NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Village
Shiro strolled into the village, his sharp eyes immediately picking up on the strange air that hung over the place. The streets were eerily quiet, with villagers moving about listlessly, their faces etched with unease.
"This place looks like the set of a horror movie," Shiro muttered under his breath, scanning the area. "What's with the doom and gloom?"
Spotting an elderly man carrying a basket of firewood, Shiro approached with his usual easygoing smile. "Hey there, old-timer! Quick question—why does this village feel like a funeral procession?"
The man jumped slightly at the unfamiliar voice, his eyes narrowing as he studied Shiro's face. "You're not from around here… Mountain climber, are you?"
Shiro raised an eyebrow. "Uh, sure. Let's go with that."
The man huffed, shifting the basket on his shoulder. "If you're wondering about the atmosphere, it's because of them." He spat the word out with venom.
"Them?" Shiro tilted his head.
"The cursed children, Nanako and Mimiko," the man replied disdainfully. "They've brought nothing but misfortune to this village since they were born."
Before Shiro could press further, the man stomped off, muttering to himself.
Curiosity piqued, Shiro followed the faint sounds of commotion toward a small, shabby house at the edge of the village. As he rounded the corner, he froze. A group of villagers stood nearby, throwing stones and shouting cruel words at two young girls.
The girls, no older than 5 or 6, huddled together in silence, their tear-streaked faces blank with resignation.
Nanako, with her short, light-colored hair that framed her small face, wore a sleeveless light dress paired with black shoes. Despite the dirt staining her clothes and the tears streaking her cheeks, she stood protectively in front of her sister, as if shielding her from the villagers' wrath.
Mimiko, dressed in a contrasting black sleeveless dress with matching black shoes, clung to Nanako's arm. Her identical light-colored hair framed her trembling features, her wide eyes darting fearfully between the shouting villagers.
Shiro's hands curled into fists as he watched the scene.
"What the hell is wrong with these people?" he muttered under his breath.
Before he could step in, a familiar chime echoed in his head.
>Crossover System Alert:
Minor Characters Detected:
-Nanako Hasaba
-Mimiko Hasaba
Reward: 200 Points.
Shiro blinked, and the realization hit him like a truck. "Wait a minute... Nanako and Mimiko? Their names sounded familiar.
His mind raced, piecing together the timeline with his exceptional memory. These should be the same girls Geto Suguru would save, an act that would lead to him massacring the villager and being branded a Curse User.
"This… this changes everything," he murmured.
Still, one question nagged at him. He needed to confirm his suspicions. Spinning on his heel, Shiro approached a younger villager nearby, a man stacking firewood outside his home.
"Excuse me," Shiro said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. "Quick question—what's the date today?"
The man straightened up, blinking at him in confusion. "The date?"
"Yeah, you know," Shiro said, gesturing vaguely. "Day, month, year—one of those useful little details."
The man scratched his head but eventually replied. "January… January 2005."
Shiro froze for a moment, the timeline falling into place in his mind. "2006, huh?" he said, his voice carefully neutral. "Thanks, pal."
The man stared at him for a beat, clearly puzzled, but shrugged and went back to his task.
Turning away, Shiro muttered to himself, "So that's where we are. A year just before Geto's incident. Which means…"
He glanced back toward the girls, his fist tightening.
…
Later, Shiro stood before the village chief, his usual casual demeanor replaced by a calm intensity.
"I'd like to take Nanako and Mimiko to the city," he said simply.
The chief raised an eyebrow but didn't seem particularly suspicious. In fact, he looked relieved. "You'd be doing us a favor. Those girls are nothing but trouble. Take them and do what you want with them."
Shiro suppressed the urge to punch the man and instead offered a curt nod. "Understood."
The villagers, surprisingly eager to get rid of the girls, didn't ask any questions and handed them over without hesitation. It sickened Shiro how little they cared.
…
Once they were out of the villagers' sight, Shiro knelt in front of Nanako and Mimiko, his tone softening. "Hey, you two. Can you see the spirits around you?"
The girls nodded hesitantly, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and curiosity.
Shiro sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Figures. No wonder these idiots blame you for everything."
He looked at them carefully, his voice gentle. "Would you like to leave this place and come with me?"
For the first time, a flicker of hope crossed their faces. They nodded eagerly, their innocence piercing Shiro's heart.
