Chapter Text
I am Jade. The youngest and the only daughter of the Mask Clan. Ever since I was little, I felt like the spirits were always protecting me. My favorites are the Water and Wind spirits.
I have two older brothers, but Big Brother Daigo is always so busy with his work making masks. Every day, I try to tell him about what I’ve been up to, but lately... it’s like his eyes never meet mine. Big Brother Kendo is kind and listens, but sometimes, for no reason, he turns pale as a ghost.
Today is the day! I’m going to find out what’s bothering Big Brother Daigo!
"Hey, Big Brother Daigo! Look! I did so much exploring today! And, and... the Water Spirit told me something really funny—"
I always try to be bright and cheerful, and it’s normal for Daigo to give me short answers. But after seeing the same reaction over and over, I can tell... he’s deeply troubled by something.
"...Sorry, Jade. I’m just a bit sleep-deprived. I want to hear your story, but... maybe later."
There it is again. That look. He’s looking at me, yet his gaze is fixed on something far, far away. What should I do? Is it my fault? But today is different. I want to find the cause of this heavy atmosphere, so I ask him straight out.
"Hey, Big Brother Daigo, how are you feeling? Have you been worrying about something lately?"
I immediately regret being so blunt, but I want to fix this feeling. If I did something wrong, he could just tell me. I wait, hoping for a real answer, but Daigo’s reply is the same as always.
"It's nothing for you to worry about, Jade. I’m going to go rest for a bit—"
And just like that, he retreated to his room. Once again, he didn't tell me anything. He looked so lonely, so hard to reach. Is he hiding something? I wondered, but I decided not to pry any further. If he’s tired, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll just try again another day.
But those peaceful days were shattered by that sound.
It happened one night. I had just climbed into bed to sleep with my spirits.
"We had so much fun today, didn't we? ❤️"
I spoke to them, expecting their usual happy laughter. But this day was different. It might be rude to say about a spirit, but they were in a terrifying rage.
When I asked, "What's wrong?" the usually gentle spirits pouted their lips and cried out to me.
"Daigo... scary." "Daigo... bad man." "Daigo... hurting friends."
In that moment, I lost my breath. My favorite big brother was hurting my favorite spirits?
"Big brother is a kind person! Don't say such things!"
I got a little upset. I didn't want anyone—not even the spirits—to treat my brother like a villain. But the spirits kept saying the same thing. And then, they added:
"Right now... basement." "Basement... friends... hurting."
I strained my ears. Just as they said, I could hear a faint, high-pitched clanking sound coming from the basement—the sound of something being struck. I jumped out of bed and rushed toward the stairs. I remembered Daigo telling me never to go down there. But I couldn't stop. The spirits grew more and more terrified as we approached the basement door. My head was filled only with the desire to comfort them.
When I reached the basement, I saw a sight I could never have imagined. I peered through a gap between the rocks, careful not to be noticed.
"......!!"
I was speechless. My precious spirits were trapped in a cage so small they couldn't even move. A tube was connected to the cage, leading somewhere I couldn't see. The warm light of the spirits was being sucked away, and though I didn't understand the machinery, an evil light was leaking from one of its parts.
And the one operating that machine... was my beloved Daigo.
(How? Why?!)
"So you're here... You didn't see anything, did you, Jade?"
He caught me instantly. But something was wrong. His eyes were different. Even his hair looked different. He was my usual kind brother, yet... it felt as if something else was mixed inside him. The sense of wrongness was overwhelming.
"Answer me! There's no time! Give me that spirit!"
Daigo tried to forcibly snatch the spirit from my arms. (I have to move! I have to protect this little one!) My head understood, but my body wouldn't obey. I couldn't stop shaking. In the end... I couldn't do anything. I couldn't even protect my favorite spirit from my favorite brother. It was pathetic. My precious spirit was about to be taken away and used as a mere tool.
In that moment, the spirits sensed the danger. Their small bodies began to glow— "SCREEEEEEEEECH!!!" A high-pitched sound that made me want to cover my ears echoed through the basement. Then, I heard footsteps.
"JADE!!!"
Big Brother Kendo came running at full speed.
"Daigo, stop! What are you doing?! Jade! Are you okay?!"
Thanks to Kendo, the spirits took the chance to flee back to the Spirit Realm. I wanted to say something to him, but I collapsed in a daze. I had seen the hidden side of the brother I trusted so much. Looking back, maybe it was because I asked too many questions. Why won't he tell me anything? Is it my fault after all?
"Daigo... is that... that mask..." "............" "Silent, are you?! I’m so disappointed in you! You’re not my brother anymore—you're nothing to me!!"
Kendo threw his rage at Daigo and punched him across the face. But Kendo’s eyes were looking at something far away. Daigo fell to the ground and lost consciousness. At that moment, a residual image played inside Kendo’s brain.
"Not that vision again!! Not now!! ENOUGH!"
Brother!!!! Please stop!! It was my fault! I should have told you about this result sooner! I should have stopped you by force when you completed that mask!
Bro...ther... Big brother!! Are you oka—AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!! Stop it... give me back my brother and Jade, you monster!!!!!!!
........................
"The result never changes... No matter how many thousands of times I try, it’s no use. It really might be over. I’m sorry, Jade... I don't think I can stop him. I’m so sorry. I’m such a worthless brother."
Kendo’s tears trickled down onto Jade’s cheek. He picked her up and carried her back upstairs to her room.
Meanwhile, Daigo regained consciousness on the basement floor.
"Why am I lying here...? ......!! Why... is the mask finished!?"
I had no memory of it. I had been so sleep-deprived lately that I could barely walk. I had stopped listening to Jade’s stories, and I hadn't had a real conversation with Kendo in days. But for some reason, I felt as if Kendo had punched me.
Then, a devil’s whisper echoed in my head.
<<Well done, Daigo. You are right. Your thirst for knowledge is not a mistake. Everyone mocked you when you were a child, remember? But look. You did it. You completed the mask. Your parents are proud of you! Now, step through the warp gate! The truth you’ve been seeking is right there.>>
"Ah, I see. My dream is coming true. The Spirit Realm... the ideal place I wanted to go. Those days of being mocked are over. I was right. I was a good brother after all."
The humanity faded from Daigo’s eyes. Something pitch-black began to consume him.
(Hahaha... the Mask Clan is easy to crush once you break the eldest son!!! Now, all that’s left is to feast!!!! Once I take control here, I can monopolize all the anxiety and fear of the living! And my struggles will finally come to an end.)
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 1