PROLOGUE

I’m gonna die.

A cold raindrop landed on the tip of Hikaru Indou’s nose, causing him to slowly open his eyes.

The rain continued to fall without end through the gaps in the midnight-black trees above. The sky darkened as if ink had been dissolved into it, and the sound of a far-off, howling wind reached his ears.

Something sludge-like pushed its way past his heavy eyelids and entered his eyes. When he managed to blink, his sight was bathed in red—a strangely vivid red despite the surrounding darkness.

Ahhh… Really? I’m gonna die.

That much was clear to him. He knew that his bones were broken in several places across his body. The sensation in his limbs had become terribly distant, yet he could still tell that his legs were twisted and sprawled out in impossible directions.

The tips of the rain-soaked bamboo grass brushed against his cheeks. Hikaru barely recognized the sharp, stinging pain coursing through him. He gradually grew cold, starting from the parts of his body that were touching the wet ground. His life was draining away.

Can’t believe this is how I’m goin’ out. Slippin’ after gettin’ distracted by a tree that looks like a woman’s body… Even with me walkin’ around in the dark, there just ain’t no dumber way to die than like this.

He wanted to laugh the whole thing off as being “jus’ plain stupid,” but the only sounds that escaped his parched throat were hoarse croaks.

First, he thought about his father, to whom he apologized for not carrying out the duties of the Indou family like he was supposed to. Then he thought of his mother.

I didn’t wanna make you suffer again, Mama… It’d be great if no one got sad about this…

He knew that would be impossible but wished for it anyway.

Finally, he thought about his childhood friend. They had been together for as long as he could remember. From the moment Hikaru developed a sense of who he was, his friend was right there by his side—that’s who was on his mind.

If I die, he’ll be alone.

As he thought that, his red-tinted vision twisted and warped. The sensation of the raindrops moistening his cheeks and their coldness faded far into the distance.

I don’t wanna leave you alone…

As he exhaled, his breath turned white before being dispersed by the rain. His vision then turned red again. He saw a mix of blood red and the inky black of the night sky, and he felt as if a giant hand was reaching out toward him.

The hand wriggled and squirmed as it approached. Hikaru reached his own hand out toward it. The sensations that had become so disconnected from him returned to his right hand, and then, for a brief moment, his fingertips burned hot.

That’s when he thought, Anyone’ll do. As long as they’ll take my place and stay by his side, anyone will do.