"That's what I thought," he said softly, rising to his feet. "Let's go, then." Shiro then instructed the two girls to gather and pack the items they wanted to bring along.
A few minutes later, as they walked away from the village, Shiro cast a glance over his shoulder, wrinkling his nose in exaggerated disgust.
"Good riddance," he muttered. "That place smells like shit, bad life choices, and someone's burned cooking dreams. You're better off without it."
Nanako and Mimiko trudged behind him, clutching their small bundles of belongings. Their heads were down, steps cautious, as if afraid the outside world might be even harsher than the village they had left behind.
Noticing their subdued demeanor, Shiro stopped abruptly and turned to face them. With a dramatic flourish, he placed his hands on his hips and declared, "Hey, what's with the long faces? You've just scored the ultimate upgrade—welcome to Shiro-level living condition! It's a premium experience. The best food, epic adventures, and, of course, me: your devastatingly handsome and ridiculously clever guide. What more could you ask for?"
The girls blinked up at him, their wide, timid eyes reflecting quiet uncertainty. Then, after a brief pause, they nodded in agreement, not daring to argue with the confident big brother before them.
"Exactly," Shiro said with a grin, clapping his hands together. "I knew you'd get it. Smart kids. You've already figured out that following me is the best decision you'll ever make."
He spun around and resumed walking, voice filled with over-the-top enthusiasm as he began narrating their future. "Listen up! First, I'll teach you everything you need to survive in the big, bad world—how to outsmart anyone, find the best food, and maybe even strike a heroic pose or two while you're at it."
Nanako and Mimiko followed closely behind, nodding timidly to everything he said, though Mimiko's lips twitched slightly, as if suppressing a smile.
Shiro kept going, his storytelling becoming more ridiculous with every sentence. "By the time I'm done, you two will be legends! People will write books about us. The 'Adventures of Shiro and His Adorable Sidekicks' has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
Nanako and Mimiko exchanged a glance, unsure but unwilling to question him.
"Of course you do," Shiro said, answering his own question with a grin.
As they continued walking, Shiro's confident expression faltered for a split second as a thought struck him. 'Alright, Shiro, don't panic. So you don't have a house. Or money. Or food. Big deal. You're a genius—you'll figure it out.'
He glanced back at the girls, their small, trusting figures trailing behind him, and felt a pang of responsibility. 'These two are counting on you, big guy. Better put that big brain to work once we get to the city.'
Shiro quickly shook off the momentary seriousness, throwing an arm around both girls with a playful grin. "Man, who would've thought I'd end up a young father of two? And such adorable ones at that! People are going to think I'm some kind of single-dad prodigy!"
Mimiko tilted her head curiously. "Father?"
Nanako frowned softly. "But you're… young."
"Exactly!" Shiro said, his grin widening. "Young, cool, and ridiculously capable. You two are my responsibility now, and I take that very seriously. Starting now, you can call me 'Big Brother Shiro.' Or just Shiro. Or 'Supreme Leader.' I'm flexible."
The girls blinked at him, then nodded timidly, as if "Supreme Leader" sounded perfectly reasonable.
Shiro laughed, giving them each a gentle pat on the head. "You two are too easy. Seriously, though, stick with me, and I'll take care of everything. First stop: the city! We'll get shelter, food, and maybe even some shiny new clothes for you. How's that sound?"
Nanako and Mimiko nodded again, their shy smiles breaking through just a little.
Shiro grinned to himself, pleased. "Step one: get to the city. Step two: figure out how to make some money. Step three: profit. Easy."
'Just gotta keep up the act until then.'
Mimiko tugged at Shiro's sleeve gently. "Shiro… what's profit?"
Shiro stifled a laugh, ruffling her hair. "It's step three, that's all you need to know. Stick with me, and I'll teach you everything important about life. Lesson one: when in doubt, act confident. People believe confidence."
The girls nodded yet again, their quiet faith in him unwavering.
Shiro couldn't help but chuckle, throwing an arm around both of them as they walked. "You two really lucked out, you know that? Handsome, brilliant, and eccentric—you're living the dream already."
As they continued down the road, Shiro silently resolved to figure out a real plan once they reached the city. For now, though, he'd keep spinning his absurd tales.
Nanako and Mimiko followed him closely, their steps lighter now, their trust in their quirky, big brother growing with every ridiculous thing he said.