Interview with the Yokai

Chapter 2

It was the Monday prior, Shoji had some free time and was spending it in the library. Sasayama Academy's library could rival a university in size and scope of books held within. It was a large, three story structure, with a basement. Shoji was in the basement, where books relating to Sasayama region were kept. Shoji was indulging his hobby, looking at information regarding local paranormal and supernatural sightings. Shoji had been on edge ever since he came to Sasayama Academy and was doing research to see if the weird sensations he was constantly getting had any basis in supernatural activity that might have taken place in the area. It was when Shoji was absorbed in a book recounting a local legend about a battle between Oni in the mountains that caused a massive landslide, that Shoji became aware of a presence there with him. Shoji looked up from his book, but couldn't see anyone around, still he felt a presence there. Shoji got up and started walking towards the bookshelves and that was when he saw it, a ghost light, it was hanging in the air, not moving, just giving off the weird energy that Shoji had sensed. Shoji froze, this was not the first time he had seen a ghost light, in fact it was not the first time he had seen the phenomenon at Sasayama Academy. Shoji swallowed hard and steeled his reserve, he took off at sprint towards the light, but like was always the case, the light faded long before Shoji could make it to where it had been.

Shoji couldn't really say he was disappointed, he didn't really expect to catch the ghost light. Shoji was surprised to find a book lying on the ground, directly below where the ghost light had been. It was odd for a book to be lying on the ground in this part of the library, not many people came down to the basement and the library staff was meticulous in keeping the library organized. Shoji picked up the book, there was a bookmark on the page it had been opened to, as if someone had been reading it and had stopped at that page. Shoji closed the book and looked at the cover, Collected Enchantments and Rituals of Sasayama, from the title Shoji almost got the feeling that it was a spellbook. Shoji had come across them in the past, they were usually a collection of old rituals that people in the past had thought had supernatural effects. Most were more of a historical account of traditions done by anthropologist, rather than actual books made by people who truly believed in the powers of the spells. This book seemed different though, as Shoji flipped through the pages, it became obvious that it had in fact been written as a true spellbook. Shoji flipped to the page that had been bookmarked and read the spell and its description. The description wasn't very straightforward, it simply said that the words would reveal a creature in its truest nature.

Shoji had written down the spell and put the book away on a bookshelf, making sure to note where it was located.

That was how Shoji now found himself, on Friday, on the roof of the school building, about to do something ridiculous. Shoji had always believed in the supernatural and it was true that all four of the girls that stood before him gave off an extremely odd sensation, but what was Shoji thinking? Really what did Shoji expect to happen when he recited the spell? There was no way of telling if he was even doing it correctly, most likely the four girls would look at him confused and unsure of what he just said. Still though, Shoji could not shake the feeling that there was power in the words of the spell, that saying the incantation would lead to something happening. What would that something be, what did it mean to show a creature in its truest form?

" Would you girls mind telling me what each of you think when you hear these words?," Shoji said and waited until all the girls were paying attention.

" May the light of the sun shine through all illusions brought by the darkness and make truth of all lies, laying bare anything that falls under it," Shoji recited the incantation while the girls all stared at him and listened. It happened slowly almost imperceivable, Shoji became aware of a growing brightness surrounding him and the girls. The brightness slowly grew around each of them engulfing them and growing in brightness, until Shoji had to close his eyes. What had he done? Where the girls alright? Shoji finally sensed that whatever was happening had stopped, he opened his eyes and allowed them to adjust to the light. Standing before Shoji were four girls, but not the same one's that had stood before him moments ago, they were each transformed and each very much naked.