Mygo, are you all yanderes?

"Oh, oh, you're finally back! I've made dinner. Shall we eat now, or—"

The sound stopped abruptly. Mortis saw Nagasaki Motoyo, who was almost pressed against Kusano Akira, pause for a moment, and her jogging motion also stopped.

mustached"……!"

8. When she saw the doll with its gaping mouth, its neck tilted, and its red eyes seemingly gleaming coldly, staring straight at her, Nagasaki Motoyo almost screamed, but thankfully she managed to hold back.

Er buried his face in Kusano Akira's back, stifling his gasp, only revealing his eyes as he looked at Mortis, his arms wrapped tightly around Mortis's arm like iron clamps.

"Mortis, come here, I need to ask you something."

Kusano Akira waved to Mortis, signaling him to come closer, but Nagasaki Motoyo trembled again upon hearing Kusano Akira's words.

Sensing the vibration behind him, Kusano Akira changed his waving gesture to a stopping gesture and then pointed to the sofa.

"Wait, don't come over yet. Sit down on the sofa for a bit."

"...What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Mortis snapped out of her daze, gave Nagasaki Motoyo one last subtle glare, then chuckled and jumped onto the sofa, swinging her legs.

Although it appeared nonchalant on the surface, it was already going berserk inside.

【Damn it!!!】

Why are Su Shi and Ming hooking up again?!

Is it my fault?! Should I not have done anything unnecessary?

What did she mean by that gesture just now? Was it a provocation?!

"Nothing, I just wanted to ask what happened between you and Su Shi—that is, the person next to me—just now."

Kusano Akira pointed to the girl beside him whose eyes were the only part of her body visible. The girl's shoulders were still trembling slightly, so he patted her hand reassuringly.

"Oh... I just gave her a little fright. After all, she looks very familiar, which reminds me of some people from my past life. I just couldn't help but want to tease her."

"Before he died..."

Nagasaki Motoyo muttered these words, her shimmering eyes scanning the doll's image, which she hadn't been able to see clearly before due to the darkness, only recognizing its general shape. Her fear dissipated somewhat because of the doll's current behavior.

If you look closely, it's still quite scary, but it doesn't have that urban legend feel anymore. Once you get used to it, it's not so bad.

Moreover, when she speaks, she seems quite normal, like a comedian, except her voice is a bit unpleasant—no wonder Kusano Akira was so confident in telling her that the doll was safe.

Judging from its appearance alone, it does seem harmless, but Nagasaki Motoyo, whose first impression was not good, remains wary of it.

Then a new question arose in her mind.

Why does this doll know her name and use Xiaomu's cries for help to lure her over? Is it because Kusano Akira told it about them?

"Is it really just fear?"

"Really! You have to believe me, I've never lied! Every word is true!"

"Then apologize to her. Look how scared she is."

Although his tone became very serious, as if to show his unquestionable authority, his actions were completely different. He winked at Mortis gently and mouthed 'please'.

"...I'm so sorry."

Although somewhat reluctant to apologize to Nagasaki Motoyo at Kusano Akira's request, Mortis obediently lowered his head and said sorry.

Kusano Akira nodded, then slowly turned her head, nodded to Nagasaki Motoyo who seemed to be lost in thought and whose eyes were somewhat unfocused, and gave her a smile.

"See, I told you it was safe."

Volume 1: Chapter 121 (Chapter 119) We Shouldn't Continue to Be Leisurely (2k)

“…Ming-san, I’m leaving now.”

Although it was unclear why this doll didn't act as terrifying as before in front of Kusano Akira and didn't seem to have any intention of hurting anyone, Nagasaki Motoyo's nerves relaxed a little.

Kusano Akira seems to be safe for the time being, so there's no need for her to stay here any longer; it would be better for her to go home first.

After all, she didn't know how the doll would treat her. Even if the doll really was just 'scaring' her as it claimed, she couldn't let her guard down.

Not to mention that there was also Kusano Akira next to her, who might be even more dangerous to her.

"Huh? You're leaving already? Won't you stay a little longer?"

Seeing Nagasaki Motoyo release his arm and the soft touch disappear, Kusano Akira felt a sense of relief, but also a touch of regret.

Then Nagasaki Motoyo slowly stood up as if to leave, and Kusano Akira also stood up and reached out his hand as if to stop her.

"No need, thank you for your help tonight."

Nagasaki Motoyo gently shook her head, looked at Kusano Akira seriously with her clear eyes, then turned and walked to the door, bowing slightly to him at the doorway.

"Good night."

Her flaxen hair, like gentle waves of wheat, swayed with her hurried yet rhythmic steps, shimmering softly under the orange light of the corridor.

Kusano Akira followed behind her, only turning his gaze away after seeing Nagasaki Motoyo enter the elevator. A hint of regret seemed to appear on his face as he rubbed his fingers together, as if they still carried the lingering warmth of their intertwined fingers.

"..."

Mortis remained sitting blankly on the sofa, his head tilted to one side. His eyes, which had been glowing red, were now dull and lifeless, making him look like an ordinary doll.

【仲＠：;↓〉粫◇＄散＊★傘】∮另～伍该什么？】

What should we do next?

Why do changes never seem to go in the direction I want?

Why so fast?

Mortis fell into deep thought.

It seems that because of some of its unnecessary actions, Nagasaki Motoyo's affection for Kusano Akira has increased even faster than before.

Having just sat opposite those two, it was naturally able to notice many details that they themselves might not have noticed.

