When a High School Sophomore Linked with a Black-crowned Night Heron, the World Moved by 1mm [Episode 2] The Amazoness's Secret

It was surprising that the Amazoness would come out about her past.

"Listen. I'm about to tell you about a traumatic experience, and I want you to use it as a reference."

I could barely manage a "Y-yes," and I swallowed hard.

The experience the Amazoness shared and the information related to it were as follows.

The game of summoning a spirit called "Kokkuri-san" to have it tell your fortune has existed since the Meiji era. It became popular again in the 1970s during the Showa era and was even covered by the media. In some schools, there were even cases where children entered a state of "fox possession," leading to outright bans.

In the 1980s, the practice changed form, and a spirit-summoning game called "Cupid-san" became popular, especially among girls. These games, which were half-scary and enjoyed for the thrill, remained in various forms, and the so-called "fainting game," where one presses on the chest to cause unconsciousness, continued to be a problem even into the 2000s.

The Amazoness said that when she had just become a school nurse, female students rushed into the infirmary of the middle school where she was assigned.

"Teacher, we were playing Kokkuri-san, and it seems like we've been possessed by a fox."

The female student who was brought in, surrounded by the others, had a look in her eyes as if they were slanted upward, and she jumped around like a fox, shouting, "Chicken! The chicken is getting away!" as if trying to catch something.

Before long, she collapsed, so I laid her on a bed to watch over her, but then the students who had brought her started making a commotion, saying, "There's a chicken!"

They collapsed on the floor one after another, and the Amazoness, judging that the situation was beyond her control, called an ambulance.

Having revealed this story from her rookie days, the Amazoness confessed to me.

"I felt pathetic that as a school nurse, I just stood by and called an ambulance. I had just started my assignment and couldn't calm the confused students, so I was depressed for a while."

"But it was the students who played Kokkuri-san, so it's not your fault, Teacher. And you were right to call an ambulance immediately."

I spoke up, hoping to encourage her and somehow get her back to her usual self.

"That's why, Suzakuzaka-san. I want to save you somehow."

"Huh?"

It felt like a plot twist, and I couldn't find the words.

I was suspected of "fox possession"

According to the report the Amazoness received from the doctor at St. Dalm Hospital, I had repeated inexplicable words and actions while asleep under anesthesia for a gastric endoscopy.

They said that just when I started making nonsensical sounds like "Whoa" and "Whew," I began moving my hands in the air as if I were swimming, so they had to hold me down to keep the examination from being disrupted.

No, no, no, if you only hear that, it sounds just like being possessed by a fox.

I panicked inwardly.

Suzakuzaka-san, fox possession has been around even longer than Kokkuri-san or Cupid-san.

The Amazoness began to talk about fox possession once again.

There have been phenomena called fox possession since the Heian period, but Kokkuri-san and Cupid-san in modern times have actually been studied. The prevailing theory is that the state of confusion, as if a fox has possessed you, is a mental illness, in other words, a type of psychiatric disorder.

She must have sensed from my expression that I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable hearing that story.

But you know, Suzakuzaka-san, I don't want to conclude that you are possessed by a fox. So, could you tell me more about it?

The Amazoness had gotten to the heart of the matter.

I was bewildered. I felt sincerity in the fact that the Amazoness had revealed her own experience regarding Kokkuri-san. However, I couldn't help but feel that she was trying to proceed with the conversation assuming it was fox possession. I felt that even if I talked about Goicchi here, it would eventually be linked to fox possession.

I'm sorry, my head is a bit confused. Could you let me organize my thoughts a little before I talk to you again?

When I conveyed my feelings sincerely in my own way, the Amazoness didn't push any further.

I understand. There's no need to rush. Please consult me again if anything happens.

Yes, thank you very much.

When I left the infirmary, I felt even more unsettled than when I had arrived.

It was because I felt like I was losing track of what I should believe in myself.

A final, clinching anomaly. What should I do?

Natsuki.

Kimie was waiting for me outside the infirmary, which saved my depressed heart. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

What did the Amazoness say to you?

I was asked that, so I answered.

Yeah... Actually, I had a gastroscopy yesterday. It's about that.

A refreshing blue sky spread out after the summer break, and the green lawn in the courtyard was shining.

People reading books while sitting on the grass, groups of boys and girls chatting with smiles in a circle, the brass band playing their instruments—each of them felt like they were living their youth.

