7 Nights:Chapter 01 part1

Chapter 1 - The woman warrior dances in the night - Part 1

My name is Sakuya Hoshi

I go to Suijou Academy

I’m in high school, from the 1E group, and my student class number is 33.

I’m just a normal high-schooler.

Or rather, I think I should say I ‘was’ normal. These past few days, I’ve been involved in some rather strange events.

It started… yes, it started 3 days ago---

“………?”

When I realized it, it was nighttime and I was standing in the middle of a park.

“W… Wha?”

I looked around, and all I saw was playground stuff such as swings and slides. I was standing in the middle of this park, wearing my school uniform.

“What… What’s this all about?”

I was supposed to be in my room, on my bed, wearing a T-shirt and underpants. That’s what I last remember. Maybe someone brought me here? Wait… If I’m standing up right now, that would mean someone hypnotized me? If it wasn’t that…

“Did I sleep walk all the way here…?”

Mumbling, I shook off each possibility of what happened one after another… I don’t understand the current situation at all. It’s useless to think about how I came here.

I put my hand in my pocket… And, it was there, my mobile phone. I took it out, unfolded it, and checked the time. It said 2:14am. Today is Monday, the 25th of June.

“It’s the time where even the plants sleep…”

Most places will probably be closed by now. The only places open would probably be the Gyuudon-shop, the convenience store, and the police station. So it’s not very likely for anyone to have spotted a sleep-walker at this kind of time.

“So I wonder, how far away has this sleep-walker walked?”

I don’t think that this place is too far away from home… Besides, I kind of think I’ve been here before.

“It was over here? Yeah I remember now.”

Just as I thought, there was a map of this area on the sign post. This small park does not have any light-posts, so I use my mobile phone to light up the map and the first thing which got to me was the park's name. Which was…

“Shiraishi city park… Shiraishi!?”

I shouted it out. This is crazy! Why!? How!?

I can’t help but question my current situation over and over again. The city I’m in at the moment is the neighboring city of my city… I was currently a 1 hour walk away from my place.

For me, Shiraishi City is a city filled with memories. When I was young, I lived in this city, and I played in that park. But, when I was in middle school, I moved houses and since then, I haven’t even visited this city once.

If the situation was different, I probably would’ve been glad I came here. But, unfortunately I am dreadfully worried. I just want to hurry up and go home.

I remember this area vaguely… But still I know how to get back home. My house is located in Naobi City, which is to the north of Shiraishi City, so I must advance north and enter the shopping district, then I must enter the station and go through the south exit to the north exit, pass through Suijou Academy and arrive home. The average time that would take is 1 hour, but after trying it for real, I disagree.

“Damn it… Why on earth did I… go to such a far place?”

Around this area, everyone’s house lights were turned off, and it was so quiet it was actually scary. The outsides lights were strangely all off, and the moonlight was the biggest help of all. This place is just like a ghost town. Since this is the case, I would be more than happy to hear the noise of a truck or some other loud noise. Also, I really want a taxi. I wonder if I’ll find one once I exit the station.

“Oh…”

Where I walk, I see a building with light. It’s the convenience store! The banner which shines green and white says “Cran Mart”.

“I wonder why… I’m just so happy!!!”

Inside the store would be really cool, with the air conditioner working well and, while listening to the radio, I would stand and read some magazines. And then I’ll grab an ice-lolly and bring it to the nighttime shop-keeper who has a blunt looking face, give him the money, receive the change, and have a great time. I've thought of an awesome plan indeed!

I happily open the door-

“Wha?”

I was standing at the door, the air conditioner was on. But, there was no radio, and there was no shop-keeper.

“Hello? Is anybody here?”

Maybe the shop-keeper thought no one was going to come at this time of day and decided to read manga over around the corner? Or maybe he’s sorting out the products around the corner? Either way it’s strange… If I were a bad person, I could’ve swiped a couple of things and went off.

Either way, there’s no reply.

“Helloooooo~!?”

I shout out into the room behind the cash register, still no reply. Is he ditching his job by taking a nap?

“Hello? Please reply back! Your lack of security is over the limits!”

I walk in and check inside the room.

“Not there.”

The room had no one in it, on the desk was some magazines, and the computer was left on. There were many boxes filled with products which had passed the use-by date…

“Wait a minute… Is this a joke?”

Why doesn’t anyone answer? Why isn’t anyone here?!

