〜Spirited Away on the White Autumn Equinox〜
~Autumn Equinox~
Under the moonlight, the crimson spider lilies swayed in the wind, and the sound of crickets filled the dry air... such was the night on Azumi Island. In a small hut deep in the mountains, far from the village, a noisy scene was unfolding, completely out of place in the tranquil autumn night.
Touka was forcibly stripped off her clothes and pushed down.
“W-wait...! It’s not the right time for this while they’re out searching us...”
Flustered and blushing, just as she tried to protest, her neck was suddenly choked tightly.
“To... Tou...”
“I’m truly sorry. I don’t have the time or the certainty to explain… but I’m so glad we met again…”
Her consciousness melted away into the dark night.
~Welcome from the Island~
Time rewinds… about half a year ago, on a morning at a small school on a remote island far from the main island of Honshu, a transfer student arrived.
“I’m Touka Aoi from Tokyo! I’m so moved by the beauty of Azumi Island and the freshness of the air… Let’s all get along!”
Touka, a cute girl who had moved to the school’s dormitory alone, was greeted with smiles by her classmates.
At the suggestion of the class president, Yuito, a welcome party was arranged at his house. Touka’s anxiety about moving alone, as instructed by her mother, quickly dissipated, and the crimson spider lilies swaying throughout the island seemed to welcome her as well.
When they arrived in front of Yuito’s house, Touka was stunned. His house was a magnificent shrine with a grand torii gate.
“Yuito-kun, your house is amazing... Oh! The place where I’m supposed to help out is…?”
“Haha, sorry for surprising you. Yes, my family’s shrine has been around for hundreds of years. My father and your mother know each other, and that’s how you ended up here.”
In the spacious tatami room, local fish, wild vegetables, and regional delicacies were served, and Touka enjoyed the food and conversation, her cheeks relaxing. At that moment, Yuito handed her a cup of sacred sake as a sign of welcome.
“Eh… is this alcohol...?”
She smiled nervously, and Yuito, with a slightly insistent tone, replied.
“It’s a local custom. It’s only a small amount, so you’ll accept it, right?”
Pushed by his and the classmate’s smiles, Touka decided to gulp it down. Not having much tolerance for alcohol, her face turned red, and her classmates applauded, welcoming her once again.
Dazed from the food and alcohol, Touka suddenly recalled a rumor her mother had once told her.
“By the way, I heard that every few years, teenagers go missing on this island. It’s kind of scary, right...? Eh?”
She noticed that everyone was staring at her with wide eyes, their faces expressionless, and a chill ran down her spine. Just then, a hand touched her shoulder.
“Ahhhhhh!”
She screamed, and behind her, a man dressed as a priest gently smiled.
“It’s almost 10 p.m., so it’s about time we wrap things up.”
Her classmates laughed heartily at her shock and tried to comfort her. Touka squinted and laughed along, but the strange looks she had received earlier lingered in her mind.
~A vague encounter~
The Next Morning, Touka sprang out of bed, her upper body throwing the blanket off with force. Her body was drenched in cold sweat, and the headache was so intense that she couldn’t remember how she had ended up on the mattress the previous night. It was the worst morning ever.
As the morning sunlight streamed in through the screen door, she heard a voice from the other side.
“Are you okay? You drank the sacred sake, didn’t you?”
It was a boy dressed as a priest.
“Yuito-kun...!? Ugh... yeah, it was my first time drinking... It hurts...”
“You don’t have to force yourself to talk about it. I’m Touya, Yuito’s older brother.”
Touya, a male priest connected to the shrine, began explaining various things about the island to her.
“Thank you for everything, Touya-san... I’m so glad the school’s dorm is right next to the shrine. If it was farther, I might’ve fallen asleep by the roadside...”
Touya smiled gently at her, but his expression gradually became wistful.
“We’ve met again...”
“Eh...?”
At that moment, footsteps approached her room.
“Listen, okay? You must never, ever tell anyone else that you met me… see you.”
As he quickly disappeared, a man entered her room.
“Good morning, Touka-san. Did you sleep well?”
The man who spoke was the shrine priest, Yuito and Touya’s father, who had touched her shoulder the previous night.
Touka’s head was still throbbing as she was taught the tasks of a shrine maiden by the priest.
“By the way, didn’t you speak to someone this morning?”
The priest suddenly asked, causing Touka to panic and drop a protective charm she had been holding.
