The village was in tumult; a mysterious death occurred once again for the fourth straight year.
This time, the victim was…Satoko-chan’s aunt. Indiscreetly however, everyone in the village seemed to be somewhat satisfied about the curse that befell upon the aunt for her constant troubles she had within the village.
But, I managed to figure the truth behind this rather quickly. When I was called by the police for an on-site analysis on her beaten corpse, I undoubtedly realized that the assailant was Satoshi-kun…
The ever-increasing abuse towards Satoko-chan. The tremendous stress felt by Satoshi-kun to protect her. And the baseball bat that he took home with him… All the signs were there. I didn’t even have to ask Satoshi-kun.
…I was in despair. I tried my best to become the friend that he had within this community which hated them. …But in the end, I couldn’t even gain his trust…
Then the phone rang. It was from Satoshi-kun.
I never received a phone call from Satoshi-kun himself. Why is he calling me all of a sudden…? Perhaps he needs some kind of assistance for what he had done…? If he is…I wanted to help. I really thought so.
Satoshi: “Oh, hello kantoku. I’m sorry to bother you at work.”
Irie: “No, no, it’s okay. Can I help you?”
Satoshi: “Um, …well I couldn’t think of anyone else who had a car…”
Irie: “A car? Sure, I have one.”
Satoshi: “Well, I’m in front of the toy store right now. It’s not the one that’s owned by Mion’s uncle, it’s the other one near the dentist.”
Irie: “Oh yes, that one. Yes, I know.”
Satoshi: “And, well I bought a teddy bear as a birthday present for Satoko, but well….muu…it’s too big to fit onto my bike.”
Irie: “Too big to fit on a bike? Ahahaha, Satoshi-kun, how big of a teddy bear did you buy?”
Satoshi: “…muu.”
He didn’t realize how to bring such a big present back home. That was so typical of Satoshi-kun, it made me smile. So basically, he needs someone with a car to drive him, his bike, and Satoko-chan’s birthday present back home. I promptly agreed to pick him up and drove to the toy store at Okinomiya. There, I learned that the teddy bear he bought was larger than I have ever imagined.
Irie: “…Whoa…! Hahahaha, this IS big! You’re right, there is now way you can fit that thing on any bike!”
The teddy bear was large enough that would be difficult for even Satoshi to wrap his arms around it. Even if he rode his bike back home with it on his lap, he wouldn’t be able to see anything in front of him.
I helped him place his bike on the back seat and placed the teddy bear into the trunk of the car.
Irie: “But, it must’ve been very expensive to buy such a large teddy bear.”
Satoshi: “…Yeah…well…yes, it was a bit.”
At first, I though he was sweating because of the summer heat. …However, something didn’t look right. His consciousness was coming and going like he had a fever.
Irie: “You don’t look so good. …Are you feeling alright…?”
Satoshi: “…Yes…I mean no…I think it’s a cold…”
Irie: “Well then, that needs to be checked! You want to come to the clinic? Let me take a good look at it.”
Satoshi: “…Thank you… …huff…., huff….”
When he called me just a few moments ago, he was perfectly fine. …Then that means his symptoms began within a short time span.
Irie: “Here, put the seat back in recline and take a rest. Is the AC too strong? How do you feel?”
Satoshi: “…..huff…..huff…..huff……..”
His face is turning blue. I can visibly tell that his fever was breaking out.
…Satoshi-kun was pushing himself in order to buy this large teddy bear. A teddy bear this big does not come cheap. He managed to collect and save money in such a short time span, I can tell that he must’ve worked very hard and long hours in order to do so. So, he must’ve felt relieved that he was finally able to buy the birthday present he had always wanted. …It is not unusual to see a person to suddenly collapse in weariness after achieving a very big goal….
Irie: “…But, ..I am really proud of you. It isn’t everyday that I see someone being able to buy such a large teddy bear. Satoko-chan will be very happy.”
Satoshi: “…..I sure…..hope so.”
Irie: “Of course she will! I’m certain of it!”
Satoshi: “….Her….aunt…is not here anymore. ….And uncle won’t come back either. ….She’s finally free…right? …No one is going to abuse her anymore….right?”
Irie: “Yes, that’s right. No one will abuse Satoko-chan anymore. So, you two can finally relax and live in peace….”
Satoshi: “…..Because aunt is dead right? ….That’s true right….? She’s dead….?”
Irie: “Yes. …She has indeed died. I’m sure of it because I performed the onsite autopsy myself. There’s no doubt about it. That’s why you can be rest assured that no one will abuse Satoko-chan anymore.”
