幽霊物語 5

After returning to the land of the living and regaining my original appearance for now, I headed to the auditorium. The opening ceremony was about to start, and I wasn't going to miss it.

The principal welcomed everyone new and returning to the school, and explained some new rules. I didn't use the opportunity to kill Noriko. Letting her die without having her explain herself would be a waste. I didn't even let her see me. I decided to attend the ceremony using my new "true" appearance, with the white hair and red eyes, although it's not hard to tell it's me even then. It was just a precaution. It wasn't until I checked the class list that things got interesting

Class list:

Sasaki Yuji    2-A

XXXXXXXX    2-B

XXXXXXXX    1-C

XXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXX

Takagi Noriko 2-A

I was going to have some fun.

I used my invisibility to make sure Noriko was already in the classroom. I was ready to make my move. Of course, I got my teacher to help me introduce myself to my new classmates.

Hasegawa Ayumi. Ms. Hasegawa. I'm only talking about her because she's important. Remember, I don't like background characters in my story. Also, I'll address her as Ayumi, not Ms. Hasegawa. This may seem improper, but her and I are pretty close.

So, I had Ayumi say some lines for me.

"Everyone please settle down. I know some of you are excited for your first day of your second year, but we have a student who would like to introduce himself to the new faces and re-introduce himself to returning students."

I step in.

"Hello. My name is Sasaki Yuji. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

I had met most of them already, but I was basically a shadow for my first year. Quite unpopular to be frank. It was no different than a transfer student introducing himself to a brand new school.

But, Noriko's eyes were immediately on me. Wide open. There was one emotion written all over her face. Fear.

And I enjoyed seeing her afraid. She deserved to be afraid after killing me.

She ran away. She didn't get far though. It wasn't hard for me to slip out of the class room. I caught up to her. My interrogation began.

"Y-Yuji?"

The one and only.

"How? How are you here?"

Long story.

"I'm s-sorry!"

Too late for that.

I focused my thoughts. I concentrated hard, I centered my mind on one thing.

Takemikazuchi.

My empty hand now had the demon katana in it as if it were already there. No matter. The blade was at her throat. Time for answers. I was angry.

"Hello dear, did you miss me?"

I couldn't resist saying such a corny line. The setup was too perfect.

"I would like to know why you killed me. The longer you hesitate to tell me, the closer I press this blade into your neck. Fitting if you choose to die here and now, it's in a similar fashion to how you offed me."

Silence. Then she spoke.

"Because I love you."

That reason really pissed me off. But I wasn't satisfied.

"You're going to have to elaborate. I've thrown aside all feelings I have for you for now just for this moment. Right now, I won't hesitate to toss you in the dumpster where you put me."

She spoke.

"Really, it's because I love you. All my life you're the only one I've had. My parents are walking piles of soot, the students and teachers here are awful, and everyone else in my life treats me horribly except you. You cared about me when no one else did. You were always there for me."

I pressed the sword closer to her neck and said

"Then why did you kill me? That makes no sense!"

Noriko said "Because she wanted to take you away from me. She always talks about how nice you are to her and how she wants to hang out with you all the time. She's openly told many people that she likes you."

This is the first I've heard of this.

"She likes you, but I love you. You were going to be mine, and only mine. I was going to keep you all to myself. But she ruined everything. That bitch came along and had to open her mouth. She told me that you were hers. If I couldn't have you, then no one could. That's why I killed you."

"First, why did you kill me and not her?"

"I killed you because I couldn't have you all to myself. I was going to take care of her later."

Noriko doesn't even know how I feel about whoever she's talking about. Noriko really is a yandere.

"Noriko, you didn't even think that I might not even care about whoever this is you're talking about?"

"I-I never thought about it."

She's an idiot yandere.

"Whatever. Next, who is the girl in question?" I asked.

"Mochizuki Kiyomi."

I helped her pick up her stuff that she dropped one time, and we barely ever talk or see each other.

"I helped her with something one time, you have no reason to be upset by her saying that I would be hers. I can't believe you killed me over something so stupid. I get that you love me, and somewhere within me I'm glad you do, but you didn't even confirm how I felt before offing me."

