TTYL

[DerArknight]

Before Noriko knew, it had happened again.

The Beretta went off inside the pocket, tearing a hole into the hoodie and finding its target in Megumi's leg. The taser disappeared, but the pain didn't.

Noriko sank to the ground, still leaning against the tree. A voice in her head told her that she needed to get out her medical supplies, but her body refused to move. All she could do was staring as Megumi bled out, blood gushing out of her in a disturbing fashion.

"S-s-sorry," her mouth spoke without permission.

[AnimeNerd]

This wasn't supposed to be happening. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Noriko should be the one on the ground with a hole in her body. Megumi should be the one that was mostly fine with only minor injuries. Megumi should be the one that would be walking away from all of this. Not the one bleeding on ground. Losing blood. So much blood. Why this much blood. God, please tell her it's not what she thinks it is, please just let it be something else.

Everything was starting to get weird. Her vision was blurring. She felt dizzy, like she needed to lie down. Parts of her were starting to get numb.

But she didn't want to. It couldn't end like this! She had barely lived her life yet! She still had things she wanted to do! She wanted to graduate! She wanted to date Shūya! She wanted to be friends with Takako-or something more even! She wanted to go back home to Mom and Dad, tell them that she was okay! She wanted to live, damn it!

"N-no..."

One last sob was able to escape Megumi before everything went dark.

"Why...me..."

And with that, Megumi Eto became a victim.

[DerArknight]

Noriko watched in horror as Megumi's movements ceased. There was no doubt what had happened.

But she didn't see why.

She hadn't intended to hurt Megumi, right? Neither back on the first night nor now. She had even thrown away this damn hannya mask and everything that came with it.

Looking to the left, she found the blue mask lying on the ground, looking almost in her direction. From this angle, the hannya seemed to laugh.

It was then that Noriko understood.

There had been no hannya.

The actions of Noriko Nakagawa wearing a mask were still the actions of Noriko Nakagawa. Names didn't change that. She could have never donned the mask and her journey would have been the same.

In other words, every action was her fault, regardless of her intentions.

"..."

She decided to remain at this place for a while.

((Noriko Nakagawa continued in Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!))