Tempokai

  "Mahou Shoujou! The Witch of the End!"

  The show that started it all...

  Mitsuki, who was currently in third year middle school, had been watching this anime ever since she was little. It was a fantasy story about girls in magic-wielding high schools with mysterious powers. At first gnce, it may have seemed like just another light novel adaptation, but there were actually many other elements to be found as well, such as science fiction and horror stories. However, it wasn't until after her second viewing years ter when Mitsuki realized something.

  This anime is pretty messed up...

  Since most of the characters were children or teenagers, they often did things that made little sense. One of those times came during an episode where one of the main characters, Yuuma, killed someone. Not only was that a taboo subject for children's shows (if you recall, killing people isn't exactly allowed), but the scene also showed blood gushing out from his mouth. It was pretty graphic. After seeing that, Mitsuki decided never to let her younger brother watch it. She would also hide all the DVDs so he wouldn't accidentally find them.

  However, even though she thought it was too violent for children, she still loved the series. In fact, she could vividly remember how much fun it was to see the heroine fight against monsters. That said, if it weren't for the various characters and situations, it would probably be difficult to say whether it was good or bad. It would mostly depend on your personal tastes.

  In terms of the story itself, it revolved around a girl named Yukina Himeragi. She lived in a remote vilge in the mountains, but thanks to the power of the Holy Grail, she could enroll at a magical academy called Academy City. There, she would encounter many people, each with their own unique abilities. They were all part of a group known as the Seven Deadly Sins.

  Yukina was originally a normal girl living in the mountains, but she gained the power to use magic once she drank from the Holy Grail, which was filled with the blood of gods. After becoming an official student at the school, she quickly became involved with the other students.

  When she first arrived, Yukina was worried about fitting in, but everyone welcomed her warmly. It also helped that many of them were very skilled at fighting and possessed other special skills. This gave her an opportunity to learn and grow together with them. As time went by, their friendship grew into something stronger: love.

  The character who stood out the most was Shizuku Tsurugi. She was the strongest person in the entire school, and she always looked cool while doing it. I couldn't believe anyone could defeat her using nothing more than a gun.

  However, Yukina never lost to her. She was usually the one to beat her in combat. And yet, despite that, she remained a close friend of Shizuku. According to Yukina, the reason for that was because Shizuku was a "nice person." Shizuku agreed with her. She knew how to make others happy—even if that meant sacrificing herself. Her true self was someone who wanted to help other people.

  After graduating from the academy, Yukina returned home. But then, one day, news came from the vilge that someone was attacking it. A monster was destroying everything in its path, and the vilgers couldn't stop it.

  While everyone else was panicking, Yukina was calm. She told them not to worry; that she would save them. She believed that if they listened carefully, they would hear the voice of the Holy Grail calling to them.

  And so Yukina left the vilge and headed toward the mountain range where the monster was hiding. When she reached the top, she saw it—a giant wolf-like creature. Its eyes glowed red, and it was constantly releasing smoke. Just as Yukina was thinking of what to do next, she heard a voice call out to her. It was the voice of the Holy Grail.

  It told her to draw the sword hanging at her side. She obeyed, drawing the bde and pointing it at the beast. Then, with a loud boom, the sound of the Holy Grail rang out, and the monster fell silent.

  Yukina had defeated it.

  She returned to the vilge and saved the people from the monster. Since she was the only one who could wield the sword, the vilgers gave her the name "Heroine."

  It was Mitsuki's favourite episode. She watched it repeatedly. The reason was simple: it made her feel good. Watching the heroine overcome many obstacles with her friends really cheered her up. Even now, when she was old enough to understand that some scenes might be inappropriate for children, it still seemed like just a harmless kids' show. She ughed every time the main character knocked down the vilin. She liked how the vilin's face was covered with blood after being beaten.

  Yet there was something. Something strange.

  The anime wasn't popur. Aired on one obscure TV channels decades ago, her grandmother recorded it on a tape, and left it in storage before Mitsuki found it. Her grandmother was a strange woman who collected weird things, but it was unlikely she would have kept it on purpose.

  Mitsuki wasn't sure why she liked this episode, but she did. Perhaps it was because she admired the strong heroine.

  This thought boggled her mind recently. If you asked her, she would say that she didn't know what she was talking about. She hadn't been pnning on watching any more episodes. Yet, she found herself unable to resist.

  She turned off the lights and sat down in front of the television screen, ready to watch another episode. However, the TV was dead silent. The only light coming from the screen came from the backlit glow of the CRT.

  As Mitsuki stared at the bnk screen, she felt an odd sensation. She wasn't alone in the room. Someone was watching too.