"I'm sorry." She said.

"You're not sorry. You just never imagined this situation being a possibility."

I was becoming less angry.

"But all is forgiven."

She killed me, and I forgive her just like that. Why? She's still my long time friend who I've always looked after, and she's cute.

"Now that you're satisfied, is your spirit going to ascend to heaven? If so, I'm in no position to say things like this, but I'll miss you."

"I'm not going anywhere. I've returned because of my new job. But I'm also going to attend school. Also, take this as the truth from someone who has died, there is no heaven. Only an apathetic girl armed with a sword wearing only traditional Japanese clothing."

Then I laid down some ground rules.

"Noriko, I'm giving you orders. I have no feelings for Mochizuki Kiyomi whatsoever, so forget about her and stay away from her. If you harm her, I'll kill you. I've already been granted permission to kill you before coming back, so be grateful I didn't already put your head on a pike. Also to make sure you don't do anything you shouldn't, I'm going to accompany you for almost everything you do, except bathing, going to the restroom, and sleeping. I didn't think you would have a problem with me always being with you, but I wanted to give a heads up anyway. And don't give me that 'I don't care about you, you're not Yuji, Yuji's dead and his ghost isn't the same' cliche bullshit. I didn't come back from the dead to be treated like a pile of dirt. In case you're still doubting me, you can feel me. I'm the same as I was when I was alive, I'm still a human. The only difference is that I have no pulse and I'm much more badass."

I then cycled through all my demon weapons to prove my point.

"Also, I'll do you a favor. Since magic exists, I'll have it arranged that my body is restored to a recognizable state, and a death certificate issued, ruled as a suicide. As a bonus, I'll get the fingerprints on my corpse removed because someone wasn't smart enough to wear gloves. I wonder how it feels to have your murder victim cover up your crime. The school can't find out that I'm supposed to be dead though, how am I gonna hide that. Ah, fuck it. I'll incinerate my body into nothingness, and I've already found the knife and taken care of it so you'll never be found out. Be grateful."

"You do really care about me." Noriko said.

The vengeful spirit that is I comes back with the intent to kill you and I spare you? You still have doubts that I care about you?

"I'll overlook you killing me this one time, but don't try it again. It wont work. I'm not mortal anymore."

I was done talking about that.

"Hey, Yuji, I love you."

"I don't know if I can say the same right now."

"That's okay, you can always tell me later. But about you always accompanying me..."

"What?" I asked

"My deadbeat parents are never home, and I'm always alone, but your parents abandoned you for 'business' for the next few years, didn't they?"

I forgot about my parents. Whatever, the news that I died never broke so I don't need to deal with them. But how does Noriko know about my parents? Yanderes are stalkers, I should expect as much from her.

"Yeah they did, what of it?" I reluctantly asked.

"That means it's just you there to take care of the inn, right?"

I told her that since I'm dead, I'm not obligated to do anything for my parents anymore.

"Well, you're still living there, right?"

Obviously.

"Then, if you let me stay there I'll make sure-"

No.

"Please?"

Why?

"If you let me stay there, you'll never be far from me, so it'll be easier to monitor me that way. Plus, I'll help with chores. C'mon. You need to be close to me, I want to be close to you, it'll work out, I promise."

Fine.

I told her "You can live with me, because I know you haven't had many people to turn to, and I feel like protecting you. But, no sneaking into my room at night. We're not children anymore, plus it's not that kind of living situation. And, no attempted assassinations. That includes me or any future tenants. You're lucky I'm not making you pay. I still want income, so I'll have to pick up another job, if I count the innkeeping, that'll be three jobs I'm working. Anyway, if you try to hurt me or any other guests here, I'll kick you out. Then I'll kill you."

She agreed to my terms.

"So you said counting the innkeeping, you currently have two jobs? What's the other one?" She asks.

"It's a complicated situation."

I've always thought it somewhat romantic when someone says they would die for their love interest, but they should keep their mouths shut until they've actually done it.