“Ah! E-excuse me... this charm is from this place, right? Uhm... I must have been half-asleep this morning, so I thought I was just talking to myself...”
She absentmindedly recalled Touya’s face, quietly following his instructions.
“I see. In this place, people often experience strange phenomena... so if anything happens, please feel free to talk to me.”
The priest’s narrowed eyes didn’t seem to be smiling.
“Does that mean...”
She gulped nervously, her voice trembling.
“...Do you mean... phenomena of ghost?”
At the priest’s serious expression, she couldn’t help but let out a small scream.
“Hahaha! I’m sorry for scaring you. Don’t worry; very few people experience anything like that.”
“Very few...?” she chuckled uneasily.
Desperately rubbing her hands together, Touka prayed to the shrine, hoping she wouldn’t be affected by any supernatural occurrences.
~Mysterious Ritual~
Around three months had passed, and Touka had completely settled into island life. She had developed close bonds with her classmates, but today, she was slumped over her desk, looking rather gloomy.
Today was the “Purification” day, which came four times a month. This ritual, held every Friday afternoon, was something she dreaded. After drinking sacred sake, she would be surrounded by priests for over two hours, subjected to purification chants, only to wake up drenched in sweat the next morning. It was a cycle that left her feeling dejected.
“Today’s the ‘Purification’ again, right? Hang in there, Touka,”
Yuito’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
“Yuito-kun... that ritual is so exhausting. Could you ask your father to shorten it?”
She asked, hopeful, but Yuito’s face grew suddenly stern as he leaned in closer.
“What?”
Touka jumped out of her seat in shock.
“I-I was just joking! Sorry, sorry...!”
Flustered, she waved her hands in apology. Yuito placed his hand gently on her head, laughing.
“I was joking too. Just make sure to take ‘Purification’ seriously, okay?”
He smiled warmly, easing her nerves.
The shrine on the island worshipped a god called Toumyou-shin (the Transparent God). It was said that during the Edo period, one of Yuito’s ancestors had reached a state where they could become invisible after rigorous training and devotion to the god, teaching others while remaining unseen. This person was revered, and the belief in the shrine was born from this.
The “Purification” ceremony seemed to be a necessary ritual for Touka as a shrine maiden, since she had come from outside the island.
“Kakemakumo, ayani kasikoshi Toumyou no kami ni somuku wa...”
As the purification chants echoed in the room, Touka’s brain, clouded by the sacred sake, thought:
“A human becoming invisible… that is ridiculous...”
Though she felt a sense of doubt, her consciousness faded, and the chant consumed her thoughts.
As usual, Touka woke up drenched in sweat.
"Touka, are you okay? You were tossing and turning even more than usual last night..."
Touka, who was now quite close with Touya, deliberately hung her head and joked,
"I'm fine... but I'm not really getting used to it."
She had grown quite comfortable with Touya and had developed a special sense of reassurance when she was around him. His personality was as gentle as sunlight, and he listened to her private stories with great care.
"You've been here for three months now, huh? Thanks to you, Saturdays have been fun every week. But, I'm really worried about your health..."
Touka, honestly, shared her concerns with him.
"Every time we do the 'Purification,' my health just keeps getting worse, and I always have these horrible nightmares... like I'm strapped to an operating table, hooked up to machines..."
Touya’s expression became serious, and he grabbed her arm, pulling her closer.
"Sorry, but... let me see your arm for a moment."
His handsome face came dangerously close to hers, causing her heart to race.
"This might not help much, but let me wrap this for you. I've prayed over it."
As he gently wrapped bandages around her arm, which was dotted with small bruises, Touka blushed and muttered,
"Thank you... but, um, I just woke up all sweaty, so... do I smell? I feel so embarrassed..."
Realizing her embarrassment, Touya flushed and immediately let go of her arm.
"Ah... sorry! I didn't mean to overstep, haha..."
She couldn’t help but smile at his innocent side, different from a gentle man side as always, and after that casually checked if she smelled.
~The beginning of Spirited away~
Six months had passed since Touka arrived on the island. Despite her chronic health problems caused by ‘Purification’, she entered her classroom as usual, cheerfully greeting her classmates. To her confusion, no one seemed to acknowledge her presence.
"Huh? Good morning, everyone! ...Wait, what?"
