Chapter 02…
First Year
Section 1 – Reunion
Mud Dolls and the Armored Man
The first Monday of April.
I, Yui Shirakami, slip my arms into the deep-blue blazer of my new uniform in my room.
Starting today, I’m a high school student, and in just a little while, I’ll be attending the entrance ceremony.
Spring has all sorts of things going on, but this year, it’s definitely a spring of new encounters. My heart was pounding with excitement for the high school life that was about to begin.
After getting ready, I left the house with my father and mother.
When I looked up at the sky, it was a clear, brilliant blue—
as if to say, “Nothing but good things will happen in high school life.”
I had completely forgotten how boring entrance ceremonies could be.
I was really looking forward to high school life itself, but the entrance ceremony… well, it was a little—no, very dull.
If someone asked me whether sitting and listening to all those speeches was fun or not… well, no, it wasn’t.
Once the ceremony in the gymnasium ended, we were told to move to the classrooms where we’d be spending the next year.
And now here I am, sitting next to Yōko Tabuchi, chatting while we wait for our homeroom teacher to arrive.
“Wasn’t the ceremony too long? I’m exhausted and all I did was sit there!”
“It was long, sure, but isn’t that what entrance ceremonies are supposed to be?”
“No way… it was definitely longer than our graduation ceremony. By the way, since this is a private school, isn’t the gym beautiful? My old junior high’s was, like—”
“Alright, everyone, take your seats! We’re starting our very first homeroom!”
Our teacher, Mr. Tamura, finally came in, so we stopped talking and faced the front.
The kids who’d been milling about returned to their seats.
Once everyone was seated, papers began to be passed down from the front.
Class lists, schedules of events, school rules—various things.
I started idly looking over the class list while half-listening to the teacher.
And then, on the list for my class, I spotted the name “Masato Inbosei.”
The shock made me blurt out, “Eh!?”
Masato Inbosei. Maa-kun.
We went to the same elementary school and lived nearby; as kids, we played together every day.
Back then, I was sure we’d end up at the same junior high.
But on the day of the junior high entrance ceremony, he wasn’t there.
His name wasn’t on any of the class rosters.
When I went to his house a few days later, there was a “For Sale” sign posted.
Since then, I hadn’t heard from him. I didn’t know where he’d gone.
And yet, according to this list, he was now in the same class as me.
I wanted to rush over and see if it was really him, but I forced myself to stay put.
Running over during homeroom on the first day would make me look like a weirdo.
That would be seriously embarrassing.
Even Yōko had glanced at me just now.
As I sat there worrying, the teacher announced we’d each be introducing ourselves.
Perfect—I could confirm if it was really Maa-kun without drawing attention to myself.
For me, that was a good plan.
In my memories, Maa-kun was always cheerful, always at the center of the group.
I’d tag along with him everywhere.
We had three other childhood friends too—five of us in all.
Two moved away during elementary school, but those days playing together are still precious to me.
So surely, Maa-kun would remember me too.
With that hope in my chest, I waited for his turn to introduce himself.
To skip to the conclusion: it was indeed Maa-kun—but he seemed like a completely different person.
Not only was his old brightness gone, but he radiated a dark, “don’t talk to me” aura.
Yet his appearance hadn’t changed much from my memories.
I was sure it was him. I thought, “If I speak to him, he’ll remember me,” and headed for his desk right after homeroom ended.
But he was already gone.
It sounds like a lie, but it was as if he’d turned invisible—he was nowhere to be seen.
Then I got a message from my mom saying “We’re heading home,” so I decided to leave for today.
As for Maa-kun… well, “We’re in the same class now; I’ll have plenty of chances to talk later.” I gave up for the day.
Now, I was heading home with my parents and Hiyori “Hii-chan” Mizusaki—my only junior high classmate who also knew Maa-kun—and her family.
Since she’d been part of our group of friends too, I decided to ask her.
“Hey, Hii-chan, do you remember Masato Inbosei?”
“Of course I do.”
“Actually… I think he’s in my class now.”
At that, she stopped in her tracks with a surprised “Eh?”
Even usually-unreadable Hii-chan looked shocked.
Right? Anyone would be shaken.
Feeling that my own reaction earlier wasn’t so strange, I continued.
“But, like… his vibe? It’s totally different. I couldn’t bring myself to talk to him… and before I could, he disappeared.
So tomorrow, could you come with me…? Please?”
“Sure. After school?”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking! Yay!! Thanks, Hii-chan!”
As we talked, we reached the alley near the place where we usually part ways.
I said, “See you tomorrow!” to Hii-chan and gave a quick bow to her parents.
Then, as I turned toward my house—
I felt an indescribably bad air.
A sound like something crawling up out of a swamp echoed through the residential street.
Looking around, I saw, in the alley across from my house, a black stain on the ground.
From it, black mud-doll-like things began pouring out.
Frightened, I tried to back away and fell onto my rear.
My parents and Hii-chan’s family rushed over to me.
With their help I stood up, and we all started backing away from the mud dolls.
Noticing us, the mud dolls began to approach.
They weren’t fast, but they were definitely coming closer.
And behind them, even more mud dolls were rising out of the ground.
We backed away slowly, trying to escape.
But the mud dolls kept closing the distance at the same pace.
Should we run? Or keep maintaining this distance?
Just as I was thinking that, a light shot out from deep in the alley.
Like it had eyes, the light struck the mud dolls closest to us.
Those it hit crumbled and vanished.
Looking toward where the light had come from,
I saw a humanoid figure clad head-to-toe in black armor step out of the alley.
The mud dolls turned as one and charged at the armored person.
The armored person, moving like they were used to this, punched and kicked the mud dolls, destroying them.
In the blink of an eye, while we all stood frozen in shock, the armored person had erased them all.
They looked around, then turned their gaze on us.
I couldn’t see their eyes through the armor, but somehow, it felt like our eyes met.
I opened my mouth to thank them, but before I could, they started walking.
They entered the alley where they had appeared.
I ran after them.
I knew it was dangerous—
but somehow, I was already running.
Yet when I reached the alley, the armored person was gone.
At that moment, I didn’t realize this day marked the beginning of everything.
That from here on, I’d be drawn into something,
and that none of us could imagine the ending awaiting us.