  The video pyer jolted, and the anime started pying. She had a feeling was as if the first time Mitsuki had seen it. She was transfixed by the opening sequence: the heroines, their swords drawn, standing in a circle around the Holy Grail.

  Then, they chanted something. They raised their arms high above their heads, making a circur motion with their hands. At the end, they bowed their heads and closed their eyes.

  They were praying.

  That was the moment Mitsuki realised something terrible: she must pray, too. She had to bow her head and say the words, or else the evil would return.

  ***

  Mitsuki was unaware of the fate awaiting her.

  At least, not until it was far too te.

  ***

  "Holy Grail..."

  Mitsuki repeated the words in her mind as she bowed her head. She did not know what the phrase meant.

  She prayed. She should have prayed.

  Her lips moved. She whispered the words she had learned before she was born:

  "I call upon thee, my god...

  Oh, Holy Grail, grant me thy blessing!"

  However, the Holy Grail was not listening.

  Its presence was hidden away inside Mitsuki's soul. Deep in her heart, she sensed it was calling to her.

  She knew that if she listened closely, she would hear its voice.

  Mitsuki had longed for the Holy Grail since childhood. She had always known.

  If she could get it, her life would be better. She would become a great person. She would change the world.

  She wanted power.

  But as, the Holy Grail she knew was just an imagination from anime's creator. It was nothing more than a symbol. It was a dream, one she never dared to hope could come true.

  Only in her dreams did she ever think of it as a real thing.

  Still, it existed somewhere. She just needed to find it.

  So she prayed. And prayed.

  ***

  When she opened her eyes, the video pyer had finished pying. There was a pause, then the ending credits pyed. The four girls appeared on-screen, smiling and waving.

  The image of the heroines in their circle, holding their swords aloft, fshed across Mitsuki's vision. That same scene filled the screen once more, as the TV switched itself off.

  She looked around. No one was in the room with her.

  The gaze watching her was gone.

  ***

  Mitsuki found herself alone in the dark living room. She stood up. There was something she had forgotten to do.

  Something important.

  There was a faint, heavy feeling in her chest. She couldn't quite pce it.

  She walked into the kitchen, where she found a wooden box. Inside it were two thick packets of rice crackers. Mitsuki put one in her mouth and ate it. It tasted stale. She smiled.

  In the morning, she would go shopping for more food. For now, though, Mitsuki was fine with what she had.

  ***

  The day arrived soon enough.

  Mitsuki woke early and prepared breakfast. As she stood in front of the kitchen counter, she gazed out the window.

  It was a beautiful day outside.

  A brilliant, cloudless sky with only the faintest wisps of white clouds. The bright sun shone down, warming Mitsuki's skin.

  Today was the st day of spring. Summer would arrive tomorrow, heralding the hot season.

  Mitsuki took a deep breath. It smelled like summer already.

  Soon, school would be over. Then she'd have time for fun.

  She had some things she wanted to do. Even if it was only for a short while.

  ***

  The day after school ended, Mitsuki went to grandmother's house.

  Grandmother lived alone. Her husband died many years ago. Since then, she had lived alone, never remarrying, and moving into this old apartment building when it became avaible.

  No one knew much about her past. All the neighbours said she was a good woman who helped everyone. She was so nice, in fact, that she wouldn't even compin if someone left dirty dishes in her sink.

  Mitsuki had known her all her life. She was a kind person.

  "Are you coming to visit?" asked grandmother.

  "Yes."

  Mitsuki entered grandmother's home. She was immediately struck by the smell of cooking oil and spices.

  On the table was a rge bowl filled with rice, which grandmother was preparing for dinner. On the wall hung a picture of an ancient building in Kyoto. Next to it was a small shrine. A few books were scattered on the floor beside them.

  Mitsuki sat down at the table and picked up a book. It was one of those cheap paperbacks she often saw in the shops; a collection of folktales. She flipped through it without reading.

  "I'm gd you came," said grandmother. "How are your grades?"

  "Good."

  "You must study hard. You're going to be an adult someday. I need to make sure you don't waste your life away on foolishness."

  "I know, Grandma."

  Then Mitsuki noticed something strange.

  It wasn't in the room. Rather, it was in the air.

  It was a scent like flowers in full bloom—a fragrance that was almost too sweet to be real.

  It seemed familiar... but she couldn't remember where she had encountered it before.

  The thought made her smile.

  ***

  "What is it, Mitsuki?"

  "Nothing, Grandma."

  Grandmother brought over a pte of rice and meat. Mitsuki thanked her, then began eating.

  Afterwards, she washed up the dishes in the sink. She dried them with a towel and set them aside, then went back into the bedroom.