Her desk was gone. A cold sweat broke out all over her body. No matter how much she called out to her classmates, they ignored her completely. Even the teacher, who usually greeted everyone, was entirely unresponsive. It was then that she realized this was no ordinary situation.
"Y-Yuito-kun, what’s going on?"
She rushed to Yuito as he began walking to another classroom, blocking his path. She bumped into his shoulder and stumbled to the floor in a panic. Despair overwhelmed her as she whispered,
"Touya... san..."
Yuito paused for a moment keeping his back to her. She could sense a hint of confusion in his posture, but he quickly recovered and continued walking without a word.
Touka ran out of the school, frantically searching for answers. To her shock, every person she passed—whether it was the man she greeted every morning, the kind grocery store clerk, or even the police officer at the local station—ignored her completely as if she didn’t exist.
She tried to contact her mother and friends in Tokyo, but the entire island was out of range for communication, disconnected from the outside world.
Terrified, she made her way toward the shrine. As she walked through the shrine grounds, everyone there treated her as though she were invisible. She cried, walking aimlessly, feeling utterly lost.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness and nausea overwhelmed her, and she dropped to her knees. It was then that she noticed something strange—a voice echoing in her head, as if she were hearing a conversation from far away.
"...It’s finally the Equinox. Everything’s in place, right?"
"Yes, no worries. There will be no interruptions from the mainland."
"Still, it’s a tragic situation for the girl. To get closer to the god, she must be sacrificed. Even though it ended in failure, we gained valuable data from her."
"Indeed. It seems we might succeed next time. It’s unfortunate for her, but she’ll have to serve as the foundation."
The moment she realized one of the voices belonged to the head priest, she gagged and nearly collapsed. Her consciousness flickered, and as she struggled to stay upright, someone grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet. But when she looked around, no one was there.
In the panic and disarray, she heard a voice whispering in her ear,
"Don’t worry, Touka. Next, I’ll be the one to save you."
"Ah... is that you, Touya?"
Strangely, it seemed that she was being guided by an invisible hand, running through the air. She couldn’t see anyone in front of her, but she could distinctly feel the warmth of a hand, as if someone was holding her and leading her forward. Despite the haze clouding her thoughts, the warmth of that unseen hand brought her a sense of peace.
~Salvation and the Truth~
When Touka finally regained consciousness, she found herself inside an old hut.
"Touka...! Thank goodness you woke up... How are you feeling?"
It was Touya, smiling gently beside her.
"T-Touya-saaaaaan...!"
She threw herself into his arms, crying uncontrollably.
"I don’t understand! I was so scared... I thought I had disappeared... I just wanted to see you... I wanted to see you so much..."
Touya gently stroked her head, comforting her.
"It’s okay now. I’m sorry I was late to save you."
After a while, as she calmed down, she suddenly snapped back to reality and jumped away from him.
"S-Sorry... I might have gotten snot on you..."
Her face turned bright red as she apologized, but just then, her stomach let out a loud, rumbling growl. Seeing her face turn as red as a hot iron, Touya burst out laughing. She couldn’t help but join in, laughing at the situation.
After feeding the famished Touka, who had slept for over half a day, Touya began to explain the truth about Azumi Island. The ancestors who had reached the state of invisibility, which led to the creation of the Shrine, had paid a heavy price for drawing too close to the gods. As a condition for continuing the pursuit of invisibility, they were required to offer a sacrifice to the gods. From this, the following customs were born:
-Every two years, one young person, aged 15, who carries the blood of the islanders, is chosen, and a ritual called "Purification" is performed to render their body invisible.
-From the spring equinox to the autumn equinox, the "Purification" is conducted every Friday for six months. If it fails, the person is deemed not chosen by the gods and is considered a sacrifice.
-During the seven days of the autumn equinox, the islanders conduct a ritual called "Kamikakushi" (hidden by the gods), in which they completely ignore the sacrifice, pretending they never existed.
-On the final day of the equinox, the islanders perform a ritual called "Zessei" (to kill in totality), where they throw stones at the sacrifice until they die, blaming them for all the sins caused by the pursuit of invisibility.
Touka was deeply shocked by these horrifying customs and by the fact that she was the one chosen to be the next sacrifice.
"I see... I have the blood of the island in me, so... Mom must be so worried..."
She muttered, her gaze distant.
