As soon as class ends I want to tend to Chiaki, but Makoto blocks me off at my seat.

 

"We... we need to talk!" (M)

"Talk? If it's about Karin then the answer is "no"!" (I)

"I... please, uh... can you... Can you come to my place after school?" (M)

 

This sounds seriously dubious.

 

"Why now suddenly? I never went to your place and now you suddenly ask me for the first time?" (I)

"Please Iori, it's important!" (M)

 

I am not sure about this.
I mean, at this point I can be certain that his place is some kind of exorcist base.
This doesn't sound like the perfect environment for anything demonic.
And I am not this delusional.

 

"Iori if, if our friendship means anything to you please come to my place after school. Please!" (M)

 

But pressured like this, what choice do I have?
I am afraid of his reaction towards me, but if I lose him anyways like this what would it matter?
If my tactic to avoid him causes the worst possible outcome, there is not much point in pursuing it.
And Zika said that I don't have to worry too much about exorcists.

 

"Fine. But you invited me! Don't forget that when I'm coming and things don't go as you want!" (I)

 

If this turns into something hostile I am not at fault.
And I would be really pissed if this is a trap.

 

"Huff! Okay. I will wait for you at home. You know the Honosuki shrine?" (M)

"I will find it! Have a map on my phone!" (I)

 

The new one I've just got!

 

"G-good. And... thank you!" (M)

 

What am I supposed to answer here?
Nothing good comes to my mind, so I refrain from doing so and simply stay silent.

Chiaki is no longer to see and maybe I should grant her some moments alone.
After all, there is much on her mind.

To my relief, she is back before the last segment starts.
I am at the moment extremely concerned about her.
Partly because of her poor state and partly because she could fall victim to some monster.
The world feels so much more dangerous since I turned.

Having no other options I decide, for a change of pace, to pay attention to the lesson and concentrate.
At the moment I am not so sure if there is even a point to it, regarding my future occupations, but...
Stop!!!
Pay attention for god's sake!
You can't turn every single period into a philosophical monologue.

With this, I glue my mind on the subject.
If it just wouldn't be so boring.
But at least it does end at one point.

It seems I have to go to Makoto's place and am a little conscious about this, concerning what it might imply.
This place could become ground zero.
More of a reason to get myself under control.
I don't need another arm fiasco.

But before I can go, there is Chiaki.
I would feel bad to leave her in this state.
So I approach her when there is no one else around.

 

"Uhm, Chiaki? Are you alright?" (I)

"I removed my bracelet." (C)

"You did what? But I thought you would need it!" (I)

 

She carries kind of a forced expression. Unease, but trying to show gentleness.

 

"There's not much point to it if it just shows me lies, right? Much less if I know it." (C)

"Still..." (I)

"It's dark here!" (C)

"Excuse me?" (I)

"The moment I took it off everything went so much darker. I felt instantly dread! But no monsters were there." (C)

"What do you mean?" (I)

"That darkness, I don't know how I know it but I'm sure it comes from you." (C)

"You mean..." (I)

"Yes, you shroud everything in black." (C)

 

Some black ooze from me is in the school? Bad news! Bad news!
Who else can see this?

 

"S-sorry. I apparently don't notice." (I)

 

A sad smile does show up.

 

"You wouldn't do anything to me, right?" (C)

"No!!! Never! You, you are my friend. Aren't you?" (I)

 

Tears gather in her eyes and start to flow down her face.

 

"I, I am so scared! So scared!" (C)

"Uh, i-it's okay!" (I)

"No! Nothing is okay! I can't do anything! I feel so vulnerable! And nothing can help." (C)

"I will help! All I can do!" (I)

 

She does embrace me, while the tears stream on my shoulder!
Chiaki rings with air, coughs, trembles, all at once.
Yet it does seem to help that I hold her.
I just hope she won't notice that some additional tendrils sprouted out of me to hold her tight.
Naturally, I force them back in as soon I become aware.
She slowly calms down.
While her heart is still racing I suddenly hear something.

 

"I'll do it!" (Chiaki)

"What?" (I)

"Th-this hell thing. If it is you then nothing bad will happen to me, right?" (C)

"N-no, don't think so." (I)

"I-Is it very bad there?" (C)

"No, no. Maybe before. Don't know. It was dark. Now it is maybe a little gloomy, but there is absolutely nothing." (I)

 

Wait! Do I have air there?
I need air!
Do you listen?
Air in that dream! Air!

