yumeheadphone | [Translation] Aragami Oga's Horror Story Reading Week

⬅TO CHP2

PART 3-1

CW: Disfigured body, blood

[32:05]

The moment I heard Shun's scream,

I was already away from the shrine.

Sensing a bad premonition, I decided to head back toward the main shrine.

I would be lying if I said I'm not afraid,

And I have indeed forsaken Shun-kun but that's a completely different thing altogether.

"Shun-kun!"

I yelled his name as soon as I arrived at the top of the stairs, however...

Not a single reply can be heard.

And the reason for that is something I immediately discovered.

Simply because Shun-kun is in a condition where he's no longer able to talk anymore.

"...!! Ahh!"

There, I unintentionally let out a frantic scream.

Despite Shun-kun's body facing down, for some reason, his head was clearly facing towards the sky.

"H-His neck..."

Something beyond normal comprehension seemed to have happened here.

Yeah, it's simply abnormal.

"So this is... The curse–"

I began to remember what I previously said to Shun-kun.

'When you're about to curse someone, consider the fact that it might backfire on you too eventually.'

"A– Anyway, I gotta keep calm for now!

Right, I have to call an ambulance"

I realized my hands were shaking hard even when I'm trying to grab my phone.

'If possible I'd like to leave this place as soon as I could.'

Because I might be the next target of this curse after all.

After pressing the emergency hotline,

I quickly pressed my phone against my ear.

"Hello, this is the emergency hotline of the fire dept.

Is there a fire nearby?

Or do you need an ambulance?"

"A-Ambulance, please"

"Could you tell us your location right now?"

"Ahh, umm... This place..."

I answered the question by saying the name of this shrine,

However, for some reason, the person on the call became silent all of a sudden.

I thought they just simply misheard it so I tried repeating the name of the shrine to them once again.

"I'm sorry, but I wasn't able to hear it clearly due to the noises around there"

I couldn't comprehend what they just said.

After all, there's only me in this area right now.

"I think it was the voice of a young male, perhaps your friend?"

"A male voice...?"

Cold sweat ran all over me.

I want to get away from here as soon as possible.

"A-Ahh, umm... I-I'll call again later!"

I immediately hang up the call and put my phone back in my pocket.

Not good.

I can't stay here any longer.

If I keep loitering around this shrine, I'll definitely get killed.

For now, I should get away as far as possible, and then I'll call the emergency line again.

It was right after I began heading toward the stairs...

I started sensing a human presence just right beside me.

"U-Uwaahh!!"

A bloodied Akito-kun was looking down and standing right beside me.

The blood that flows down from his head was dripping right to the ground.

"...Ah–, Akito...-kun?"

I could no longer able to comprehend what happened anymore,

Even my breathing was all over the place.

Surely what I'm seeing now was merely an illusion.

It was shown to me because I was trying to leave this place.

That's definitely the case.

I'm sure of it, there's no other explanation.

I kept telling those words, trying to convince myself like repeated chants.

Akito then turned his head towards me.

"He...p...m..."

"A-Akito-kun...?"

Blood continues to spill out every time he tried to speak,

I was unable to decipher what he was trying to say.

I became afraid of seeing his current state, so I could only remain silent.

Not being able to help a dear friend even though they're suffering this much,

No that's not it.

Seeing Akito who's supposed to die already just standing right here is simply weird.

That's why I'm afraid of 'him'.

"Ry...t...

He...lp m...e..."

'Ryouta, help me'

This time I clearly heard his voice well.

Though I tried to reach my hand out to him, my fear still triumph over me that I'm unable to move my body even for an inch.

"Help me...

It hurts... It hurts..."

"A-Akito-kun..."

It already took everything in me to call out his name.

But immediately after that, Akito's figure dissipated into thin air like it was a cloud of smoke.

With a painfully sad expression too, if I may add.

"Ah... Hah..."

When I came back to my sense,

I was immediately standing in front of the shrine's entrance.

It could be that I have unknowingly taken the stairs down before I realized it.

There are just too many things happened today that I thought whether I may be just having one bad dream or something.

"...! Right, I need to make a call"

Trying to give the emergency hotline another call, I proceed to grab my phone again.

That aside...,

I somehow felt like someone has been watching me for a while.

I wonder why...?

I'm not sure 'where' exactly this presence might be,

But I can feel their gaze, it was almost patronizing...

PART 3-2

[32:42]

Soon as I arrived at my home after that incident,

I became unable to sleep.

Because I was the first person who discovered Shun-kun's body,

I have to stay for a bit until the authorities come.

Though the ambulance came rather fast,

I could only stare in silence as they carried his body to the stretcher.

Unnatural death at the shrine at midnight.