Because the island's population was small, the practice of deliberately having children outside the island and then sending them back to the island when they reached the age for the ritual was adopted in order to ensure the future prosperity of the island. These children were sent through a hidden route without leaving any trace, and were considered missing persons in the main island of Honshu, ensuring that their fate on the island could never be traced back to anyone. Touka’s mother had knowingly sent her to the island, aware that her daughter would be chosen for the ritual. Though Touka likely had an inkling, she pretended not to realize it. Touya furrowed his brow and softly murmured,
"Yeah... that's right..."
He gently patted her back.
Touya continued with his explanation. His father, along with others, had been conducting experiments on invisibility through both religious and scientific means, and there was a research facility beneath the shrine. If a sacrifice were to succeed in becoming invisible, they would be secretly eliminated, and the head priest would use the data from these experiments to make himself invisible, all while intending to secure his own safety. He was a man who used these customs for his own twisted ambition to get closer to the gods. After he finished explaining, Touka shuddered as she whispered,
"This is... terrible... So, the children who were sacrificed before, and me... it was all inevitable..."
"Yeah... I’m the only one on Azumi Island who opposes this custom. For various reasons, I’ve been considered missing for years and have been hiding in the shadows alone. During the 'Kamikakushi' period, the sacrifices are monitored by cameras placed around the island, but since the islanders must ignore their existence, there’s always a gap in their surveillance. This was the only time I could save you... I’m really sorry I couldn’t do it sooner."
Touya apologized, and Touka, shaking, took his hand and expressed her gratitude.
"Thank you... But what are we going to do from here on out?"
"I’ve been gathering evidence to expose my father’s crimes for the past few years. Actually, I’ve been in contact with the police on Honshu. I’ll put an end to this rotten custom and awaken everyone. They’re all good people at heart, and I believe if the truth is revealed, they can overcome the past. So, it’s going to be okay. As long as you stay hidden here until everything is over, you’ll be safe."
He squeezed her hand back firmly.
"If there’s anything I can do to help, just tell me. I want to be... your helper, Touya-san."
When Touka looked at him with a determined gaze, he smiled softly and narrowed his eyes.
~A Brief Moment of Peace~
For the next few days, time seemed to flow in peaceful tranquility, as if everything that had happened before was just a dream. Touya, except when he was gathering supplies or scouting, spent his time in the cabin with Touka, making sure not to make her anxious.
They often laughed during their casual conversations, recalling how Touka once suspected him of being a ghost, how she had murmured his name in her sleep, and the shared love for certain manga and food.
On the day of the autumn equinox, Touka's birthday, Touya returned after saying he was going out to gather supplies.
"Welcome back, Touya-kun."
Touka noticed that he was hiding something behind his back.
"Hey, Touka. I'm back... and... happy birthday."
Touya awkwardly handed her a bouquet of white spider lilies. The moment Touka saw the flowers, tears began to overflow from her eyes, and she couldn't stop them.
"S-Sorry! Did you... not like flowers?"
Flustered, Touya started apologizing, but Touka smiled and gently took the bouquet.
"Thank you... I know these flowers. They were always in my room at home, in a pressed flower frame. Whenever I looked at it, no matter how tough things were, they always made me feel better. I never imagined you would give them to me... I’m so happy."
Touya looked a little surprised, but then smiled softly at her. Touka could have sworn she saw his eyes glisten with a faint mist.
"Thank you, really. But... how did you know today was my birthday?"
Touka asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Touya hesitated for a moment before answering.
"...I overheard it while scouting my father’s movements. The autumn equinox is an easy day to remember, after all."
They stared at each other for a while, and slowly, their faces drew closer. They were just moments away from kissing when, suddenly, an alarming siren blared, covering the entire island.
[Attention, all islanders. Emergency situation. Please gather at the Shrine immediately. I repeat...]
The announcement snapped them back to reality.
"Sorry, Touka... I think my father has completely lost track of me and is now organizing a full search for you. I need to go check on things."
As he said, Touka quickly tried to reassure him.
"It's fine, don't worry. If anyone comes, I'll take care of them!"
She awkwardly pointed to the kitchen knife, forcing a smile.
"I’ll be back as soon as I can. Don’t go outside, okay?"
"I’ll stay here and wait. Please be careful, Touya-kun."
She said as she saw him off, but then, just before he walked out the door, she grabbed the hem of his coat.
"Um, sorry... I just got this from you, but... could you take one flower with you?"
She gently pulled one white spider lily from the bouquet, brought it close to her forehead, closed her eyes, and then handed it to him.