Satoshi: “….Are you sure? You really checked thoroughly…that aunt was indeed dead…?”
Irie: “Yes. Absolutely.”
Satoshi: “…Then….even when I pass by someone that looks very similar to aunt….that’s not the aunt, right…? …It’s not like that the aunt somehow survived, …got released from the hospital…and is wandering around…right?”
Irie: “Yes. You have my guarantee. She’ll never show herself in front of you anymore.”
Satoshi: “Then….! Then…that person over there….that person looks very similar to aunt…but she isn’t right? Right….?!”
Satoshi-kun was franctically pointed at the person driving behind the wheel on the opposite road. I tried to look, but couldn’t catch a glimpse of it as it past by rather quickly. …But in either case, no matter how much similar she may have looked like; there was no way that the aunt could be alive.
Satoshi: “And, there too!! And there!! They look like her, yet they aren’t my aunt…?! I just saw her?!”
Irie: “C, Calm down Satoshi-kun. Your aunt is dead, period. No matter how much they look like her, they aren’t your aunt.”
Satoshi: “But, they are similar…similar…No, they ARE my aunt!! My aunt is still…see, there! I killed her…I bashed her head several times to make sure….but, but….why…! Why….?!”
All I could do was stay cool and focus on driving….
Satoshi-kun was clearly losing his calm. …Satoshi-kun is seeing delusions. …He is believing that the aunt he killed was still alive and is showing up everywhere he goes…
I instantly knew…that Satoshi-kun is showing the symptoms of the terminal stage…!
…As soon as we reach the clinic, I must put him into ER immediately. Fortunately, we are much prepared than the time when it happened to Satoko-chan. We now have a working vaccine. Satoshi-kun can be treated! And I can make sure that the Yamainus will be able to pull strings about his murder of his aunt. It is perfectly possible to save him from this terminal stage so that he can finally live at peace with Satoko-chan…!
Satoshi-kun suddenly stopped the commotion and became quiet.
…He didn’t fall asleep. …In either case, I must get to the clinic as fast as I can while he is in this state. There is no certainty that he might start attacking me while I am driving…
…Satoshi-kun suddenly said quietly as if he figured out what I was thinking…
Satoshi: “…Kantoku. …Is this…the Oyashiro-sama’s curse?”
Irie: “No, there is no such things as curses. Please stay in focus.”
Satoshi: “….Satoko….I’m sorry. ….To tell you the truth…I was really thinking of using this money to get away from here up until the last minute I bought this teddy bear… …That’s why the Oyashiro-sama cursed me…. …I’m a failed as her older brother….I….I….”
Irie: “You shouldn’t be talking. Please close your eyes and take a rest. We’re almost there to the clinic. There, I will prescribe you some medicines that will make you feel much better….”
Satoshi: “….I wonder if there are maggots in my blood too….ow….it itches…”
Irie: “No don’t!! You mustn't scratch your throat!!!”
The car arrived at the backdoor to the clinic.
I recklessly stepped on the brakes. Satoshi-kun was beginning to scratch out his throat. I could not hold him down by myself at this state. I asked for assistance to all the available staff inside through the intercom.
Several staff members came to my assistance immediately. …But Satoshi-kun began to become terrified at the sudden influx of people surrounding him and began to fight us off.
There was no need to for a test…he’s at L5. He’s at the most terminal stages of the syndrome and his thoughts must be filled with delusions and misguided thoughts. He mind must be thinking that the people around him are about to kill him.
The staff pinned him to the ground holding down his arms and legs to inject him with a syringe to put him to sleep.
Satoshi: “…Ka….kantoku….! Help!...Help me….!!!”
Irie: “It’s okay Satoshi-kun. Everything will be alright. Let’s just take a rest for a moment, okay? You’ll be better really soon.”
Satoshi: “………an…to….ku,………Please….take….care of………..Satoko….”
“Please take care of Satoko.” Those were his words before he became unconscious.
Takano: “My my. I wondered what the commotion was all about. What’s this?”
Irie: “….Satoshi-kun suddenly showed the symptoms of the Hinamizawa Syndrome. ….Considering his stress that he must’ve endured in the past, it must’ve been just a matter of time. ….No…he must’ve psychologically repressed it all this time until he was able to buy this teddy bear….”
Takano: “Somebody up there must like me. We’re able to get our hands upon an excellent living sample every Watanagashi. I wonder if this is all thanks to the Oyashiro-sama. *chuckle chuckle*”
I had no time to listen to Takano-san’s charades.