That's what I heard from the paramedic that arrived as the rest of the crew could only shake their head in disbelief.

I wouldn't blame them.

But still, Shun-kun is the perpetrator behind Akito-kun's death.

To think he could simply kill a dear friend because of such selfish feelings...

I didn't know he was capable of doing it at first.

Now then, it's true that he may have been struck with that curse

But what will happen to me now?

Akito-kun and the rest were killed due to the curse.

With such unique circumstances, It'll be hard to talk about it to the people around me.

Moreover, even if I do end up talking no one would believe such things easily.

Pretty sure I'll get laughed at instead.

And to add more, I'm not even sure what will happen to me next.

"Am I going to die too...?"

I couldn't imagine a future where I would get killed.

That's why I could at least take solace from it, however...

It doesn't erase the fact that it might happen eventually.

I was pondering about this matter when suddenly–,

My shoulder feels like it's being poked lightly from the back.

"–!? GWAH!!"

"Huh...? Are you really that surprised?"

The one behind me turned out to be one of my high school classmates, Sougo-kun.

We never met each other again since we graduated, so it really has been a while since our last meeting.

"I saw you walking around here so I'd thought I give you a holler..."

"Well geez, that's one way to surprise me"

"That aside, you sure looked horrible… Something the matter?"

"...I couldn't sleep last night"

"We all have those kinda times, right?

Now that I recall, the news about those two who attended the same college as you do reach my place actually–"

"'Course I know already,

The first one who discovered Shun-kun's body at the shrine was me after all"

After I said that,

Sougo-kun looked rather surprised.

"Is that for real!?

Wait, is that why you can't sleep? Is it because of the shock–"

"Yeah,

Ah let me clarify a thing though, I have no idea what happened there"

"Of course, I know that!

It's not like I'm doubting you man"

"That's fine with me then..."

"When you said 'that' shrine,

Was it the one who was said to be connected with the otherworld and has various legends attached to it?

There's definitely 'something' going on there..."

Hearing his remark, I could only tremble in fear.

Although Sougo-kun appears to be giggling now, there might be a connection between those stories.

Could it be the evil spirit started coming there because we did the opposite hand-clap?

But we shouldn't make baseless assumptions.

Shun-kun is responsible for this whole incident,

Akito-kun was merely a victim here.

And perhaps myself–, who just happened to be there... Will eventually be killed too...

The thoughts made me anxious the more I think about it.

Even so, I couldn't help but notice how people around me started talking discreetly.

What's up with that...?

"Huh..., Sougo-kun?"

The moment I realized it,

Sougo-kun tilted his neck and stared at something.

"Hmm... What's up with that person I wonder?"

"H-Huh, what's the matter?"

"Nah– but, she's been standing still and staring at us you see...

That girl over there I mean

Scratch that, is that even a 'living' person?"

When Sougo-kun said that out of a sudden,

I thought it would be too distasteful for a joke but I couldn't even turn my back on out of fear.

"H-Hey, cut it out with those stuff man..."

"I'm not joking around,

I could see 'those' kinds of things after all"

With his hand pressing against his lips,

Sougo-kun tries to confirm what he's seeing now albeit he felt disgusted.

"Uhh, there's something I'd like to ask but...

Is that alright with you?"

"Eh...?"

"We can't talk here though,

let's move somewhere else"

"W-Wait up, Sougo-kun!"

The place we were heading to turned out to be the very shrine itself.

This area really gives a different atmosphere when you visit it in the daytime.

And it might be because of the discovery the other day,

There seem to be a lot of people nearby.

Even though it was never been this crowded before,

Why now? After all this time...

"H-Hey, did you decide to come here to check out the place where Shun-kun died just like everyone else?

Is that what you mean by wanting to make sure of something?"

"Huh? What are you on about, do I really look like someone who would do that?"

Sougo-kun immediately denied my thoughts as he fixated on his gaze.

I probably said too much there.

"S-Sorry! But then, why are we here?"

"I can answer that once we reached the main shrine,

But I guess I can show it to you first before then"

After saying that, Sougo-kun pointed at something behind me with a serious look.

"Behind you, look carefully"

I slowly turned myself back.

The one standing here is none other than Shizuku-san who's supposed to have died a year ago.

"I-Is that...?"

"She's been following you around because of the death curse placed on you"

"S-Shizuku-san cursed me!? But why??"

"Seriously what's wrong with you, Ryouta?

The one over there is..."

In the midst of confusion,

I became unable to utter any more words.

And as Sougo-kun held my hands, we both are heading toward the main shrine.

Although...

I get the feeling that people around us have been staring at and talking about us sneakily.

I was actually curious about it, but I don't even have the strength to ask them anymore.

