CHAPTER O.

Apparition — an unusual or unexpected sight: phenomenon. 

I am Matsuri Raama, someone who is possessed by an Apparition, specifically by Kakureta Neko. She is known as 'The Hidden Cat' and has been hiding inside my body ever since I was five years old. 

The word 'possession' isn't really the right term to describe the situation I'm in with her. She seems to have 'hide' inside my body, she never really comes out unless I'm in danger. Not because she cares for my well being, but because I'm someone who seems to not die from her power. Kakureta Neko is like a wanted criminal in a place called the Spiritual World. She's extremely powerful, no Human or Spirit Person can handle her — so she resides inside me.

Kakureta is aware that these people want to kill her, which is why she protects me from danger. There are certain Spirit People from this Spiritual World, called Spirit Warriors who are trained to fight Apparitions. They seem to want to try to kill me, because of Kakureta Neko.

It gets quite tiring dealing with katanas, scythes, swords, and other blessed deity weapons going through my body. Kakureta's power seems to grant me immortality and extreme regenerative properties but I still feel the pain of a sword going through my stomach.

I couldn't even find time to hang out with my girlfriend, Tomoko Sekitani anymore. It's not like we had much time outside of school because she's the president of the student council. It doesn't help how I also barely attended my classes. This whole situation was quite bothersome, now it seemed to become even more of a hassle when Hisakata Mirei appeared.

Hisakata wasn't her actual surname — Kakureta told me Spirit People, in general, don't have surnames. She joined my school — Hisamitsu Private High School, on account to kill me despite the fact she was clumsy and weak. There's apparently a big bounty on my head, which is why I get attacked by Spirit Warriors twice a week.

Hisakata, however, attacks me any chance she gets. This isn't a lot considering I don't go to school that often anyways, she also has no clue how to travel in the Human World. She could barely get to the school cafe, there was just no way she would understand how the streets worked. 

At least that's what I thought — turns out she had tried to follow me home this day. Thankfully, Tomoko had work to do for the student council. My close friend, Kohei Hareno, lived in the school dorm, so I didn't have an audience if she tried anything.

"How long are you going to follow me, Hisakata-San?"

 I turned around so that I could face her. Hisakata fumbled quite a bit before she badly hid herself behind a nearby car. I just sighed, catching her take a peek at me like I wouldn't see. When our eyes met, she jumped back into a crouching position behind the car.

"—Eep!" 

I saw a sudden flash of pure white, then came a slight headache. This was a way that Kakureta communicated with me. It wasn't really an ideal way, but it's better that we at least have an understanding of one another.

'I don't want to deal with those spirit pests — especially her. Go home already, Matsuri.'

I nodded, sheepishly scratching the back of my messy black hair. I didn't want to deal with Hisakata either, but she probably had no idea how to get back home. Wait — did she even have a home? I've only seen her around school, never leaving or even coming inside the building.

"Erm . . . Hisakata-San . . . I've got to go—"

Before I could finish my sentence, a dark object flew right towards my head. I quickly jumped backward dodging the wretched object. I knew that thing way too well. It was Hisakata's fan — but when did she even summon it? I decided to run in a direction away from where students and other bystanders could see us.

"Hey! Hey!! Don't run from me Kakureta Neko!"

"I told you countless times, I'm Matsuri Raama — your Senpai! I'm not Kakureta, herself!" 

I ran towards a nearby park that looked fairly empty. Hisakata was right on my tail preparing to throw her black metal fan at me again. I threw my school bag at her, to catch her attention away from me knocking over a nearby garbage can.

"Nice try!" She yelled, throwing her fan at my bag, slicing all the contents in half.

 It's not like I cared for my schoolwork, but paying to replace all the objects she destroyed would be a pain in the ass. I then heard a loud crashing sound behind me followed by a high-pitched "—EEP!" She had tripped over the garbage can just like I planned her to do.

"Ow, ow, ow!!" Hisakata cried rolling over a couple of times. 

I glanced over my shoulder wondering if she had hurt herself too badly. Her black stocking had a rip in the knee area, her white school sweater, as well as her purple skirt, were covered in dirt. The purple ribbon, First Years were required to wear, seemed to have loosened up. Her messy long black hair was messier than normal and her pale pink framed glasses laid a couple of feet away from her.

"C-crap . . ." I mumbled to myself. What kind of Senpai would just leave their Kouhai? Even if Hisakata has tried to kill me — it would be wrong of me to leave her like that.

'You will not help that pest! Matsuri!!?'

I grimaced at the painful headache Kakureta was causing me. She definitely was angry, but I sucked it up and began to carefully walk towards the clumsy First Year. I picked up her glasses that didn't have a single crack despite the fact that only the upper side was made out of metal.

"Here." I held her glasses out to her.

Hisakata sat up with a frown on her face. She snatched her glasses out of my hand, cleaning them frantically on her sweater. After she placed it on her nose a couple of times, trying to find the perfect stop, she stood up.

"D-D-D-Don't think this means truce, Kakureta Neko! I will kill this hollow body you're—"

A loud rumble interrupted Hisakata's speech. Her purple eyes widened and her face turned completely pink. She opened her mouth to speak but another rumble stopped her.

"I will kill—"

Another rumble.

"I will—"

Another rumble.

"K-Kill—"

This time it seemed like her stomach was growling.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her attempts to sound threatening. She glared, getting ready to summon her weapon once more. I quickly put my hands up, surrendering to her.

"Let me buy you dinner."