"I made a wish for protecting you... I’m not the best at it, but still..."
"Thank you. That means a lot to me."
Touya smiled at her and gently patted her head before leaving the cabin.
Touka carefully arranged the bouquet and gazed at it, as if to block out her anxiety. That day, Touya never came back.
~The Uncertain Heart~
Early the next morning, Touka heard the voices of several people speaking through the trees, and she woke up with a start.
<That girl... If we don't find her by the final day of the equinox, we’ll never make it.>
<We need to find her quickly... If we anger the Transparent God, we don’t know what will happen to us...>
The voices in her head gave her a sense of dizziness and a headache, and she realized that the islanders were getting closer to her cabin. The voices grew louder as they approached the cabin, and she slowly stood up, taking a knife in hand. As she looked at the bouquet, trying to calm her trembling hands, a distant gunshot echoed.
"What’s that?! Did they find her?"
"Let's go, too!"
Hearing the islanders’ voices fade away, Touka slumped down, her body giving way, and she lost consciousness.
Touka dreamed. In her dream, a young version of herself was holding the hand of a boy and leading him away from the shrine. They walked together, and she kissed the boy’s tear-streaked cheek before saying goodbye. In her hand, she held a single white spider lily.
When she awoke, she murmured softly,
"...Touya-kun?"
At that moment, the cabin door opened hurriedly, and there stood Touya.
"Touya-kun! I’m so glad you’re okay... wait, huh?!"
As soon as he returned, Touya jumped toward her with a desperate look on his face.
"I'm sorry, Touka... there's no time..."
To her shock, he started removing her clothes.
"W-Wait... Touya-kun! Hold on... I'm not ready yet..."
Her face flushed bright red as she weakly tried to resist, but within moments, her clothes were off, and she was pinned down. At that moment, the voice of the head priest echoed in her mind.
<To think that bastard is still alive... how detestable...>
<He should be around here somewhere.>
<A barrier, huh... No wonder I couldn’t sense him.>
"Stop! Touya-kun, they’re right near us! While they’re searching for us, this isn’t the time—"
Her voice trembled as she panicked, but before she could say anything else, she felt Touya’s hands tighten around her neck.
"T-Tou...?"
"I’m so sorry, but I don’t have time to explain... I’m really glad we could meet again. Goodbye..."
Tears fell from Touya’s eyes, landing on her cheek. Perhaps this was his way of showing kindness, to send her to the other side before she could suffer any more. She interpreted it that way, stopped resisting, and, with her breath fading, gave him a weak smile.
As her consciousness faded, she was consumed by the darkness.ㅤ
~Protection of the Evil God~
〈…Did you let that girl escape?〉
〈Can’t you see the clothes scattered there? If I had to make her suffer the same fate I did… I felt sorry for her, so I sent her to the afterlife. I buried her somewhere on this mountain.〉
〈Tch, it doesn't make sense. I see... So it was you after all...〉
...
“Cough! Cough! Ha... ha... ha...”
Touka awoke, her body aching, and for a while, she couldn’t process what had happened. Slowly, her foggy vision cleared, and as she sat up, she found herself staring at something that didn’t make sense.
"Wait... my body... where is it?"
Her body should’ve been in front of her, but it wasn’t. She could still feel the usual sensations, and when she reached out, her invisible fingers brushed against the bouquet, making the flowers sway slightly. But where was her body? Confused, she noticed a crumpled piece of paper lying next to the bouquet. Unfolding it, she found it was a hastily written letter from Touya, addressed to her. The letter contained his apologies and explained the necessity of near-death experience to be invisible, as well as his last instructions. The letter detailed how to control the invisibility:
-Negative emotions would cause her body to fade, and when her emotions calmed, she would return to visibility.
-She could only make her own body invisible.
-Once hair or bodily fluids such as blood have left the body, they cannot be made invisible.
-Clothes she wearing could not be turned invisible.
The letter confirmed that Touya had been trying to protect her all along, and his act of strangulation were meant to keep her safe. At the end of the letter, he wrote:
"Honestly, I don’t know what will happen to me. Until this is all over, stay hidden. If things don’t get resolved, use your invisibility to sneak onto a boat to the main island of Honshu, and tell the police everything. I want you to live, Touka... and be happy."
