Chapter 4 (d)

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Teramoto: "Good morning, Furudo-san, Satsukawa-san."

Erika: "Good morning to you, Teramoto."

Satsukawa: "Good morning..."

It seems that she is in a good mood. At any rate her pride hasn't diminished of a single bit.

Teramoto: "I've been told that I'd find you here, Furudo-san, I came here to thank you."

Erika: "You wanted to thank me?"

I pretend to be surprised. I laugh with amusement.

Teramoto: "Kagami told me what you've done. I'm really not sure what to think about you, but, for now, you have my gratitude."

Erika: "Do you really think that I've done you a favor, Teramoto? All I care about is to expose the truth. I couldn't really let the case to be closed before my job was done."

Teramoto: "Even then, you saved my friend. Regardless of the reason, I feel the need to thank you."

Erika: "Good, well done! Now everyone witnessed how much you care for you friend. Nice move, Teramoto."

Teramoto: "What... do you mean?"

Erika: "Oh, nothing. It's just that some people think you might be the one who tried to frame Hibari."

Teramoto: "W-what?!"

Outrage. Not bad.

Erika: "It's all right, it's all right! You've just demonstrated that you care a lot about your friend, therefore you can't possibly be the one who framed her, right? That couldn't have been your original intention. Which is why I'm telling you: good job! You couldn't have waited for a better chance to show your goodwill!"

The students around us start murmuring.

Teramoto: "Are you... are you insinuating that my honest words of gratitude are fake?!"

Erika: "Uh? Me? No, not at all! Ah ha ha ha!"

My laughter is filled with scorn. Teramoto grits her teeth and her eyes burn with hatred.

Teramoto: "Forget everything that I said! You're just a despicable person! I shouldn't have come here!"

Erika: "Are you leaving already? Why don't you take a seat? There are so many things we could talk about."

Teramoto: "There's absolutely nothing that I want to tell you anymore!"

Erika: "Oh, I'm sure of that! I wonder how many little secrets you're hiding!"

Teramoto: "I'm leaving!"

The murmur becomes louder. The spectators are discussing the scene that they have just witnessed. Has it been a memorable show? Or was it dull and boring? Judging by the reactions I would say that the reception is definitely positive. I think it was a good performance overall, just a few improvisations here and there, but the script was followed closely enough.

However the spectators are under the wrong assumption that the show is over. One of the key actors is about to retreat behind the curtains, so they concluded that this is already the end. Wrong! This is just the end of the first act, the best part has yet to come.

Teramoto is completely unaware, she doesn't know that the stage still requires her presence. She is walking away, followed by her entourage, as if she has no longer any business with me. Oh, but this is also part of the script. She must keep going until I say the word. The next line is mine, and the second act will not start unless I recite it. Should I do it now? No, it is still too early! Let them think that this is really the end, let us wait a little more! After all it doesn't matter how far she goes, she will hear me, and then she will stop. Because that is her role, because that is what is written in her script! She cannot defy her fate, she is just a pawn, a puppet, a marionette!

Dance to my tune, Teramoto, it is time!

Erika: "Pazuzu!"

The crowd falls silent. Time freezes. The second act begins.

I cannot see Teramoto's face, because she simply stopped there, midway, she didn't turn around. But I bet she is surprised, I bet she can't believe to her ears. And yet everyone heard me, everyone knows that I dared to utter the forbidden name. The girls around me are particularly shocked. Even if not all of them are among those who believe in Teramoto's lies, they all know that I have just defiantly broken a taboo, they know that this equals to a declaration of war. Most males are confused, but they can still read the mood, they can still tell that something major is happening.

Meanwhile Teramoto is immobile, paralyzed. She probably doesn't want to believe that I am actually challenging her on this ground, or maybe she is trying bide her time while she thinks about how to counter my move.

Very well, if she is so indecisive, let us give her an incentive! Let us remove any doubts that she might have! Let us make it clear that she didn't misheard anything! I stand up, and showing my most evil grin, I once again repeat:

Erika: "Pazuzu!"

