Episode 6

Episode 6

May 4th

As soon as I got home from that going out, I shut myself in my room. I hated the fact that Tatsuya had seen me like this.

Not only that, I didn't leave my room and stays in bed for the rest of the day.

I curled up in bed and just try to sleep because there's nothing to do. That's what I've been doing since I got home.

I became afraid of a world where no one remembered me.

Neither my father, mother, nor Tatsuya recognize me as "I"; they all recognize me as Sachi's younger sister, "Mizuki-chan."

And sometimes, unknown memories flood my brain. I'm overcome with the feeling that I'm slowly losing my identity.

It was unbearable...and scary.

My sister says that if I stay myself during Golden Week, she'll change me back. Then, as long I don't go outside, my attitude won't change any more.

With that as my only hope, I began to withdraw into myself in my small body.

May 5th

I wake up hungry in the middle of the night.

Thinking there was something in the fridge, I headed to the kitchen and reached the door.

...It won't open. I try and turn the doorknob, but no matter what I do, it won't open. There's no way this room door has a lock.

It must have been my sister's doing. If she could transform my body into that of a girl, then locking me up would be no big deal.

If I can't get out the door, I'll try to find another way.

The window... it's on the second floor so it seemed impossible either way, and as expected it didn't open.

It would be impossible to destroy walls with this body.

Unable to do anything, I crawled into bed, trying to endure my hunger.

I wonder how many hours have passed since then. Or maybe it hasn't even been that long.

The room remains dark and never gets brighter. Whether I sleep, wake up, sit, or stand, the room remains dark.

It feels like it's already morning.

I became increasingly scared and started banging on the door.

"Hey! Sachi! You're there! Open up!"

Silence reigns supreme, as if even the sound of knocking on the door were sucked away somewhere. I can hear my own heart beating loudly.

Scary.

Scary. Scary. Scary. Scary.

Fear clung to me. Silence and darkness reigned, and I crouched alone in bed.

...I feel like this has happened before.

At the time, I was about the same age as I am now, and something had happened, leaving me alone at home. At first, I was fine, but as time went on, I was overcome by a strange anxiety, and I ended up crouching in bed like this.

What was I saying at the time? Why was I able to get through it?

Time just passes by without an answer.

"...I'm scared...I don't want to be alone...Help me..."

The words slipped out quietly.

Tears flowed naturally from my eyes. Tear after tear. No matter how hard I tried to stop them, they just kept flowing. In fact, they only got stronger.

With only my cries echoing in the room, I finally couldn't bear it any longer and frantically banged on the door.

"Open it! Open it! Why won't it open? I can't take it anymore... Someone open it!"

My hands started to sting, but I didn't care and just kept knocking on the door.

Still, there was no sign of anyone coming.

"Whaaa-ahhhhhh!!!"

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.

My hands were bleeding, and I couldn't be bothered.

I had reached my limit with my hands, so I decided to kick instead.

After kicking a few times, I reached the limit of my physical strength, but I continued to kick.

My legs hurt so much I could barely stand.

So I slammed into it with my whole body, but the door still wouldn't open.

The force of the collision caused me to fall over. I no longer had the strength to get up. I was at my limit.

"No... Help me... Help me..."

Just keep asking for help.

To whom?

Who on earth is going to help me? Has anyone ever helped me before?

Neither my mom nor my dad helped me when I needed them the most.

Tatsuya wasn't around when I was in high school, which was the most miserable and horrible time of my life.

Someone who will help me and be there for me...

"Help me... Onee-chan..."

Perhaps something in my heart had broken. I blurted out those words.

At that moment, the door creaked open and my "Big Sister" was standing on the other side.

"Mizuki-chan, come here."

'Big Sister' kneels down to meet my eye level and opens her arms, inviting me in.

I ran over to her, barely able to stand, and hugged my 'Big sister.'

"You did well. Let's sleep together tonight."

I nodded at her words, and she picked me up and we lay down together in my 'Big Sister's' bed.

I seemed to be quite exhausted, and perhaps because I felt so safe while being held, I quickly fell asleep.