Reading those words, Touka's eyes welled with tears, and the moment tears spilled from her eyelids, drops appeared and wet the letter. Her heart ached, and she made a vow to herself. She would gain control of her invisibility and be helper for Touya.
The hours that followed were some of the most grueling of her life. The pain of learning to control her power, the isolation from Touya’s absence, the despair of being treated as a sacrificial offering, and the fear of being erased from existence—all these negative emotions triggered her invisibility again and again. The side effects of the drug and the emotional strain caused her to pass out multiple times, only to awaken with a sickening sense of helplessness. But eventually, as time passed, her determination to help Touya grew stronger.
Suddenly, the shrill sound of an emergency siren pierced the air, snapping her out of her dazed state.
[Attention all islanders. The search has been called off. Please gather at the Shrine immediately. I repeat...]
Touka felt a chill run down her spine. Something was wrong. She knew she had to go to the shrine, not just to find answers, but to take action. Clutching the bouquet gently, she whispered,
"Touya-kun, next time... I’ll save you."
~The Boy’s Resolve~
At the Shrine, the entire island had gathered, and atop the scaffold stood the priest, Yuito, and in the center, Touya was bound to a log. As murmurs rippled through the crowd, the priest spoke, his voice steady and cold:
"Everyone, thank you for gathering. The person you see before you is the one who survived the "Zessei" two years ago... and yet, here he is, living without a care. This latest disturbance is all his doing. My abomination has caused so much trouble for you all..."
As the priest bowed deeply, the islanders erupted into a fury of insults and curses aimed at Touya.
"Quiet!" the priest commanded.
"This man wishes to speak to everyone. But be warned—do not take his words heavily. He may be possessed by evil spirits."
Touya had managed to negotiate with the priest for this chance to speak before the crowd, in exchange for revealing where he had hidden the evidence he had gathered over the years. His voice trembled as he began:
"It’s been a long time... and I’m here to tell you the truth."
He told the whole story while trembling. He revealed the priest’s uses rituals to control the islanders, the experiments conducted in the shrine’s underground research facility, and the priest’s true intentions—to sacrifice innocent lives for his own twisted purposes. His attempt to use the data to safely become invisible himself was also exposed.
Laughter erupted from the priest as he mocked Touya’s words.
"Ha, ha, ha! I’m sorry, everyone, but this nonsense is just too much to take seriously!"
The islanders responded with louder jeers.
"You’re a fool for believing such lies!"
"How dare you insult the priest and the Transparent God!"
"Show us your proof!"
Everyone shouted.
The priest’s confident attitude only fueled the anger of the crowd, and it seemed as if the entire situation might escalate into chaos. Then, suddenly, the speakers around the shrine began crackling, and a conversation filled the air:
[... The police are already sniffing around... If another sacrifice is made on this island, they’ll investigate for sure... Damn it, I was almost done gathering the data...]
The priest’s voice, along with the voice of his assistant, was broadcasted to the entire island. The islanders’ confusion spread like wildfire. They turned to one another in shock and disbelief. Touya, blood dripping from his nose, seized the moment to speak again:
"Everyone, this is the true nature of the priest... my father..."
As he spoke, a bundle of papers began to float up from the bushes at the side of the shrine. It hovered in midair, slowly making its way toward the center of the crowd. The papers, like a storm, burst apart in midair and rained down over everyone’s heads. The islanders stared, wide-eyed, as the photos—the damning evidence of the priest’s sins—fluttered down onto them.
While this was happening, the conversation from the speakers continued:
"The priest has been using the islanders... The ‘Kamikakushi’ and ‘Zessei’ rituals were all designed to cover up his crimes. The reason why he sacrifices children at the age of 15 is because they are physically mature enough to be used in experiments, yet mentally undeveloped, making them easier to control and manipulate."
The priest’s facade crumbled as he scrambled to descend from the scaffold and check the evidence that was now scattered before him. His confidence faltered as his dark secrets were revealed for all to see.
~The Girl’s Courage~
As Touya observed the situation, struggling to maintain his dwindling strength, he suddenly sensed a presence behind him.
“T...Touka…?”
“Touya-kun, I came to save you…”
At the whisper in his ear, Touya responded, suppressing his voice.
“Touka… I’m glad you’re safe… You succeeded… but, why… No, you need to leave here immediately, it’s okay, I’ll be fine…”
“You liar… I’m not going to let you die. I’ll loosen the ropes, just wait a little… ugh…”
Touka fought with the tight knots, struggling to loosen them. Touya murmured as he watched her.