My voice echoes in the now silent cafeteria. The shocked expressions multiply among the many faces of the crowd. I feel it, it is all around me! Fear! Outrage! Dismay! But this is just an added bonus. These meaningless students are just small fries, I cannot feast upon them, they cannot sate my hunger! My real prey is in front of me. She finally turned around, she is finally facing me, and what a wonderful view is she! Her soul is boiling with rage, but she is smirking at the same time. She knows what I am trying to do and she has accepted my challenge. It is almost as if she is telling me: 'Come on! Say it again! Say it, if you dare!'

Pathetic! Utterly ridiculous! Why would I even have a problem with that? I will show her how little I care about her stupid rules! I will show her how little I am affected by her superstitions!

But first I want to get closer, first I want to make sure she can look directly into my eyes. So I walk, slowly, but relentlessly. Her demon is nothing before me, I am by far scarier! My hands are sharp talons, my exposed teeth are pointed fangs ready to savage her! This is the truth, there is nothing supernatural about it! Demons aren't otherworldly creatures, demons are humans that have fallen into the depths of their own dark souls! And I am one! Look at me!

I am so close now that I could bite Teramoto's nose off before she could even feel the pain. I am a ferocious beast ready to devour the helpless game in front of her. But she is doing quite a good job at keeping her cool, because as much as she recognizes the dangerous animal that I am, she believes to be safe behind the bars of her cage made of tricks and lies. If only she knew how little protection they actually provide!

Erika: "Pazuzu!"

I hear the squeals of several terrorized girls. One even dropped the melon-pan she was holding. The whispering resumes, but curiosity prevails. All eyes are on us, excitedly awaiting for what will happen next.

I briefly look behind me to see what Satsukawa is doing. He is still sitting in front of his table, and he is covering his face with both hands. Quite amusing.

Teramoto's grin is now showing less derision and more anger. This is more like I want it, but it can get better. Whatever will she do, now that I trampled over her precious taboo? Too many people have witnessed my defiance, she can't possibly let it pass without saying a word. But no matter how she decides to answer, she will fall directly into my trap. She is an actor, she is a pawn, she is a puppet. She had bound herself to her own strings, I just pulled them. Now she must play her part.

Amuse me, Teramoto, dance on my palm! Do not disappoint me!

Teramoto: "Foolish... woman..."

Erika: "What's the big deal? It's just a stupid, worthless name!"

Teramoto: "Names hold tremendous power! You're just an ignorant fool who doesn't know what she's dealing with!"

Erika: "Is that so? Then why nothing has happened yet? Shouldn't Pazuzu appear or something at this point? Why I don't see anything?"

Teramoto: "He's here. Pazuzu is here! He's right behind you!"

Several people scream and try to get as far as possible from where the demon supposedly is.

What a stupid and pathetic trick she is pulling anyway. Pazuzu is behind me? Don't make me laugh! As if there is even a chance that I will watch behind me. Only a complete idiot would fall for that!

Teramoto: "What's wrong? He's here! Don't you want to see him with your own eyes?"

Erika: "You're the only one who can see anything behind me! You're making a fool of yourself, Teramoto!"

Teramoto: "I can see him because I have the gift! He's normally invisible to the eyes of common men, but you've summoned him, he should be visible to you!"

Erika: "What a pathetic excuse!"

Teramoto: "What's the matter? Are you scared?!"

Erika: "Scared of what? Your demon is absolutely insignificant! If he's really that dangerous, then tell him to do something! Tell him to strike me! Tell him to bite me or whatever! Can he at least touch me? How come I don't feel a thing?!"

Teramoto: "You're just not worth the effort! Pazuzu is laughing at you, he thinks you're funny! He'll pay you a visit pretty soon, when you'll be alone. You'd better prepare yourself!"

Erika: "Why not now? Is he shy?! He can't perform in front of a crowd?!"

Some guys are laughing, but most people are serious or even scared. This is a pretty exciting battle.

Teramoto: "The more you're making fun of him, the more he'll make you regret it!"

Erika: "Aaah, I'm already bored! Is this all that you can do, Teramoto? Are you all words and no facts? I'm quite disappointed! I was under the impression that you were better than this. I thought you could prove that demons exist with something more substantial than void threats!"

Teramoto: "I refuse! People like you aren't worth the effort! People like you would still deny the supernatural even if they bumped on it! If you saw a ghost you'd say it's just your imagination! If several people saw it, you'd call it mass hysteria! Your irrational skepticism and closed mindedness is that ridiculous!"

