August 10th.

We planned to go exploring in the woods today.

Amane and Tsukasa invited more people. The more the merrier, I suppose. It wasn’t a bad idea either.

Mostly because he would be here too.

It was just a quick trip to the forest near the outskirts of town. There’s even rumours about an abandoned shrine in it.

To be honest, I don’t really believe that. If there IS one though, I’ll make sure to protect everyone!

Mitsuba seemed kind of interested as well, even though he’s just a big scaredy-cat. I’ll go to protect him.

It took a while, but we found the shrine. It was suuper dusty, and the paint was peeling away. It was infested with bugs.

It looked a bit sad, but not very scary. Or interesting.

Mitsuba took a lot of pictures though. For his photography class. He found something too, a book? But he didn’t show me, even after I asked him. He just said he’d tell me tomorrow.

He didn’t need to be so defensive though.

I wonder what all that was about.

 

August 11th.

He finally let me see it today.

It was an old book. Bound in black leather. It’s seen better days. Some of the pages had small, scrawly text that I couldn’t read. My little sister writes better.

He said it’s called the “Diary of Oblivion”. It’s from one of those rumours around school. A book that will grant any wish for a price.

The whole thing was so edgy that it hurt to look at. I told him that. He smacked me.

I asked him what he would wish for if those rumours were true. He looked really embarrassed, so I assumed he just wanted to look cuter, or have more money to buy pink clothes.

Not that it mattered to me.

I had a feeling that we shouldn’t mess with the book though. It felt wrong to even be near it, I said, and he laughed at me and called me a coward.

He promised that he wouldn’t. I hope that’s true.

He said he’s going to return the book to the shrine tomorrow. I offered to go with him, but he said he remembers the way back, so I shouldn’t bother.

Still…

 

August 17th.

Yuuji-san passed away today.

It was very sudden. He was very active and healthy. Just in his early 30’s. Speaking of which, he’s not the only one. I think around 5 have died so far?

I just asked Teru-nii. He said it was 5.

Everyone’s scared now. The obaasan across the street kept saying it was an omen of worse things to come. We gave her a protection charm for free and said we would pray for her. I hope that helps.

Mitsuba’s been super quiet lately. Amane called Senpai a radish and he didn’t even join in. I had to poke him to make him zone back in.

He looked really tired. Did he stay up all night?

He doesn’t have to be worried. If he’s scared of that killer, I’d protect him. I hope the cops catch that guy soon, though.

 

August 24th.

The murders seem to have stopped. Mistuba is also acting like usual again.

I saw him writing on his lap when I passed by his backyard. It looked like his journal.

I can’t be sure though, because when I walked up to him, he hid it from me.

Yeah yeah, I know, never read someone’s diary. Especially Mitsuba’s. You’d be lucky if he only smacked you.

Reminds me of that old diary he had before.

I wonder if it’s still there.

 

August 27th.

The town’s gonna hold an annual festival soon.

Mitsuba would look cute in a yukata. Then again, he looks cute in everything.

Both Amane and Senpai teased me about it. Ironic, since they’ve been dancing around their own attraction for at least 2 or 3 months now. Tsukasa called them out on it too.

I’m glad at least ONE of the twins is on my side.

Maybe before summer ends though… I could finally tell him…

 

August 29th.

I heard a weird, whispery voice last night.

A child’s. Telling me to go to the shrine. No other context. Just go to the shrine.

What kind of horror movie shtick is this? I’m not going back there. I’m not an idiot.

I probably just need some more rest. I’ll take a break from chores tomorrow.

 

August 31st.

Where’s Mitsuba?

He’s not at his house. Not even in the woods. Not even at the twin’s house.

I stumbled upon that shrine. He wasn’t there, but the old diary was. A pen was beside it.

Has he been reading that weird “Diary of Oblivion” or whatever? Might as well see what’s so interesting about it.

On the August of 32nd, I wish to be with the person I love, forever. What kind of joke it this? August 32nd isn’t even a real date.

“Kou-kun.” I heard his voice. Finally. I’ve been trying to find him for ages. He dodges all my questions. He smiles as we walk home together. I hold his hand tightly. He grips back.

It’s cold.

 

August 31st.

Where’s Mitsuba?

 

August 31st.

Tsukasa said he doesn’t know anyone by that name. You two have been best friends since middle school. Now’s not the time to joke about that.

 

August 31st.

Mitsuba, you shouldn’t go off without telling anyone.

 

August 31st.

Why has that cloud still at the same spot it was yesterday? How weird.

Shijima-sensei’s dog won’t stop barking. For two days straight. I’ve already told her it was disrupting my prayers, but each time I did, she acts like it’s the first time I’ve complained.

Everyone’s acting really weird.

 

August 31st.

I finally confessed to Mitsuba. He felt the same way.

I’ve never felt so happy in my entire life.

Amane seems to forget that we’re a thing now. He keeps teasing me for not confessing yet. I already did though. What gives?

 

August 31st.

…

 

August 31st.

…

 

August 31st.

Ah, I get it now.

How stupid. How stupid do you have to be?

 

August 31st.

The familiar garden greeted us.

Mitsuba would take a deep breath of the fresh air. Since this place was next to the railroad, I’d sometimes watch it go by as he took photos. He’d show me the pictures. So I never missed out.

We’re already going to be together forever, right? There’s no need for… “those things”.

He smiled.

The scent of iron filled the air.

I laugh.

On that day in August, where the garden bloomed,

Huh.

 

August 31st.

The diary kept returning to him, no matter how many times he put it back in the shrine.

He wrote his wish. He collected whatever it needed to make it come true. It went away afterwards.

The pages were stained with blood when I picked it up. Some were old, and some, fresh.

How stupid, really.

No one’s going to remember his existence. I’ll probably forget him tomorrow. The loop is broken, the price paid.

His name’s slowly fading from my mind already.

I take out a pen. My hand shakes the entire time.

My eyes water.

 

August 32nd.

We planned to go exploring in the woods today.