“Ah… I had finally come to terms with dying… but if Touka’s here, I suddenly want to live… I… I can’t help it…”
Touya gazed at the bloodstains on the ground, his eyes misting over.
“Just live! We’re so close… soon the islanders will realize they’ve all been deceived… Just stay quiet… let yourself be saved… Okay! The ropes behind you are undone! Hold the cut pieces so they don’t suspect you… next is your body's knot…”
Meanwhile, the square was thrown into chaos.
“It’s a lie… the Priest… how could he…?”
“If this is true, then four years ago… what did my son die for!?”
“Terrifying! The Transparent God will be enraged!”
At that moment, the sound from the speaker cut off, and the momentary silence that followed was shattered when the Priest spoke loudly.
“Everyone, please listen carefully! Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, it’s easy to fabricate photos and sounds… I have continued to offer prayers to the Transparent God. A person like me would never do something like this! This one is possessed by an evil spirit, a vengeful god! Be careful not to be deceived by these childish words and so-called supernatural tricks! And… do not forget the history you have all built up until now…!”
With those words, the Priest attempted to manipulate the guilt of the islanders. If they admitted the ritual they had been participating in was a mere fake, they would have to face the fact that they had been murderers, throwing stones at innocent people. The truth was something none of them could accept.
“Y-Yes, that’s right… what the Priest says… what we’ve done until now can’t possibly have been wrong!!”
“He’s a vengeful god…!”
“Let’s make him suffer like we did two years ago!!”
Even as they realized the Priest’s lies, the islanders shouted, desperately trying to deny the truth. Their twisted figures, eyes bloodshot in denial, made Touya and Touka’s hearts tremble on the verge of breaking.
“…Touya-kun, just a little time…”
With blood oozing from her transparent fingers, Touka continued to struggle with the rope. Touya whispered to her.
“Touka, run… it’s our last gamble. I’ll draw everyone’s attention now and use invisibility. This island, where we’ve worshipped the Transparent God… maybe I can awaken everyone’s eyes…”
“…I understand. If that doesn’t work, then we’ll escape as invisible together…”
Just as the ropes around Touya’s body were nearly undone, a voice came from behind them.
“No way… Touka… are you there…?”
When they turned around, it was Yuito standing there. Having left the handling of the speaker to the shrine assistants, his keen hearing had caught Touka’s whisper. Touya used his supernatural power to make Yuito fall beneath the scaffold, then shouted at the islanders.
“Everyone! Wake up! This is the taboo of getting closer to the gods through repeated purification rituals and human experiments…!”
At those words, the Priest immediately realized what was happening and shouted at Yuito.
“Yuito! Cut him down! Do it quickly!!”
Yuito, who had fallen to the ground, trembled at his command.
“B-But… Father…”
“Do it now, you good-for-nothing! I’ll cut you down! Why didn’t you bring back the shrine assistant, and instead came back!?”
His shout echoed in Yuito’s mind, and the words he had heard from his father for so long began to ring.
“You’d better not get any weird ideas… If you don’t want to end up like that foolish older brother of yours…”
“If you can’t even understand this, you’ll never be able to succeed me. Touya was sharp-minded… if it’s you who has lost your mind…”
“Why didn’t you capture the girl who spoke Touya’s name during the ‘Kamikakushi’!? Don’t bother me with your foolishness anymore!”
Yuito drew his sword and raced up the stairs of the scaffold. As the second son, he had been taught swordsmanship from a young age to support his older brother, and now he attacked Touya with all his might.
“You nuisance half-dead fool! It’s because of you that I… I… this cursed god!”
Touka, trying to protect Touya, embraced and shielded him. Touya, summoning his last bit of strength, used his supernatural power to push her aside. He was cut down by Yuito’s sword with all his might. His body became invisible as blood sprayed out, and the blood rained down on the square like a torrential downpour.
~The Girl Who Became a Goddess~
“Ahhh!!!”
“That guy... isn’t he invisible!?”
“The vengeful god has been struck by divine punishment!!”
The square was completely thrown into chaos, and Yuito, who had cut down his brother, knelt down, half-smiling as he gazed up at the sky. Toward Touka, who had fallen on her rear in a daze, came the bloody clothes and the bloodstained trail, slowly drawing nearer. She noticed it immediately and crawled toward him. Touya had been freed from his restraints after the ropes were cut by the sword and was crawling towards Touka. As his invisibility was about to wear off, she embraced him tightly.