Erika: "Don't underestimate me, Teramoto, if you could prove that demons exist, I would believe it! I can endure any truth! That's the kind of person I am! If the truth is that magic exists, then I will accept even that! But first, you must show me the proof!"

Teramoto: "It's useless, I won't waste my time with you."

Erika: "Then let me be completely blunt. Whether the supernatural is true or not isn't the issue. The issue is that you're just a fraud. All of your claims are nothing but badly conceived lies! You're not an arcanist! You're not an occultist! You're not a demonologist! You're not a medium, an esper, a priestess, a spiritualist nor anything! You're just an amateur who filled her head with a bunch of occult stuff from various sources without ever achieving a proper understanding! You wouldn't tell the difference from a serious magical theory and a baseless urban legend to save your life! In the end your pretentious supernatural lore is nothing but a pile of garbage without any worth whatsoever! Don't you even realize how messed up your lies are? How could you become any more pathetic! Don't make me laugh! This is so stupid it isn't even funny!"

Teramoto: "Shut up! What the hell do you think to know?! Who the hell do you think you are?! You know nothing about the spiritual world! Don't come and pretend you know what you're talking about!"

Erika: "If you're really that good, then prove me wrong! Stop hiding behind your lies and your worthless excuses!"

Teramoto: "Now you've seriously pissed me off! I don't normally use my powers to curse people, but I think I'll make an exception for you! On my name I'll curse you to an existence of pain and madness! And may you never find salvation until your last day on this world!"

Erika: "Ah ha ha ha ha! Keep telling your lies, Teramoto! Keep spouting your meaningless words! At this point everyone should've realized that this is all that you can do!"

Teramoto: "What a pathetic attempt to discredit me! These girls know what I can do! These girls have seen that what I tell is the truth! Your insults won't change that!"

Erika: "Then let me see what they've seen! Come on! Show me these great powers of yours!"

Teramoto: "Unfortunately I can't! I'm no longer allowed to perform my rituals. I'm already working on sealing the demon elsewhere, but it'll take time. For now I have no choice but to keep a low profile."

Erika: "Then I'll allow you!"

Teramoto: "What?!"

Erika: "Let me participate to one of these 'gatherings'! You've done a lot already, I'm sure you can do one more!"

Teramoto: "Are you serious?!"

Erika: "What's wrong? Can't you do that? All you need is twelve volunteers, right? You've got one already, I volunteer! You can use my spiritual power however you want!"

Teramoto: "As if I can really do that after all that have happened! The teachers would never allow me..."

Erika: "They currently have no authority over that shed! It's been sealed by the police, and no one can prevent the investigators from using that place however they deem necessary in order to solve the case."

Satsukawa: "Wait a moment, Erika! We never talked about this!"

Satsukawa finally decided to join me.

Erika: "Don't you want to solve this case? This is a chance to learn more."

Satsukawa: "Kimura will never agree with this!"

Erika: "Why not? Do you really think he'd care just because someone died there?"

Teramoto: "This is... crazy... crazy! How can you ask me to perform my ritual there..."

Erika: "What's wrong?! Aren't you dealing with dead people on a regular basis?! Why are you suddenly so uneasy?! Does it bother you that much to be in the same room where someone was killed? How odd!"

Teramoto: "T-that... that's not it!"

Erika: "So, can you do it or not?"

Teramoto: "I'll get in trouble if I..."

Erika: "You're not going to do it by your own initiative. This is something that I'm explicitly asking you to do! You won't be held responsible for that."

Satsukawa: "That means... I will?!"

Erika: "I doubt the principal will make a fuss about that, don't you agree?"

Satsukawa doesn't answer, but he knows what I mean. Wakamatsu is willing to pretend to look elsewhere while I deal with Teramoto. That much was made clear just a few hours ago.

Erika: "Then it's decided! You can start making the necessary preparations."

Teramoto: "Wait a moment! I didn't agree to do that!"

Erika: "Does that mean you're pulling out? After all that I've said? I already knew that you were a fraud, but I thought you had a spine."

Teramoto: "Yooouuu!"

Erika: "Oh, I see! You're afraid that I'll see through your tricks. It's quite understandable!"

Teramoto: "Ridiculous! That's not the issue at all!"

Erika: "Then what's the issue? What's the problem?!"

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