Demise Game

25.Kokkuri-san,Kokkuri-san.

For better or worse, there was no book or letter when you arrived back home.  A part of you just wanted to rip the band-aid off.  You knew that receiving the book was inevitable — you were antsy to get this all done and over with.  Not that you wanted to expedite the process, but you wanted to know what exactly might be nerfing you within the next week or so.

        Without the book, it was easy to believe that perhaps Hanami did mistake somebody else for you.  If she only saw the back of them, it was entirely possible.  It's not like she saw your face.

        It would have been so easy to brush off, if your mom hadn't made a similar comment when you came inside and took your shoes off.

        "You should have told me you were going to the grocery store.  I would have asked you to pick up more curry cubes," she said, taking your coat from you and checking your face.  "I'm just glad you're out of bed, now."

        You appreciated your mother's concern, but were overall confused.  "What do you mean?  I didn't go to the store."

        Your mother's eyebrows furrowed, mirroring your confusion.  "Takanada-san swore she saw you a few hours ago when she was grocery shopping..."  That was your neighbor, an elderly lady with bad eyesight.  Maybe it could be blamed on just her eyesight, but you weren't an idiot.  A foreboding feeling was settling over you, and even without the book you had a feeling what your urban legend would be.  But that was fine.  That gave you plenty of time to prepare.

        "It wasn't me.  I was visiting Hanami," you lied, and your mother sighed.

        "I worry for her sometimes.  Her eyesight is really getting poor..."  Believing you, she ushered you to the table.  The food was still hot, and the aroma made your mouth water.  She had made your favorite meal again, most likely in hopes of cheering you up.  Much like your mouth, your eyes started to water.

        You were...  really lucky to have her.

        You didn't mean to start crying, but once the tears started, they didn't stop.  You felt a bit pitiful, to be honest — you were usually the chill and composed one.  You never gave anybody trouble, and perhaps you were seen as lethargic and lazy, but you were never known to be super emotive or emotional.

        In your defense, it has also been one hell of a fucking week.  Your club summoned a demon, two of your friends died, you uncovered a decades long curse, and your neighborhood stray cat can talk.

        So, yeah, you were breaking down again.

        Your mother immediately gathered you into her arms, not saying anything or even shushing you.  She just rubbed your back, letting you cry it out as you hugged her back, your heart squeezing and squeezing.  You weren't very close with the rest of your family; for most of your life, it had just been you and your mom.  If you died...  It would devastate her.

        But you couldn't tell her any of this.  You hated keeping her in the dark, but you already made that mistake once.  If you told your mother, she would be yet another victim of Kokkuri-san.

        And you refused to let that happen.

        You took a couple of deep breaths, trying to get a hold of yourself, and after a few more moments your mother let go of you.  You wiped at your eyes, taking more deep breaths.  The entire time, Shiki had been watching this silently, his tail lazily flicking back and forth.

        "I'm sorry," you murmured.

        Your mother immediately chided you.  "There is nothing to be sorry for," was her immediate response.  "I know this has been a rough week for you.  First A-me, and then B-sei...  I'm sorry I haven't been able to be here as much for you," she apologized.  You hated making her worry like this.