As Hitagi Senjougahara neared middle school graduation, her mother offered her up like a sacrifice to a high-ranking member of the predatory cult.
Under the guise of a purification ritual, the cult member attempted to assault Hitagi, but she fought back, injuring his head with her spiked shoes.
Her mother faced punishment for this, deepening their family rift and ultimately leading to its collapse.
Having severed emotional ties with her mother, Hitagi, in the transitional period between middle and high school, encountered a crab—the Heavy Stone Crab.
The Heavy Stone Crab, a deity from folklore in the mountainous regions of Kyushu, went by names like Crab of Gravity, Crab of Weight, or Heavy Stone God, depending on the area.
Unlike possessing yokai, the Heavy Stone Crab simply existed, doing nothing.
It neither harmed nor attacked people, nor did it possess them.
Without a wish, nothing would come to pass.
Known as the "God of Intent," The Heavy Stone Crab bore the weight of human thoughts, sealing away painful memories. In exchange, as a form of equivalent trade, it took the person's weight, diminishing their sense of presence.
Hitagi entrusted her painful memories and longing for her mother to the crab, finding liberation from her suffering.
But in exchange, her weight was taken.
After the Heavy Stone Crab's intervention, Hitagi's body weighed only five kilograms.
This explained why, when Miko bumped into her, Hitagi was sent tumbling across the ground.
She was simply too light.
Morpheus recalled that due to her "weightless" condition and her alienation from others, Hitagi, upon entering high school, avoided all contact with her classmates to keep her secret, even viewing kindness as hostility.
Thus, she trapped herself in a cocoon of isolation for two years.
During that time, she was deceived by five con artists, including Meme Oshino.
This turned her into the sharp-tongued figure she was now.
It wasn't until her third year of high school that she met Monogatari's protagonist, Koyomi Araragi, who, with the help of another oddity expert, helped her reclaim her weight from the Heavy Stone Crab.
From then on, she became Koyomi's girlfriend.
But from the current situation, it was clear Hitagi hadn't yet met her destined partner.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so easily knocked over by Miko.
"I apologize on behalf of Miko for what happened, Miss Senjougahara," Morpheus said, releasing the magic controlling her body.
Suppressing her inner panic, Hitagi replied expressionlessly, "Are you done? Can I leave now?"
Though she didn't know who Morpheus was, his ability to control her body told her he was no ordinary person.
She wanted nothing more than to leave.
Morpheus smiled faintly. "If I'm not mistaken, Miss Senjougahara, you came to Kiyomizu-dera to pray for a solution to your body's condition."
"Now that you've met someone who can help, why are you in such a hurry to go?"
Hitagi's secret exposed, she instinctively retorted, "Why should I trust you?"
Compared to an unknown stranger, she'd rather put her faith in gods.
Morpheus considered her point and didn't press further. "Fair enough. You may go, Miss Senjougahara."
Hitagi turned and walked away without hesitation.
Morpheus called after her. "Miss Senjougahara, I can solve your problem as an apology for Miko's collision. If you're willing, you can find me at the hotel anytime."
He gave the name of the hotel.
Hitagi didn't look back, quickly vanishing from Morpheus's view.
But he was certain she'd heard him.
After she left, Hana asked, "What's wrong with Miss Senjougahara?"
Martha replied, "Too light."
Hitomi echoed, "Too light?"
What did that mean?
Raikou explained, "Miko's bump wasn't forceful, yet Senjougahara was knocked down. That means her body is very light, which is why she was so easily affected."
Morpheus nodded. "Exactly. Hitagi Senjougahara's body weighs only five kilograms."
"Five kilograms?" Hitomi exclaimed, shocked. "That's way too light!"
It was comparable to a newborn baby, who typically weighed around seven or eight pounds, not far from five kilograms.
Miko realized, "No wonder my slight bump sent Miss Senjougahara tumbling… So, she didn't want me to get close because she was hiding her secret."
Morpheus gave a small nod.
Saeko Busujima asked curiously, "Why is her body so light? Did Miss Senjougahara encounter something strange?"
"It's the Heavy Stone Crab, a creature from Kyushu folklore, sometimes revered as a deity," Morpheus explained. "Hitagi Senjougahara had a painful past and chose to trade with the Heavy Stone Crab, entrusting it with those painful memories."
"In exchange, the Heavy Stone Crab took her weight."
"But having lost those memories, Hitagi forgot why her weight vanished. She only knows she's in trouble, so she's been praying to gods to reclaim it."
Miko, Saeko Busujima, Hana, and Hitomi exchanged glances.
For a moment, they were at a loss for words.
Pain led to a trade.
The trade led to amnesia.
Amnesia drove her to reclaim her weight—and her painful memories.
What a self-imposed cycle.
She'd brought this trouble upon herself.
After a while, Hitomi said, "Miss Senjougahara really brought this on herself."
Morpheus remarked, "That's human nature. Without remarkable wisdom, people repeat their past mistakes. That's why the phrase 'history repeats itself' exists."
"And why Hegel said, 'The only lesson humanity learns from history is that humanity learns nothing from history.'"
Miko asked, "Boss, by giving her the hotel address, are you planning to help her?"
Morpheus nodded. "I have that intention. I've given her the opportunity. Whether she takes it is up to her."
He glanced at the setting sun. "It's getting late. Let's head back."
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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