怪獣の放出 / Kaijuu no Houshutsu / Unleashed Beasts

第２章 (Chapter 2)

The one on top was labeled "Calling". What could that mean? She grabbed the book and set it on top of the desk, and looked through the other books. None of the others were labeled. They all contained other scholarly things like medical research and archaeology.

She set aside the other books and picked up the Calling book. She went to open it, but found that it was oddly difficult to open, as though the pages were strongly stuck together. No, not just stuck together. It was as if a force was simultaneously trying to close the book as she was trying to open it, with just the same amount of force she was putting into opening the stubborn book.

Kirai then decided to give up trying to open the book, and she was more curious than ever as to what was inside. After failing to open that book, she looked in the other drawers to find anything else of interest. She didn't find anything other than more research papers until she got to the bottom drawer, where an old key was found. 

Looking closer, Kirai could tell that the key used to be a vibrant and brilliant golden color, but time has had its effect on it, and it is now rusty and largely colorless. Examining it even more, she could tell that the rust had not affected the very edge, where the key would insert into a lock, so it seems that whatever the key goes to, it would still work.

She grabbed the key and the Calling notebook, heading back to her bedroom. She put the materials on the desk next to her bed, and, after a few minutes of looking out the window at the cold and lifeless night sky, she fell asleep.

- - -

Come, lifeless one. 

Come, the one who feels no regret. 

You have no fear, no emotion. 

Come to me... And do my bidding...

It is all that is left for you, human...

- - -

When Kirai woke up, the dim light of the sun was coming through the curtain-covered window. Something was off. She felt her arms and face, and there was sweat. Why is she sweaty? Did it get too hot?

Whatever it was, she shrugged it off completely and got out of bed. She changed into her working clothes and walked to Shinpi Village to help some of the people with their jobs. 

The first group she went to help actually turned out to be her cousins' family, Sakamoto and Nyoko, and their parents, Arata and Ayama Kako. Despite Itsuki's request to Daiki to attempt to train his children to be as emotionless as possible, it reversed entirely with Kirai's aunt, Amaya, and she became rather extroverted and lively, along with the rest of her family. 

The family happily welcomed Kirai to their residence, and they even treated her to asa gohan, which she decided to eat after some insistence. After finishing that breakfast, she went with the family to help with their gardening for a while. When the family was done for the day, they wished her farewell, and she moved on to the next task.

After getting done at the Arata household, she went to the library to read for a while. She read about Western culture, and some history of it too. Over time, she learned about the birth of America from British colonists, and of the Revolution for Independence against the British motherland. But she only read of it to pass the time.

She left the library and helped a few others around the village before the evening when the sun would set. By record, not one person can recall Kirai ever having spoken a single uttering out of all the years she has been around helping these people. She has never said a word, nor opened her mouth but to breathe or to eat, many of the people recall.