  Mitsuki said goodbye to her grandmother, then left the apartment. She walked along the street, gazing out at the world around her as she enjoyed her newfound freedom. The sunlight felt warm on her face.

  As she moved along, an urge occurred to her.

  She looked up into the sky, then let her mind wander.

  Soon, it found its way to the mystery she had been pondering upon since spring break.

  That strange sensation inside her chest, the one she couldn't quite identify.

  Hadn't she experienced it before? Hadn't she seen it before, somewhere else?

  But where? Where?

  ***

  Mitsuki went to the park.

  She sat on the bench, looking up at the sky.

  It was a beautiful summer day. Birds were singing. People were walking by, smiling and ughing. Kids pyed together in the grass.

  All around her was peace and harmony.

  Everything was right with the world.

  But she felt she was wrong somehow.

  Wrong, even though everything should have been right.

  She didn't want to think about it anymore. She tried to push the idea from her mind, but the feeling persisted.

  Even though Mitsuki was enjoying herself, she still sensed that there was something wrong and nothing could dispel it.

  ***

  At night, Mitsuki dreamed.

  She remembered a strange pce, covered in green grass. It was peaceful, like an enchanted garden.

  There was no sound, apart from the constant, otherworldly hum.

  In the middle of the field was a pool of water.

  The surface was calm, reflecting the pale blue sky overhead.

  Something drew her closer, making her curious.

  She approached the pool, stopping before it.

  Then she bent forward and dipped her hands into the cool liquid.

  Her fingers sank into the clear fluid, touching something that was soft.

  Then she pulled her hand back with a gasp.

  Instead of water, she held something like a long, thin piece of paper.

  [Accept it, and they will thrive, deny it, and thy will die.]

  The words floated across her mind. They seemed to come from nowhere, yet they also echoed within her soul.

  A sudden breeze stirred. She glimpsed a glint just beyond the pool, near the edge of the wn.

  There was an object there. Something shining white.

  She reached out to pick it up. But as she did so, a voice called her name.

  ***

  Mitsuki awoke with a start.

  She sat up in bed. Her heart was pounding, and her face felt hot.

  She was sweating badly.

  Now that she thought about it, Mitsuki realised what had happened.

  She had been dreaming.

  About—something.

  ***

  By the next morning, Mitsuki was getting worried.

  Despite her best efforts, she couldn't shake the dream from her mind. In fact, it kept getting more vivid.

  She remembered a pool of water, and the strange words floating across her mind—

  "Accept it, and thy will thrive..."

  Did she accept? Did she refuse?

  Was she thriving? Or dying?

  What was this thing that she accepted?

  ***

  Mitsuki first time in her high school, felt uneasy.

  Everything seemed weirdly unfamiliar. The buildings. The people. The cssrooms. Everything.

  She knew she'd gone to this school before, but she couldn't remember ever coming here.

  Strangely enough, none of her cssmates seemed at all surprised.

  Nor were they particurly friendly, either.

  They nodded politely when they passed her in the hallways. Some even smiled.

  Yet somehow, she felt uncomfortable being there.

  She even wondered if she had come to the right pce.

  ***

  School was over for the day. Mitsuki headed home.

  As usual, she went to the park.

  It was a warm evening, the air humid and heavy. Birds sang to each other in the trees above. That smell from yesterday remained in the air.

  Something was different, however.

  Mitsuki couldn't quite put her finger on it. There was something odd going on.

  It wasn't the same as how things had been before. She trusted her instincts.

  So she sat down on the bench, staring up at the sky.

  Mitsuki's mind drifted back to the pool in the park.

  This time, she recalled something else, too.

  The glint that she had seen.

  What was it?

  And the voice, calling her name.

  And the pool of water.

  Where was it? What was it?

  Why was it important?

  ***

  Mitsuki left the park soon after that.

  She went home early.

  She hadn't been able to take her mind off the strange dream, and now she was feeling nervous.

  There was something wrong in the air.

  Something unnatural.

  And there was definitely something strange about the park.

  More than anything, it was that sense of wrongness which bothered her.

  She couldn't expin why, but she felt sure of it.

  ***

  That night, Mitsuki dreamed.

  She was walking through a tall, dark forest.

  The path ahead of her was slippery with moss. The trees were old and gnarled, with thick trunks.

  The surrounding foliage was impenetrable, and she could barely see what y beyond.

  Suddenly, her foot slipped, sending her tumbling down the steep slope.

  When she fell, she hit the ground hard.

  She rolled over, trying to break her fall.

  But she only nded on her side.

  She felt her knee twist sharply. It hurt.

