- WATANABE TATSUO -
βIt's okay! Please don't feel bad about it!β Tatsuo almost shouted in response. His face turned red as a beet and Tatsuo scrubbed so vividly he'd almost risk removing the lacquer. It wasn't until Mashiro came up that Tatsuo could think of anything else, but when his magenta eyes met Tatsuo's β why is Mashiro-senpai..!
The katsudon pieces Hana and Tatsuo had picked up were squirming. Like worms they were trying to reach for Hana; but in their cut up form they could hardly move β and if Mashiro saw it too... Tatsuo nodded to his senior in understanding, silently thanking him for his support.
βYou're not hallucinating Hana.β Tatsuo tried to bring up. βIt's the katsudon, isn't it?β He kept his voice low β but wary. Tatsuo too, had been in for quite the surprise himself when he first discovered the book had chosen him... And he knew he wasn't the only one in the club that strange things had been happening to.βM-mashiro-senpai and I know someone who can help, but-β
Tatsuo was cut off by a voice even he, Mashiro and Minoru could hear. It was coming mrs. Nakamura; who shrieked at the discovery the fishhead had jumped out of it's soup. However, it's glazing eyes had turned vivid and yellow and stared straight at Hana.
βWhy, child, my eyes are so big so I can better see you.β A voice echoed through the restaurant. The fish no longer even smelled like fish. It reeked of wet dog. Flopping ever so slightly it inched towards the three youngsters. As did the katsudon... Which seemed to be starting to grow grey hair!
For a second Tatsuo hesitated. βMashiro-senpai, please take care of Hana-san.β Tatsuo chirped as he jumped up. His fingers quivered β but this was his family's restaurant and Tatsuo had to to something! He rushed towards the kitchen, looking for anything to help him ward off the strange food. A pan. A knife. Something to keep whatever was chasing Hana at bay... But the moment he entered the kitchen...
βHave you seen a girl with a red hood?β A stew murmured. Tatsuo promptly slammed the lid on the pan! All of the food in it had warped in shape! There were wolf ears, paws, tails! It was as if their kitchen had been a butchery for an entire wolf-pack... But the wolves were trying to put their selves back together! Tatsuo's heart pounded in his chest. His father was nowhere to be seen β and Tatsuo, too afraid to reach for the knife drawer, instead grabbed a broom and ran back out of the kitchen. Minoru was the first person he saw and Tatsuo almost bumped into him.
βHelp! There's wolves in there!β Tatsuo pointed at the kitchen, putting the broom in front of him like a pike. He hoped Minoru could keep his cool, because right now, Tatsuo certainly could not!