Arachnophobia

Make steady strokes left and right as you gradually lower it. Periodically lift your heel and tap its handle against the sole of your sandal.

As I dust, the movement of the brush's black feathers holds me in a nigh inescapable trance. In spite of the task's monotony, thoughts elude me entirely. I've no clue as to how long I've been tidying up this old heap of wood being passed off as an orphanage.

My eyelids grow heavy as the down performs a simple yet mesmerizing waltz, one that steadily lulls me to sleep. My hand slowly opens as I loosen my grasp on the duster's handle. Just a little nap shouldn't make too much of a difference, right...?

...is my excuse before the glinting of many pale strands catch my eye. I inhale sharply and grind my teeth together as I reluctantly lower my gaze.

Dancing atop the web of silken threads is a creature slightly larger than a one yen coin. A creature as dark as the night of a new moon. An abhorrent, six-legged creature with a repulsive, oversized abdomen.

"Eegh!" I grunt out, scarcely muffling a shrill shriek. Thoughts now race through my formerly absent mind. About how my intense fear of spiders has always been inexplicable to others. About how at least the younger girls can understand. About—

Just kill it already. A voice resounds in my head. Is this seriously going to take all day?

Easy for you to say, Jirou, you're a boy. You probably catch them just to scare me so that you can repeat the same phrases every time I happen to see one.

Shutting my eyes, I breathe deeply through my nose before letting out a sigh. It's no wonder your parents dropped you off here. You would be a completely useless second son. Recalling my words back then, my lips curve into a somewhat proud smile.

My eyes dart open, brows furrowed and lips pursed in a resolute manner. I slip off one of my sandals and raise it above my head. My hand quivers from how tight my grip is. I glance at the spider once more, and I swear it's glaring back at me with its many eyes.

But everything ends as I, with the might of a pounding waterfall, bring my shoe down upon the monster.

The spider is immediately flattened by the sole, and the web it had rested upon is broken in an instant. Once my sandal comes into contact with the floor, a dull but nonetheless booming thud reverberates throughout the room. I steady my breaths, and with a slight scoff, I use the floor to wipe off the now mangled creature. I barely have enough time to clean the remains of the web before a woman's voice calls out to me.

"Ozaki, get over here!"

I hastily slip my sandal back on and rush to the kitchen, the source of the voice. Once the figure of the relatively old woman comes into view, I halt and bow my head. "What is it, Mrs. Maruhima?"

This woman, Maruhima Sakumi, is the owner of this ragtag orphanage but far from its custodian. She takes and one of my hands that were pressed to my sides and lifts it up, setting a dirty burlap satchel in my palm. When I open it, I see a small cluster of coins and banknotes. I tear my gaze back to Mrs. Maruhima once she speaks.

"We're short on food, and Ayaka isn't feeling well today. Go to the market in her place," she says before she begins to dictate to me a wide set of ingredients: pork, rice, wheat, daikon radish... I record all of it in my mind, nodding for each item that she lists off.

Once Mrs. Maruhima pauses, my eyes flicker to the pouch of money again. "This looks like a bit much, even for everything we need," I think aloud, regarding how she has always given me the precise amount required, no more, no less.