BAREFACED

Chapter 109

As the two of you walk into the forest, the breeze starts to pick up. You guys push deeper into the forest in hopes to find Takemichi. 

After searching a bit, you get tired and decide to lean on a tree. Chifuyu stops beside you.

"You know- I thought about something..." Chifuyu softly says.

"Hm?" You hum, looking back up at him.

"We are supposed to be looking for this guy... but we are in a forest..." Chifuyu softly say, his eyes slowly drifting towards yours.

"Okay... I don't understand..." You slowly look at Chifuyu.

"Do you know how big forests are... Like- are we ever going to actually find this guy?" Chifuyu sighs. You furrow your eyebrows thinking about what he said. He's not wrong... the forest is big... would you two even be able to find Takemichi?

"What guy?" A voice says from above you. You flinch and quickly look up to see a boy standing in a tree. He has white hair and blue eyes. He looks really young, like someone who may be in junior high...

"Who are you?" Chifuyu asks in confusion. The boy smiles and tilts his head a bit.

"My name is Shin." The boy soothes.

"Shin...?" Chifuyu repeats in confusion.

"Mhm-  you mention you're trying to find a guy- are you looking for a worker or is it something else?" Shin softly asks. You stare at him a bit before answering.

"Something else..." You softly reply.

"Mmm... may I ask what that something else is?" Shin's smile grows a bit. Chifuyu gets closer to you, grabbing onto your hand.

"Uh- a friend of mine. He went missing recently- I wanted to know if like... he-"

"Committed in the forest?" Shin interrupts you. You stare at him again and then slowly nod. Shin crosses his arms and looks behind him. Chifuyu leans in towards your ear.

"I don't trust that kid..." Chifuyu whispers. You furrow your eyebrows a bit. Shin looks back at the two of you and his smile relaxes.

"How long ago did he go missing... or like- how recent do you think he may have committed...?" Shin asks.

"Uh... Like- a few months ago." You softly answer.

"Interesting-" Shin leans against the tree a bit, holding his weight on his hand. "Did he leave a note to you that he would be here...?" Shin asks. You slowly nod. "Mmm..." 

Chifuyu looks at you then back at Shin.

"Well- I can tell you two things... either your friend killed himself in another forest... or he's actually not dead..." Shin comments.

"Huh? What makes you say that?" Chifuyu rasps. Shin slowly looks Chifuyu up and down. Then he softly smiles.

"This forest gets checked often... and I haven't heard of a suicide here- it has been a few years since someone was found in this forest. Also- this forest is surrounding a shrine... it's wrong to commit such an act where harmony and peace is supposed to be... doing something like that puts those two in danger... and makes it impure."

"..." Chifuyu stares at him, unable to reply.

"How do you know if there hasn't been one... you know- sometimes they keep deaths private due to confidential reasons..." You softly say.

"I know that." Shin softly smiles. "But I would know since this shrine is owned by my family." He adds. Your eyes widen then relax. You slowly nod and take a deep breath.