For example, Nagasaki Motoyo's unconscious dependence on Kusano Akira; for example, she seems completely unaware of how boundless and ambiguous her behavior is; for example, her acceptance of the fact that she can speak while using a doll's body is much higher than when she was frightened by it earlier.

Could it be that its improper operation accelerated the return of 'Nagasaki Motoyo'?

The abnormality of Nagasaki Motoyo just now must have been influenced by her future self, just like it influenced Wakaba Mutsumi in the present. Otherwise, there's no way to explain why her relationship with Kusano Akira has become somewhat intimate.

It had heard Nagasaki Motoyo mention it before, that even after they reconciled, she and Kusano Akira remained lukewarm towards each other for a long time.

At that time, Nagasaki Motoyo would never have lied to it, which could only mean that she was really coming back. (Sad)

"...What should we do?"

Unconsciously, Mortis murmured, unable to even maintain the shrill voice expected of a doll; her clear, soft voice echoed in the air. "Eh?"

The voice carried a palpable anxiety, tinged with helplessness, like the mournful cry of a fledgling lost from its flock on a late autumn night. The parted lips no longer seemed like a sinister smile, but rather a painful contortion.

"No... Su Shi can't come back, if she comes back..."

"Even doing that is no longer possible for me..."

"And we're bound to lose, both Xiang and I are bound to lose..."

"I can't come back empty-handed...no, absolutely not..."

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no…!" Zero

The doll mechanically opened and closed its mouth, as if it had truly become a machine without gears, only able to continuously execute meaningless tones. Its clear, cold voice also lost control due to excessive urgency, turning into an out-of-tune music box.

Its dim eyes regained their dazzling red light, and it raised its head, its gaze fixed on Kusano Akira, growing increasingly frenzied and dangerous.

Should we just stay here...?

【…】

No, no, no, no, no, no!!!

Mortis shook his head frantically, trying to dispel the dangerous thoughts from his mind.

How could you do this? At least not now. There's still a chance. Stay calm, you must stay calm...

Wait until there's no hope left before considering this...

"Body……"

"You need a physical body..."

Mortis had given up on any so-called intelligence gathering. It shouldn't continue to be so leisurely. If it dragged on any longer, it would be impossible to compete with anyone with its ridiculous doll-like body.

Toyokawa Shoko already knew of its existence, but Toyokawa Shoko herself seemed to have a memory lapse, so it was alright; the important thing was other people.

The current progress is too fast. If Wakaba Mutsumi and it don't make something soon, they will definitely experience failure again.

X "..."

I "mortis?"

Meanwhile, Kusano Akira, finally shifting his gaze from the corridor, turned around and immediately saw Mortis, who had become very strange. Somewhat curious, he walked up to him and asked.

"what happened to you?"

"..."

"Ah, it's nothing, it's nothing~"

u reacted to Kusano Akira's words. Mortis, which had been mechanically repeating its actions, suddenly stopped, as if it had been paused. After a moment, it slowly raised its head and gave a stiff laugh.

It raised its arm, which was wrapped in the tattered sleeve of its dress, and waved it gently in the air twice, slowly and softly. The loose threads on its arm swayed gently with the movement, as if it were also telling Kusano Akira that everything was alright.

:"Um?"

Akira gently squeezed its hand and looked at it intently. It was the first time he had noticed that Mortis's body was actually quite tattered, but it was covered up by his even more tattered dress.

5. "Your body...do you need me to help you repair it? There are so many open stitches."

7. "Oh my, you're so gentle. But a guy like you who lives alone probably doesn't know how to sew, right?"

Lu: "I really don't know how... but I can ask someone for help."

6. "...Looking for your friends?"

"Of course not, you definitely need to find a professional. There are plenty of elderly people who can sew."

4. "Hehe, is that so..."

Mortis gave a dry laugh, trying to brush off Akira Kusano.

It no longer had the will to play dumb; it just wanted to find a way back into its body.

"No need, I'm a supernatural being, so it doesn't matter if it's a bit worn out."

Volume 1: Chapter 122. Where's the door? (2k)

"Ghosts are considered living beings? This is the first time I've ever heard of that."

Since Mortis clearly stated that he was fine and it didn't have any negative impact on it, Kusano Akira had nothing to say, except for a couple of casual remarks.

"You just said there was food, right? Where is it? I'm starving. I haven't had a drop of water since noon. I'm going to collapse if I hold on any longer."

"Kitchen."

"Oh, the kitchen..."

Kusano Akira pulled his gaze away from Mortis and turned to walk towards the restroom.

"By the way, I just wanted to tell you that you don't need to prepare my...meal...tomorrow..."

The sound grew fainter and fainter. Kusano Akira hadn't even left the living room when he stopped in his tracks. He stared blankly at a corner that wasn't illuminated by the living room lights—the guest room he had specially prepared for Mortis.

Where a wooden door should have stood, only a rickety door frame remained, the broken door panels on the ground looking as if they had suffered some inhuman abuse, with wood chips scattered all over the floor.

Nakakusano Akira stood frozen in place, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. After a long while, he trembled as he raised his hand and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

His neck, like a rusty gear, mechanically turned toward Mortis, his fingers trembling uncontrollably as he pointed toward the 'ruins-like' scene, his previously steady voice now tinged with a noticeable tremor.

q "...Where are we?"

"..."

Nmortis guiltily tilted his head away, his cotton-fist-shaped hand resting lightly against his chest.

"...Say something! Where are we?"

Part Two: "...Mortis doesn't know, meow~"

Kusano Akira silently walked to the guest room, squatted down, and gently ran his fingertips along the cracks in the door panel, feeling the cool touch on his body.