"We're looking for arms again?" Kou scratched his head in frustration. "What a pain.."

"Hey, Hanako! Aimi-san! Isn't there any other way to deal with this?" Hanako and Aimi both stopped playing with the Mokkes and looked at Kou. "Some other way?" They both mumble in unison. "You know, something we can use against her. Like a weakness.."

"There is." Nene and Kou looked at the two apparitions in shock, baffled by their response.

teach me,
hanako-kun!

"She definitely has a weakness." Hanako smiled. "Her divine Yorishiro.. that's what it's called. Those are what gives us eight mysteries our power."

Hanako took the toy the Mokke had and took out one of its battery. "You might say it's something like a battery. If you destroy it, the school mystery will be weakened significantly.

Before Nene and Kou could rejoice, Aimi quickly stepped in. "The Yorishiro can be found in the innermost reaches of the boundaries. So if I had to guess.." they all looked up at the countless amount of stairs. "Who's ready to start climbing?"

"Yay..."

finished
product.

"This is oddly horrifying." Aimi hid behind Hanako, looking at the object sitting down in both fear and disgust. Nene, who hid behind the apparition, nodded. "Agreed, Aimi-san."

"You just had to give it weird legs, kid." Hanako pointed at Kou. The exorcist then glared at the apparition. "Wha—?! You're the one who said it didn't matter as long as we could keep going!"

"Aw.." Nene closed her eyes and she held her cheeks. "The bust size and the left leg are so perfect but.."

"You're okay with a bust size like this?" That's kinda scary..

Suddenly, they heard footsteps. Aimi inhaled before turning around with a small glare. "Well, here you are," she started.

The woman who walked towards them came into a halt. And gave them all a smile.

".. Number two.."

Failed attempt.

"Can't you see them? They're all around you."

Several bodies which looked like it had been thrown around was scattered behind the chair in which the product of multiple body parts stuck together was seated on.

Aimi's breath hitched as she wanted Nene going to Aoi and trying to find Y/n through the bodies. It had made her feel guilty. But this secret was made to be kept, not to be shared.

Huge scissors then appear behind Nene, preparing to slice her neck in half. "I will tear you apart, just as the rumors says." And just when it was about to cut her, Kou jumped, blocking the blades with an arm.

"Senpai! Are you okay?!" Suddenly, his arm turned into something made of cloth and cotton. Aimi's brows furrowed. So this is what happens when the blade touches you.. she thought. Slowly turning into a doll..

"Hanako! Do that thing you did!" Kou exclaimed, referring to Hanako's transformation back at the rooftop. "Transform and beat the snot out of her!"

"I can't."

"Wha—?!"

"This is number two's domain. Unless I have her permission, I can't use Hakujoudai's power," Hanako explained, pointing his knife towards the woman. "It would be different if we'd destroy her Yorishiro. But it doesn't seem to be here."

Hanako then looked at the apparition standing beside him. "Aimi-chan, you already figured out where her Yorishiro is in, right?" The girl nodded.

Hanako smirked. "Go destroy it. Me and the kid will try to distract her. Only Yashiro can destroy it, so take her with you."

"Got it, Seven-sama."

Without another word, Aimi ran towards Yashiro, who was hugging the doll version of Aoi. "Yashiro-chan, stand up." She took her arm. "Are you really going to give up? Even though she's still alive?"

Instantly, Nene raised her hand and looked at Aimi confused. The apparition sighed. "This world is on the boundary between life and death. Nothing can come to life here, but on the other hand, nothing can die either." She held Nene's hand. "Here, where there is no birth or death.. the ones with the most power are the ones who don't know when to give up."

Nene looked at Aimi before wiping her tears away. "I'm in! I.. I'll do anything!"

Aimi stayed silent. A few moments later, she gave Nene a grin. "Great! You'll do anything, am I right?"

"Wait.."

"What."

Aimi tied Nene up, trying to make sure she doesn't fall to her death. "A-Aimi-san! What are you doing?"

"I had a thought." Aimi smiled before letting Nene face her. "Since the Yorishiro isn't here, it may be at the opposite place. Maybe at the very bottom. Since Seven-sama and Minamoto-kun are distracting number two, it would be best to go now."

Aimi held the girl's hand. "Let's talk about this later, Yashiro-chan!"

And with that, they both jumped into the black voids of nothingness.

memories.

"You're a good one to choose," a voice said.

Y/n frowned as she looked at her teacher. Or supposedly, who she thought was her teacher. He had some arms grown behind him, he didn't act like he usually did during school hours. He acted so different.

"What do you mean?" she managed to ask. Her voice was soft and quiet, all her energy was drained out for the day, this was all which remained. "Sensei, what are you? Where are we? What's going on?"

The teacher them took a book out and gave it to her. On the cover was her name. She looked at the man in confusion before opening it.

"This might help you understand the situation easier." The man watched as she flipped through the pages in confusion. "Save the questions for later, finish reading the book first."

