By Kentaro ONIZUKA (onizuka@nisiq.net)
Chisato, the proposer, approaches to Miyu and says "Miss Yamano, how about going to Yashirozaka together?" Miyu is slightly surprised but asks to Chisato, "What is there?" Chisato answers "Oh, nothing special, I mean, we are going to walk. Say! Let's go." Miyu does not quite understand why Chisato invites her. "How come (you invite) me?" Chisato says "'Cos, you look glum, and I didn't think that you are good at making friends." Miyu does not smile but say "You speak quite frankly, (anyway). Call me Miyu." Chisato, but, continues "OK, then, Miyu, let's have a lunch together." Miyu follows the three saying "Alright."
The four girls including Miyu are having a lunch together under a big tree. Chisato introduces the other two girls to Miyu, "And,,, Yukari is the strongest in the school, and Hisae reads books the most." The girl named Hisae says "Don't exaggerate!" but Chisato continues, "Say Miyu, what is your specialty?" Miyu returns the question to Chisato with emotionless face, "Me? Must I have some specialty?" Chisato answers with innocence "No. I have nothing special too." Finally Miyu gives up to be against Chisato's innocent conversation and says "You are cute, and it's nice for you." Chisato looks happy and says "Did you hear? (She says) I'm cute!" Then Yukari, the boyish girl, says "Yeah, 'cos your apples look rabbits." Each piece of cut apple in Chisato's lunch box look like a rabbit. "These are the stuffs my mother did!" Excuses Chisato. Yukari says "Anyhow, they are cute."
Miyu looks up at the tree above and says "Very pretty." Chisato agrees with Miyu and says "Yes! A tree is good. I like this (tree) the best in the school!"
Chisato says "Oh, no. why don't the things enjoyable last long?" Hisae adds "We have a school tomorrow again." Chisato says with innocent face "I wanna be a kid forever." Miyu reacts the word and says " Is that so?" Yukari says a joke saying "No problem. Chisato is a kid till the end of her life." Chisato says "Oh, (you say that) again." The four girls are laughing.
The boy walks out from his room. The clock tells 2 o'clock midnight. A mask on the wall. When he washes himself at his face, the mirror reflects his appearance with the mask on his face.
Yukari turns the face to Chisato and says "Chisato, I introduce to you. This is Shigeri Yuuko of Class B. A friend of mine." Hisae adds "Her brother seems to be suffering from neuroses." Then the girl talking together with Yukari and Chisato begins "No, no, it's not. Everything (began) after that mask came to my home." Yukari does not quite understand what is really the matter with Yuuko and says "Mask, hmm." Hisae considers that Yuuko's brother is studying hard to prepare for the entrance exam to universities, and says "It is a coincidence, isn't it? (He is going to have) entrance exams, isn't he?" Yuuko explains about the situation "It's not! You will quite see that something is strange with him!" Finally Yukari says "Yuuko,,,,. OK. I also think that you are thinking too much about that. But if you are afraid that much, I am ready to go to see that. So, Cheer up!" Yuuko says "Okay." Chisato says with her innocent face "Then, let's go together! Ah, Miyu, Won't you go?" Chisato thinks that Miyu would not come together but Miyu says "Oh yes. I'd like to see, (I mean), the mask."
Someone is coming home. Yuuko welcomes her brother "Ah, brother! Welcome home." Her brother looks glum and emotionless. He slightly nods and says "hmm." Hisae, Yukari, and Chisato say greetings with the different words. Hisae: "(Sorry for) disturbing (you.) (a usual greeting word)", Yukari: "Hi!" , and Chisato "How are you!" Yuuko's brother is going upstairs, saying "(Please) stay long (a usual greeting word)"
Yuuko says "My brother looks more slender." Yukari is afraid of Yuuko and says "You are thinking too much. This way, it will be you that will be sick."
Someone is coming home. It is Yuuko's father. He says "I come home." Then Yuuko's mother comes and says "Welcome home, you." Yuuko also welcomes her father, "Welcome home." Father asks "Your friends?" Then Yukari, Hisae, and Chisato say greetings in the same way as they did to Yuuko's brother. Yukari, "Hi!", Hisae "Disturbing.", and Chisato "How are you!" Yukari explains her father why her friend has come, " They say they are interested in that." Father admires, "Oh, it's praiseworthy because you are young." Hisae who reads the books the most in the school asks a question to Father, "This is from Africa isn't it?" Father admires Hisae and says "(You are surprising) you know well! A friend of mine there(i.e. in Africa) (was kind enough and) sent it to me." Chisato asks with innocent face, "But, don't you think it's weird?" Father laughs and says "Hahah! You might not quite understand, but it's quite valuable." Hisae asks a question again, " Is this anything to do with shamanism?" Father become serious, looks slightly angry with the question and says " Did Yuuko say anything to you? Even though it was used for some ceremony, it was hundreds of years ago. It's nothing but a superstition."
