Chapter One: The Monthly Crisis
Sunlight streamed through the curtains and warmed his face. Kaye Utogaia blinked sleepily, got out of bed, and was about to pull the curtains shut for a little more rest.
Bang!
A sudden loud crash jolted Kaye awake. He spun around in terror and stared at the doorway, where Fuki Kawakami stood with her arms crossed, clad in a white T-shirt and denim shorts, her legs round and straight.
Even after a night of deep sleep, Fuki’s hair shimmered with an unnatural gloss, and the signature tear-shaped mole at the corner of her eye heightened her alluring, almost otherworldly beauty.
“What are you doing up so early?!”
A burst of laughter escaped Fuki as she watched Kaye jump at her entrance.
But as her laughter faded, Fuki remembered why she’d come so early. She hurriedly thrust her used sanitary item in Kaye’s face.
“I’m on my period.”
“I can see that—stop waving it in my face…”
Looking disgruntled, Kaye blocked her, glancing at the girl before him—every motion radiated captivating charm, her beauty almost unreal.
He squinted at the crimson stains, where clusters of blood-red tendrils, reminiscent of Lovecraftian horrors, wriggled and explored unconsciously.
If he listened closely, he could even hear faint, nearly inaudible moans.
His mouth twitched. Kaye fetched a bag and held it out to Fuki, signaling her to drop the thing inside with obvious distaste.
Luckily, Kaye lived alone; otherwise, helping her dispose of this would have been much trickier.
In a corner of the yard, Kaye expertly kindled a fire in the grill—more a cremation furnace than anything. He looked over his shoulder at Fuki, who stood with arms folded, stamping impatiently in pink slippers on her pale feet.
“Why are you just standing there? Come help! If you don’t control its growth, how can we burn it cleanly?”
“Tsk… Useless man…”
Fuki grumbled, her expression sour, but as she approached, she saw Kaye extinguish the fire with a blank face.
He walked to the wall and opened the door specially built for Fuki’s frequent visits.
“What are you doing?”
Kaye glanced at the baffled girl on the ground, his voice flat.
“I’m a useless man, so you can go find someone useful.”
“....”
Stunned by his abrupt dismissal, Fuki rose, annoyed.
“Can’t you be a little more gentlemanly? Every guy I meet outside begs for my attention.”
“Nope. Get out.”
“...”
“…Sorry. I was wrong…”
Reason overcame temper at last. Years of neighborly coexistence had taught Fuki well: Kaye, immune to her powers, would never indulge her whims.
---
Seeing Fuki back down, Kaye shook his head and shoved her aside.
“Don’t get in the way.”
“You…!”
Needing his help, Fuki swallowed her anger. She would need him again in the days to come.
Kaye Utogaia, just wait—once my special days are over…
As Fuki schemed how to repay him, Kaye suddenly turned and looked at her.
“You seem to be thinking something rather wicked…”
Fuki smiled sweetly, grabbing his wrist and rocking it gently.
“No, I’m just thinking how to thank you~”
“Heh…”
Kaye sneered but said nothing. Though they hadn’t grown up sharing a crib, they were true childhood friends.
Spoiled by others, this woman was a bundle of desire, violence, and every negative emotion. Did he not know her nature?
She might act meek now, but who knew what trick she’d play at school to embarrass him?
Kaye shook his head, dismissing the thought. Aside from petty pranks, she couldn’t do much else to him. Let her be.
“By the way…”
“?”
Watching the tendrils shrivel like leeches in the flames, Kaye rubbed his chin.
“Is it possible… Just saying, is it possible…”
“?”
“Spit it out!”
“Well… You always come to me during the day, never at night. Feels like you’re using me and discarding me when you’re done.”
“What are you…”
Kaye’s loaded comment caught Fuki off guard. A moment’s thought and her cheeks flushed bright red.
“Kaye Utogaia, go to hell!”
Smack!
Early next morning, as he dressed, Kaye winced at the palm print on his back.
“Hiss… Fuki has a strong hand? Wasn’t expecting this…”
He changed clothes and opened his door, only to see Fuki already dressed for school in a navy JK skirt, her legs enticingly straight in black stockings, standing at her own door with a bag, looking thoroughly displeased.
“You…”
Before he finished, Fuki threw the bag at him without a word.
---
Kaye quickly caught it, feeling as if he’d grabbed a crushed rabbit.
He blinked and opened the bag.
“Kaye~”
Inside was a barely human-shaped lump, its back stuck to a pad, its voice delicate and carrying a hint of Fuki’s seductive tone.
Splash!
Kaye snapped the bag shut and rubbed his brow.
“So fast today?”
Fuki shot him a cold look.
“How should I know.”
Clearly still unforgiving, Fuki was in no mood for conversation. Kaye shrugged, recognizing her princess temper.
He hurried to the cremation furnace, hesitated, then carefully took out Fuki’s split-off form, the tiny limbs clinging to his fingers.
Kaye glanced at Fuki, then at the little Fuki in his palm.
“Sorry…”
The little Fuki’s head, with only a mouth, shook slightly and nuzzled his finger affectionately.
“Kaye… don’t blame… you~”
“Sigh…”
“Hold tight!”
Urged by Fuki’s impatience, Kaye sighed, placed the tiny figure into the furnace, and, bracing himself, lit it.
“Kaye~ Kaye~ it hurts…”
The nearly inaudible cries tugged at him, but Kaye clenched his teeth, closed the furnace, and walked out of the yard without looking back.
By the wall separating their homes, at the door built especially for Fuki, she watched Kaye’s hurried, fleeing steps, her arms crossed and expression complex.
She walked to the furnace, opened it, and gazed at the flames consuming another self, watching ‘her’ grow eyes and reach out. Fuki gently reached into the fire and touched her counterpart.
“Hang in there, the current me…”
“Otherwise, it might be someone else next time.”
In a hellish whisper, Fuki watched ‘her’ smile with undisguised malice, then closed the lid without emotion.
Bang!
With a crash, the furnace shut under the girl’s force, leaving only her running figure chasing something into the distance.