"Who are you!?"
Whoosh—
Half-floating in Lake Kurokawa, scarlet light flashed in Hoshiguma Yuna's eyes as her expression turned fierce. Her black hair instantly twisted and tangled like writhing serpents, transforming into a rain of hair that filled the sky and tore toward the blurry figure standing on the lake's surface with the destructive power of a great yokai.
Yet neither of the scenes Yuna had imagined—her opponent being torn apart, or blocking her attack—occurred.
Her hair simply passed through the other party, as if they had no physical form at all.
"Sorry."
Ignoring her attack, the figure spoke in an indistinct yet unmistakably meaningful voice.
There was an indescribable chill in that voice.
"I know this is utterly useless, and utterly helpless."
"But I'm sorry."
"Don't come any closer!!!"
Yuna let out a piercing cry. Her hair danced even more wildly as she controlled her body and retreated.
But something bizarre happened.
Her retreat—could not create any distance between herself and that shadow!
Though she moved violently, she remained in the same spot, unable to move at all! She was still where she had been, while that shadow-like being merely watched her and walked toward her.
She swallowed and forced herself to calm down.
"Who... are you?"
"Why are you here on Black River Mountain?"
The figure did not answer. It merely stopped at a certain distance.
Splash—
Waves rippled across Lake Kurokawa.
"Huh?"
Yuna froze.
A momentary blankness appeared in her eyes.
"Miss Yuna—"
A voice called from the lakeshore.
Yuna suddenly snapped awake and looked toward the shore.
"Did you find anything?!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka cupped his hands around his mouth and called out to Hoshiguma Yuna, who had emerged in the middle of the lake.
"No! It's too murky underwater to see clearly! But I didn't find