Mirror Mirror (self-insert #9)

Chapter 16

Hirota broke the silence, his voice firm and full of a confidence that he clearly didn't have. "Anyway, let's go outside. Out there, we won't be attacked in the dark when the Sasakuras break in."

"You alright?" Naru muttered as the group clustered aren't the front door.

I managed a laugh. "This feels like a nightmare. Otherwise, I'm peachy."

"Hirota-san?" Mai asked, her voice shaky.

"The latch won't budge." He gritted out as he furiously rattled the knob.

Without a word, both him and Naru went to check the rest of the first floor openings. I assisted eagerly, desperate to distract myself in some way from the current situation. "Kitchen window's opening." I reported as Naru passed.

"There's barely enough room for us to squeeze out." He reminded me. Then, probably to encourage my efforts, he added, "Thanks for letting me know, though."

I glared at the Sasakura house before helping Naru check the base.

We met with Hirota in the living room just as he was tugging the drapes shut. "It's not use here. It won't open." He reported. "At this rate, they'll get to the windows of the veranda, too. What should we do?"

Naru considered this, glancing at the group of panicked women before speaking, his voice calm and steady. "For the time being, we'll make a barricade of furniture before the mirrored door. We might have to stay indoors for a bit longer."

"Got it."

Naru wasn't done. Moving closer, he whispered just loud enough for Hirota and me to hear. "Also, the Sasakuras may have already invaded this house. I will go this way and examine the condition of the hallways. Hirota-san, please go around the dining room and check that it's safe. If you check the thirst floor, I'll go examine the second floor." He moved to leave, then paused. "Be careful that Mai and the others won't sense the invasion. The ensuing panic will be troublesome."

"What about me?"

He barely glanced my way. "I'm putting you in charge of the others until at least I come back."

Once they left, I cleared my throat to speak. The others jumped at the noise, then stared at me.

Probably not the best time for lighthearted joking. I settled for a reassuring smile that no one returned.

The boys returned a few minutes later, dragging coffee stands and small bookcases in front of the mirrored door. Naru dusted hands off and handed Mai a thick kitchen knife. "Go to the second floor quietly. Wrench open the shutters of the veranda and escape from there."

Mai nodded tersely and put her foot on the first step, then shuddered. "Naru. It came." She breathed. "Kosori is there on the door across from us."

The atmosphere was tense in the room connected to the veranda. Mai muttered to herself as she tried to wedge the shutters open with the knife, flinching when something clattered downstairs.

The Sasakura were here.

Naru's cool voice cut through the rising fear. "It's all right. That barricade over there can't be so easily climbed over. Continue your work."

"Yeah." Mai said shakily.

Naru watched her for a moment, then gestured for me to follow.

"Shibuya-kun?" Hirota whispered.

"I'll look for anything we can use as weapons."

Hirota's expression smoothed. "That's right. I'll try searching this way."

Naru knelt next to me as I rummaged through the closet as quickly as possible, tossing aside towels and examining items that potentially looked dangerous. "Talk to me." I said quietly. "You look worried."

He paused, then sighed. "All we have is a barricade."

"We have this book." I countered, then saw the look on his face and forced myself to look repentant. "Right. I'm sorry. Carry on."

He eyed me before continuing. "It's game over once we're found by those trespassers. Soon, they won't care about what the house looks like. They'll probably make their move. Sasakura will most likely enter with his son too, so there will be three people. If he's possessed by Sekiguchi, there's a great possibility that he's holding a weapon." He grabbed the extension cords I'd cast aside. "I don't know to what extent Hirota-san can be relied on. As he'd said, should I have let Lin stay behind? Lin has a somewhat brutal arm, but if his shiki were here, it would be easy to force them back." He went silent, and for a moment I wasn't sure if I had to respond or something. He saved me from making a choice and went on. "Do I have to resort to drastic measures?"

It was a rhetorical question, but I had to know. "Can you do it?" I asked tentatively.

"If it's to render a human unconscious, I don't need to use that much power. Still, my limit is approximately two people. If I go beyond that, my life will be in danger. If he were here..." Naru stopped abruptly and sighed, standing up. He turned—and froze, staring at the mirror.

"Naru?" I glanced at the mirror just in time to see his reflection flash me a dazzling grin and a wink. I stood, petrified. There was only one way that could be possible...

Nira...

The door slid open. "Did you find anything?" Hirota came to a screeching halt as he took in the sight of Naru closely examining his reflection in the mirror. His face reddened. "Is this the time to be fascinated with your reflection?!"

"Hirota-san." Naru turned away from the mirror. His shoulders were no longer tense and hard, and his eyes glittered. "I'm going down to the first floor. Only you will be coming with me, right?"

"Obviously."

"I'm coming, too." I said firmly. To my surprise, Naru just nodded.

Mai whirled around, chocolate eyes wide. "What are you talking about? It's dangerous!"

Naru pretended not to hear her. "Mai, once we've descended, throw down clothes and blankets on the staircase and stay inside for a while."

"I told you it's dangerous!"

"Afterwards, stack and block the top of the staircase with all the furniture there is."

"Naru!"

"You'll break down the shutters. Use the futons as cushions and jump off from the veranda." She opened her mouth to speak but he went on, his voice hardening. "There's no time to spare for relaxing. It would be the end if by some chance this house were set on fire."

Mai swallowed hard. "But...but what are you three going to do? You won't be able to come back upstairs!"

"We'll be alright."

"How about bringing weapons?" Hirota suggested.

"If you're anxious, take anything with you." He gestured to me, and I brandished the old, headless golf club I'd found. It probably belonged to Midori's late father and was kept out of sentimentality, and for that I was grateful to the Agawas. "Nira found something, so I'm sure you'll also find a weapon."

"I'm talking about you!" The older man burst out. "I'll be fine because I know martial arts, but..."

"You've got nothing to worry about." Naru interrupted. He held up his hand and with a small smile said, "Because I have a stun gun."

I snorted.

"Stun gun?" Hirota repeated, thrown off guard, but Mai's eyes widened.

"Surely not! You can't use your PK, Naru! You absolutely can't use it! If you collapse again—!"

Naru lifted his flashlight and aimed it at the mirror. "Eugene." He said simply.

"Eh?" Mai joined him, and a second later she gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth. "It's true."

Masako blinked. "Mai?"

"In the mirror...it's not reflecting Naru." She said softly, gazing back at the boy smiling softly and sweetly at us. "It's Gene."

At the same time, a boy chuckled in my head. That's right, Gene said warmly.