"Anyway we should hurry now, Ryouta"

As we walked, Sougo-kun continues to talk.

"Before you get yourself killed by this curse, we better act fast."

PART 3-3

CW: mention of blood and disfigured body

[29:36]

The entrance to the main shrine carried a different aura as there was no one in sight.

The only noises I occasionally heard are wind noises, crackling tree branches, and cicada's cries.

That alone is enough to craft an eerie atmosphere.

There, I explain everything I know of to Sougo.

About Akito-kun, as well as Shun-kun and Shizuku-kun.

I told him right from the start to where we are now.

"I see, I'm starting to get the whole picture here

But I gotta applaud you for telling me all these"

"I probably won't tell anyone else but you anyway,

Nobody will believe such stories"

"Yeah, you bet.

Thanks to that though, I finally understood some stuff"

"Sougo-kun, about what you said earlier..."

Before he gave me his answer, Sougo-kun took a good look at his surroundings and let out a deep breath.

"As this is essentially a chamber of (departed)souls, there's a chance that this place is connected to the otherworld.

So don't be surprised with what you're going to see soon okay, Ryouta?"

It was right after he said that.

With the surroundings immediately changed to night scenery,

The sounds I'd been hearing a while ago quickly dissipated like it was never there to begin with.

As my breathing gets heavier as we go,

The only thing I could hear left are the giggling noises coming in front of Sougo-kun.

"W-What is... This...? Why is it suddenly night?"

"Ahahah... And here we thought summer would have a longer afternoon"

It's not about that,

This is definitely weird.

Both the situation and Sougo-kun himself.

"The opposite hand-clap is a ritual to connect the real world with the otherworld.

The evil spirit that emerged from it was the one who has been casting curses on you guys"

I couldn't comprehend what Sougo-kun was talking about,

Nevertheless, I need to keep up with the situation.

"You call that evil spirit Shizuku... Is that right?

Seeing how you guys latched onto the curse easily,

That evil spirit simply borrowed her appearance you see

This, Shizuku person is someone connected to you guys right?"

"Y-You're right..."

"Thought so,

I could only see them as a wicked rotten-flesh demon though"

I still couldn't make out what he was saying,

But strangely enough, it made me feel relieved.

Whenever I'm talking with Sougo-kun, I somehow felt safe.

"H-Hey wait just a moment Sougo-kun,

So what do you want to say really?"

It was right at that moment,

When Sougo-kun opened his eyes fiercely as he rushes to my side immediately and threw away a right hand.

I instinctively close my eyes, but that hand wasn't mine,

It was someone else's who has been by my side out of a sudden, ready to grab my neck off.

"This is the culprit who has been killing your friends left and right"

The one standing beside me is a 'creature' that resembles Shizuku-san.

Its bones are almost torn apart, blood were all over,

Complete with its mouth widening as if it's smiling.

"U-Uwaaahhh!!"

"Calm down now,

I'll take them back 'home' after this"

"Eh...? Take them back...?"

I did hear those words from Sougo-kun.

"Take them back... To where exactly?"

"Well duh', obviously 'that' world"

"W-Wait just a minute, I still don't understand what's happening now!"

"I guess it's to be expected,

But sadly we're running out of time"

While still holding the evil spirit's neck, he quickly left.

After the figure slowly disappears, I start noticing one thing.

"You won't be hunted down by these spirits no more,

So go on– enjoy your life to the fullest, okay?"

"S-Sougo-kun...?"

I came to understand something.

As to why the people around us were whispering discreetly,

Surely to others, Sougo-kun is nowhere within their sight.

"So... You're no longer alive...?"

Without answering my question,

Sougo-kun simply fades away along with the evil spirit like smoke.

Though he may be smiling, it was rather... Sorrowful.

Before I realized it,

I have been standing in front of the torii.

With the fear I had earlier quickly gone,

I feel rather energized.

I was saved by Sougo-kun.

That was the only thing left in me that I could confirm.

2 weeks have passed since then.

From rummaging through several pieces of info,

I found out that Sougo-kun had died a year ago due to a chronic disease.

In the end, I kept thinking about why he decided to save me–

But I couldn't come up with a possible answer.

"Hey... Why did you save me back then?

Oh well, would've been nice if I could give you a call though"

After giggling because of my own words,

I began sprinkling some water on Sougo-kun's tombstone.

It was right after that–,

The vase placed on Sougo-kun's grave fell over on its own.

"...Is this?"

I remember seeing this vase before.

It was the vase I picked up at the shrine when I met Akito and Shun.

"..., To think I was saved because of that–

But thank you, Sougo-kun"

[Translation] Aragami Oga's Horror Story Reading Week - Chapter 3