We talked while walking around aimlessly.

How were the test results?

Kimie was worried about me. I should have told her sooner.

Sorry for keeping it from you. The results of the gastroscopy were normal, but...

Perhaps because I hesitated, she continued her words with concern.

Oh, you don't have to force yourself. If it's something hard to talk about...

But I still want you to hear it, Kimie.

Yeah.

Kimie seemed to sense something and nodded with a serious expression.

I told her about how the hospital doctor reported to the Amazoness because I had acted strangely while asleep under anesthesia for the gastroscopy.

Then, the Amazoness said there was a possibility of fox possession. She followed up later by saying she didn't want to conclude it was fox possession, but it was a bit of a shock.

I couldn't even reveal the truth about Goicchi to Kimie.

Hmm. Well, I saw you change completely at the school cafeteria, Natsuki.

That's true. If anything, you know more about my transformation than I do.

I nodded along, somehow understanding what Kimie was trying to say.

So... as a friend, I think I should say this.

Yeah.

This time, I nodded with a serious expression.

I think the Amazoness has a point.

You mean you might be possessed by a fox spirit?

Even if I knew it, hearing it said out loud was still painful.

I don't know if 'fox possession' is the right term, but in that moment, it wasn't me.

Kimie crouched by the edge of the pond in the courtyard and revealed her true feelings.

She's probably the only one who worries about me this seriously. Maybe it's time for me to make up my mind, too.

I crouched down next to Kimie and pondered what I should do.

Carp.

What am I saying...?

Huh? Love? What's with that out of the blue?

Kimie asked back, looking as if she had been caught completely off guard.

There are carp swimming.

Natsuki? Hey, what's wrong?

This time, I realized it myself.

I felt my body moving due to an unknown force, independent of my own will.

Splash.

I jumped into the pond in my uniform, chased after a carp, caught it with my bare hands, and shoved it into my mouth.

I tried to swallow the plump, thirty-centimeter-long carp headfirst, but it wouldn't go down easily.

“Eek! Natsuki—stop it!”

I could hear the sound of Kimie splashing through the pond and her screams trying to stop me.

Just then, someone jumped into the pond and put me in a full nelson.

Only the white tail fin of the koi was sticking out of my mouth, twitching.

Kimie grabbed the koi's tail, pulled it out, and asked the person holding me.

“What’s your name? What year and class are you in?”

It was extremely commanding.

“Bungo Oda. I’m in Class 1-A.”

He answered matter-of-factly. He seemed to be a male student.

“Hmm, if we go to the infirmary in this state, we might just be playing right into the Amazoness’s hands. Odabun! I’m going to put her in a taxi, so take her to the school gate.”

“Y-yes.”

Even though I had a carp in my mouth, my consciousness was still that of Natsuhime Suzakuzaka, so I could understand the conversation and the situation.

Perhaps because he was a first-year underclassman, this Bungo Oda fellow, who had suddenly been nicknamed “Odabun,” was completely overwhelmed by Kimie’s intensity.

Anyway, I was dragged to the school gate while still being held in a full nelson by Bungo Oda.

Since quite a few of the young ladies and gentlemen at our school commute by taxi, there were several waiting in front of the school gate.

Kimie got into the taxi at the front of the line, dragged me in, and told the driver, “To the bus stop in front of Kōyagawa Park.”

Both of our white-based summer sailor uniforms were soaked from the pond water, but thanks to the harsh late-summer heat and a nice breeze, they were drying out quite a bit.

The driver seemed to be thinking, “Give me a break,” but he reluctantly let us in, likely because refusing service might cause trouble for his business later.

“Odabun, thanks. I’ll explain the situation when we meet next time. Oh, and tell the homeroom teacher for 2-C that Suzakuzaka and Ryugeji are leaving early. Thanks.”

Kimie Ryugeji. Looking at her from the side, I couldn't help but realize that she really is a “go-getter.” I wonder if she might grow up to be a woman like the Amazoness.

This is no time to be thinking about such carefree things. What should I do from here on out?

"For now, I'll take you to Natsuki's place. We can think about what to do next after that."

In this short amount of time, Kimie has realized that, unlike when I was at the school cafeteria, I have a firm sense of self. She really is someone I can rely on.

To be continued in [Episode 3]

All episodes of "A High School Sophomore Girl Linked with a Black-crowned Night Heron and the World Moved by 1mm" are collected in this magazine.