  Slowly, she got to her feet. A sharp pain shot up her leg.

  As she stood there, she heard a sound behind her.

  Some sort of animal.

  She turned around.

  There was an enormous beast standing right before her.

  Its head was massive, its fur bristling. Its eyes were bright red.

  Beside it was a pool of blood.

  Mitsuki gnced back at the forest.

  Something was moving there.

  Something huge.

  She didn't have time to look again.

  The beast came at her, roaring.

  ***

  Mitsuki woke up screaming.

  She was sweating badly.

  Her heart was thumping.

  For a moment, she couldn't breathe.

  Then, slowly, she calmed down.

  It had all been a nightmare.

  Just a dream, that was all.

  A bad one, though.

  The more she thought about it, the worse it got.

  She couldn't stop trembling.

  It must be the heat.

  The weather was getting hotter every day.

  Summer was almost here.

  At least, she hoped so.

  ***

  Later that afternoon, Mitsuki made her way to the park.

  She spent a long time sitting on the bench.

  No matter where she looked, she saw nothing out of the ordinary.

  Nothing was amiss.

  The birds sang, and the wind rustled in the branches overhead.

  The sun shone brilliantly through the leaves, turning everything to gold.

  It was a beautiful day.

  Almost too perfect.

  And yet...

  Something seemed very wrong.

  Something was missing.

  She felt an urge to search the entire park, inch by inch.

  To comb the trees and bushes.

  But she forced herself not to do it.

  After all, there was no point in worrying about it.

  Mitsuki didn't feel like doing anything. She felt like someone, or something... would come along and save her.

  From what, she wasn't sure.

  ***

  Late that evening, Mitsuki was still awake.

  She stared into space.

  How many times had she done this? How often did she lie alone in bed, thinking about it?

  It took forever as she tried to count them once. She gave up and tried to occupy her mind. She thought about her favourite anime, and the heroines, especially Yukina Himeragi. They always helped her when she was troubled.

  Sometimes she wished she had friends who cared for her, just as much as they did. But she knew she'd find no one like that. No matter how hard she searched, she wouldn't ever meet people like that. And if she did, they probably wouldn't want her friendship either.

  She enjoyed being alone. It was easier that way.

  Still, sometimes loneliness weighed heavily upon her.

  Tonight was one of those nights.

  If she wasn't careful, it might crush her completely.

  So she sat there, staring bnkly into space.

  ***

  Finally, Mitsuki's patience ran thin.

  She went outside.

  It was nearly midnight.

  She walked past the house next door. There was nobody inside. Nobody anywhere nearby.

  The street was empty.

  Even the cars parked along the curb were deserted.

  A perfect time to search.

  ***

  She started off toward the park.

  Halfway there, she stopped dead in her tracks.

  What was that?

  She listened intently.

  Yes, there!

  Someone was calling her name.

  Repeatedly.

  Was it coming from the direction of the park? Or somewhere else entirely?

  Either way, it was unmistakable. Someone was speaking to her.

  Who could it possibly be?

  She began walking faster. The voice grew louder.

  Soon enough, she reached the entrance of the park.

  The gate was closed.

  Nobody was around. Not even the night watchman.

  Whoever was talking to her hid in the shadows.

  She moved forward cautiously, carefully jumped over the gate, and sprinted across the grass towards the source of the call.

  The voices grew louder and louder before they stopped. Mitsuki paused, listening closely. Nothing but silence y ahead. Then she resumed her advance.

  Suddenly, the darkness opened up.

  A pool was seen, glittering in the moonlight.

  Farther in, the water glowed faintly with phosphorescence.

  Just like in her dream.

  There was nobody near the pond.

  Not even a frog.

  She stood transfixed, gazing into its depths.

  Then she heard the sound again.

  This time, she recognised it.

  "Hello?"

  Slowly, Mitsuki approached the edge of the pond.

  She peered down into the waters.

  They reflected the moon.

  As she watched, they gradually deepened.

  Her heart thundered against her ribs.

  The water level rose slowly.

  Before long, she could see the bottom.

  She stepped closer, then farther still.

  Now the surface of the pond was only inches above her head. There was a thing moving below the water.

  Mitsuki leaned over and touched the gssy greenish-blue expanse. Her fingers sank easily into the softness of the algae.

  She pushed deeper until the water reached her chin.

  All at once, the mysterious object came into view.

  At first gnce, it appeared to be a rge stone.

  Its outline was hazy and indistinct. As Mitsuki drew nearer, however, she realised it must have been a cup. Its rim was narrow and circur; its interior was filled with liquid.

  Only now did she realise how cold the water really was.