“Hello!? Hello!? Anyone here!?”

I shouted from the top of my lungs. Even then, there’s still no reply. All I can hear is the sound of the computer and the fridge buzzing. That noise makes me lose my temper even more.

“Damn… Damn it!!!”

I can’t stand it anymore, so I dash out of the store and shout.

“ANYBODY HERE?!!!”

I shouted as hard as I can. But even that gets sucked away by the night's darkness. There’s no change and, again, it’s just silence. What… This is as if… This is as if I’m the only one left in the world!!! What the hell!?

“Somebody! Answer me!!!”

Isn’t there… Isn’t there anyone? I need a way to confirm that I’m not the only human being here… That’s it! Mobile phone! I take my phone out of my pocket, who should I call? Home? No, calling the police is the quickest solution, right? I try to call 110 and-

I was so freaked out I even forgot to breathe.

2:14am.

All of my previous thoughts just floated out of my head in an instant. I just stare at the time with no expression. The seconds tick away, “56… 57… 58… 59…0”, but, it’s only the seconds which move, and the minutes don’t change at all. It stays as 2:14am. Is this even possible? Is it some kind of trick? Someone’s trying to scare me? I’m too confused. This situation I’m in-

“………!?”

A loud scream wiped away all my panicking thoughts. There’s someone else besides me!

“Kyaaa~!!!”

It’s a voice of a girl. Even though I’m filled with joy, now’s not the right time to be happy. It’s clearly a voice calling for someone’s help! I run towards where the voice came from. Is it a molester or something? Even if this weren’t a ghost town, it’s certain that there are no people here. I have to help her!

“! Are they over there!?”

I hear someone’s footsteps, getting further away from me.

“Hey, wait!”

I can’t save anyone if they keep moving. Then for a moment, in the corner of my eyes, I see a figure of a girl who disappeared around the corner of the alley.

“Wait…!”

I increase my speed. I’ve finally found ‘someone’ here besides me. I must not lose sight of her. I dash into the alley and-

BANG!!!

All of a sudden something hit me, and I see stars. The dull shock I received has gone all over my body, I’m dizzy and I fall over and land on my butt.

“Wha… What?”

Why am I… Why am I sitting down…? I can’t think about it properly. My vision is blurry and I am dizzy. Trying to fix that, I shake my head and, *KIIN!* -I receive a huge headache and I curl my body up. Right next to me… I hear footsteps. Is… someone there?

“………”

I lift my head up. In my blurred vision what I saw was… a girl. She was a cute girl, who is probably the same age as me. The uniform she’s wearing is something I am very familiar with.

“Owww…!”

The headache came back, and I dropped my head down again. Then while falling down, what came in my sight was a wooden bat. The bat slowly lifts up, and my eyes follow it back up. My eyes caught the girl’s eyes. The girl was staring at me, and in those eyes I saw fear. She was breathing hard. Was it because she ran? Was it because she fears me? Or is she worrying about what she’s about to do next?

“….u….”

What the hell is she doing? Why is she glaring at me like that? The thoughts confuse my mind. But, because I was smashed before, my tongue isn’t moving properly. The words don’t come out of my mouth. My confused body just won’t order my mouth to speak.

“haa…haaa…ha…!!!”

The girls pants even harder. The bat she lifted up, is being swung straight down towards my head! Shit!!!

“Shi-”

◆　◆　◆

“ARGHHHHHHH!”

While shouting so, so hard that my throat could’ve exploded, I wake right up.

“Meoooooooow!”

Right next to me on my bed, my cat Miiko screams and runs out of my room.

“Whohhh, oohhh this place is…”

I don’t even need to confirm it, it’s my room, in my home, in my city. It’s not in Shiraishi City, nor is it nighttime… The sunlight coming out from the gaps of my curtain confirms that the sun has already risen.

“Wha… Dre… Dream?”

My heart is beating really quickly. Sweat has covered my entire body. Was this because of that dream, or was it because it’s just a hot day?

“Tha… That was a dream, right?”

I can’t help but question myself. It was that much of a realistic dream. I remember it perfectly. The nighttime town, with no sign of people, the footsteps… and even… the massive pain I got from the girl who smashed me in the head…

“………”

I carefully touch my head with my hands… With worried thoughts, I slowly rub my hands around… But my head does not have a bruise, nor is it damaged in any way… My hand does not get covered in blood and the pain is not there anymore.

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