silver hair, and a face that remained entirely expressionless. It was Yukino Mifuyu, one of the tenants. Walking behind her was an exceptionally tall woman—at least a full head taller than Mifuyu. She wore a wide-brimmed white hat and a matching white dress that contrasted sharply with her deathly pale skin.
Sayuri squinted. As they reached the door, she raised her spoon and offered a bright smile. "Miss Yukino, why are you back so late today? Did you have to work overtime?"
Yukino Mifuyu glanced at Sayuri without a word and continued toward the stairs. However, the tall woman stopped, revealing a beautiful but pale face beneath the brim of her hat. She bent down, lowering her head to look Sayuri in the eye.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Sayuri," she said softly. "I am Hachishaku, and I will be staying at Mifuyu's place for the next few days. Please take care of me."
Sayuri, biting her spoon, looked her up and down. "No problem! If you need anything, just come to me. I'll help if I can."
"Thank you," Hachishaku said with a gentle smile before standing tall and following Mifuyu up the stairs.
Sayuri watched her go, whispering, "So tall." Her eyes narrowed as she focused on the woman's white hat. It exuded a strange, heavy aura and appeared to have several damaged spots. That hat is her true form, Sayuri realized. And she looks quite injured. Was it from that Spatial Quake last night?
She took another bite of watermelon, a thoughtful look on her face. Well, more people makes things livelier.
On the third floor, Hachishaku found Yukino Mifuyu waiting at her open door.
"Sorry for making you wait, Mifuyu."
"It wasn't long. Come in."
Hachishaku stepped inside, looking around the living room. It was sparse, containing little more than an old VCR. Mifuyu pointed to a bedroom. "That room is empty. You can stay there; clean linens are in the closet."
Hachishaku wandered into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator to find nothing but beer, and the cupboards held only instant noodles. She turned back with a helpless expression.
"I know you hate the heat of cooking, Mifuyu, but this is extreme. No ingredients, not even seasonings…"
"I just don't want to cook," Mifuyu replied indifferently. "We can eat out."
Hachishaku looked troubled. "I'd rather not. Even when I try my best to shrink my size, people still stare at me strangely in shops."
Mifuyu sighed. "I'll go buy groceries. There's a supermarket nearby. What do you need?"
"Eggs, bacon, tofu…" Hachishaku listed the items, then clasped her hands together. "Please, Mifuyu."
As Mifuyu turned to leave, a woman's voice suddenly drifted from her bag. "Hey! You don't need to take me along just to buy groceries, do you? I'm exhausted from last night!"
"Got it," Mifuyu muttered. She reached into her bag and pulled out a very old videotape. She inserted it into the VCR, which flared to life despite not being plugged in. On the dark screen, a disheveled but beautiful woman appeared, brushing back her long hair.
"Finally, some rest!" the woman on the screen exhaled. "Hurry up with those groceries, Mifuyu. It's getting late."
Ryusei Kiryu stepped off the bus in Beika Town. He decided to walk the rest of the way, carrying the small squid Uncle Takagi had gifted him. Halfway home, he spotted a familiar figure: Yukino Mifuyu.
His heart skipped a beat. He still wasn't sure if she had caught him peeking through her window the other night. Keeping his composure, he offered a polite nod.
"Good evening, Miss Yukino."
"Mm."
She was as cold as ever as they brushed past each other. Ryusei let out a quiet breath of relief. It seemed he was in the clear.
As Ryusei entered the apartment building, he saw the small figure by the door. "Miss Sayuri?"
"Ryusei-kun, you're finally back!"
"Weren't you staying at the villa?"
"I don't want to live in a place like that alone," she huffed.
Ryusei rolled his eyes inwardly. A place like that? You mean a mansion with the most comfortable beds ever? He kept the thought to himself, but then Sayuri held up a watermelon.
"Want some? I saved half for you in the fridge!"
"Is it sweet?"
"Very."
"Then yes, thank you, Sayuri-san!"
"No problem. You bought me breakfast, after all. Wait here." She scurried off and returned with the chilled fruit. "Eat it tonight; don't let it sit."
"I will. Goodnight."
As Ryusei walked upstairs, Sayuri sniffed the air again. The smell of fish and blood... he worked all day at the market. So hardworking.
Ryusei reached the third floor, watermelon in one hand and squid in the other. He reached for his keys but paused when he heard movement coming from the adjacent room.
Wait, Miss Yukino just left. Is someone in there? A thief?
As he considered checking, the door swung open. An unusually tall woman emerged, and Ryusei found himself staring upward. She was nearly two meters tall, wearing a wide white hat and a pale dress.
Her eyes were bright, warm, and curious. "Hello, young man next door," she said softly. "I am Hachishaku, temporarily staying here. Please take care of me."
Hachishaku? Ryusei's mind flashed to the urban legends. The appearance and hat matched perfectly, even if her height seemed slightly suppressed. He gave her a friendly smile. "Hello, Miss Hachishaku. My name is Ryusei Kiryu. Please take care of me as well."
He entered his apartment and put the watermelon in the fridge. As he began preparing the squid, his mind raced. If the woman next door was the Hachishaku-sama of legend, then she definitely wasn't human.
And if she was staying with Yukino Mifuyu, then his silver-haired neighbor likely wasn't human either.