The village was in an uproar.

Because the fourth mysterious death in a row, which everyone believed would happen, actually did.

Satoko-chan's aunt was killed.

All the villagers feel rather satisfied about this incident, saying the curse finally fell on her for being a local troublemaker.

But I know the truth.

When I saw the beaten up body at the crime scene,

I knew Satoshi-kun was responsible for it.

Her abuse towards Satoko-chan was getting worse and worse.

Satoshi-kun wanted to protect her.

So he brought home a baseball bat.

All the signs were there.

So I didn't even need to hear it from Satoshi-kun.

...Yet I couldn't avoid questioning myself.

I felt bad for the Houjou siblings, who had no one on their side, so I tried to be their ally.

...In the end, I failed to be any help to them...

The phone rang. It was Satoshi-kun.

He's never called me before.

What happened?

Does he want me to help him?

If so, I will.

I truly feel that way.

"Hello, Coach?

Sorry to bother you while you're at work."

"Oh, don't worry.

What can I do for you?"

"Umm... I can't think of anyone else who has a car..."

"A car?

Sure, I have one."

"I'm in front of a toy store in Okinomiya.

Not the one owned by Mion's uncle, but the other one by the dentist's office."

"Sure, I know where it is."

"I found a teddy bear for Satoko's birthday...

but...

mmph.

It's too big to put on my bicycle."

"Too big?

Ah ha ha ha, Satoshi-kun, how big is this teddy bear?"

"......Mmph."

I guess he didn't think about it and went to the toy store on his bicycle. Now he's stuck.

That's so typical of him. I can't help but smile warmly.

In other words, he can't carry both the bicycle and the teddy bear, so he wants me to come pick him up.

I told him I'd be right over, and headed to the toy store in Okinomiya.

When I got there, I found that the teddy bear he bought

is a lot bigger than I imagined.

"Oh my...!

Ha ha ha, this is huge!

There's no way you can put this on your bicycle, huh?"

The teddy bear is so big that Satoshi-kun can hardly wrap his arms around it.

If he puts it on his lap in the passenger seat, he won't be able to see anything.

We loaded the bicycle in the back seat and stuffed the teddy bear in the trunk.

"Boy, it must've been expensive."

"...Ah...

yeah,

I guess."

At first, I thought he was sweating because of the heat.

...But he's acting oddly.

As if he has a high fever and his consciousness is coming and going.

"What's wrong?

Are you feeling okay?"

"......I guess,

well...

I think... I have a cold."

"That's not good.

Do you want to swing by the clinic?

I'll give you a checkup."

"...Thank you...

Huff...

huff......"

When he called earlier, he didn't sound this way.

Did he become ill all of a sudden?

"Why don't you put the seat back?

Is it too cold?

Are you okay?"

"......Huff...

...huff...

......huff...

......"

His face is turning pale.

I can tell he has a high fever.

......Satoshi-kun was pushing himself to buy this teddy bear.

A teddy bear this size can't be that cheap.

For him to earn enough money in such a short period of time, he must've worked hard and long hours.

Maybe he felt relieved now that he got the teddy bear he had wanted to buy.

...It's not unusual for a person to collapse after reaching his big goal.

"...I'm proud of you

for earning enough money to buy such a huge teddy bear.

Satoko-chan will be so happy."

"............I... hope so..."

"I'm sure she will be!

I guarantee it!!"

"......Our

aunt is gone.

...Our uncle isn't coming back...

There's

nobody who can hurt her in any way anymore...... right?"

"That's right.

There won't be anyone who can hurt her.

So you can relax now..."

"......Our aunt is gone...

right?

She died... right...?"

"Yes.

She is dead.

I performed the autopsy.

There can be no mistake.

She'll never abuse Satoko-chan again."

"......Are you sure?

Did you really confirm

that she's dead?"

"Yes.

I sure did."

"......So...

even if I see someone...

who looks just like her......

it's not her, right?

...It's not like she was actually alive

and recovered, right?"

"No.

That's not possible.

She'll never come back to us."

"Then,

then...

look,

that lady....

She looks like her, but...

that's not my aunt, right...?

Right...?!"

Satoshi-kun pointed at the oncoming car in fear.

Of course, the car passed by so quickly that I couldn't see her face.

But no matter how much she looks like her, it's impossible for her to be alive.

"Look, look!!

Look at her!!

She looks exactly like her!

She even looked at me!!"

"Calm down, Satoshi-kun.

Your aunt is dead.

So no matter how much she looks like her, it's not your aunt."

"But... she looks just like her,

look...

No,

it must be her...

That's my aunt...

She's......

I killed her...

I bashed her head in... repeatedly...

why?

...Why.........?!"

I can only try to stay calm and drive.

Satoshi-kun is losing his cool.

He's delusional.

He's seeing his aunt coming back from the dead.

Then I finally realize...

Satoshi-kun...... is displaying symptoms of the terminal stage...!

...I need to examine him once I get to the clinic.

It's different from Satoko-chan's case.

We already have the cure.

We can treat Satoshi-kun.

If I talk to the Mountain Dogs, they'll take care of the murder of his aunt.

So I can both save him from going terminal and give him back his peaceful days with Satoko-chan.

He was deranged until just a minute ago, but now he's gone quiet.

...He didn't fall asleep.

I must get to the clinic while Satoshi-kun remains in this calm state.

There's no guarantee that he won't attack me while I'm driving.

...As if he knows what is going through my mind, Satoshi-kun spoke to me quietly.

"......Coach,

is this...

the curse of Oyashiro-sama?"

"There is no curse.

Please try to stay focused."

"......Satoko,

sorry...

Until just before I bought the teddy bear...

I was thinking about running away...

That's why... Oyashiro-sama got angry...

I'm a failure...

as a big brother...

I'm...

I'm......"

"You don't need to say anything.

Close your eyes and get some rest.

We'll get to the clinic soon.

Then I'll give you some medicine, okay?"

"...I feel like... there are maggots in my blood...

It itches..."

"Don't scratch!!

Don't claw at your throat!!"

We arrived at the back door to the clinic.

I slammed the brakes, and stopped the car.

Satoshi-kun has already started to claw at his throat.

I can't stop him by myself.

I asked for some help through the intercom.

Some staff members came out immediately.

Maybe Satoshi-kun was surprised to see so many people at once, because he started to resist.

......I don't even need to run tests, he's at L5.

He's reached the terminal stage, and his thoughts must be filled with delusions.

Maybe he thinks that the staff members want to kill him.

The staff members pinned his arms and legs down and gave him a shot to put him to sleep.

"....C-Coach,

Coach,

please,

help me...!!!"

"Don't worry.

I'll make you better, so please relax."

"...

...

...

...

...

Coach

...

...

...

...

...

...

Please

...

...

...

take

care

of

Satoko

..."

Please take care of Satoko.

After saying those words, he fell unconscious.

"My, my.

What's going on?"

"...Satoshi-kun suddenly displayed symptoms...

Considering the amount of stress he's been under, it was just a matter of time.

Or... maybe he was holding it back until he bought the teddy bear."

"It's interesting that somehow we always find a live specimen around Watanagashi.

Do you think it's the curse of Oyashiro-sama?

Hee hee hee."

I don't have time to listen to her nonsense.