“Touya-kun… no… no, please…”
Touya’s face was twisted with despair and tears.
“I… for what purpose… Ahh… Touka… I’m so sorry… run… guh…”
Touka touched him, feeling his life force drain away with each passing moment, and she became convinced that his death was inevitable.
“Touya… I won’t let it be in vain. I promise. It’s okay… I’ve been so happy to meet you… Thank you. I’ll make everything… okay.”
She held him tightly, repeatedly whispering “It’s okay” with a smile, despite having no basis for such optimism. Her body, still translucent, began to glow, and the two of them were surrounded by warm light.
“Ahh… it’s warm, Touka. I’ve always… been alone… so lonely, so many times… I tried to end my life… but I’m glad. It’s been so long since I felt something warm… Thank you, I’m so happy we met again… I love you… To...”
Touya took a bright red Higanbana flower from his chest and handed it to Touka. She accepted it and kissed his cheek.
“Touya… I love you too. You must be so tired… really… please rest… slowly…”
Her tears fell onto Touya’s cheek, sparkling like a sparkler before disappearing. He exhaled his last breath with a peaceful expression.
The islanders who had witnessed the divine spectacle whispered among themselves.
“For a moment, it looked like the Goddess appeared…”
“Wait… wasn’t that Touka?”
“Divine… The Transparent God has finally appeared…”
The Priest, feeling the heat growing around him, began to panic.
“Everyone… these two are not gods, nor were they chosen by the gods! They are the products of trickery, using the power of science! Ugh… listen to me! Don’t be deceived!”
More than half of the islanders were now staring blankly and clasping their hands in front of the scaffold.
“Yuito!! What are you doing just standing there!? You know what you must do, right?”
Seeing his father’s furious face, Yuito’s mind broke. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” he muttered repeatedly as he charged toward the spot where Touka should be. As she reached out her hand toward him, his movements suddenly stopped unnaturally. Blood began to drip from Touka’s nose. Then, Yuito slowly began to float, drifting upward until he was hovering in the center of the square.
“D-daddy… help… me…”
The moment Touka closed her hand, Yuito’s body burst apart like a shattered water balloon, and once again, blood rained down upon the square.
“Hiii!! The Transparent God is angry!!”
“Please, forgive us! Forgive us!”
“We must calm the wrath! We need a sacrifice...!”
All the islanders turned toward the Priest.
“W-What are you all doing… I am the servant of the Transparent God…”
“You’ve been lying to us all this time! You damn hypocrite!!”
One of the islanders slapped the Priest across the face, and it was as if the dam had broken—everyone rushed at the Priest. The shrine assistant, who had been hiding and watching, were also caught, and the two of them endured a savage and indescribably brutal assault.
Meanwhile, Touka paid no attention to the chaos around her. She gently stroked Touya’s cheek and smiled. His invisibility had completely faded, and she realized something. From the exposed gap in his chest, countless scars were visible. When she carefully lifted his clothes, she saw deeply gouged old scars all over his body, along with hateful slurs carved into him like a bully’s desk. These marks were from the previous “Zessei.” She couldn’t believe that such cruel, despicable acts had been committed by human hands. Despite this, Touya had continued to believe that he could awaken those who had done such things, holding onto compassion. In that moment, something inside her snapped.
At that moment,
“Transparent God. We bring the sacrifice.”
“Those who defied you have been dealt with by us!”
“Please forgive us… and bless the people of Azumi Island… Please…”
“His blood is impure… please hand over the corpse of the cursed child as well.”
The islanders, holding up the blood-soaked Priest toward the scaffold, began worshiping and prostrating to the next object of their blind faith. Through Touka’s eyes, she saw them: a mass of parasitic, bloodthirsty creatures, desperately clinging to the next willing host, devouring those they had used and leaving nothing but hollow shells behind. It was a grotesque display of mindless beings lost in their own escape from reality.
“Touya… wait for me. Soon I’ll go… I’ll take them all with me…”
Touka, tears of blood streaming down her face, slowly extended her palm toward them.
~fin~
After the main story - what did they see when they finally arrived is...
A short story about how the two met, nine years ago on Azumi Island.
Everyday life in an old mountain hut...Some peaceful episodes of Touka and Touya.