  No wonder she couldn't breathe properly.

  With shaking hands, Mitsuki cupped the water between two fingertips.

  Something stirred beneath the surface.

  And then suddenly, the thing emerged.

  It looked like nothing more than an amorphous mass of flesh, writhing and squirming in the moonlight. At least, that's what it seemed on the surface. Beneath, something else lurked. Something that should not exist.

  But whatever it was, it was alive. Alive and growing.

  Quickly indeed, the thing became rger and bigger. Mitsuki stared, frozen by terror.

  That was when she noticed another feature of this creature: the eyes. Two great red orbs gazed out from under a vast dome of wrinkled skin. They were utterly alien.

  Yet somehow familiar.

  Like some ancient nightmare, come back to haunt the world anew.

  She backed away hurriedly, trying to escape the terrible gaze of those burning orbs.

  To no avail.

  The monster kept pace with her every step, crawling through the shallow waters.

  After a while, she tripped and fell backwards onto the bank.

  The water rushed all around her, swirling about her legs. She scrambled frantically for purchase as the muddy ground gave way beneath her feet. Before she knew it, she had plunged waist-deep into the mud.

  The beast continued to approach.

  How far would it go before reaching her? How much longer did she have left?

  She tried to stand up, but failed miserably. Her arms slipped helplessly out of reach.

  In desperation, she prayed. To whom? God? Buddha? Jesus Christ? No. To the Holy Grail. Just like Yukina did so many times during their quest together. That was the one true power she possessed.

  So she called upon the powers within the Cup—the same ones which had granted a power to imagine her dreams since childhood.

  Nothing happened at first gnce. But after a few seconds, the dark water rippling around her body glowed faintly. A moment ter, it lit up brightly, bathing everything in its radiance.

  What followed was beyond anything Mitsuki could imagine.

  [Accept it, and they will thrive, deny it, and thy will die.]

  From somewhere behind her, a voice spoke.

  For a second or two, she thought she'd imagined it.

  Then there came a sensation unlike any other. It was neither pain nor pleasure. Nor even fear. Rather, it was the feeling of being pulled inexorably forwards, towards a destination she didn't understand.

  She obeyed without hesitation. The words of the strange voice echoed inside her mind. She without hesitation replied.

  "I accept."

  Instantly, the light vanished.

  Everything returned to normal.

  Except for one thing.

  One very important fact remained unchanged.

  ***

  "What the...! Call the 119!"

  Night watchman that was patrolling with his buddy saw something odd. A girl in her wet pajamas unconscious on the grass. He immediately called for help.

  A few minutes ter, police cars arrived.

  An ambunce too.

  The girl was found to be suffering from hypothermia. Despite her wet clothes, she was otherwise unharmed.

  Police took down statements and ran a full check of the area.

  They soon discovered that the girl was named Mitsuki Konoishi. She lived alone. Her father was dead. And though she wasn't reted, her mother had moved to Hokkaido.

  Her house was just a short distance from where the girl had fallen. Police questioned her neighbours. They told them she never went outside te at night. They also said they had seen no one suspicious near her house.

  Meanwhile, the paramedics decided Mitsuki needed immediate medical attention. So they carried her off to a nearby hospital. There, she regained consciousness and answered questions put to her by doctors and nurses.

  Strangely enough, she cimed to do not know why she had gone wandering around the park after midnight. She said she couldn't remember what had happened to her.

  Later, however, she admitted to having dreamed something very unusual the previous day. This was the only time she ever remembered doing so. She didn't recall the details, but she had woken up screaming.

  She must have been dreaming about something else again st night.

  Or maybe...

  Maybe she really had seen something. Maybe she'd actually encountered something strange. Something inhuman.

  Whatever it was, it definitely affected her. Even now, she still felt uneasy. She wanted to forget what she had seen.

  Which is probably why she tried to run away.

  Of course, the police had their own theories about things. One theory concerned a certain man in the neighbourhood who had been arrested several times for possession of drugs and stolen goods. Another involved an unsolved murder case involving a young woman whose dismembered remains had been found scattered over a rge area.

  But the truth was, nobody really understood what had happened.

  Mitsuki Konoishi's condition improved rapidly, and she was discharged from the hospital early the next morning. However, she refused to tell anyone what had caused her to colpse.

  At least, not until after a doctor examined her thoroughly and found nothing abnormal.

  As for her strange dream, Mitsuki seemed to think it had been real. At the end of the day, it wouldn't do any good to force the issue.

  That evening, Mitsuki could return home.

  She locked her door tight before retiring.

  And this time, she slept soundly through the entire night, while hugging a talisman—a Holy Grail.