Chapter 35 — The First One Marked: Aika's Forgotten Sin
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3 Years Ago | Aokigahara Forest — No Wind, No Birds, No Mercy
Aika was only 16.
She ran barefoot through the forest.
Blood on her hands. Tears on her lips.
> "Please… don't let me die like this…"
Behind her—
A trail of bodies.
Cultists. Marked girls. One boy.
And in front of her—
A black shrine.
With one eye, open.
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The Deal
Aika collapsed before it.
> "I'll give anything…"
"My body. My future. My soul."
The shrine whispered:
> "You'll forget this moment…"
"But I'll take everything you'll ever love."
A black tendril coiled around her thigh.
> "Every boy who touches you will be cursed."
"And every girl who loves him… will bleed."
Aika screamed.
The mark burned into her chest.
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Back to Now
Tokyo Rooftop | 4:11 AM
Hana closed the black book.
> "You're not a victim, Aika."
> "You're the origin."
Aika dropped to her knees.
> "Why didn't I remember…?"
Hana smiled faintly.
> "Because the curse feeds on ignorance."
"But now it's awake. And it's hungry."
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Reika's Madness
Reika stood in the bathroom.
Staring into the cracked mirror.
Yura's reflection smiled at her.
> "He let me die… but he'll sleep with you next."
> "And you'll die in his arms."
Reika scratched at her skin.
Hard. Raw.
> "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!"
But her eyes…
Started to turn red.
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Yuuto Feels It
In the hallway—Yuuto froze.
His chest ached. His spine burned.
> "Someone just… claimed me."
He turned.
And Yuki stood at the end of the hallway.
Wearing nothing but a smile.
> "It's not Aika anymore, Yuuto."
> "It's open season."
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