Demise Game

36. case closed

You were floating in darkness before a classroom slowly materialized around you.  You recognized it by now, dread pooling in your stomach.

        "Damn it."  You sighed tiredly in realization.  But the noise that came after wasn't a laugh, or even a chuckle.  Instead, it was a very feminine sigh.

        "Sorry.  If I could have brought up someplace else, I would have."

        The familiar voice had your heart jump into your throat as you turned around and looked at your deceased friend in shock.

        "N... Natsume...?"

        Even more miraculous — you could say her name.

        At first, you wondered if this was just a cruel joke played by Shuuen.  If perhaps he was fucking with you.  But her name was tripping you up, and you found yourself repeating it in awe, surprised at how

natural it left your lips.

        "That's my name.  Don't wear it out.  Or do."  She smiled tiredly, and you noticed how she wasn't wearing her glasses.  Perhaps they weren't needed in the afterlife.  Whatever the case was, you weren't too concerned about her glasses as your body moved on its own, wrapping your arms around the taller teen.  You hugged her tightly, and the feeling the warmth of your deceased friend (and yes, you considered her your friend now) had your eyes tearing up.

        "Am I...?"

        "No," Natsume sighed, giving you a gentle squeeze before pulling you off.  She then leaned against the wall, crossing her arms.  "You did die for a moment...  But you're alive for now.  Seems the universe very much wants you alive.  Or maybe just a persistent demon that's at odds with Kokkuri-san."

        "You mean Shiki...?"

        Natsume shrugged.  "I honestly...  I'm not sure.  There are a lot of things I'm still figuring out here."

        "Where is here?"

        Natsume scowled, a look you knew all too well from the amount of times she had berated you for sleeping in class.  "Limbo, of sorts.  Jinsei thinks it's a pocket dimension for all of Kokkuri-san's victims, although it's still hard to wrap my head around that..."

        Your eyes widened.  "Jinsei is here, too?"

        "Unfortunately."

        You whirled around to see Jinsei standing in the door frame, before hurriedly closing it behind him and locking it.  "We, um, don't have much time to tell you everything, though."

        Much like with Natsume, you hugged him too, Jinsei being much more awkward in hugging you back.  He floundered for a moment, and the endearing and familiar awkwardness of it had you chuckle slightly.  You pulled away, wiping at your eyes.

        "Sorry.  Sorry.  I just... never thought I'd see you guys again.  Especially after..."  After I failed you guys.  A harsh lump formed in your throat, hard to swallow.

        "It wasn't your fault," Natsume sighed.  "I don't blame you, and neither does Jinsei.  But we're not here to catch up.  We don't have a lot of time left, but Jinsei thinks there's a way to reverse all of this."

        You glanced over at Jinsei, waiting for him to speak.  The teen cleared his throat, averting his gaze.  "Um...  yeah.  I have an idea."

        "Okay...?"

        Jinsei shuffled to go sit in a chair.  "The game...  It's over.  You're the only one remaining."

        ". . ."  You felt as if the wind was knocked out of you.  "What...  what about Hanami?"