"Why did you give me this?"

"Because of one reason, L/n. And whether you like it or not, this is your fate."

She gulped. "Is it bad?"

The teacher sighed. "Of course it is," he replied. "Anything which involves death is bad."

"Nene-chan."

"Nene-chan."

"Y/n-chan?!" Nene woke up, just to see Aimi looking down at her worriedly. The apparition shook her head and helped Nene stand up. "Sorry, Yashiro-chan.. you're friend isn't here," she lied.

There were still scales left on Nene's skin. Aimi took an extra handkerchief and gave it to Nene. "Here, dry yourself up." Nene took it and looked at the apparition. "By the way, Aimi-san, where are we?"

"The very bottom of number two's boundary." Aimi smiled. "Nene-chan, are you interested learning about number two?"

"Well, yes.. but.."

"Then here you go." Aimi took out a book underneath the table. Nene looked at her in shock. "Wait, Aimi-san! How did you know about that?"

"It may not seem like it, but..." Aimi smirked. "I know a lot of things," she said. "Well, you can read that, Yashiro-chan. I'll be here staying on-guard Incase number two comes."

"What are you doing?"

"Number two." Aimi forced out a smile before raising her hand. "How nice to see you here." She then frowned upon seeing the look on the woman's face. "But I'm sure you're not here to play nice, huh?"

"You wrote this, didn't you?" Nene spoke up, looking at the book before looking at number two.

"Yes."

"You're not Misaki."

"I'm collecting parts for Misaki's body. It's easier to explain if I say I am Misaki, isn't it?"

"You.. you did those terrible things to Aoi, Y/n, and the others, just so you can make Misaki!" Nene yelled, her eyes darting glares towards the second mystery.

"That's right." Suddenly, living dolls appeared underneath Aimi and Nene, holding them back from running away. "W-Wait... Y-You loved Misaki, didn't you..?"

Aimi struggled, trying to get these dolls away from them as Nene continued. "What you're doing.. it won't make him happy!"

"Oh please." Number two chuckled. "I know that!"

Before Aimi could react, number two kicked Nene, sending the girl flying to the nearby pillar. This left the apparition furious.

"Number two." The second mystery looked at Aimi, her eyes glinting in both annoyance and a hint of fear. Even Nene could tell that Aimi was perhaps terrifying when she's angered. "You've gone too far.."

"Eighth-san, you—"

Before the woman could continue, both Aimi and Nene disappeared from her sight. She scoffed before looking around. There, she saw Nene running up the stairs and Aimi ready touch her head.

"Not so fast, Eighth-san." The dolls pulled the girl apparition down, making her fall down a step. "You forget who owns the boundary at times. What a stupid mistake."

"Why are you suddenly doing this, number two? Why are you suddenly causing chaos to the students?"

"I'll do anything to bring Misaki back, even if it means to sacrifice students. I don't care at what cost it will take to bring him back." A large scissor appeared in front of Aimi. "If it means following the rumors, then I will do so."

Aimi closed her eyes, waiting for the pain to come at her. But it never did.

"Wh—"

"Seven-sama!" Aimi exclaimed in relief. Hanako looked like he was really beaten up by number two. He held his arm in pain as she gave the girl a smile.

"I feel like I'm about to die..."

"Aimi-san!" Nene held a small scissor in her hand with a seal stuck on top of it. "I-Is this her Yorishiro?!"

"Yes!" Aimi replied. "Tear it off—"

"No!"

Nene took the seal off. Both Aimi and Hanako appeared infront of the girl, getting her away from number two. "Mystery number two, you've abandoned your responsibilities."

The male apparition then stabbed the woman. "You are to return to your seat number."

aftermath.

"Where's Nene-chan?" Hanako smiled. "She left a few minutes before you changed back into your human form. You were lucky."

"Mhm." Y/n looked at Hanako with a tired look plastered on her face. "Kou-kun became a doll, didn't he?"

"Yep, he did."

"Just like his book said.."

Hanako's brows furrowed. "You've read his book?"

"I've read most of your books."

"Have you read yours?"

Y/n froze. She then looked at Hanako. He was just staring at her, waiting for her answer.

"Of course. It was the first book I read."

"Then what about mi—"

"I'm tired." Y/n buried her face in her arms, trying to avoid the moonlight. "We've defeated Fox-san. Wake me up when the clock strikes seven, or my parents would kill me.."

"You're really drained out, huh?"

"Of course," she mumbled. "Using my ability for thirty seconds can already drain so much of my energy. What more if it's a whole minute..."

"Then hold still."

"What?"

Hanako took Y/n's hand and kissed it. "That's your reward for today, Y/n-chan," he said. "A magic spell to make you feel better. You did a great job protecting Yashiro and helping us destroy the Yorishiro."

Y/n pursed her lips. "You did this to Nene-chan too, didn't you?"

"No?" Hanako raised a brow. "I don't do this to just anyone, Y/n-chan. So don't be jelly..."

"What...?"