My harsh and brutal days

are still continuing without end.

The situation between my aunt and Satoko remains the same.

My aunt yells at Satoko for no reason every night.

Although Satoko cries, she still talks back to her.

So my aunt's yelling goes on and on forever.

Satoko's crying goes on and on too.

When Satoko sees me, she grabs on to me.

She hides behind my back and tries to ignore my aunt's yelling.

She always comes to seek my help.

...Satoko doesn't open up to anyone, but me.

So if I don't protect her, she'll be devastated.

That security is something our parents didn't grant to Satoko. I have to be the one to provide it.

But

every day,

day after day.

Every time Satoko cries,

every day,

day after day.

...Satoko grabbed on to me while crying yesterday.

I patted her head. But, along with pity,

a different emotion came to me.

I wanted to grasp her head

and smash her against the wall.

What an unbelievably devilish and awful emotion.

No, no, no...

I can't think that...!!

No, it's not that I can't think it. I just can't acknowledge that feeling.

Since that day, there has been someone else inside of me.

That someone is trying to eat me up from the inside and switch places with me.

When Satoko begs for my help while crying,

that person tries to make me spill out some awful and hateful words that are sure to damage Satoko forever.

Leave me alone.

Don't grab on to me.

Go away!!

No, no, no, no, I can't, I can't, I can't!!!

To prevent him from taking over my body,

I clenched

my stomach

and drove him out.

...I managed to do that.

But that wasn't it.

That person is coming after me, trying to get back inside of me.

I won't let such a scary thing get back inside of me.

He knows there's no room to slip into my heart as long as I keep it held shut like this.

......So, he's stopped trying

and instead is following right behind me.

He's waiting for me to let my guard down.

When I walk...

he walks right behind me.

He's breathing down my neck.

He follows me everywhere and when I lie down, he stares down at me.

He's waiting for the right moment to jump back inside of me, so he can hurt Satoko.

It's been so hot lately.

Maybe the heat is getting to me, and that's why I think things like this.

I'm the only family Satoko has.

...So I'll have to protect her from my aunt for the rest of my life.

That's my eternal duty...

The rest of my life?

Forever?

Do I really have to do that forever?

If only Satoko...

But I'm her only family...

But...

It's because of my aunt...

But it's because of the villagers too...

It's almost Watanagashi.

Some irresponsible people are saying that the curse will once again fall upon Hinamizawa.

They're also saying it'll fall upon me and Satoko for sure.

...Maybe it's just my imagination, but lately the villagers "expecting it" are giving me especially sharp looks.

I feel like I'll be killed on the day of Watanagashi.

Of course, there is no reason why I would be killed, and it's just my imagination.

Ah, pat, pat, pat, pat.

Don't come inside of me...

Satoko is my only sister and my family, so don't tell me those awful things...

Pat, pat, pat, pat, stop, stop, don't come this way, don't come this way!!!

The footsteps came up right behind me, and the hand touched me on the shoulder...!!!

"Aaaah!

......Oh, Rena..."

"A...... Are you okay?

Are you?"

I must have been acting weird.

Rena looked worried.

Her name is Rena Ryuugu.

She just moved here and transferred to my school.

Nobody remembers her, but supposedly she lived here in Hinamizawa a long time ago.

In fact, she hardly remembers anything about Hinamizawa either.

Since Mion is the only other classmate who is my age, I'm glad she's my friend.

She usually carries on happily alongside Mion, but occasionally she shows more feminine consideration.

"Are you feeling okay?

Do you want me to take you to the nurse's office?

...Do you?"

"Thank you.

I'm okay.

Do I look sick or something?"

"Yep."

Her immediate answer made me realize I wasn't myself.

"......Is it about Satoko-chan?

...Are you worried?"

"No... that isn't it."

She knows that my problem isn't physical, but a mental one.

This is just something I think to myself, but even though Rena seems like a very easygoing person, maybe she's more perceptive than she appears.

"...Since I just transferred here recently, I may not be able to help much...

But I can at least listen.

Sometimes talking can help."

Although she just transferred, she already knows quite a bit about me and my sister, and also about the situation with the villagers.

But... talking about it won't solve anything.

Actually,

if I talk about it, I feel like I'd be admitting to my weakness,

which might give that person a chance to get inside of me again...

"You were so surprised just now.

That's why I thought something really serious was bothering you...

Hauu..."

"Oh, that...... ahahaha.

Lately, I feel like someone is following me all the time.

......Pit, pit, pat, pat.

I thought that was you...

Ahahahahaha, sorry.

I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore."

"......Footsteps?

...Following you...?"

"...Eh?"

"...I...

I know those.

I know those footsteps."