• Air
   
• Air
   
• Air

 

And not deadly temperature!

I hope this will be enough.
Would be the worst if something happens because of that.
About the temperature; I think it was fine last time, but you can never be too cautious.

 

"Then, shall I call Zika?" (I)

"I-if you must?" (C)

"I really don't know anything about energy and such stuff. She is much older than one would believe. This knowledge I can't replace. But this is really my place there. If I understood it right. She wouldn't pull any tricks in there." (I)

"If you say so." (C)

"Zika! Would you please come?" (I)

"What are you saying? She isn't here." (C)

"Oh, believe me. She'll come." (I)

"It's not like I have much of a choice." (Z)

 

It would be less surprising if that voice hadn't come from the side of the classroom where absolutely no door is located.
Chiaki is similarly put off.

 

"Chiaki made up her mind. You said you would help her!" (I)

"I did. I did. This will be so tasty." (Z)

"You won't use this to feed on her, right?" (I)

 

Chiaki again grows scared at this.

 

"Absolutely not! But that doesn't mean I can't savor the sensation, right? I'm a connoisseur after all." (Z)

 

Maybe I should lower my standards regarding Zika, but she was so helpful until now.
She tends to Chiaki.

 

"So, are you ready?" (Z)

"R-ready?" (C)

"We would directly get started! No reason to waste time!" (Z)

"H-here? In the classroom?" (C)

"Anywhere would be fine. The place doesn't matter to your friend!" (Z)

 

That is somehow true. I can actually teleport anywhere.
Yet people shouldn't look when I do.
But I'm sure Zika has this covered.

 

"Do you... need to call your parents? I doubt other worlds have phone reception." (I)

"N-no. I am allowed to come late. Wouldn't know what to tell them." (C)

 

Well, writing "Mum! Dad! I go to hell" could be a problem.

 

"Now get going! Bring us over!" (Z)

"First, Chiaki, it might be better to close your eyes. This will look really scary." (I)

"Yep. Ready to get eaten?" (Z)

"Eaten!?' (C)

"The portal goes through her, so she needs to suck us in. Or how did you think this works?" (Z)

 

And she gets pale.
Was to be expected.
She closes her eyes trembling and forms her hands into a prayer.
Meanwhile, Zika looks more annoyed than anything else.
Probably the prayer.

 

"Now do it. I don't want to waste the whole day. And don't dare to leave me in there!" (Z)

 

Didn't intend to do so.
But she became quite bold.
I concentrate a bit on my place and how I want the two to go there.
Soon I feel how something in me sets them as targets, which disturbs me deeply.
I feel already how my surface starts to shift.

 

"Scllrrrb"

 

The sounds of things emerging from my body make me nauseatic and Chiaki's trembling much worse.
She's mumbling her prayer more frantic.

 

"Wosshh"

 

In a blink, my stomach bursts open and a huge accumulation of nightmarish stuff emerges.
It opens up, building giant walls and seals them up to the top.
Like a wave, it drives towards them.
And falls down.

 

"AAAAAAHHHhh..." (C)

 

Too late. I couldn't stop it anymore.
The wall starts to shrink down there, pulling itself slowly back in.
I just feel how where Chiaki was a presence remains, as well as Zika who is now much calmer than the first time.
Chiaki's on the other side feels extremely wild, throwing itself in all directions.
The presence is strong, much stronger than all the demons I've encountered until now, yet I couldn't gauge Zika properly.

But it has no chance.
Whatever it does, it can't even disturb what is containing it.
Mercilessly it is pulled from the accumulation to my main body.
As soon I feel it passing I lose contact.
Or more I cannot find it anymore, as it entered some vast expanse.
I panic and tell myself again and again not to absorb Chiaki's soul.
And well, Zika, but I guess she has some precautions up on her side.

Nonetheless! Chiaki!
I really can't find her!
All that struggling suddenly completely stopped!
She must be fine!
Please let her be fine!
J-just one way to know!

 

"Into my dream! Into my dream! Into my dream!" (I)