Yuuko finally says what she actually want to say, " Yet, since this came here, my brother has been..." Father says " Kouichi is not that cowardly person!" Yuuko again says "B,,But my brother says that he does not want to be a doctor." Father looks angry and says " (Did he say) such a thing? he troubles me!" Then Yukari interrupts, " Well, excuse me. How come (you want him) to be a doctor?" Father answers without doubt "Because he has a capability enough to be. That's quite natural!" Yukari is slightly amazed and says "Hmm."
Lavah continues "In those days, I pretended to be a western aristocrat, and was on board in a trader's ship. To spread the scope of western goddemon's influence, It was to scout for the purpose."
Lavah recalls.
A masked warrior appears in a fight.
Lavah explains "It was he that appeared then."
Merchants fire but cannot damage. Merchants break down one by one. Lavah: "Everybody withdraw! This guy has a magical power! Thy magic is useless to me. Thou art a goddemon?"
Lavah breaks the masked goddemon.
Lavah continues "The mask never appeared again. The merchants, however, all died in misery afterwards. I had to give up spreading our scope to the new continent. It is because the power of the mask was above our imagination." Miyu asks "The mask (you are talking about) come to follow you, Lavah? At this point of time?" Lavah answers "I also don't understand what that (mask) is thinking. Or, there might be something in Japan that attracts and calls him." Miyu says "Nowadays, goddemons are noisy." Miyu asks to Shiina "Shiina (Deathnull), don't you feel something?" Shiina answers "I ain't quite understan'. I be's an underling goddemon, anyway." Miyu touches Shiina gently and says "Don't be sulky that much." Then Shiina enlarges her eye and says "hmmm. Oh! I've got it. That mask something guy looks to have done somethin'."
Then Kouichi recovers consciousness. Mother and Yuuko calls Kouichi, "Kouichi!", "Brother!" The word from Kouichi is "Mask.... that mask is OK?" Mother is amazed at the words, and says "What are you talking about, Kouichi!" Yuuko, but, answers his question, " No problems. My brother." Kouichi looks relieved and says " I see. Then, alright." Yuuko says to his father, " Do you say he is yet quite normal?"
The clock tells 2 o'clock midnight.
Kouichi comes downstairs.
Father calls Kouichi "Kouichi!" Kouichi tries to pick the mask on the wall. Yuuko shouts "Ah! Brother!" Father also shouts "Kouichi! Stop such a stupid stuff!" Then Kouichi breaks his father. Yuuko is shocked. Then Yukari runs to Kouichi and says "Wake up!" and then she breaks Kouichi.
Miyu picks the mask up. Hisae speaks to Miyu "Miyu!" Miyu does not stop, but runs taking the mask. Chisato also calls Miyu "Miyu!" Yukari asks " Miyu, where to go? Miyu!"
Miyu runs into a vacant room and shuts the door. Yukari tries to open the door but it is locked from inside. Yukari shouts " Miyu! What's the matter! Miyu!"
Miyu speaks to the Mask "This is my world. I don't permit you to do as you like. Are you a goddemon?" The mask groans. Miyu continues asking, For what did you come here? Answer my question." Lavah comes and says " It's useless, Miyu. Our language is not intelligible to him."
Lavah put off his mask.
Lavah asks "Do you recognize me?" The mask reacts and groans. Lavah says "You seem to remember me. Now I decide the issue one hundred years ago."
The masked warrior attacks Lavah. And a fight starts. The lance the mask has thrown sticks Lavah at his right shoulder. Miyu shouts "Lavah!" and she speaks "You, goddemon! Return to the darkness!" The flame Miyu has launched does not damage the masked warrior. Miyu is surprised and says "Incredible!" Shiina(Deathnull) comes, and says " Miyu, this guy's body is a dummy." Miyu answers "I know, Shiina."
Miyu launches flames again, but the masked goddemon neutralizes them. Miyu is surprised and says "Oh! My flame gives no damage!" Lavah interrupts and says "Miyu, please withdraw! This is my fight!"
Lavah pull off the lance stuck to his shoulder, and attacks the masked goddemon. He dodges the attacks from the mask, and finally he sticks the center of the mask with the lance.
The mask breaks into two parts.
Lavah says "It's over." Miyu asks gently "Lavah, are you alright?" Miyu touches Lavah at his wounded cheek. Lavah says "Thank you, Miyu."
Miyu sits still in the room alone, with the broken mask in her hands. And says "I happened to break (this.)" Yukari says with relief "Miyu!"
Miyu asks "Say Lavah, how do you like? Was it his mind that called the goddemon?" Lavah answers "Even if it was so, we could have done nothing against it." Miyu agrees and says " Miyu: Right. It is above my role to do so, isn't it? Is the scar sore?" Lavah replies " "No." Miyu asks again "Lavah, Do you wanna return? I mean, to the world of western goddemons." "I fought against the past, and I overcame it." was the answer. Miyu says "Oh, yes, you did." Shiina(Deathnull) comes and says "Oh, they two are in their own world!"
The mask says, "Return us the forest!"
Kouichi wakes up. He opens the drawer only to find there's no mask. Kouichi goes downstairs. Father speaks to Kouichi "What's the matter, Kouichi?" Kouichi keeps silent for a while and, says " Daddy, regarding the course (in the university/after the high school)"
Kouichi's voice, "Return the forest!"