Corpse Party: Killing Harmony

Closer Once More

"Please don't kill me!" Ouma screamed into the silent classroom. Iruma rushed to kneel before him, ignoring the wood digging into her knees.

"Snap out of it, Ouma!" She begged, trying to hold his shoulder to comfort him. As soon as her fingers ghosted his shirt, Ouma screamed and shoved her away with the strength of a warrior. Iruma fell back and grunted in pain.

He began gasping for air and coughing. Despite having been shoved before, Iruma kneeled before him again but made sure not to touch him. "Are you alright?" Ouma leapt forward and clung to her as he began sobbing, gulping down air like he'd been starved for aeons. "I-It's okay..." She muttered, not quite sure how to comfort him. It was hard to know since Ouma made it known that he despised hugs or physical touch in general. At least, that's what Ouma claimed. "Everything's okay, you're safe."

Kanno silently stood beside them, watching Ouma with a sad eye. "That's what happened to me," she whispered.

Ouma's continued whimpering and sniffling concerned Iruma. Just what happened? "What did you see?"

"The- The murder!" He panted heavily, trying to catch his breath. "I saw the murder... We had the wrong murderer!"

"The wrong..." Iruma trailed off as she began to process the deeper meaning. "That's why that stupid fu- freaking doll didn't work!" Kanno slowly nodded. She couldn't believe it. Ouma had watched the murder unfold right before his very eyes?! "So... you saw everything?"

"Yeah..." She slowly nodded. "Through Kanno's eyes." Iruma froze. He experienced the murder?! Turning to the ghost child, Iruma's icy eyes narrowed into malicious slits. How could she trick them into making Ouma suffer like this?!

"You piece of-"

"Don't you dare start blaming her!" Ouma screamed, slapping his classmate's arm. "I'm the one who wanted to know. I let her, so don't shout at her!" He took a deep breath, now calm enough to hold a regular conversation. "Remember that newspaper that Yumeno showed us? Shinozaki Sachiko - the girl in the red dress - is the murderer."

Iruma's blank stare was only broken by a few slow blinks. "What?" She couldn't believe a child could commit a crime like this... "No, that has to be wrong. A little girl can't abduct and murder three other kids her age, it's unheard of! Especially so brutally like this! That big dude with the hammer has to be the killer as we said! He could kidnap and murder kids any day of the week!"

Shaking his head, Ouma slowly stood up and brushed off his filthy uniform as if it would make a difference. "He was an accomplice. During the incident, he was in the corner crying and trembling." Iruma didn't want to believe it, but she didn't want to discredit Ouma either. Kanno showing him the situation through her eyes seemed illogical, but then again, so did the entire experience in Heavenly Host Elementary.

"Why would he help Shinozaki in the first place..." Ouma muttered as he placed his hands on his hips. "It doesn't matter. Right now, we need to warn the others!"

"I guess so..." Iruma averted her gaze in shame, which only made Ouma glare at her.

"We need to warn the others," he repeated in a tone that send shivers down Iruma's spine. "Preferably before they die!" Ouma turned to Kanno, his brows furrowed in desperation. "Please, take us back to Heavenly Host! I have to go back for our classmates!"

After Kanno remained silent, Ouma tried to beg her again. "I promise that I'll find a method to exorcise every single spirit in Heavenly Host. Just please, let us go and save our friends too. Before they become nothing more but forgotten victims."

The little girl still didn't talk for another few moments. It made Iruma's anger grow, but also made Ouma more desperate. "I wouldn't recommend it." Ouma's eyes narrowed and he seemed to struggle not to curse out the child. "Due to you and your friends interfering with the closed spaces, they've become unstable."